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Overview

"Call of Cthulhu" (CoC) is an RPG developed by Chaosium and was first published in 1981. It's set primarily in the 1920s, though there are variations and settings that span different eras. The game is heavily inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's writings, emphasizing themes of cosmic horror, forbidden knowledge, and the insignificance of humanity in the face of vast, indifferent cosmic entities.

Core Mechanics

The system used in CoC is called the Basic Role-Playing (BRP) system. Characters have attributes like Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence, and a set of skills that are represented as percentages. When attempting an action, players roll percentile dice trying to score under their skill or attribute value. The degree of success or failure can influence the outcome.

Sanity Mechanic

One of the most distinctive features of CoC is the Sanity system. Encountering otherworldly horrors, forbidden knowledge, or traumatic events can lead to a loss of Sanity points. A significant loss in a short period can result in temporary or even permanent insanity. This introduces a unique tension to the game, where knowledge might be both a weapon and a liability.

Characters

Players typically take on the roles of "Investigators" – everyday individuals, scholars, detectives, journalists, etc., who become embroiled in eldritch mysteries. Unlike many RPGs, combat is often lethal, and characters are not superheroes; they're ordinary people facing extraordinary and often incomprehensible threats.

Gameplay

CoC adventures often revolve around investigations, research, and exploration rather than combat. Many adventures end with the characters simply surviving or delaying the inevitable rather than "winning" in a conventional sense. The game has a rich history of iconic campaigns, such as "The Masks of Nyarlathotep" and "Horror on the Orient Express."

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