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Call of Cthulhu RPG, 7th Edition
Cthulhu Grundregelwerk
Horror in den Welten des H. P. Lovecraft
Lange vor dem Aufstieg der Menschheit herrschten die Großen Alten über die Erde. Die Spuren ihrer zyklopischen Städte sind noch immer auf abgelegenen Inseln, vergraben im Wüstensand und unter dem Polareis zu finden. Einst kamen sie von den Sternen auf unsere Welt. Jetzt schlafen sie, manche weit unter der Erdoberfläche oder im Meer. Wenn die Sterne richtig stehen, werden sie sich erheben und erneut auf Erden wandeln.
Das klassische Horror-Rollenspiel Cthulhu basiert auf den Werken des Schriftstellers Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Dieser erschuf in den 1920er und 1930er Jahren eine Vielzahl an Romanen, Novellen und Kurzgeschichten, die sich sowohl um den Horror von Außen als auch von Innen drehten. Seine größte und dauerhafteste Schöpfung wurde später als Cthulhu Mythos bekannt. Hier werden gewöhnliche Menschen mit den schrecklichen und fremdartigen Kräften des Cthulhu Mythos konfrontiert.
Cthulhu zieht seit über 30 Jahren seine Spieler in den Bann. In diesem Spiel voller Geheimnisse, Rätsel und Schrecken schlüpfen die Spieler in die Rollen standhafter Ermittler („Investigatoren“), welche zu merkwürdigen und gefährlichen Orten reisen, üble Pläne enthüllen und sich gegen die Schrecken der Nacht stellen. Sie begegnen Verstand zerfetzenden Wesen, Monstern und wahnsinnigen Kultisten. In seltsamen und vergessenen Folianten entdecken sie Geheimnisse, die ein Mensch niemals kennen sollte. Dabei könnten sie durchaus über das Schicksal der Welt entscheiden.
Die Edition 7 hebt die Spielmechanismen von Cthulhu auf eine ganz neue Entwicklungsstufe, ohne die Kompatibilität zu allen bisherigen Veröffentlichungen zu verlieren.
Es enthält alle Regeln und Hintergründe, Spielhinweise, Zauber und Monster. Es wurde für den Spielleiter konzipiert, der seinen Spielern die Abenteuer präsentiert. Um Cthulhu spielen zu können, ist zumindest ein Exemplar der Edition 7 notwendig.
Ausschließlichen Spielern wird das Investigator-Kompendium empfohlen, welches unter Anderem erweiterte Regeln für die Charaktererschaffung, Fertigkeiten, Berufe und Ausrüstung enthält.
Lange vor dem Aufstieg der Menschheit herrschten die Großen Alten über die Erde. Die Spuren ihrer zyklopischen Städte sind noch immer auf abgelegenen Inseln, vergraben im Wüstensand und unter dem Polareis zu finden. Einst kamen sie von den Sternen auf unsere Welt. Jetzt schlafen sie, manche weit unter der Erdoberfläche oder im Meer. Wenn die Sterne richtig stehen, werden sie sich erheben und erneut auf Erden wandeln.
Das klassische Horror-Rollenspiel Cthulhu basiert auf den Werken des Schriftstellers Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Dieser erschuf in den 1920er und 1930er Jahren eine Vielzahl an Romanen, Novellen und Kurzgeschichten, die sich sowohl um den Horror von Außen als auch von Innen drehten. Seine größte und dauerhafteste Schöpfung wurde später als Cthulhu Mythos bekannt. Hier werden gewöhnliche Menschen mit den schrecklichen und fremdartigen Kräften des Cthulhu Mythos konfrontiert.
Cthulhu zieht seit über 30 Jahren seine Spieler in den Bann. In diesem Spiel voller Geheimnisse, Rätsel und Schrecken schlüpfen die Spieler in die Rollen standhafter Ermittler („Investigatoren“), welche zu merkwürdigen und gefährlichen Orten reisen, üble Pläne enthüllen und sich gegen die Schrecken der Nacht stellen. Sie begegnen Verstand zerfetzenden Wesen, Monstern und wahnsinnigen Kultisten. In seltsamen und vergessenen Folianten entdecken sie Geheimnisse, die ein Mensch niemals kennen sollte. Dabei könnten sie durchaus über das Schicksal der Welt entscheiden.
Die Edition 7 hebt die Spielmechanismen von Cthulhu auf eine ganz neue Entwicklungsstufe, ohne die Kompatibilität zu allen bisherigen Veröffentlichungen zu verlieren.
Es enthält alle Regeln und Hintergründe, Spielhinweise, Zauber und Monster. Es wurde für den Spielleiter konzipiert, der seinen Spielern die Abenteuer präsentiert. Um Cthulhu spielen zu können, ist zumindest ein Exemplar der Edition 7 notwendig.
