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. *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:26d7a6db-f4c1-44e6-ba3e-d673b1d90813-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> 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 inevitability Investigators who can take multiple hits and keep fighting A lighter, often comedic tone without abandoning horror Quips, 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 II Scope: Global adventures—London, Cairo, jungles, ruins, secret bases Enemies: 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 success Regular, Hard, and Extreme successes replace DCs Fumbles and pushed rolls create escalating consequences Skills improve when you fail them during advancement These 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 more Each archetype boosts a core characteristic and grants bonus skills Talents Passive and active abilities that enhance combat, investigation, or survivability Categories include Physical, Mental, Combat, and Weird Science Hit Points Roughly double standard Call of Cthulhu HP Still deadly—just less instantly fatal Luck as a Meta-Currency Spend luck to: Cancel fumbles Reduce damage Stay conscious Cheat 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 drawbacks Magic is faster to learn but still dangerous and unpredictable Psychic powers like telekinesis and clairvoyance are viable builds Weird 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 Cthulhu Mid Pulp: Standard Pulp Cthulhu rules High 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 survival Characters are tougher, more competent, and more fun to invest in Luck is a central mechanic that fuels cinematic storytelling The 1930s setting enables globe-trotting, occult conspiracies, and pulp villains Perfect for groups who want action, investigation, and horror without constant character death If 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: 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
