Call of Cthulhu RPG

Call of Cthulhu is a horror role-playing game based on H. P. Lovecraft's universe known as the Cthulhu Mythos. The game is named after H.P. Lovecraft's classic short story of the same name from 1926. The game is published by Chaosium and first saw the light of day in 1981 and is now in its seventh edition. To start playing, you just need a Keeper's Rulebook and a set of dice! However, it might also be a good idea to invest in an Investigator Handbook, as it contains lots of information about creating your character for the game.

Call of Cthulhu: Role Playing Game

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The Call of Cthulhu role-playing game takes place in a darker version of the real world and is based on HP Lovecraft's philosophy that "humanity's oldest and strongest emotion is fear, and the strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." (from his essay, "Supernatural Horror in Literature"). H.P. Lovecraft wrote most of his works in the 1920s, and thus the 1920s USA is also the primary setting of the game. Throughout his life and until his death in 1937, H.P. Lovecraft collaborated with a number of contemporary authors to develop his universe: the Cthulhu Mythos.

In the Call of Cthulhu RPG, each player controls an investigator who must investigate mysterious events often caused by insane cultists or indescribable monsters. The game's primary focus is on "cosmic horror" and on how ordinary people are affected when confronted with the unknown. The game is controlled by a player called a Keeper, who manages all the miniatures and monsters the players encounter, as well as creates the mystery that the players must solve. The game is played as a kind of verbal improvised drama, where the Keeper and the players together drive the story forward.

Unlike many other role-playing games, the characters in Call of Cthulhu are ordinary people who are both physically and mentally fragile. It is therefore risky to face the forces of darkness and if a character suffers damage to their physical (as well as mental) health, it can quickly result in death, or at a minimum a lengthy recovery period.

Although Call of Cthulhu is primarily created with the 1920s in mind, Chaosium has made a number of books that help the Keeper create stories in other time periods. If you want to play in the Wild West, you can find rules in "Down Darker Trails". If you prefer the Middle Ages, you can use "Cthulhu Dark Ages". The game also has a lot of scenarios that players can dive into. For example, "Reign of Terror", which takes place during the French Revolution, or "Peterson’s Abominations", which collects 5 stories in a more modern period. If you want a longer-lasting campaign of epic proportions, you can try "Masks of Nyarlathotep".

If you want to try your hand at Call of Cthulhu, the best place to start is with the game's starter set (see more here). The box contains an introductory story, basic rules, a book with 3 beginner scenarios, a number of pre-made investigators, dice, and lots of physical handouts for when players find clues in the various scenarios.

Cthulhu Mythos

The Cthulhu Mythos is a term first used by the author August Derleth to describe the shared elements, characters, and themes in the works of H. P. Lovecraft and associated authors. Together they form the universe that authors writing in the Cthulhu Mythos universe have used - and continue to use - to create their stories.

In the latter part of Lovecraft's life, there was much borrowing of elements among the authors in the "Lovecraft Circle", a group of writers Lovecraft corresponded with. This group included Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard (creator of Conan), Robert Bloch (author of Psycho), Frank Belknap Long, Henry Kuttner, and others.

The stories in the Cthulhu Mythos center around a number of god-like beings called "Great Old Ones," who live in a parallel world outside our own. These beings are so powerful that their mere presence can drive people to madness, and they are often portrayed as evil and destructive forces.

The Cthulhu Mythos has had a significant influence on the horror genre and has inspired a wide range of films, TV shows, books, and games. Beings from the Cthulhu Mythos, such as Cthulhu himself and Nyarlathotep, have become recognizable cult figures within the horror genre.

The Cthulhu Mythos has also inspired a subculture of fans called "Mythosophians," who study and celebrate Lovecraft's works and the world of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Who or What is Cthulhu?

Cthulhu is a fictional being created by H.P. Lovecraft, first introduced in the short story "Call of Cthulhu" published in 1928.

Cthulhu is described as a massive creature with a human-like face covered in tentacles, and with wings on its back. The being is very powerful and has the ability to manipulate people's thoughts, dreams, and emotions.

In the story, we follow a young man named Francis Wayland Thurston, who is trying to unravel his uncle's mysterious death. Thurston finds a letter containing references to a god-like being called Cthulhu, who according to the letter lives in a parallel world outside our own.

Thurston begins to investigate the case further and discovers that his uncle was involved in a secret cult that worshiped Cthulhu and attempted to bring the being back to our world. Thurston also finds out that there are many others who have sought after Cthulhu and tried to bring the being back to our world.