Ausschließlichen Spielern wird das Investigator-Kompendium empfohlen, welches unter Anderem erweiterte Regeln für die Charaktererschaffung, Fertigkeiten, Berufe und Ausrüstung enthält.
423 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2015
73 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Sandy Petersen
105 books68 followersCarl Sanford Joslyn "Sandy" Petersen is an American game designer. He worked at Chaosium, contributing to the development of RuneQuest and creating the acclaimed and influential horror role-playing game Call of Cthulhu. He later joined id Software where he worked on the development of the Doom franchise and Quake. As part of Ensemble Studios, Petersen subsequently contributed to the Age of Empires franchise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 26, 2023
Call of Cthulhu has made my list of #7RPGs (which is in need of updating to include Dungeon Crawl Classics, but I digress). This 7th edition takes the previous editions and ratchets the game up a notch, not by any hugely different mechanics (you'll still find the Basic Roleplaying system at its core), but by presenting a carefully-crafted approach not only to the Call of Cthulhu game, but to roleplaying in general. In fact, I recommend any game master of any roleplaying game to read Chapter 10: "Playing the Game". This chapter is one of the best guides to how to run a game, especially a game involving mystery or horror, that I've ever read. I will be applying many of those lessons for years to come, and I am a game master with nearly 40 years of experience on the table.
The book's presentation is exceptional. It is sturdy (unlike a certain 2nd edition of another very popular roleplaying game, which are known to crumble into sheafs of paper) and exquisitely crafted. Each chapter is host to a full double-page full-color painting and there are full-color paintings and sepia tone illustrations of extremely high quality throughout. It is as much a coffee table art book as a roleplaying book. The sewn-in red silk bookmark is a nice touch, as well. Even if you never play the game, you might just want the book for the artwork.
On another level, you might just want the book for its treatment of the Lovecraftian mythos, tomes and grimoires, alien technology, and magic. You need not have a great grasp on the mechanics to appreciate Call of Cthulhu 7th edition Keeper Rulebook as a sourcebook. All creatures, books, artifacts, and spells presented here are well-researched and fleshed out just enough to let your imagination run wild if you are, for example, a writer wishing to explore the Lovecraftian universe.
This is not to say that the book is without flaws. There are some niggling editorial misses, little things, but enough to be distracting. And while the chapter on chases is, I'm sure, brilliant, I just don't get it. After listening to two separate podcasts (The Miskatonic University Podcast and The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, for which I am a patron of both), I still just don't get it. It's probably the sort of thing I need to watch in action a few times to really grasp. After all, I'm a kinesthetic and visual learner. Someday, I hope to really understand this one.
That said, the book is absolutely five star worthy, despite its flaws. Of course, the real test is "how does the book/how do the rules work at the table". I can attest from numerous Call of Cthulhu 7e sessions at Gameholecon and Garycon that the rules do, indeed, work very well (except for the chase rules, which I still need to play myself to understand). So if you've ever been curious, you could do worse than to splurge on a copy of the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook for yourself, then dive in and play. Or, if you want it for the art, or just as a sourcebook, that's fine too. There's no wrong way to use this book, except to not use it at all.
The book's presentation is exceptional. It is sturdy (unlike a certain 2nd edition of another very popular roleplaying game, which are known to crumble into sheafs of paper) and exquisitely crafted. Each chapter is host to a full double-page full-color painting and there are full-color paintings and sepia tone illustrations of extremely high quality throughout. It is as much a coffee table art book as a roleplaying book. The sewn-in red silk bookmark is a nice touch, as well. Even if you never play the game, you might just want the book for the artwork.
On another level, you might just want the book for its treatment of the Lovecraftian mythos, tomes and grimoires, alien technology, and magic. You need not have a great grasp on the mechanics to appreciate Call of Cthulhu 7th edition Keeper Rulebook as a sourcebook. All creatures, books, artifacts, and spells presented here are well-researched and fleshed out just enough to let your imagination run wild if you are, for example, a writer wishing to explore the Lovecraftian universe.
This is not to say that the book is without flaws. There are some niggling editorial misses, little things, but enough to be distracting. And while the chapter on chases is, I'm sure, brilliant, I just don't get it. After listening to two separate podcasts (The Miskatonic University Podcast and The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, for which I am a patron of both), I still just don't get it. It's probably the sort of thing I need to watch in action a few times to really grasp. After all, I'm a kinesthetic and visual learner. Someday, I hope to really understand this one.
That said, the book is absolutely five star worthy, despite its flaws. Of course, the real test is "how does the book/how do the rules work at the table". I can attest from numerous Call of Cthulhu 7e sessions at Gameholecon and Garycon that the rules do, indeed, work very well (except for the chase rules, which I still need to play myself to understand). So if you've ever been curious, you could do worse than to splurge on a copy of the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook for yourself, then dive in and play. Or, if you want it for the art, or just as a sourcebook, that's fine too. There's no wrong way to use this book, except to not use it at all.
January 21, 2024
Qualità manuale: impaginazione, illustrazioni, disposizione regole:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ambientazione: pura investigazione negli anni '20-'30 tra orrori cosmici e culti innominabili, tra follia e storia alternativa. A mio parere una delle migliori ambientazioni mai create: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sistema regole: d100 funzionale ma un pò datato: ⭐⭐⭐
Ambientazione: pura investigazione negli anni '20-'30 tra orrori cosmici e culti innominabili, tra follia e storia alternativa. A mio parere una delle migliori ambientazioni mai create: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sistema regole: d100 funzionale ma un pò datato: ⭐⭐⭐
November 26, 2023
I wasn't going to get this since I doubt we'll ever play it but the price dropped to around $30 the other day and I had some rewards points burning a hole in my pocket. I played the Call of Cthulhu RPG once or twice in antediluvian times but I've never run it.
Anyway, this is very well done. The artwork is spectacular and lightyears ahead of the art in the last edition I skimmed whatever year that was. That art was a touch on the amateurish side and this was on par with anything Wizards of the Coast puts out. The book is laid out in a logical way and I didn't find myself flipping back and forth for any fault of the book.
The mechanics are fairly easy to understand. There's more math than in the current edition of D&D but it's done ahead of time instead of the heat of the moment in this edition, smoothing things a bit. I imagine it would be daunting to people new to playing RPGs but an experienced Keeper would help that.
There's lots of source material to draw from in later chapters. It's nice to get an RPG with this much material in one place instead of having to buy three or four books just to play the game. There are chapters on magic, alien devices, creatures, and things of that nature. The chapter on how to run the game was interesting. I'll have to read that one again.
Much with Ravenloft, I'm wondering how you run a horror campaign since they seem more lethal than more conventional adventures. No fault of the book, though.
While I doubt I'll get to play or run this any time soon, I feel like I could with reasonable prep time. It really makes me want to reread some HPL, something I don't say every day. Four out of five stars.
Anyway, this is very well done. The artwork is spectacular and lightyears ahead of the art in the last edition I skimmed whatever year that was. That art was a touch on the amateurish side and this was on par with anything Wizards of the Coast puts out. The book is laid out in a logical way and I didn't find myself flipping back and forth for any fault of the book.
The mechanics are fairly easy to understand. There's more math than in the current edition of D&D but it's done ahead of time instead of the heat of the moment in this edition, smoothing things a bit. I imagine it would be daunting to people new to playing RPGs but an experienced Keeper would help that.
There's lots of source material to draw from in later chapters. It's nice to get an RPG with this much material in one place instead of having to buy three or four books just to play the game. There are chapters on magic, alien devices, creatures, and things of that nature. The chapter on how to run the game was interesting. I'll have to read that one again.
Much with Ravenloft, I'm wondering how you run a horror campaign since they seem more lethal than more conventional adventures. No fault of the book, though.
While I doubt I'll get to play or run this any time soon, I feel like I could with reasonable prep time. It really makes me want to reread some HPL, something I don't say every day. Four out of five stars.
October 3, 2020
En mi grupo de amigos-jugadores tenemos una cosa llamada los satélites que, en épocas normales giran y geoestacionan sobre nuestras cabezas siguiendo patrones regulares: el satélite Games Workshop (aunque en este ya no invertimos mucho), el satélite de los juegos de mesa, el satélite de los juegos de rol... Con el confinamiento, a pesar de haber alternativa digital para todos, invertimos en este último un tiempo que hacía mucho que no le dedicábamos, así que nuevos viejos sentimientos afloraron y empezamos a invertir también dinero aunque, en lo más íntimo de nuestros seres, sabíamos que todo terminaría porque las agendas adultas son pérfidas.
Esta es una nueva edición del manual básico del juego. En este sentido, la edición anterior (conocida en España como Primigenia) era más bonita, diseñada con un gusto exquisito y pertinente; esta es, básicamente, una edición clásica de manual de rol, aunque en papel satinado y color.
En cuanto al contenido, es correcto en sus términos. Las reglas actuales son mejores en algunos puntos y peores en otros, pero hasta que no las use no podré juzgarlas a fondo. Pero vaya, considero innecesario el enfoque orientado a acción que proponen en algunos puntos, que además necesita ayudas posicionales externas, más típicas de otros sistemas como Dungeons & Dragons y que, en mi opinión, desvirtúan el espíritu.
Pero, al final del día, sigue siendo el mejor juego de rol de mesa que te puedes echar al coleto, tanto si eres un fanático acérrimo de todo lo lovecraftiano como si solo te gustan el terror y la ciencia ficción. No creo que lo cambiase por otros muchos que me ofrecieron grandes cosas en el pasado pero han perdido fuerza con el paso de los evos.
Esta es una nueva edición del manual básico del juego. En este sentido, la edición anterior (conocida en España como Primigenia) era más bonita, diseñada con un gusto exquisito y pertinente; esta es, básicamente, una edición clásica de manual de rol, aunque en papel satinado y color.
