Sample file TRAIL OF CTHULHU Credits Publisher: Simon Rogers Written by: Kenneth Hite GUMSHOE System: Robin D Laws Layout: Jérôme Huguenin Art: Jérôme Huguenin GUMSHOE Guru: Robin D Laws Editing and Additional Material: Simon Rogers Based on: Call of Cthulhu by Sandy Petersen and Lynn Willis Special thanks : Effie and Julia Huguenin, Léo and Pascal Quidault, Leonard Balsera Sample file Playtesting: Adrian Price, Steve Dempsey, Wai Kien, Adrian Smith, Graham Walmsley, Alex Fradera, Dave, Polymancer Studios, Simon Rogers, Daniel Bayn, Danni Bayn, Chris Malone, Mark DiPasquale, Matthew Pook, Tim Barker, Louise Hayes, David Lai, Mike Shepard, Carla Jane Miller, Elizabeth Rees, Robert Mills, Donald F. Taylor III, Richard Hardy, Lynne Hardy, Frederic Moll, Fredrik Hansson, Jeff Campbel Jamie Michael, Joshua Ford, Marcus Ogawa, Lisa Marie Ogawa, Gil Trevizo, Henry de Veuve, Ronald Abitz, Steve Bartalamay, Alan Fountain, Peter Kessler, Wojciech “Alter” Kobza, Laurent Mollicone, Olivier Noël, Wayne O’Connor, Ghislain Morel, James Semple, Gabriella Semple, Dan Pusceddu, Olive Pusceddu, Axel Eble, Stefan Ohrmann, Martin Schrammm, Onno Tasler, Ralf Achenbach, William C Bargo Jr, Jacques Maurice Mallah, Donald F. Taylor III, Keith A Callison, Doug © 2007 Pelgrane Press Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Published by arrangement with Chaosium, Inc. Trail of Cthulhu is a trademark of Pelgrane Press Ltd. 3 TRAIL OF CTHULHU Contents CREDITS...........................................................3 Cop Talk (Interpersonal)...................32 Piggybacking............................................ 57 Craft (Technical)....................................32 Cooperation..............................................58 Credit Rating (Interpersonal) ........32 Contests, Chases, and Combat ..........58 CONTENTS .....................................................4 Cryptography (Academic)................. 34 Fighting.......................................................60 Cthulhu Mythos (Academic)............ 34 Other Dangers.........................................68 Evidence Collection (Technical)...35 Stability, Sanity, and Madness..........69 Flattery (Interpersonal).....................35 Losing Stability.......................................69 INTRODUCTION........................................6 Forensics (Technical) .........................35 Losing Sanity........................................... 74 Why This Game Exists ..........................6 Geology (Academic) .............................35 Mental Illness........................................... 77 Purist or Pulp or Both?........................7 History (Academic)............................... 37 Refreshing Stability During A Interrogation (Interpersonal) ........ 37 Session ........................................................79 THE INVESTIGATOR ..........................9 Intimidation (Interpersonal)........... 37 Recovery........................................................80 OCCUPATIONS.................................................9 Languages (Academic)....................... 37 Refreshing Investigative Ability Alienist............................................................9 Law (Academic)...................................... 37 Pools..............................................................80 Antiquarian..........................................10 Library Use (Academic).....................38 Refreshing General Ability Pools80 Archaeologist..............................................11 Locksmith (Technical)........................38 Refreshing Health.................................. 81 Artist ..........................................................11 Medicine (Academic)...........................38 Refreshing Stability Between Author..................................................... 12 Occult (Academic) .................................38 Adventures................................................. 81 Clergy ............................................................ 12 Oral History (Interpersonal)...........39 Recovering Sanity................................. 81 Criminal....................................................... 13 Outdoorsman (Technical).................39 Improving Your Investigator.............82 Dilettante............................................... 13 Pharmacy (Technical) ........................39 Doctor...................................................... 13 Photography (Technical) ..................39 Hobo................................................................14 Physics (Academic) ..............................39 TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONS, Journalist................................................14 Reassurance (Interpersonal).........40 AND EQUIPMENT...........................83 Military ......................................................... 15 Streetwise (Interpersonal)...............40 Vehicles.......................................................83 Nurse ............................................................. 15 Theology (Academic)...........................40 Vehicle Table ...........................................86 Parapsychologist .....................................17 GENERAL ABILITIES ................................40 Aircraft Table ..........................................87 Pilot .................................................................17 Athletics ......................................................40 Weapons......................................................88 Police Detective..................................17 Conceal........................................................40 Hardware and Sundries...................89 Private Investigator...............................17 Disguise.........................................................41 Professor............................................... 18 Driving...........................................................41 PUTTING IT Electrical Repair......................................41 Scientist........................................................ 18 ...................................92 Explosives....................................................41 ALL TOGETHER DRIVES ............................................................. 19 ...................92 Filch...............................................................42 TIPS FOR PLAYERS Adventure ........................................... 19 Believe You Might Succeed.............92 Firearms.....................................................42 Antiquarianism.................................. 19 Justify Your Casting.............................92 First AidSample ......................................................42 file Arrogance..................................................20 Drives Drive You Forward..............92 Fleeing .........................................................42 Artistic Sensitivity ..........................20 When Stuck, Look For More Health........................................................... 43 Bad Luck.....................................................20 Information...............................................93 Hypnosis.............................................. 43 Curiosity ...................................................... 21 Talk To People.........................................93 Mechanical Repair ............................... 44 Duty......................................................... 21 Keep Moving Forward.......................93 Piloting ........................................................ 44 Ennui............................................................. 21 Deputize Yourself..................................93 Follower....................................................... 21 Preparedness ..........................................45 In the Blood ........................................22 Psychoanalysis .......................................45 Revenge...............................................22 Riding...........................................................45 Scholarship...............................................22 Sanity ...........................................................46 APPENDICES ............................................94 Sudden Shock..................................22 Scuffling...................................................... 47 Character Sheet.............................................94 Thirst for Knowledge.........................23 Sense Trouble ......................................... 47 BUYING ABILITIES.....................................23 Shadowing................................................. 47 INDICES ..........................................................97 Occupational Abilities.........................23 Stability .......................................................48 How Many Points Should I Buy? .26 Sources of Stability ......................48 Ratings and Skill ...................................27 Stealth..........................................................48 INVESTIGATIVE ABILITIES....................28 Weapons......................................................48 Accounting (Academic)......................28 SAMPLE CHARACTER .............................49 Anthropology (Academic).................28 Trail of Cthulhu Character Sheet49 Archaeology (Academic) ...................28 Architecture (Academic)...................28 Art (Technical)........................................30 CLUES, TESTS AND Art History (Academic)......................30 CONTESTS.................................................... 51 Assess Honesty