When Insanity Beckons: Call of Cthulhu Tabletop Role-Playing Game
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“The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents.”
If you’re a fan of the horror genre and love to immerse yourself in spine-chilling tales of mystery and suspense, then Call of Cthulhu, the world-famous tabletop role-playing game, should be at the top of your must-play list. As one of the best horror tabletop RPGs out there, it’s a game that offers a unique and thrilling experience like no other.
First released in 1981 by Chaosium, Call of Cthulhu is based on a short story by the acclaimed horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. The game explores the cosmic horrors and ancient deities lurking in the shadows of our world. Players assume the roles of investigators, ordinary everyday people who must delve into the unknown to face unimaginable terrors and unravel dark mysteries. You choose your character’s occupation, skills, possessions, and beliefs, and decide which people and what locations in your life are important to you. The Investigator Handbook contains a wealth of guidance and ideas to help with character creation, expanded rules, extensive background to immerse players in the 1920s setting, and advice and tips for playing the game.
Call of Cthulhu is a cooperative game. You and your fellow players must pool your knowledge, skills, resources, and, most importantly, sanity to uncover the game’s many mysteries and plots. As the game progresses, you improve your character’s skills depending on the choices you make. Each choice must therefore be weighed and considered, as your decisions will affect how the game develops. And with each encounter with the Cthulhu Mythos and the ancient and unimaginable beings, your grip on sanity becomes more and more uncertain.
The sanity system is one of the standout features of Call of Cthulhu. The efforts to reason with things humanity is not meant to know risks a plunge into madness and despair. Your investigator’s resilience to the unimaginable horrors of the Cthulhu Mythos is measured in Sanity points and will determine how deeply these horrors will affect your life and mind and twist your perception of the world around you.
The core mechanics of Call of Cthulhu are straightforward and intuitive. Instead of focusing solely on combat and physical prowess, the game rewards investigation and decision-making skills. Players roll special polyhedral dice to determine their success or failure for each turn as they work to gather clues, uncover forbidden knowledge, and navigate treacherous encounters. The game’s play mechanics are simple and easy to get to grips with for new players.
Much like the Dungeon Master in Dungeons & Dragons and the Games Master in Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu requires one player to act as the Keeper of Arcane Lore. The Keeper presents the game scenario to the other players and holds the knowledge of the monsters, deities, and cultists the investigators will encounter on their journey. The Keeper Rulebook is the essential guide to pre-made or customized campaigns – you can’t play Call of Cthulhu without it. It contains the game’s core rules and background, as well as information about the spells, monsters, and cults the investigators will face.
There is a thriving community of Call of Cthulhu players who share a passion for cosmic horror and role-playing. Fans gather at conventions and online forums to exchange stories, tips, and house rules. The collaborative nature of the game allows players and Keepers to create their own unique tales of terror, adding a personal touch to an already captivating experience.
With Call of Cthulhu in its 7th edition, Chaosium has developed and released many different scenarios and campaigns over the years. Some fan favorites include Horror On The Orient Express, The Travesty, and Love You To Death. The Haunting is a classic scenario that’s recommended for new players and fits in well with the Call of Cthulhu Starter Set. As players become familiar with the game, Keepers may choose to set up a campaign for them composed of stories with overarching plotlines and sequential events. Masks of Nyarlathotep is one of the best-known campaigns, featuring an epic, unpredictable, and thrilling sequence of stories that can bring players to seven different countries on five different continents. Shadows of Yog-Sothoth is another global campaign on a slightly smaller scale. Across its seven scenarios, players must infiltrate the sinister organization The Silver Twilight to save the world from certain doom.
Chaosium’s tabletop game is just one of many inspired by Lovecraft’s work. In 2008, Fantasy Flight Games developed Call of Cthulhu: The Living Card Game (LCG). Unlike the tabletop RPG, it is a two-player game designed to be played quickly and involves a high level of interaction, analysis, planning, and strategy. The beautiful collectible cards are popular among fans of Chaosium’s tabletop game as well as the new fans won over by the LCG itself.
In 2018, Cyanide Studios further extended the franchise with an official video game, Call of Cthulu. Set in 1924, players take on the role of Private Investigator Edward Pierce to investigate the tragic deaths of the Hawkins family. It’s a game of horror, darkness, terror, and creeping insanity, with a story so well-crafted that it’s impossible not to become completely immersed in the writing and atmosphere.
If you’re looking for the best horror tabletop RPG, Call of Cthulhu is an absolute must-play. The intricate mechanics, character creation, and sanity system, along with its spine-chilling scenarios and rich, immersive storytelling, offer endless and truly unforgettable gaming experiences. Gather your friends, choose your Keeper, get your investigator hats on, and prepare to uncover the secrets of the unknown. Just remember: once you gaze into the abyss, the abyss might just gaze back at you.
Are you a fan of horror role-playing games? Have you played the Call of Cthulhu tabletop RPG, LCG, or video game? If so, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, and tell us about your experience! And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletter, PopPulse Digest, for all things gaming, pop culture, online deals, and more.
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