En cuanto al contenido, es correcto en sus términos. Las reglas actuales son mejores en algunos puntos y peores en otros, pero hasta que no las use no podré juzgarlas a fondo. Pero vaya, considero innecesario el enfoque orientado a acción que proponen en algunos puntos, que además necesita ayudas posicionales externas, más típicas de otros sistemas como Dungeons & Dragons y que, en mi opinión, desvirtúan el espíritu.
Pero, al final del día, sigue siendo el mejor juego de rol de mesa que te puedes echar al coleto, tanto si eres un fanático acérrimo de todo lo lovecraftiano como si solo te gustan el terror y la ciencia ficción. No creo que lo cambiase por otros muchos que me ofrecieron grandes cosas en el pasado pero han perdido fuerza con el paso de los evos.
March 1, 2018
This is a great update to an already beautiful system and only helps to streamline your inevitable descent into madness. There's more atmosphere, more horrific goodness, and fewer hurdles to slow you down.
The distillation of more stats and mechanics to run on percentages simplifies some of the bean-counting. The Keeper's guide has lots of great resources for new and experienced GMs and the Player's Handbook is brimming with Lovecraft stories, lore, and metric tons of 1920's history to lend any amount of authenticity you may want in your adventures.
The distillation of more stats and mechanics to run on percentages simplifies some of the bean-counting. The Keeper's guide has lots of great resources for new and experienced GMs and the Player's Handbook is brimming with Lovecraft stories, lore, and metric tons of 1920's history to lend any amount of authenticity you may want in your adventures.
September 25, 2025
Muchas personas consideran este el mejor juego de rol del mundo. Yo no comparto esa opinión porque mi favorito es su padre, RuneQuest, pero la entiendo. La Llamada siempre fue un juego bestial.
Esta última versión actualiza enormemente el juego, sin dejar de ser compatible con todas las ediciones anteriores. Impecable en todos los sentidos.
7 estrellas
Esta última versión actualiza enormemente el juego, sin dejar de ser compatible con todas las ediciones anteriores. Impecable en todos los sentidos.
7 estrellas
May 9, 2020
A veure, no me l’he llegit tot. Ni monstruari, ni encanteris, ni les dues aventures preparades, clar. Però sí totes les regles. Ja estic preparat per jugar.
Ah, no, calla. Que primer ens hem de desconfinar per reunir-nos amb els amics!!!
Ah, no, calla. Que primer ens hem de desconfinar per reunir-nos amb els amics!!!
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October 2, 2016Rollspelsregler.
Ska spela med min lilla rollspelsgrupp, kommer att vara första gången som jag agerar spelledare. Sjukt taggad!
Ska spela med min lilla rollspelsgrupp, kommer att vara första gången som jag agerar spelledare. Sjukt taggad!
March 26, 2018
I love that I can now consider RPGs professional reading!
Credit to Chaosium Inc. for creating such a straight-forward, useful rulebook for Call Of Cthulhu. Chapter Ten, "Playing The Game," was particularly helpful in refreshing my memory as to how RPGs ought to be run. CoC uses a straight-forward percentile dice system that I appreciate for its simplicity. Am looking forward to running my first scenario! As a fan of H.P. Lovecraft's writing, and pulp-horror in general, this will be a go-to game for me.
A few editing issues keep this from a perfect score; particularly, there are far too many typos present in the text! That, and the whole structure of chase sequences is particularly unwieldy as written -- I've read the chase rules twice now and still don't quite understand how to operate them.
That said, the quality of the writing trumps the editorial sloppiness and the art, charts, tables, and scenarios included are all excellent! I look forward to reading the rest of the line.
Credit to Chaosium Inc. for creating such a straight-forward, useful rulebook for Call Of Cthulhu. Chapter Ten, "Playing The Game," was particularly helpful in refreshing my memory as to how RPGs ought to be run. CoC uses a straight-forward percentile dice system that I appreciate for its simplicity. Am looking forward to running my first scenario! As a fan of H.P. Lovecraft's writing, and pulp-horror in general, this will be a go-to game for me.
A few editing issues keep this from a perfect score; particularly, there are far too many typos present in the text! That, and the whole structure of chase sequences is particularly unwieldy as written -- I've read the chase rules twice now and still don't quite understand how to operate them.
That said, the quality of the writing trumps the editorial sloppiness and the art, charts, tables, and scenarios included are all excellent! I look forward to reading the rest of the line.
December 16, 2019
Es comenzar a leerlo y desear jugarlo. Cada página es oro puro. No sólo te permite entender con claridad todos los conceptos, sino que da ejemplos sencillos y claro para asimilarlos. La información es abrumadora pero cada Master puede escoger el nivel de realidad/complejidad de la partida, sin por ello menguar la diversión y la temática oscura que nos regaló H.P. Lovecraft.
