Show Notes
Welcome to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where today’s character creation lesson begins with basic geometry, escalates into psychic powers, and somehow ends with a pacifist circus bear being seriously considered as a build option.
In this episode, we take the gloves off and actually make characters for Pulp Cthulhu—choosing archetypes, rolling stats, hoarding skill points like goblins, and discovering that if you roll too well, you might accidentally invent the world’s first telepathic himbo artist.
If you’ve ever wondered how Call of Cthulhu character creation becomes fast, fun, and dangerously powerful, this is where the pulp really starts to flow.
The D8 goes in the D8 hole.
Show Notes
This episode walks step-by-step through Pulp Cthulhu character creation, showing how investigators are built to be tougher, broader, and far more cinematic than their classic Call of Cthulhu counterparts.
Ash guides Tyler and Randall through the full process—then breaks it down into a Quick & Dirty method that can get players to the table in minutes.
Step 1: Choose an Archetype
Archetypes replace traditional “classes” and are rooted in classic pulp fiction roles:
- Mystic (psychic powers, occult insight, vibes)
- Egghead (engineers, scientists, gadgeteers)
- Two-Fisted, Swashbuckler, Femme Fatale, Bon Vivant, and more
Each archetype:
- Defines a core characteristic
- Grants bonus archetype skills
- Suggests traits, occupations, and story hooks
This approach encourages concept-first design, letting the character idea drive the mechanics instead of the other way around.
Step 2: Generate Characteristics
Attributes are rolled using the familiar D100 roll-under system, but with a key twist:
- Core characteristic = 1d6 + 13 × 5 (expect very high numbers)
- Other stats use 3d6×5 or 2d6+6×5
- High pulp means exceptional competence
The result? Characters who feel powerful immediately—sometimes too powerful, leading to delightful accidents like rolling:
- Incredible Power
- Solid looks
- Questionable intelligence
(Yes, the “himbo build” is real.)
Step 3: Talents (High Pulp Edition)
Because this game is running High Pulp, characters receive four talents instead of two.
Talents are drawn from four categories:
- Physical
- Mental
- Combat
- Miscellaneous
Highlights from the episode include:
- Psychic Powers
- Arcane Insight
- Weird Science
- Animal Companion (responsibly downgraded from “bear” to “bear-adjacent dog”)
Talents dramatically define how characters play and reinforce pulp action over fragile realism.
Step 4: Occupation & Skill Points
Occupations grant massive skill point pools, often hundreds of points:
- Skills start with base percentages
- Occupational skills come first
- Archetype skills add another 100 points
- Personal interest skills add even more
The result is wide, competent characters instead of hyper-specialized glass cannons.
The episode includes practical advice:
- Avoid pushing every skill to 95
- Aim for flexibility, not just peak numbers
- Remember Credit Rating is mandatory and matters in play
Step 5: Backstory (Fast but Meaningful)
Instead of long essays, Pulp Cthulhu uses structured prompts:
- Personal description (biased, first-person)
- Ideology and beliefs
- Significant people
- Treasured possessions
- Traits
Random tables spark instant character hooks, like:
- Idolizing Nikola Tesla
- Carrying calipers as a grounding object
- Shared trauma bonds
- Risk-taking or unreliable personalities
One key backstory element becomes your Sanity anchor, helping characters recover from mental trauma.
Quick & Dirty Character Creation
Ash closes the episode with a streamlined alternative:
- Assign preset stat values
- Pick talents
- Select skills from fixed arrays
- Roll backstory details
- Start playing immediately
- Perfect for one-shots, convention play, or groups eager to punch cultists now, not in two hours.
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How to Find Us:
In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net
Tyler Kamstra
Ash Ely
- Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
- Join Ash’s West Marches-style PF2 Game
- Bluesky: GravenAshes
- YouTube: @ashravenmedia
Randall James
- AmateurJack.com
- Bluesky: @JackAmateur
- Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale
