Call of Cthulhu Investigation Points

Call of Cthulhu skill point allocation

Call of Cthulhu 7th edition (Chaosium, 2014) is a percentile horror RPG that takes its cues from H. P. Lovecraft. When you build an investigator, the occupation skill points come from EDU × 20 + (main attribute) × 10, though the exact multiplier varies by occupation template. On top of that you get personal interest points worth INT × 10, and those can go into any skills you like.

Skill tests roll 1d100 under the trained value. Land at or below the skill and you have a regular success. Hit half that value or lower (rounding down) for a hard success, and a fifth or lower for an extreme one. Pushed rolls and bonus or penalty dice are where the Lovecraftian tension lives, sitting your competence right up against the madness.

Applications

Handy when you roll up a new investigator, swap to a different occupation (antiquarian, journalist, professor, private eye), or run a pulp game like Pulp Cthulhu, where the multiplier climbs and the heroes hold up better. Long campaigns like Masks of Nyarlathotep, Horror on the Orient Express or Beyond the Mountains of Madness all assume characters built properly inside these budgets.

FAQ

Can I spend occupation points on any skill? No. They only go on the list your occupation defines. The personal interest points (INT × 10) are the free ones.

What is the cap per skill at creation? 75% in 7th edition. The one exception is Credit Rating, which stays inside the occupation range.

How does Pulp Cthulhu differ? Heroes there come with more hit points and archetype talents, and the occupation points often run on EDU × 4 rather than × 2. The result is a noticeably more capable investigator.