Aunque lo he leído varias veces durante este tiempo, no dejo de descubrir más y más detalles que me ayudan a ir perfeccionando las partidas y hacerlas más apasionantes para los jugadores. Una edición bien encuadernada y maquetada, con una cantidad de dibujos de ambiente que te ayudan a meterte en la temática.
Por este libro no pasan los años y seguirá proporcionando horas y horas de diversión.
Aunque lo he leído varias veces durante este tiempo, no dejo de descubrir más y más detalles que me ayudan a ir perfeccionando las partidas y hacerlas más apasionantes para los jugadores. Una edición bien encuadernada y maquetada, con una cantidad de dibujos de ambiente que te ayudan a meterte en la temática.
Por este libro no pasan los años y seguirá proporcionando horas y horas de diversión.
September 29, 2017
Only RPG system I knew was D&D. This system is way better than that. Realism is at it's best while keeping easy game play.
July 12, 2024
Awesome
July 16, 2024
The most terrifying part is that there are rules for your credit score. The real Eldritch Horror was capitalism all along.
December 3, 2021
What a marvelous resource! An indispensable necessity for a keeper (game master) in the the Call of Cthulhu game system, this volume is far more than that. Yes, it includes all of the charts, tables, grimoires, lore, etc. that one would expect for such a book. And it includes well-written chapters on playing the game which are good for keepers as well as players. Subjects devoted to topics such as "Creating Investigators", Skills", "Game System", "Combat", "Chases", "Sanity", and "Magic" are all included. A chapter on Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos is certainly welcome, especially for those unfamiliar with the works of HP Lovecraft. Another nice chapter entitled "Playing the Game" offers numerous insightful tips for all who choose to dive into this role-playing adventure game.
But beyond all of that, this book is a work of art. It is a beautifully produced tome packed with exquisite artwork of all types. Museum-quality pieces one and all. Examples of play are included to illustrate the points being made in the text and are set out from the primary text in gorgeous background colors. It all ties together wonderfully and makes the information easy to absorb and understand. The book can be used simply as a reference, dipping into now and again as needed or it can be read (as I did), word for word simply to soak up the atmosphere and really submerse oneself in the game world.
Highly recommended.
But beyond all of that, this book is a work of art. It is a beautifully produced tome packed with exquisite artwork of all types. Museum-quality pieces one and all. Examples of play are included to illustrate the points being made in the text and are set out from the primary text in gorgeous background colors. It all ties together wonderfully and makes the information easy to absorb and understand. The book can be used simply as a reference, dipping into now and again as needed or it can be read (as I did), word for word simply to soak up the atmosphere and really submerse oneself in the game world.
Highly recommended.
January 30, 2018
I have to admit that my previous experience with CoC was with the 1st and 3rd editions, so I have no idea when the new rules/modifications were added to the game. That being said, I’m liking this newest version, although I will have to reserve final judgement until I actually run a few games using it. The 7th edition seems to have kept the stuff I liked about the earlier versions, tightened up some rules and loosened others (all to the good it appears). I’m also fascinated by the edition to the “chase” section, which seems to be a dramatic way of running pursuit in an RPG. As above, I’ll have to see how it works in practice, but it looks good.
June 1, 2021
My favorite games gets its first major change and it's...not that major. Still, it's very well presented with tons of good advice. When I first saw that this edition was coming out and was going to be split into a Keeper book and an Investigator book, I was annoyed. Call of Cthulhu was always one of those games where you just got the basic book and you were good to go. Why make it two? Well, they didn't. If you get the Keeper book, you've got the whole game. You've got everything you need for players and keepers, from character creation through the rules, monsters through some scenarios.
Get it. Play it. Love it. Go MAAAAAD!
Get it. Play it. Love it. Go MAAAAAD!
September 18, 2022
Como presentación a la ambientación, perfecto.
Como manual muy extenso con demasiadas concreciones pa mi gusto (¿hace falta un capítulo entero pa las persecuciones?)
Como sistema de juego... honestamente no me gustó.
Quitando mi rechazo al d100, pensé que siendo la séptima edición se habrían actualizado un poco, pero grita anticuado por todas partes. Insisto, hay demasiadas normas y conceptos farragosos fácilmente resumibles, la creación de personajes se me hace innecesariamente compleja y para ser tan moderno, los incentivos a la imaginación y la narración son los justos.
Aun así es obviamente sólido y adaptándolo un poquillo pienso usarlo 😈
Como manual muy extenso con demasiadas concreciones pa mi gusto (¿hace falta un capítulo entero pa las persecuciones?)
Como sistema de juego... honestamente no me gustó.
Quitando mi rechazo al d100, pensé que siendo la séptima edición se habrían actualizado un poco, pero grita anticuado por todas partes. Insisto, hay demasiadas normas y conceptos farragosos fácilmente resumibles, la creación de personajes se me hace innecesariamente compleja y para ser tan moderno, los incentivos a la imaginación y la narración son los justos.
Aun así es obviamente sólido y adaptándolo un poquillo pienso usarlo 😈
November 24, 2020
La Llamada de Cthulhu es el decano de los juegos de inspiración pulp, desde 1981 ofreciendo una versión de las historias de Lovecraft, y otros en menor medida, en forma de ambientación jugable y sistematizada. También es el patrón oro de los juegos de rol de terror, aquel contra el que todos los demás se han medido y valorado, ampliando los límites de lo que era concebible en un juego de rol.
http://aventurasextraordinarias.blogs...
http://aventurasextraordinarias.blogs...
September 14, 2020
Kinda having trouble digging into the horror side of this, finding themes that grab me; a lot of the horror is solely prefixed on otherism and the alien; a lot of stuff that might have freaked (white) people out in the 1920s but which today feels antiquated. Like, I’m not afraid of octopi or the Arctic or people that don’t look like me, y’know? Among other things. Looking forward to reading Harlem Unbound, I think it will give a lot that this is lacking.
July 5, 2018
I am hovering between two and three stars. The third star would be for the comprehensive guide to Lovecraftian beings. As a reading experience, it's unfortunately somewhat messy and disorganised, and could be a lot more stringent.
February 5, 2017
Full review here: http://rlyehreviews.blogspot.co.uk/20...
Please reshare.
Please reshare.
February 10, 2017
A fantastic game, and this rulebook is well-organized, beautifully presented, and easy to navigate.
August 24, 2019
Great rule set. Now I just need to find time to play.
June 17, 2021
I first played Call of Cthulhu in the mid-80s, with a close friend's stepfather as Keeper. I will never forget the highs and lows of being part of a shrinking, then evolving cast of Investigators trying to survive Spawn of Azathoth. I've played in dozens of campaigns since then, literally thousands of hours of roleplaying. Still, those passing moments of exhilaration and fear remain forever as some of my favorite game experiences.
So I have always had a soft spot in my heart for this game. It is a tough one to get right. You have to have the right group that accepts that the characters are not heroes and will be lucky to survive. And horror is a tricky genre in which to play a campaign. Fear is hard to maintain, and a game built around uncovering small truths leading up to a (usually) horrible reveal isn't for everyone. But when it works, it works.
This release is the 7th edition of CoC and is the most radical change to the rules yet attempted. The reason for this is simple - roleplaying has evolved. Of course, there will always be grognards who insist on Old School play, "Rules as Written" (RAW), a close connection to roleplaying's wargaming roots, including lots of "crunch" in the system. But the trend today is toward empowering players, ramping up the heroics, and giving them the ability to cheat fate and escape the merciless whims of die rolls, at least some of the time. I won't get into the details, as many others have already done so, but for the most part, the changes in this edition are efforts to accomplish this kind of "modernization." To bring a system that is 40 years old into a form that players today, with today's expectations, can learn to love as much as us old-timers do. In my opinion, all of the changes are good ones, making the game better fit today's expectations while remaining, undeniably, Call of Cthulhu.
The Keeper Rulebook is the essential volume for this game and contains all the rules needed to play. Of course, you can buy many additional products - rules expansions, campaigns, etc. - but this is the one book you need. And what a gorgeous book it is! Even those that will disagree with me on the changes to the system will have to agree that, like all recent products by Chaosium, it is Best in Breed. The art is gorgeous, the rules clear, the examples helpful, the index, well, present. (This isn't a given in the RPG world.) Honestly, I can't say enough good things about the look and feel of this book. But on top of that, the system itself is elegant, straightforward, tailored to the horror genre, mechanically sound. As I said, not all roleplayers will enjoy a horror campaign, but I think anyone would love a sit-down game of Call of Cthulhu. It might even be an excellent choice to have non-gamers dip their toes in, given the relative simplicity of the rules and the setting in a changed reflection of our Real World.
Most highly recommended for gamers, gamer-wannabes, and lovers of Weird Tales. Even if you never play the game, reading through the Keeper Rulebook is an absolute delight.
So I have always had a soft spot in my heart for this game. It is a tough one to get right. You have to have the right group that accepts that the characters are not heroes and will be lucky to survive. And horror is a tricky genre in which to play a campaign. Fear is hard to maintain, and a game built around uncovering small truths leading up to a (usually) horrible reveal isn't for everyone. But when it works, it works.
This release is the 7th edition of CoC and is the most radical change to the rules yet attempted. The reason for this is simple - roleplaying has evolved. Of course, there will always be grognards who insist on Old School play, "Rules as Written" (RAW), a close connection to roleplaying's wargaming roots, including lots of "crunch" in the system. But the trend today is toward empowering players, ramping up the heroics, and giving them the ability to cheat fate and escape the merciless whims of die rolls, at least some of the time. I won't get into the details, as many others have already done so, but for the most part, the changes in this edition are efforts to accomplish this kind of "modernization." To bring a system that is 40 years old into a form that players today, with today's expectations, can learn to love as much as us old-timers do. In my opinion, all of the changes are good ones, making the game better fit today's expectations while remaining, undeniably, Call of Cthulhu.
