r/callofcthulhu Aug 03 '25

Mod Update - AI-generated Content Is Now Banned In This Subreddit

826 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

We on the mod team really appreciate everyone’s patience with us while we adapt to changes in the scene and update our rules accordingly. We acknowledge that the time it takes us to do this is not ideal, but we believe that changes of this nature require due care and attention.

AI-generated content is now banned in this subreddit.

This is for a multitude of reasons, including both intellectual property theft and environmental impact.

This is not something we are currently open to debating; however, we will monitor the AI space and, if we can lift this ban or change its specifics, we will do so.

To help us implement this rule fairly, please consider that categorically determining whether something was created using AI is extremely challenging. Therefore, we ask that everyone follow these guidelines:

  • Enquiring whether AI was used during the creation of something is allowed.
  • Please do not outright accuse someone of generating something with AI without EXTREMELY comprehensive proof. (I say this as someone who draws hands worse than AI and writes prose worse than AI).
  • If someone responds to your question stating that AI is categorically not used in the creation of the work they have shared, that is the end of the discussion. Further scepticism or disbelief will be removed.
  • If a user continues to push skepticism or disbelief after an author has confirmed that they did not use AI, please report it to the mods using Reddit's reporting functionality.
  • If a post or comment admits to using AI, please report it to the mods using Reddit's reporting functionality.

If you have any serious concerns, as always, our modmail is open; however, to reiterate, we are not currently open to debating this ruling.

Thank you for your time and again, your patience.

Your Mod Team


r/callofcthulhu 8h ago

Self-Promotion Writers wanted!

70 Upvotes

The Yellow Hand, producers of bestselling Call of Cthulhu products like The White Circle, Shattered Reality, The Island of Insanity, The Eyes that Behold, and several others, are welcoming entries for an upcoming anthology of short scenarios for Call of Cthulhu.

The theme is stories pitting unique or very seldom-used categories of setting, era, and/or protagonists against Mythos entities of the writers' choosing – as long as it is allowed under the Chaosium rules for Miskatonic Repository.

It could be virtually anything, not already extensively covered by sourcebooks or supplements released by Chaosium or third-party publishers. Like encountering the Mythos in the Bronze Age, the Renaissance, or the 1960s counterculture, having the investigators be undertakers, civil servants, or pharmacists, setting the plot in a children's storybook world, a 1940s POW camp, or a 1950s fallout shelter.

These are just a few random ideas – we are sure you can come up with something even more unique and creative.

Please send us your submissions via [submissions@theyellowhand.com](mailto:submissions@theyellowhand.com) – no later than November 1st, in the form of a one-pager PDF outlining the setting, era, and/or protagonists, the basic idea for plot, and what Mythos threat(s) are featured.

If referencing rules, use the English Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition Keeper Rulebook.

Be sure to include your name (and/or pseudonym/pen name) and email so we can contact you.

The Yellow Hand will select a total of 10 ideas (including one or two of our own) and ask for manuscripts of full-scenario versions. Exact details will be given to writers whose submissions we select for the anthology, but we are envisioning scenarios of about 4,000 words (or 22,000 letters, excluding spaces). Any profit from sales of the finished product will be shared between The Yellow Hand and the included writers.


r/callofcthulhu 3h ago

Campaign ended. People are excited and wanting more, how to approach?

11 Upvotes

I have the next one mostly setted up but I have a few doubts:

It is the first time that we as a group succesfully finish a setting, we all got a lot of fun.

My players have become very fond of their characters and they asked me if they can play as them in the next one (they all got wrecked in some way shape or form, one of them died)

A few things I haven't fully sorted out:

Should I just refresh theri characters? Like, heal all their hit points and sanity points, is there a system in place for this? how does everyone does this?

I know level up is not really a thing, but I would like to reward them in some form, how can this be achieved without breaking the system too much?

Story wise, I was thinking of the original group kinda forming their own "agency" to investigate this kind of cases, pros and cons for this?


r/callofcthulhu 2h ago

Your character's best moment in Call of Cthulhu?

6 Upvotes

I'm currently playing a no-nonsense FBI agent in a 1920s Arkham campaign. A devoted, no-nonsense Catholic with a penchant for detectives, Special Agent Napoleon Hammermeister spent 25 years in the navy before taking a job in the Bureau of Investigation (FBI precursor.) After five years of work, he currently is 46 years old, and loves cats, trains, detective novels, and in particular his two nephews (having no interest in a wife of kids of his own).

