100% tips for any non-functioning Call of Cthulhu Keeper - Part 1 - Testing the Waters

Oct 6, 2026

Upload by Jake

Comprehensive, opinionated guidance for new and experienced Call of Cthulhu Keepers, focused on preparing to play, selecting source reading, and building competence with core rules. It begins with “Testing the Waters,” recommending several Lovecraft-related texts and RPG onboarding steps, then moves into “Getting Started” advice such as acquiring key rulebooks, using optional materials, and systematically studying each keeper chapter. The tone is direct, humorous, and aimed at improving table play and immersion.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Part 1 – Testing the Waters

Pre-play reading and mindset

Part 2 – Getting Started

Buying and studying core materials

100 tips for any non-functioning Call of Cthulhu Keeper (by /u/hepatitisbees) As an insanely experienced Keeper who knows everything (my players hate me) I’m doing all of you the favor of writing a comprehensive, completely inarguable guide for any new, medium, or advanced Keeper. Just remember that everything I say in this post is completely right, uncontroversial and not up for argument (please feel free to argue, criticize or tell me I am wrong as hell – you can ask my girlfriend, I love being belittled) . Prepare to get educated (steered completely wrong)! (Note: CoC stands for Call of Cthulhu.) Part 1 – Testing the Waters Before you PLAY Call of Cthulhu, find out if you LIKE Call of Cthulhu. 1. Read The Color Out of Space. It's crazy short, inexplicably scary, and doesn’t mess around with things like plot when it comes to getting its spook on. 2. Read The Whisperer in the Darkness. A bit longer but heavy on the Lovecraft Lore. Learn some names from it – you’ll see them again. 3. Read The Call of Cthulhu. Another longer one. Do I need to explain this one? Come on, it’s the same name as the game you’re playing. 4. Analyze them. Did you like them? Why or why not? If they really do NOTHING for you, you might not have the best time playing Call of Cthulhu. If you weren’t terrified but you liked the concepts at least, that’s normal. Lovecraft is good, but the writing is a bit archaic – deliberately so, even for the time period. Don’t think that you have to LOVE LOVEcraft (ha) in order to love Call of Cthulhu – in CoC, YOU are the Lovecraft. 5. Read some other horror. You know what, just take all these points and mash them into one when you edit the article – you’re just padding at this point. 50 tips are more than enough, for God’s sakes. 6. Read about Role Playing Games, if you don’t know what they are. They’re pretty straight forward. This article shows the benefits of an RPG and how one plays. 7. Take a look at the Quick Start Rules. They are here. Note A lot of people are going to say “play other roleplaying games first.” I get the sentiment but I actually disagree entirely with this. CoC is probably the least bloated Role Playing game you can play that doesn’t come in a box, use an app or play with a Jenga Tower (I’m looking at you, Dread, my sweet baby) . You can take everything you learn from just the Quick Start Rules and play CoC until the cows come home and begin speaking Eldritch. Part 2 – Getting Started Once you decide you LIKE Call of Cthulhu, you need to BUY Call of Cthulhu. Or pirate. Please don’t do that; this isn’t Call of Duty – these guys actually need your money. 1. Get the Keeper’s Handbook. You can find it here. Sorry about the price, I don’t control it. It ’s totally worth it, though – the book is beautiful, heavy and packed with info. 2. Think about if you want the Investigator’s Handbook. If you’re just starting out, you probably don’t. I’ve been playing for years and I still don’t have it, because creating a new “class” in this game is INSANELY easy and I’ve never bumped into a situation where it felt needed. That being said, if you like to collect this stuff or you want the extra mechanics, then go for it. Link. 3. Look at the Keeper’s Screen. Then move on. Don’t complicate things – not yet. It’s cool, but you can find the rules in other ways. (I’m not confident about this – buy the Keeper Screen if you want, honestly. It’s here) . 4. Read Chapter 1 of the Keeper’s Handbook. 5. Skim Chapter 2. 6. Leave Chapter 3 for reference – or when you need it. Just read over it really quickly, once. (I would recommend reading the “Creating Harvey Walters" section for backstory tips) . 7. Skip Chapter 4. Do you really need an explanation of what Spot Hidden means? 8. Read Chapter 5. ALL OF IT. Remember that shit. 9. Read Chapter 6. Get the combat system down to a science. Nothing breaks immersion better than having to check rules. 10. Read Chapter 7. Read it

FAQs

What should a new Keeper do before playing Call of Cthulhu?

Read relevant source materials to decide whether you like Call of Cthulhu. The guide recommends specific stories and then evaluating what you enjoy (or don’t).

Which books and materials does the guide suggest getting for setup?

It advises buying the Keeper’s Handbook, considering the Investigator’s Handbook, and looking at (but not overcomplicating) the Keeper’s Screen as an optional support.

How does the guide recommend studying the Keeper’s Handbook chapters?

It provides chapter-by-chapter pacing: read some chapters fully, skim others for reference, skip later chapters unless needed, and focus on key mechanics like sanity and combat.

Oct 6, 2026

Upload by Jake