PULP CTHULHU: How to Play 1 - Concepts and Themes

Welcome to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where today's lesson is simple: cosmic horror, but with punchable Nazis. If classic Call of Cthulhu is about fragile academics discovering forbidden truths and immediately dying, Pulp Cthulhu is about kicking down the door, firing a shotgun at an elder god, and saying, "That all you got?" This episode is about concepts, themes, and vibes—the part of the game where sanity is optional, luck is currency, and surviving certain death might involve parachuting into a hot-air balloon you didn't know was there. Grab your fedora. We're going full pulp. Show Notes What Is Pulp Cthulhu? Pulp Cthulhu is a fully compatible variant of Call of Cthulhu that dials the game from existential despair to high-octane pulp adventure. Characters are tougher, more competent, and far more likely to survive long enough to matter. If Call of Cthulhu is The Thing or Evil Dead, Pulp Cthulhu is The Mummy, Army of Darkness, or Indiana Jones with eldritch nightmares. Core Themes & Tone Heroic pulp action instead of grim cosmic inevitabilityInvestigators who can take multiple hits and keep fightingA lighter, often comedic tone without abandoning horrorQuips, gadgets, globe-trotting, and cinematic set pieces This makes Pulp Cthulhu an excellent transition for players coming from Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or other heroic tabletop RPGs. Setting & Genre Shift Time period: 1930s, just before World War IIScope: Global adventures—London, Cairo, jungles, ruins, secret basesEnemies: Cultists, mythos horrors… and a suspicious number of Nazis The game leans hard into classic pulp tropes: secret societies, forbidden relics, occult conspiracies, and globe-spanning races against evil. Core Mechanics D100 roll-under system with degrees of successRegular, Hard, and Extreme successes replace DCsFumbles and pushed rolls create escalating consequencesSkills improve when you fail them during advancementThese mechanics reward specialization while keeping tension high, even for highly skilled characters. What Makes Pulp Cthulhu Different? Archetypes Two-Fisted Hero, Hard-Boiled Detective, Mystic, Mad Scientist, Femme Fatale, and moreEach archetype boosts a core characteristic and grants bonus skills Talents Passive and active abilities that enhance combat, investigation, or survivabilityCategories include Physical, Mental, Combat, and Weird Science Hit Points Roughly double standard Call of Cthulhu HPStill deadly—just less instantly fatal Luck as a Meta-Currency Spend luck to: Cancel fumblesReduce damageStay consciousCheat death entirely (with a suitably ridiculous explanation) Luck regenerates every session, encouraging aggressive use Insanity, Magic, and Weird Science Insane Talents can grant powerful abilities with narrative drawbacksMagic is faster to learn but still dangerous and unpredictablePsychic powers like telekinesis and clairvoyance are viable buildsWeird Science introduces death rays, jetpacks, ghost detectors, and other Flash-Gordon-adjacent nonsense Yes, you can build a psychic mind-wizard or a mad scientist with a death ray. The game actively wants you to try. The Pulp Meter The game supports multiple pulp levels: Low Pulp: Almost classic Call of CthulhuMid Pulp: Standard Pulp Cthulhu rulesHigh Pulp: Extra talents, cinematic survivability, full nonsense This episode sets the stage for going high pulp in future sessions Key Takeaways Pulp Cthulhu trades hopeless cosmic horror for heroic pulp survivalCharacters are tougher, more competent, and more fun to invest inLuck is a central mechanic that fuels cinematic storytellingThe 1930s setting enables globe-trotting, occult conspiracies, and pulp villainsPerfect for groups who want action, investigation, and horror without constant character deathIf you've ever wanted to punch Cthulhu—or at least shoot near him—this is your game Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: ...