GM resource

Session zero for Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Set expectations, tone, and table agreements. CoC GMing is about survivable horror: information, consequence, and the slow erosion of certainty.

Checklist

Clarify tone + safety boundaries (horror intensity).
Decide what clues are discoverable even on failure (fail forward).
Plan a recovery beat after major shocks (Sanity pressure).
Keep combat rare, fast, and costly.

Common pitfalls

Punishing curiosity
Stalling with missing clues
Turning every scene into a fight

Combat cheat sheet

Quick lookup during play.

Common mistakes

Avoid repeated slowdowns.

Keep sessions moving

Use quick pages, then get back to the scene.