PULP CTHULHU: How to Play 2 - Character Creation

Welcome to the RPGBOT.Podcast, where today's character creation lesson begins with basic geometry, escalates into psychic powers, and somehow ends with a pacifist circus bear being seriously considered as a build option.

In this episode, we take the gloves off and actually make characters for Pulp Cthulhu—choosing archetypes, rolling stats, hoarding skill points like goblins, and discovering that if you roll too well, you might accidentally invent the world's first telepathic himbo artist.

If you've ever wondered how Call of Cthulhu character creation becomes fast, fun, and dangerously powerful, this is where the pulp really starts to flow.

The D8 goes in the D8 hole.

Show Notes

This episode walks step-by-step through Pulp Cthulhu character creation, showing how investigators are built to be tougher, broader, and far more cinematic than their classic Call of Cthulhu counterparts.

Ash guides Tyler and Randall through the full process—then breaks it down into a Quick & Dirty method that can get players to the table in minutes.

Step 1: Choose an Archetype

Archetypes replace traditional "classes" and are rooted in classic pulp fiction roles:

• Mystic (psychic powers, occult insight, vibes)
• Egghead (engineers, scientists, gadgeteers)
• Two-Fisted, Swashbuckler, Femme Fatale, Bon Vivant, and more

Each archetype:

• Defines a core characteristic
• Grants bonus archetype skills
• Suggests traits, occupations, and story hooks

This approach encourages concept-first design, letting the character idea drive the mechanics instead of the other way around.

Step 2: Generate Characteristics

Attributes are rolled using the familiar D100 roll-under system, but with a key twist:

• Core characteristic = 1d6 + 13 × 5 (expect very high numbers)
• Other stats use 3d6×5 or 2d6+6×5
• High pulp means exceptional competence

The result? Characters who feel powerful immediately—sometimes too powerful, leading to delightful accidents like rolling:

• Incredible Power
• Solid looks
• Questionable intelligence

(Yes, the "himbo build" is real.)

Step 3: Talents (High Pulp Edition)

Because this game is running High Pulp, characters receive four talents instead of two.

Talents are drawn from four categories:

• Physical
• Mental
• Combat
• Miscellaneous

Highlights from the episode include:

• Psychic Powers
• Arcane Insight
• Weird Science
• Animal Companion (responsibly downgraded from "bear" to "bear-adjacent dog")

Talents dramatically define how characters play and reinforce pulp action over fragile realism.

Step 4: Occupation & Skill Points

Occupations grant massive skill point pools, often hundreds of points:

• Skills start with base percentages
• Occupational skills come first
• Archetype skills add another 100 points
• Personal interest skills add even more

The result is wide, competent characters instead of hyper-specialized glass cannons.

The episode includes practical advice:

• Avoid pushing every skill to 95
• Aim for flexibility, not just peak numbers
• Remember Credit Rating is mandatory and matters in play

Step 5: Backstory (Fast but Meaningful)

Instead of long essays, Pulp Cthulhu uses structured prompts:

• Personal description (biased, first-person)
• Ideology and beliefs
• Significant people
• Treasured possessions
• Traits

Random tables spark instant character hooks, like:

• Idolizing Nikola Tesla
• Carrying calipers as a grounding object
• Shared trauma bonds
• Risk-taking or unreliable personalities

One key backstory element becomes your Sanity anchor, helping characters recover from mental trauma.

Quick & Dirty Character Creation

Ash closes the episode with a streamlined alternative:

• Assign preset stat values
• Pick talents
• Select skills from fixed arrays
• Roll backstory details
• Start playing immediately
• Perfect for one-shots, convention play, or groups eager to punch cultists now, not in two hours.

Key Takeaways

• Pulp Cthulhu character creation is fast, flexible, and cinematic
• Archetypes replace classes with strong narrative identity
• High Pulp characters start powerful and stay relevant
• Talents are the heart of customization
• Skill points are plentiful—breadth is rewarded
• Structured backstory tools create instant roleplay hooks
• The Quick & Dirty method gets you playing in minutes
• Yes, you can accidentally build a psychic himbo—and that's a feature

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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:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• BlueSky: @GravenAshes
• YouTube: @ashravenmedia

Randall James

• BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
• Amateurjack.com
• Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati