For an average group of five pulp heroes, a suitable to defeat them—this is fine if it’s the climax of the story, but opposition would be at least six to ten deep ones. A failed roll may be pushed with suitable justification from the player, although the Learning spells in Pulp Cthulhu is accelerated; shortening consequences of a failed pushed roll should always be the time spent poring over books and so on, making it more dramatic. Such explanations can For each successive round thereafter that the hero wishes to really develop the hero’s legend and be a lot of fun too. As falling shops, drug stores, and (of course) broker’s offices about the stock prices triggered automatic sell-offs, a lack of buyers day-to-day happenings on Wall Street. Dark young of Shub-Niggurath, shoggoths, revolvers. This if further death-dealing encounters ensue. i Can only be used with Roll20; cannot be downloaded. The hero makes a Luck roll: if the roll is failed, they walk straight into a trap or dangerous encounter of some kind. Where one is selfish the other is altruistic. The doctor can use that skill If the goal is only partially achieved, the Keeper must decide to save a dying person or grant a recovery of 1D3 hit points. Alcohol high pulp games, the Keeper may wish to use either of the consumption rarely needs to be noted; however, there may following options: be times when the Keeper deems a character’s abilities to be affected by a large intake of liquor or booze. a fight). If initially stabilized with a successful First Aid roll, a h follow-up Medicine roll may be made; with success granting o Wounded heroes recover faster: natural healing is increased to an additional 1D4 hit points (an Extreme success granting o +2 hit points per day (the Quick Healer talent increases this 4 hit points recovery). Situations like these always abounding around them. Discovering the mystery is the best opening for such a scenario, but Keepers need not limit This popular plot type is often called by either of two names, the story to the death of a person. They are, to the forces of sanity, reviled as dangerous upstarts, meddlers, of course, out to destroy the world. work as a magical weapon against monsters who are normally unaffected by non-magical items. automatic success. It has already worn a dozen faces; its deep pockets. Such villains are likely to establish a web of lies around by a chance to finally get the villain in their sights. 6 Significant People: consult the hero’s backstory entry for Significant People and why the relationship is so important. Find more similar flip PDFs like Call of Cthulhu - Pulp Cthulhu. It is at the Keeper’s discretion h whether such a hero could possess a weak-willed creature, o • If the attacker overcomes the target’s POW: the target loses like a zombie. Here the trope is played right down to the Grand long-term devotees of the Mythos powers, or those bloodlines Guignol repertoire of horrors, a megalomaniac mastermind to and beings touched for generations by their taint, that The match wits with, and a horde of masked killers with bloody axes Inheritors’ schemes might be as much anathema to them as and submachine guns for your pulp heroes to fight. assigned to a particular location or suspected cult. The nature and detail of the information impressions and emotions from a physical (non-living) object, gained are the purview of the Keeper. adaptions. The unwary explorer must navigate their way through, making strange allies and steering clear of the PULP THEMES opposition while fulfilling their primary objective—usually something like finding the hidden treasure or simply escaping Most games of Pulp Cthulhu will probably include all of the with their lives. Always think twice LUCK RECOVERY before allowing a ghoul or deep one to possess Luck points, as this mechanic will make them considerably more deadly. Hit points are reduced to half of what they were before going insane. has rolled 1D10 to figure the loss). The starting A major NPC’s Luck score is normally equal to their POW Luck value is not used again in the game and can be exceeded characteristic, although a subordinate NPC might have one- in the course of play. This is life or death, and so Dirk’s player goes all out and Extreme successes. jungle). In response, various gift of initiation into the cult’s higher secrets and echelons District Attorney’s offices—as well as the FBI’s Department of power. Whether drawn like sharks to the summoned to make grisly feasts of human sacrifices, or to scent of blood on the trail of monsters, hired as hunters, or as destroy those that stand in the cult’s way—have made true bodyguards for some deranged madman with a hidden agenda, believers of those initiates selected because they carry a stain who knows what catastrophe they might unleash? The heroes should have to work hard to uncover who is the real villain and how to Pulp heroes are tougher than standard Call of Cthulhu bring them down. A penalty die is added to each of the rolls: she hits with the first shot but misses with the second. The use of skills to understand and and gems can serve as the objects of desire. Is it a case of mistaken identity or a clever distraction? Department 29, as it was officially known, History e held the remit to research and investigate possible cult terrorist s threats. Note that unconscious heroes may be killed outright if As desired, the Keeper may deem that fumbled Medicine left unattended at the hands of monsters and major villains! The new blocks introduced is the Elder Sign, The Atlantis Gate, and Atlantian gold. If the psychic reads and senses a Mythos presence, or hatred, or love), followed by more specific impressions. As for the Earth itself, the Shard cares not if its gang but a multi-national hydra with dozens of offices and nations must ultimately be made to topple and the survivors hundreds of employees. n e Red lining is travel shorthand. p These include a railroad heist in Philadelphia in which a o The work is singled out by being peppered with horrific number of privately-owned antiquities were stolen and several n “experiments in agony,” which it advocates be performed upon guards killed, and a later gun battle in an illegal gambling club e the reader’s fellow man to “strengthen the soul and become in Atlantic City which left six dead, and allegedly resulted s more alike unto the gods by indulging in such appetites as they in another five individuals connected with organized crime own.” True scholars of the Mythos find the work a fabric of being kidnapped and never seen again. Something is happening— • Animals (angry dogs, bears, sharks, etc.) Rather than have Maxmillian squished, his wounds and makes a Medicine roll each day. o 1D10 magic points. Note that a suitable Art/Craft skill may be substituted for the Sleight of Hand roll (denoting the fine manipulation required to carefully engrave the bullet). Once a spell has been successfully cast (even Occultist and Yogi occupations all provide for the option of if a pushed roll was required to do so), subsequent uses do not taking psychic skills at the Keeper’s discretion. • In the case of dual-wielding melee weapons: one penalty Note that dual-wielding handguns makes reloading very die is applied to both the left-hand and right-hand attacks. to control the minds of humans nearby (if it wins an opposed POW roll) or the collar works fine for a few minutes and then The consequence of failing a pushed skill roll when using the dog begins to hear and follow the instructions of some an augmented skill should be quite severe and include at least malevolent supernatural force. random, including those that chose to dive for cover. revelation), or from an important source (perhaps a clue the Strength, Dexterity, Luck, Intelligence, or suitable skill roll heroes have been aware of, but which they have been unable at higher difficulty level). *Not applicable to armor of non-terrestrial origin, such as Mythos Due to the delicacy of the fuel canisters, they will explode if monsters. This requires the Keeper to devise personal connections The villains might devise schemes that are sometimes small between the characters and the quested item. Such an award should may get a shot at the monster’s weak spot, and so on. An NPC’s Luck points do not recharge in the same way as they do for heroes. the start of a new session of play. the heroes go quietly? A brass ear trumpet, approximately one foot long. Humans also have no way of replicating these devices The time required to make the gadget is determined by the or of really understanding their manufacture and workings. Downtime and investigation are as important as a d fight scene, as such elements help to balance out the game and Hazards e keep the players focused. Once may choose to shoot through the cover in an attempt to those that wish to dive for cover have done so, the Keeper hit the target. have unwittingly released Great Cthulhu from his slumber. The extent of weird science in a Only the Mystic archetype and the Occultist and Yogi game is determined by the Keeper, who should decide whether occupations allow for the option of taking psychic skills at the heroes are allowed access to—and the ability to build—weird Keeper’s discretion. 7 Insane speed: “Look at me—I’m faster than a speeding bullet!” When entering a chase, the hero takes a bonus die on their CON roll to determine their movement speed. Medium (00%) Telekinesis (00%) Akin to divination and clairvoyance, a medium is able to This ability allows the psychic to manipulate objects by the communicate with spirits, perhaps even alien presences. Due to recent A dying hero must make a CON roll at the end of the next troubles, his hit points are currently on 17. However, it carefully consider their inclusion before committing to using does mean additional bookkeeping on the part of the Keeper. The following optional rules are suggested for those wishing further granularity within Pulp Cthulhu. A failed pushed casting roll also means something weird, When making a psychic skill roll, a failed roll means horrific, and strange has taken place as the energies of the nothing has happened (the ability’s magic point cost is paid spell manifest in some bizarre fashion. t • Adjusting damage rolls. indefinite insanity recovery in the Hero Development Phase. For Pulp Cthulhu, (ignore this if at point-blank range). • Tornado (get to place of safety, wrecking equipment and Never make the trap unwinnable. WOUNDS AND HEALING If a target remains completely concealed for the whole round, the attacker may still take shots through the cover in In pulp games, the heroes are made of sterner stuff, able to shake the hope of hitting their target. English, author unknown, c. 18th century Three masked men were killed resisting arrest at the scene. with telephones going off constantly, people shouting questions and answers across the room, and impromptu meetings taking Despite this secrecy, most of the building is given over place around desks. i to target two opponents rather than one when both barrels are n fired. Ihr könnt die 1. und 2. 6 Flee in panic: the hero is compelled to get as far away as possible by whatever means are available, even if it necessitates them taking the only vehicle and leaving everyone else behind. It can be easy for such games to become figuring out the true meaning to all the horror around them. 10 Something is not meant to be held or known and must be destroyed. So far, some terrible successes n master, showing no signs of slowing down or loss of his strange in these goals have been met. If this is not possible, the Keeper should adapt the outcome accordingly. of the heroes find Maximillian’s battered form lying upon some strangely carved basalt stones. The psychic must Keepers are advised to reserve psychic attacks and possession succeed in a Telekinesis roll per attack and spend 1 magic for monsters and villains only. Usually, psychic heroes may use a psychic attack It is believed that certain ghosts who lose spirit combat are to force the target to become unconscious (through the loss of obliged to provide the victor a boon, which could be answering magic points) and possession is not an option. If the heroes seemingly stride through Luck score they add 2D10+10 points to their Luck score. At the start of each session of play, each player makes a Luck Of course, if you are playing a high-level pulp game where the Recovery roll. Such matters are best placed in the hands of the Keeper to determine in line with the level of pulp in their game. in a certain direction) Even the weather is against the heroes. The Mystic archetype and the for the first time. Halving Sanity Loss Cost: 20 Luck Cost: double the Sanity point loss Wounds can sometimes look a lot worse than they actually are. For low-level pulp games, gadgets and weird science should Allowing Heroes to use Psychic Attacks be rarely encountered, perhaps only in the hands or claws of major villains and monsters. Someone (or something) is taking an active interest in the heroes. Perhaps the Keeper quickly explains red line to the next day, scene, or encounter! Should a drive roll fail, they lose control of the vehicle somehow (at the Keeper’s discretion). Natural healing can be supported through o their maximum hit point total. the top of the box, which forks into two smaller cables. Help Mario to defeat zombie turtles, Yugoth mushrooms and other creatures that combine both worlds. n 2 Temporary blindness for 1D6 rounds (adjust difficulty levels for rolls/apply penalty die). And why? somewhere below) 94, RUNNING PULP GAMES Hazard by Reuben Dodd For example: From the start of the scenario, the heroes have been told about the importance of something called “Red Alabama.” No one seems to know what Red Alabama is for sure; hints and references are made, some people say it’s a person, others that it is a place, perhaps a nightclub. Are the Note that if there is an earthquake on every street corner or heroes actually being pursued—quickly turning into a chase quicksand in every jungle, then the hazards can soon become as the heroes realize they must escape, be captured, or worse! • Provides a bonus die to a specific skill roll, limited by Many Mythos races employ some form of technology, whether as weapons or tools. 14 The object or thing is hidden in plain sight. In 2020, elements of The Call of Cthulhu were adapted in the science fiction horror film Underwater, directed … Note that these minutes or hours are not played out; they are simply summarized by the Keeper. The fleeing character will have to make hide in, raise it again or only allow a hit on a critical success. The update also included several visual and … e grown increasingly more sinister and malign. Think about how the scenario played out and the story that unfolded. Their memories slowly return to them over time. • To build: requires casting the Elder Sign spell (see page 255, Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook), which allows for Two users may speak to one another through the devices the creation of 6 bullets inscribed with the Elder Sign, in at a distance of up to 1 mile, and the devices are good for 30 addition to a combined Firearms and Sleight of Hand roll. A few of their number have encountered such was widely ascribed to the actions of animals and bandits, while entities and lived to tell the tale, returning “twisted” by the others quietly whispered that, alone in the wilderness, the three experience. 9 Phobia: the hero gains a new phobia. They may be able to avoid death by spending Luck points or The phase allows the same character development and chances they can choose to go out in a blaze of glory—allowing the of skill increases as described in Rewards of Experience, page hero to perform one final dynamic, spectacular, and dramatic 94, Call of Cthulhu Rulebook, as well as the following additions/ action before they die. There may later To determine the nature of the bout of madness, choose an be an option for the hero to return to play, but no player appropriate option from Table 10: Bouts of Madness—Real should count on this. o woman, and vice versa. with a yes or a no, with any additional information given at the Keeper’s discretion. 19 The caster and everyone nearby is transported to another place (Keeper decides where). uninitiated medical workers, they should become privy to Sometimes such outside help is unaware of the agents’ true the inner workings of Caduceus quickly. If an outside force (another psychic, monster, etc.) Everything the heroes have encountered so far has led them to think a cult has been responsible when in fact it’s the U.S. Army! Try to avoid running combat scene after combat something even worse emerges. advantage of any situation, especially if the heroes seem to be unconcerned about the length of time it is taking them to Be aware too of situational hazards that force the heroes move forward. points. The caster must pay the costs of the outstanding magic point cost is taken directly from the hero’s spell multiplied by 1D6. Even in complete darkness, they get to make a roll as if it were twilight. The investigator seeks to indulge in their new mania for the next 1D10 rounds. a character can declare they are attempting to knock out their opponent. They might take a minute to light a nice cigar or make a toast with a hip flask. The hero has avoided certain death and immediately regains 1D6+1 hit points (see Death’s Door, page 67), turning Avoiding Unconsciousness up in the next scene in an appropriate state.