Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition occupation
Parapsychologist
Parapsychologist is an occupation in Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition: Researcher who investigates hauntings and psychic claims with method, instruments, and a reputation problem.
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Key facts
- Skills
- Anthropology, History, Library Use, Occult, Psychology, Language, Credit Rating
- Credit Rating
- 9-30
Overview
The Parapsychologist studies the paranormal as a discipline, which produces an unusual mix: Anthropology at base 1 percent, History at 5 percent, Library Use at 20 percent, Occult at 5 percent, Psychology at 10 percent, and an extra Language. Anthropology is the piece that separates this occupation from the Occultist, because it reads a living cult as a culture rather than as lore. In play the Parapsychologist is the character who already has a file on the house. The occupation supplies an explanation for owning recording equipment, a reason to have interviewed the earlier witnesses, and a professional network of people who take strange reports seriously. Credit Rating 9 to 30 reflects the reality of the work: it does not pay, and mainstream academics do not respect it.
How it works
Occupation Skills: Anthropology, History, Library Use, Occult, Psychology, Language, Credit Rating Credit Rating: 9-30% Skill Points: EDU × 4 (spent only on the occupation skills listed above) Typical Equipment: Cameras, thermometers, and recording equipment, case files on earlier hauntings, correspondence with psychical research societies, questionnaires and signed witness statements
Tips and playstyle
Best For: Investigators who want a professional reason to chase the supernatural, campaigns built on hauntings and seances, players who like the skeptic versus believer tension. Playstyle: Occult and Library Use are the core buys, with Psychology for interviewing witnesses who may be lying, confused, or genuinely affected. Anthropology at base 1 percent is expensive to raise but is what lets you understand a cult's structure instead of only its symbols. Remember that Cthulhu Mythos starts at 0 percent for everyone and that raising it lowers your maximum Sanity, which is 99 minus your Mythos score. Character Concepts: Psychical research society investigator, debunker who found the one case they cannot explain, university psychologist studying mediums, ghost hunter with real instruments, reporter turned researcher.
Frequently asked questions
How is a Parapsychologist different from an Occultist?
The lists overlap on History, Library Use, Occult, and Language. The Parapsychologist adds Anthropology and Psychology, pointing the character at witnesses, cultures, and fieldwork, while the Occultist adds Persuade and points at lore and spells.
Does the occupation make me better at spells?
Only through Occult, which is on the list. Spells are learned from tomes and encounters at a Sanity cost, and no occupation grants any at creation. Occult helps you recognize and interpret what you have found rather than cast it.
How do people react to my profession?
Badly, usually, which is part of what the low Credit Rating band of 9 to 30 represents. Police and academics will not take your conclusions seriously, so build a working relationship with an investigator whose word carries weight, such as a Doctor of Medicine or a Professor.