STEP FOUR: DETERMINE OCCUPATION

Your hero’s occupation determines the skills they are most proficient with, their income level, and who they are likely to know. Bear in mind the occupations suggested by the chosen pulp archetype.

The following suggested occupations are naturally pulp flavored and some are more closely tied to the 1930s setting. Additional occupations can be found in Chaosium’s Investigator Handbook.

Once you have chosen an occupation, write it down on the pulp hero sheet and then make a note of the occupational skills for Step Five.

This Free Basic Rules version contains a limited number of Occupations. For many more player options, check out the full Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook

Archaeologist

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 4.
• Credit Rating: 10–40.
• Suggested Contacts: patrons, museums, universities.
• Skills: Appraise, Archaeology, History, Other Language (any), Library Use, Spot Hidden, Mechanical Repair, Navigate or Science (e.g. chemistry, physics, geology, etc.)

Author

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 4.
• Credit Rating: 9–30.
• Suggested Contacts: publishers, critics, historians, etc.
• Skills: Art (Literature), History, Library Use, Natural World or Occult, Other Language, Own Language, Psychology, any one other skill as a personal or era specialty.

Cat Burglar

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 2 + DEX × 2.
• Credit Rating: 5–40.
• Suggested Contacts: fences, other burglars.
• Skills: Appraise, Climb, Electrical or Mechanical Repair, Listen, Locksmith, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Spot Hidden.

Dilettante

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 2 + APP × 2.
• Credit Rating: 50–99.
• Suggested Contacts: variable, but usually people of a similar background and tastes, fraternal organizations, bohemian circles, high society at large.
• Skills: Art/Craft (Any), Firearms, Other Language, Ride, one interpersonal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), any three other skills as personal or era specialties.

Explorer

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 2 + (APP × 2 or DEX × 2 or STR × 2).
• Credit Rating: 55–80.
• Suggested Contacts: major libraries, universities, museums, wealthy patrons, other explorers, publishers, foreign government officials, local tribespeople.
• Skills: Climb or Swim, Firearms, History, Jump, Natural World, Navigate, Other Language, Survival.

Investigative Journalist

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 4.
• Credit Rating: 9–30.
• Suggested Contacts: news industry, politicians, street-level crime or law enforcement.
• Skills: Art/Craft (Art or Photography), one interpersonal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), History, Library Use, Own Language, Psychology, any two other skills as personal or era specialties.

Nurse

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 4.
• Credit Rating: 9–30.
• Suggested Contacts: hospital workers, physicians, community workers.
• Skills: First Aid, Listen, Medicine, one interpersonal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Psychology, Science (Biology and Chemistry), Spot Hidden.

Private Investigator

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 2 + (DEX × 2 or STR × 2).
• Credit Rating: 9–30.
• Suggested Contacts: law enforcement, clients.
• Skills: Art/Craft (Photography), Disguise, Law, Library Use, one interpersonal skill (Charm, Fast Talk, Intimidate, or Persuade), Psychology, Spot Hidden and any one other skill as personal or era specialty (e.g. Computer Use, Locksmith, Fighting, Firearms).

Professor

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU x 4.
• Credit Rating: 20–70.
• Suggested Contacts: scholars, universities, libraries.
• Skills: Library Use, Other Language, Own Language, Psychology, any four other skills as academic, era or personal specialties.

Soldier

• Occupation Skill Points: EDU × 2 + (DEX × 2 or STR × 2).
• Credit Rating: 9–30.
• Suggested Contacts: military, veterans’ associations.
• Skills: Climb or Swim, Dodge, Fighting, Firearms, Stealth, Survival and two of the following: First Aid, Mechanical Repair or Other Language.