After being transferred to the new-opened Arkham branch, opened in response to the Innsmouth Raids, Hammermeister's first incursion with the supernatural came in the form of a 4th-year medical student who had learned to resurrect the dead. Okay, maybe resurrect is too strong a word: the corpse could be reanimated within 24 hours of death, and would cause the body and soul to exist in a painful limbo. Amity Woodrow, the medical student in question, had recently lost her best friend to a house fire and was determined to not have such a fate happen again.

Armed with necrotic books, she was able to sneak animal corpses from the morgue where she shadowed as part of her medical training. After successful experimentation, she decided to attempt the process on a recently dead human. However, she realized that she could not control it properly, and went into a mild panic. She tried to hide it, but the corpse had already left.

The Bureau team investigated strange sightings around town, and eventually stumbled upon Amity's lab. After a scuffle with the corpse that ended in its permanent death, the team apprehended Amity and learned the full story.

At this point, our team discussed what to do with Amity. While we were not the ultimate authority on happenings in Arkham, as the arresting team, we could make recommendations to head office. After dispute among the party, Special Agent Hammermeister eventually submitted a report arguing that Amity Woodrow should not be arrested, nor confined to a sanitarium, nor executed. The report suggested that she should be recruited to the Bureau.

It went on to elaborate that Amity was acting out of fear and sorrow, not malice; that she was an incredibly smart mind (able to decipher ramblings on necromancy while also attending medical school); and that she would be an invaluable asset to the branch. She was months away from graduating with a medical degree (and thus knew a lot about biology and chemistry that the branch was sorely lacking); she could be a trusted doctor; but most of all, we knew she wouldn't be easily creeped out by the supernatural and unnatural, having worked at a morgue and having caused firsthand zombies.

The report surprisingly persuasive, to the point where the Bureau actually allowed Amity to join our team part-time while she finished her medical degree. It listed a few restrictions on Amity - a curfew, no access to bodies without Bureau supervisions, mandatory weekly reporting - but they were negligible compared to how her life would have turned out without such a recommendation.

Amity served as a valuable asset to the Bureau. Her forensic knowledge proved instrumental in multiple autopsies we had her perform for the Bureau. The Arkham office grew fond of Amity; particularly Napoleon, who, after years of naval service, felt like he was finally able to help someone instead of inflicting pain. He started to see her as a protegé, an associate, and ultimately an adopted daughter.

After a few months, Amity graduated medical school and joined the team full-time, taking a direct route to becoming a Bureau agent. She never broke her restrictions (grateful for the second chance she was giving), and excelled at being a full-time agent. After another year, she started dating another [NPC] agent at our office, and announced her engagement a year after that.

Was Napoleon's best moment giving the best speech at her wedding? No, but it was certainly appreciated.

Was it getting to give Amity a crossword puzzle book for Christmas? Still no.

Napoleon's best moment was getting named as Amity's child's godfather, whom she named after him: Leon.

What about you? What was your character's best moment?


r/callofcthulhu 3h ago

Masks Help

6 Upvotes

I'm starting Masks in a few weeks and my characters are giving me their backstories and they're awesome.

Two out of the four characters have a back story that have dreams and nightmares. One who was always sensitive to the occult/ supernatural but when touching a relic on an expedition she started having terrible nightmares. The other is a psychologist in Arkham University who starts suffering from nightmares when his clients start having nightmares and visions.

They left it open ended and I'm wondering how I play this in the campaign. I want to avoid it being Nyarlathoteps influence for obvious story reasons, although I do find it a cool trope if the big bad is behind the dreams guiding the good guys.

What do ye think? How could I include them having dreams into the story?


r/callofcthulhu 22h ago

Mythos Misinformation- post false/innacurate lore about Cthulhu that might come from fumbles on a Mythos or Lore roll.

71 Upvotes

Come up with plausible yet inaccurate information that might be red herrings or mistaken interpretations found in lesser Mythos terms or in cultic or local lore. What are some false ideas that you've successfully bluffed your investigators into believing?


r/callofcthulhu 19h ago

Help! Bowling in Call of Cthulhu

19 Upvotes

Greetings, my friends beyond the pixels.

