CoC Investigator's Guide

This is a guide for Investigators (Player Characters) in Call of Cthulhu horror role playing game. It consists of basic advice that should get you (the Investogator) through a typical CoC Investigation (Scenario).

Most of the game is about gathering information.
You start out with some basic information, such as being called to a scene of a crime. You should search the area carefully and interview possible eyewitnesses. Take notes. Especially, list all names of people and places (and other things) that come up. Also list all other clues you've found, as it's easier to remember them that way.

With your list, you need to start background checking and research. If you have many clues, start from the most promising first. For this research, you need to access various sources of information, such as the following:
- Libraries (and in some cases museums, exhibitions, &c.).
- Newspaper archives (recent and old news).
- Civic records (information about people, times of birth, death, marriage).
- Police records and possibly information directly from police investigators.
- Business records, and other records about organizations.

More specialized information can be found, if necessary, in the following places:
- Universities &c. for academic specialists (natural scientists, historians, or whatever).
- Hospitals and insane asylums, doctors' & psychiatrists' offices, &c. for medical info on some people.
- Indian reservations, occult fraternities, church congregations for information about prominent citizens and of course members of the group. You may need to inflitrate the group dishonestly.
- Possibly shops like antique stores, or second hand book dealers.

You may encounter some books that really freak you out. But they probably contain some useful information. So have somebody trustworthy (one of your companions in your investigation, if any) read it and tell you what they find. All else failing, read it yourself. It really might be useful for you, but you'll never be the same afterwards.

There may also be local sources of information that you know of (you might ask the Keeper). You are likely to find something there.

Sometimes you can also just ask around, as long as you don't ask the wrong questions, or from the wrong people. Eventually you'll have suspects, and will wish to interrogate them. First perhaps interview. But when you have something on them, you may even want to go beyond legal limits in this. Considering that this is a horror game, knowing too much could be dangerous, so be prepared for anything.

The basic structure of a typical CoC Investigation is pretty linear. You start from point A, and get some clues pointing to certain places and people B, C, and D. You do research on them, perhaps visit them, and get more clues. You follow up on them in the same fashion, until you've revealed the secret. Then you may have to fight the bad guy. If possible, try some other approach. But calling the cops is usually not an option you can take. You have to deal with the problem, or others might suffer even more. That's how it usually goes, anyway.

It's likely that some time during your investigation you run out of luck and go insane and / or die. That's the nature of a horror RPG. So, keep a journal (in-game, not necessarily for real), so your successor (your next Player Character) can find it and continue your investigation.

Often your means of investigation have to be illegal, and you obviously should resort to such means only when other avenues of research fail. But if you get caught, and can't bribe your way out, you may need legal assistance. It's good to have a lawyer as a friend, or to keep a lawyer on retainer for these situations. A lawyer can also be useful in ensuring your investigation will not end in your death.

There's some standard equipment you'll want to be carrying around much of the time, at least once your investigation has progressed a bit. These include a handgun or two, with additional bullets for them. For self defense purposes, of course. And handcuffs and/or light rope or string. Medical kit. Pocket knife. Camera, flash bulbs, and film. Notebook and pen. Some chalk. Other recording devices (dictaphone perhaps). Magnifying glass. Fingerprint kit. Flashlight and extra batteries. Matches and/or cigarette lighter. Cigarettes and chocolate (to be used as bribes). Handkerchief. Leather gloves. Rubber gloves. Bags (for evidence). Lockpick set, if you know how to use one. At home and/or in your car, you might want to keep a shotgun and maybe some other weapons.

Guns don't really solve anything, but they can keep you from being killed a little longer. Unless you accidentally (or during a moment of desperation) shoot yourself. But in this game, that might just be your best option anyway... ;-)