Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition occupation
Student
Student is an occupation in Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition: Undergraduate or graduate learner with campus access, dangerous curiosity, and almost no money.
Last reviewed
Key facts
- Skills
- Language, Library Use, Listen, Persuade, Spot Hidden, Credit Rating
- Credit Rating
- 5-10
Overview
The Student has the lowest Credit Rating band of any occupation here except the Drifter, at 5 to 10, paired with a short and efficient skill list: Library Use at base 20 percent, Listen at 20 percent, Spot Hidden at 25 percent, Persuade at 10 percent, and an extra Language. Nothing about the occupation is specialized, and that is the point. Students work as investigators because campuses are where these scenarios happen. You have a library card, dormitories full of people who saw something, professors who will answer a question from their own student, and no obligations stopping you from going somewhere overnight. What you do not have is money, standing, or anyone in authority who takes your report seriously.
How it works
Occupation Skills: Language, Library Use, Listen, Persuade, Spot Hidden, Credit Rating Credit Rating: 5-10% Skill Points: EDU × 4 (spent only on the occupation skills listed above) Typical Equipment: Library card and lecture notes, a shared room, classmates in every department, a bicycle or the bus fare, whatever you can borrow this week
Tips and playstyle
Best For: Campus and university campaigns, players who want a character who visibly grows through play, groups where one investigator should be genuinely out of their depth. Playstyle: Library Use and Spot Hidden are the strongest buys because both already start high. Name your field of study and your extra Language to match the campaign. Expect to improve quickly: you mark a skill after using it successfully, and at the end of a scenario you roll above the current value to gain 1d10 percentage points, so a Student climbs faster than an established specialist sitting at 80 percent. Character Concepts: Graduate student cataloging a donated collection, undergraduate whose roommate vanished, scholarship student in over their head, medical student with anatomy knowledge and no license, exchange student with the language the party needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Student a weak occupation?
It is deliberately poor in money and standing at Credit Rating 5 to 10, but the skill list is efficient. Library Use, Listen, and Spot Hidden all start at 20 percent or higher, so a Student is already competent at three of the rolls Keepers call for most. The gap is resources, not ability.
Do Students improve faster?
In effect, yes. An improvement roll succeeds when you roll above your current skill value, so low and mid-range skills grow far more reliably than a veteran's 80 percent. A Student who survives three scenarios can end up as capable as anyone at the table.
What should I spend Personal Interest points on?
INT × 2 points go anywhere, so cover a hole in the party. Dodge at half DEX keeps you alive, Occult at base 5 percent gives you a reason to recognize the symbol, and First Aid at base 30 percent is already good enough to be worth pushing higher.