My friend is currently going through a tough patch. In the past he has played a bowling investigator. I’d love to run a game involving a bowling alley, or with bowling involved somehow.

I know of the scenario, Split, which nominally involves bowling through your PCs being part of a bowling team.

I’ve also seen reference to Cuppycup’s unpublished scenario “deadwood on lane 8”

Does anyone else know of any scenarios involving bowling, or a seed idea for a scenario?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


r/callofcthulhu 13h ago

Where does the scenario/campaign conflation come from?

4 Upvotes

We regularly get new Keepers asking which campaign to run. They mention The Haunting, Lightless Beacon, etc, which are scenarios. For those unsure, a scenario is a 'narrative unit' if you like, with a start, middle, and end. A campaign is a series of scenarios linked together by more or less connective narrative tissue, but is much longer/larger in scope. Can anyone point me to where this misunderstanding comes from?


r/callofcthulhu 16h ago

Help! New(ish) Keeper questions

6 Upvotes

Hey everyone! So I'm planning on running a few different Call of cthulhu games with 2 new groups consisting of mostly new players. (Most even new to tabletop RPGs) all the player have stated that they've had no intrest in various things like DnD but the horror/mystery aspect of Cthulhu interested them. As a keeper, I'm not wntirely new. Ive run Edge of Darkness, Dead Lights and Things We've Left Behind with an old group of mine. As well as loads of other ttrpgs (Mork Borg, Alien, and of course 5th ed. games) So my question is. Should I just run some more premade campaigns or should I run a game I've been in the works of writing for a while now?


r/callofcthulhu 21h ago

Another Newbie Question: What is the Popularity of Pulp vs. Regular Call of Cthulhu?

11 Upvotes

Just curious about which version had more players. Thanks in advance.


r/callofcthulhu 1d ago

1 hour one shots

11 Upvotes

Does anyone have a suggestion for a 1-hour one shot that isn't from Gateways to Terror? Running some convention games in a couple weeks.


r/callofcthulhu 1d ago

Ambient twang instrumentals for a Louisiana fishing village?

14 Upvotes

I cannot for the life of me find some neutral music for a “walking through the village” vibe. Everything is either a hoedown or a skinwalker. Anyone got any recs for some music; game soundtracks, movie scores, or whatever.


r/callofcthulhu 1d ago

Thoughts on running "The Dare" as a Halloween One-Shot

24 Upvotes

So: I have a new/semi-new gaming group. They play D&D exclusively.

I have a couple of goals here:
1) Practice being a keeper (long term "forever GM", mostly in D&D finally getting to play again)

2) Give my friend the GM a break; he can get overwhelmed sometimes

3) Introduce the group to Call of Cthulhu (I'm getting a little bored of D&D to be honest) in a way that is "natural" for them

The Dare seems perfect for a Halloween one shot; of those of you who have played it...how do you feel as an introduction to Call of Cthulhu style games?


r/callofcthulhu 1d ago

Playing as the Cultists themselves

43 Upvotes

Thinking of getting some Call of Cthulhu material.

Is there anything on actually playing as Cultists over the Investigators? And if not, how homebrewable is it to make that so?


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Best one-shot for beginners

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253 Upvotes

Good evening everyone,

I’m looking for a one-shot lasting no more than 3.5 hours, for 3 players, 2 of whom are beginners.

I’d like a scenario with plenty of clues that I can create myself (autopsy reports, etc.), as well as an investigation involving charismatic NPCs.

Basically, I’d really like to get them into TTRPGs! I know it’s ultimately up to the GM to make the game enjoyable, but having a good scenario to start with definitely helps a lot 😊

Have a great evening, everyone!


r/callofcthulhu 1d ago

TRPG intro event in Nagoya, Sept 13 / 【9/13】名古屋 TRPG無料体験会 — 未経験者向け

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24 Upvotes

We're running a free TRPG taster afternoon in Sakae on Sunday September 13th, specifically for people who've never played before.

If you've ever thought "that looks fun but I wouldn't know where to start" — this is for you. No experience needed, nothing to buy, nothing to prepare. Someone will teach you at the table.

- Sunday September 13th, 13:00–18:00
- Second Home, Ark Shirakawa Park Building B1F, 2-2-23 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya
- Call of Cthulhu, D&D and others
- Two 2-hour sessions, up to 4 games running per session
- Tables in both English and Japanese
- Free entry, first 20 people only

It's in a cafe, so please order a drink while you're there.

To sign up, email [kaiju.convention@gmail.com](mailto:kaiju.convention@gmail.com) — no forms, no registration.

If you already play, this one isn't really aimed at you — but we're running KaijuCon 2 on October 24th in Nagoya, which is the bigger event: https://kaijucon.org/

Happy to answer questions in the comments.

9月13日(日)、名古屋・栄でTRPGの無料体験会を開催します。「まだ遊んだことがない方」向けのイベントです。

「面白そうだけど、どこから始めればいいか分からない」という方に来ていただきたい内容です。事前の知識も準備も、ルールブックも必要ありません。その場でお教えします。

- 9月13日(日)13:00〜18:00

- Second Home(名古屋市中区栄2-2-23 アーク白川公園ビルディング B1F)

- クトゥルフ神話TRPG、D&D ほか

- 2時間×2セッション(1セッションあたり最大4卓)

- 日本語卓・英語卓の両方をご用意

- 参加無料・先着20名様

会場がカフェですので、ドリンクをご注文いただけると助かります。

お申し込みは [kaiju.convention@gmail.com](mailto:kaiju.convention@gmail.com) までメールをお送りください。登録などは不要です。

すでにTRPGを遊んでいる方には少し物足りない内容かもしれませんが、10月24日(土)に名古屋でKaijuCon 2という大きめのイベントを開催します。

https://kaijucon.org/

ご質問があればコメントでどうぞ。


r/callofcthulhu 1d ago

Help! Dynamic Armour values for Call of Cthulhu in Foundry VTT

3 Upvotes

Hey folks, I have a question about the Call of Cthulhu system on Foundry VTT.

In short: Is there a straightforward way to create an Armour item which actually affects the owner's Armour stat?

I'm trying to get armour working dynamically, and while I know I can just manually adjust the Investigator's armour value depending on whether they're wearing their hunting leathers that's kind of fiddly.

In a perfect world I (or the player) would be able to toggle whether an armour item in their possession is worn. Failing that, I'd settle for it applying its armour value when on the sheet (the item can always be put into a storage box when not worn).

So far I've managed to get the armour item to apply an Effect when in the Investigator's possession, but I can't make the Effect affect the owner's Armour value (or indeed any other stat). I'm not sure if I've gone about it in entirely the wrong way, or whether I've just got the wrong Attribute Key.

I've got the Changes of the Effect set up as follows:

Attribute Key: attribs.armor.value
Type: Override
Value: 1

I'd hoped that this would set the investigator's Armour to 1 - it seems like it should be pretty straightforward! Unfortunately, I'm not at all confident that "armor.value" is right here, but I'm also not sure what it could be missing; I've tried a number of different variants and none seem to work.

If anyone can tell what I've done wrong here (or if there's an easier way to do it!), I'd be most appreciative of the help!

I figured I'd look into macros to apply/remove the effect once I had it working, but if there's some other way of doing that I'm all ears. I'm very familiar with JavaScript, but not at all familiar with Foundry macros.

Thanks in advance!


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Self-Promotion Viral - An Actual Play of Paranormal Youtubers streaming from a haunted Italian island

11 Upvotes

Howdy, Thought I'd share part 1 of 2 of our Actual Play of the scenario, Viral! One of the biggest scenarios on the Miskatonic Repository.

"Join Marco Proudfoot, host of the successful YouTube channel The Spektral Krew, as he and his fellow paranormal investigators journey to an island off the coast of Sicily to explore its very dark past. The only public information is a pixelated satellite map and a pile of redacted documents, but a little digging on the Dark Web has revealed something far more sinister. What better way to make their final push for one million subscribers than to stream their investigation live from the island! The Krew hopes to find evidence of the paranormal, but what they discover is so much more horrific than just orbs of dust and incoherent voices in the static."

It's on youtube and all podcast apps.

https://youtu.be/-EM7gr_4UJ4?si=pWcEQ-NeDCF1sKYn

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3PXRxXqumwhjAQkNZxL5Md?si=X6KQOlV6RyO1PcPSvSquBQ

Have a good day!


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Self-Promotion The Flood - a short Scenario for CoC 7th

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27 Upvotes

"There’s a lake deep in the Conway woods. Locals don’t know it. It wasn’t there until last night."

The Flood is a standalone horror scenario for Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition, and takes place in the fictional hamlet of Conway, Massachusetts, in the year 1926.

Although it features a somewhat unusual structure, I think it is quite easy to run. Beginner friendly, it is more concerned with the horror and weirdness of the Mythos than with the investigative challenge itself. If you're interested, you can check out the product's page at the Miskatonic Repository here:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/pt/product/427180/the-flood


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Keeper Resources Scenario recs?

8 Upvotes

Hey all I'm starting a new Call of Cthulhu group and I'm wondering what are everyone's favorite scenarios are?

Ive already GMed Edge of Darkness and the Lightless Beacon for me and my gfs old rpg group so shes already spoiled on those. that group disbanded so me and her are starting a new rpg group. I've gone into Chaosiums site and I already have Dead Light in my cart, and I have a pdf of The Haunting. I also get a lot of recommendations from watching Seth Skorkowsky and Mystery Quest but I'm js wondering what other scenarios you recommend I put in the cart for keeping a new group? Thanks


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Help! Zombie Apocalypse campaign in this system

16 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone's ever used this system (or BRP) to host a zombie apocalypse game and, if so, do you have any tips? I really like the d100 system and skills of COC or BRP so I figured I'd just use it for this game idea I have. But, I was wondering if anyone else has used it for a cthulhuian zombie adventure and therefore would already have some bite rules.

In combat, zombies are likely to attempt to scratch or bite you and I don't want it to be a 'one and done' for the investigators so I figured I'd just ask everyone here to see if someone's already created something or knows of something that could be a good jumping off point for me (in the event that there is nothing like what I'm talking about). If anyone could let me know, it would be appreciated.

(Please be nice. I'm only looking for some quick help. Thank you!!)


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Help! Working idea

16 Upvotes

I'm wanting to put together an idea that pulls from less overt Lovecraft and more from the demons and ancient religion lore (demons, devils, angels... etc). Sort of a very toned-down Supernatural with the same level of horror and dread you find in CoC but from a different angle. Does this sound remotely interesting to anyone, and if so, is anyone interested in having a chat about it?


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Keeper Resources Are there any character sheets for modern pulp cthulhu?

5 Upvotes

I am trying to find character sheets to run pulp games in modern setting (with the correct stat changes) but am unable to find anything pre made, does anyone know where i can find a a resource for this?


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Help! Machine Tractor Station Kharkov 37 PDF

20 Upvotes

Does anyone know where it can be found, or have copy/PDF? I've just finished cold harvest and my table are super keen to play more soviet Cthulhu. I've listened to the apocalypse players playthrough of Machine Tractor Station Kharkov 37 and it seems amazing. I've searched everywhere I can think of and the only copy I can find is on ebay for over $200. Thank you!


r/callofcthulhu 2d ago

Cyaegha info and writing advice?

3 Upvotes

First time Keeper here! (And yes, I'm going to run The Haunting first. Possibly The Lightless Beacon too. All of us are first time CoC players, but one of my players is the DM for our D&D campaign and the other is currently playing Masquerade and looking into Blades in the Dark, so none of us are unfamiliar with ttrpgs.)

I'm writing my first campaign and I was hoping to ask for some advice. I've been reading through The Alexandrian essays which have been super helpful. Also, for a bit of context, I'm running a story set in Harrison, Michigan in the 1990's with an (unknowing) cult of Cyaegha, and trying to give it a bit of a Supernatural/Alan Wake feeling. Nothing too complicated for my first story, but still touching on the themes I want and the horror I like. There's going to be a murder mystery hook and some haunted town stuff. I basically have two big questions.

  1. How should I generally go about planning the middle of the story before we even play? I know a fair bit about how it'll start, and I've started to get maps and first encounters together, but I'm not sure how to fill in the middle. Should I put in some outlines for the clues and fill it in further when we actually start?

  2. Does anyone has any resources on Cyaegha? The Rulebook and the Fandom wiki article are pretty bare bones. I'm not planning on my players fighting it ofc, but I would like to give them something to research besides a basic overview of the German cult. As far as I can tell there's almost nowhere to find Darkness, My Name Is in English. If anyone can point me to more information it would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance! Happy investigating!