Rules reference
Attributes in Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition
What attributes mean and how to use them at the table. Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition is a horror investigation roleplaying game based on H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Players take on the roles of Investigators, ordinary people who uncover cosmic horrors beyond human comprehension. As you investigate mysteries, your character's Sanity slowly erodes, skills improve through use, and the line between reality and madness blurs.
Key points
Attributes describe your broad capability. In play, they usually combine with skills (or directly with a roll mechanic) to resolve actions.
- Percentile skill system: Roll d100, succeed if equal to or below skill rating
- 8 Characteristics: STR, CON, POW, DEX, APP, SIZ, INT, EDU (plus Luck)
- Occupation system: Each occupation grants skill bonuses and Credit Rating range
- Sanity mechanics: Starts at POW, maximum reduced by Cthulhu Mythos exposure
- Skill improvement: Mark skills during play, improve after sessions
- Luck: Spend after a roll, point for point, to turn a failure into a success; can't be used on Sanity, damage, Luck rolls, or pushed rolls
If you want to solve problems physically, invest in physical attributes; if you want social leverage, invest socially. Your skills make that approach reliable.
Pick 1-2 ‘core’ attribute areas for your concept and accept a weakness to keep choices meaningful.
- Mistake: Spreading points evenly. Fix: Pick 1-2 strengths that match your concept and accept a weakness.
- Mistake: Ignoring how attributes connect to rolls. Fix: Check what combines with skills (or what the system uses most) and build around that.