The Keeper Rulebook is the essential volume for this game and contains all the rules needed to play. Of course, you can buy many additional products - rules expansions, campaigns, etc. - but this is the one book you need. And what a gorgeous book it is! Even those that will disagree with me on the changes to the system will have to agree that, like all recent products by Chaosium, it is Best in Breed. The art is gorgeous, the rules clear, the examples helpful, the index, well, present. (This isn't a given in the RPG world.) Honestly, I can't say enough good things about the look and feel of this book. But on top of that, the system itself is elegant, straightforward, tailored to the horror genre, mechanically sound. As I said, not all roleplayers will enjoy a horror campaign, but I think anyone would love a sit-down game of Call of Cthulhu. It might even be an excellent choice to have non-gamers dip their toes in, given the relative simplicity of the rules and the setting in a changed reflection of our Real World.
Most highly recommended for gamers, gamer-wannabes, and lovers of Weird Tales. Even if you never play the game, reading through the Keeper Rulebook is an absolute delight.
March 2, 2020
Fantasy writer George R.R. Martin was recently asked to give his advice to novice fantasists, and cautioned that they would do well to make sure that the magic in their universe does not too much resemble science. For (the logic goes) if magic is mysterious, it should never be totally quantifiable or subject to rules as prosaic as cause and effect (unless we're talking about curses, vengeance, and incurring wrath).
If you accept that caveat, it makes it that much harder to make a game about the Cthulhu Mythos, since the magic of Lovecraft's universe is not so much Manichean as purely evil. His world basically consists of bad or at best myopic people tampering with dark forces to gain power, and in turn being devoured, turned mad, or somehow consumed by their hubris by even darker demonic forces.
"Call of Cthulhu" does a good job of resolving these contradictions, or at least making them work for the Dungeon Master (called a "Keeper" here to avoid lawsuits from Gary Gygax, presumably). It also fleshes out the general game system in exacting detail, which some will love and others will find a little pedantic (I prefer my RPGs to focus more on characters than on tables that make me feel like I'm being audited by the IRS every time an elf launches a bolt from his crossbow at me).
The book also gets extra points for doing a good job of integrating later works from Lovecraft-inspired writers as well as providing some biographical info on the writers and publishers who formed the core of the "Lovecraft Circle," who were mostly consigned to the men's market fiction ghettos in their own day and only retroactively given the establishment imprimatur.
The book's also a fine objet d'art in its own right, glossy and beautifully illustrated, hardback and heavy enough to crack the carapace of any eldritch beast you might accidentally summon while playing the game. Recommended, either as gamer's bible or a jumping off point for your own creative endeavors.
If you accept that caveat, it makes it that much harder to make a game about the Cthulhu Mythos, since the magic of Lovecraft's universe is not so much Manichean as purely evil. His world basically consists of bad or at best myopic people tampering with dark forces to gain power, and in turn being devoured, turned mad, or somehow consumed by their hubris by even darker demonic forces.
"Call of Cthulhu" does a good job of resolving these contradictions, or at least making them work for the Dungeon Master (called a "Keeper" here to avoid lawsuits from Gary Gygax, presumably). It also fleshes out the general game system in exacting detail, which some will love and others will find a little pedantic (I prefer my RPGs to focus more on characters than on tables that make me feel like I'm being audited by the IRS every time an elf launches a bolt from his crossbow at me).
The book also gets extra points for doing a good job of integrating later works from Lovecraft-inspired writers as well as providing some biographical info on the writers and publishers who formed the core of the "Lovecraft Circle," who were mostly consigned to the men's market fiction ghettos in their own day and only retroactively given the establishment imprimatur.
The book's also a fine objet d'art in its own right, glossy and beautifully illustrated, hardback and heavy enough to crack the carapace of any eldritch beast you might accidentally summon while playing the game. Recommended, either as gamer's bible or a jumping off point for your own creative endeavors.
April 19, 2021
Ah it's so good. So, so good.
If you are into tabletop RPGs there is no better, I swear no better game or world to get wrapped into than Call of Cthulhu. This edition is from 2014/2015 in the seventh edition of the game and that may sound daunting but it really isn't, each new edition that comes out tightens up the game adding more gameplay elements and scenarios that make the game even better for new or old players and also gives any Keeper all the information thy need to craft their own original scenarios.
It also comes with some brilliant and original prose by Petersen in the style of Lovecraft and gives a little information about the writer and most importantly contextualizes but does not overlook the problematic and racist elements that were infused in the early works. The book is essential for getting started by helping you through character creation and how to play the game with easy explanations of skill checks and percentile rolls along with extra rules on situations from car chases to rock climbing, it includes distance and speed rules for planes and dholes (the giant monster worms not the dogs) and most importantly it gives very simple and clear instructions. If you can think of a situation or problem in the game, this book will have it covered, gorgeous illustrations and wonderfully written if you want to become involved in the best RPG produced it is a must have.
If you are into tabletop RPGs there is no better, I swear no better game or world to get wrapped into than Call of Cthulhu. This edition is from 2014/2015 in the seventh edition of the game and that may sound daunting but it really isn't, each new edition that comes out tightens up the game adding more gameplay elements and scenarios that make the game even better for new or old players and also gives any Keeper all the information thy need to craft their own original scenarios.
It also comes with some brilliant and original prose by Petersen in the style of Lovecraft and gives a little information about the writer and most importantly contextualizes but does not overlook the problematic and racist elements that were infused in the early works. The book is essential for getting started by helping you through character creation and how to play the game with easy explanations of skill checks and percentile rolls along with extra rules on situations from car chases to rock climbing, it includes distance and speed rules for planes and dholes (the giant monster worms not the dogs) and most importantly it gives very simple and clear instructions. If you can think of a situation or problem in the game, this book will have it covered, gorgeous illustrations and wonderfully written if you want to become involved in the best RPG produced it is a must have.
March 4, 2024
The Keeper Rule book contains the rules to create player characters, the mechanics to run a game (most notably dealing with investigations, combat, sanity, magic and monsters) and a few bits and pieces on the Cthulhu universe and storytelling within the setting. At the end of the book are two scenarios, a linear one for the beginner and more open ended one.
The mechanics suit the game, although I find the chase rules overly detailed and mechanically orientated. I especially like the advice/rules on how to deal with the various investigation skills, and depending how things go, I am seriously considering using these in other RPGs as well.
The book seems to be orientated towards people at least somewhat experienced in RPGs and the Cthulhu Mythos, although at least the later is relatively easy to catch upon with the list of reading material provided. Meaning that a beginning in RPGs probably wants to do some reading on how to run RPGs as well. Considering the lethality of the game, either through death or insanity of the characters, I also would have expected some advice on how to handle this beyond just mentioning characters should end at dramatic moments and not early on in the session.
Regardless, from personal experience I know it to be a good RPG, fun to play.
The mechanics suit the game, although I find the chase rules overly detailed and mechanically orientated. I especially like the advice/rules on how to deal with the various investigation skills, and depending how things go, I am seriously considering using these in other RPGs as well.
The book seems to be orientated towards people at least somewhat experienced in RPGs and the Cthulhu Mythos, although at least the later is relatively easy to catch upon with the list of reading material provided. Meaning that a beginning in RPGs probably wants to do some reading on how to run RPGs as well. Considering the lethality of the game, either through death or insanity of the characters, I also would have expected some advice on how to handle this beyond just mentioning characters should end at dramatic moments and not early on in the session.
Regardless, from personal experience I know it to be a good RPG, fun to play.
June 18, 2025
I bought this as a pair alongside the Investigator's Handbook not long after going through the starter box for CoC 7E.
Its entry on this site doesn't make this clear, but this is the book for Keepers. This is short for Keeper of Arcane Lore, and is the name for CoC GMs, usually just referred to as Keepers.
This is the definitive rulebook for this game. It has all the stuff listed in the IHB but with additional stuff for, as you might expect, Keepers, but that any player could benefit from. My one complaint is that the book is a bit ugly and riddled with typos. Typos seem to be a common issue in CoC books but this book looks positively drab compared to the books that have come out for 7E in more recent years.
Its entry on this site doesn't make this clear, but this is the book for Keepers. This is short for Keeper of Arcane Lore, and is the name for CoC GMs, usually just referred to as Keepers.
This is the definitive rulebook for this game. It has all the stuff listed in the IHB but with additional stuff for, as you might expect, Keepers, but that any player could benefit from. My one complaint is that the book is a bit ugly and riddled with typos. Typos seem to be a common issue in CoC books but this book looks positively drab compared to the books that have come out for 7E in more recent years.
December 27, 2020
Discovered this in the UK back in the 80s. Previously, I'd only played Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. I can't remember now which I discovered first - this game or Lovecraft's writings. In any case, I found the game mechanics refreshingly simple and the whole background fascinating.
These days I still occasionally read but hardly ever play any fantasy stuff, but my love for Call of Cthulhu (and appreciation of Lovecraft's writing) has never diminished. I was fortunate enough to play in one of Sandy Petersen's games some years back and he's also a top man. Thanks, Sandy!
These days I still occasionally read but hardly ever play any fantasy stuff, but my love for Call of Cthulhu (and appreciation of Lovecraft's writing) has never diminished. I was fortunate enough to play in one of Sandy Petersen's games some years back and he's also a top man. Thanks, Sandy!
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