Insanity - How to Play Call of Cthulhu 7E (Tabletop RPG)

This is the fifth episode of the How to Play Call of Cthulhu 7E series. Find the playlist to the series and other useful links below.
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#CallOfCthulhu #RPG #TRPG
🎥How to Play CoC 7E Playlist:
• How to Play Call of Ct...
⏱️TIME STAMPS⏱️
1:45 -- Sanity Basics
3:58 -- Insanity Types
6:23 -- Bout of Madness
6:54 -- Phobia & Mania
9:02 -- Delusion
12:23 -- Cthulhu Mythos
12:54 -- Regaining Sanity
14:08 -- Get Used to Horror
👤CHARACTER SHEETS👤
Lucille: imgur.com/3x4aI3X
Scott: imgur.com/w9wd91Y
Phineas: imgur.com/3kD5bbl
Rosalind: imgur.com/0iZSwag
Empty Character Sheet (Chaosium): www.chaosium.com/cthulhu-char...
📚BUY CALL OF CTHULHU📚
Call of Cthulhu 7E: www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
🖼MERCH👕
Redbubble: www.redbubble.com/people/CJLe...
🎥PLAYLISTS🎥
Learn How to Play CoC 7E series:
• How to Play Call of Ct...
Learn How to Play D&D 5E series:
• How to Play Dungeons a...
Link to the D&D 5E Class Guide playlist:
• Dungeons and Dragons 5...
How to Dungeon Master playlist:
• How to Dungeon Master ...
The Channeler Class video: • New D&D 5e Class - The...
🚨Buy at DrivethruRPG 🚨
www.drivethrurpg.com/product/...
Free cheat sheet infographic: imgur.com/a/iueQBw1
Pdf version of the cheat sheet: tiny.cc/t87s6y
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[@DontStopThinking]

Don’t forget to download Amino and search my profile name, CJLeung, to check out my Stories: aminoapps.onelink.me/4eRt/DontStopThinking Follow me to see more of my Stories and support me!

[@dynamicworlds1]

Love your content, especially this new thing of doing a deep dive on non-D&D rpg systems because they get far too little love, but if I may make the smallest constructive criticism of your format as it occured to me; time stamps in the description aren't as good as one in a pinned comment because KZbin's phone app doesn't make them clickable in the description for some reason that I expect force me to make a sanity check if I tried to understand it. Please keep up the excellent content though and the fact that you put timestamps at all is going well beyond most creators on even just that minor aspect of your presentation.

[@Dracopol]

@@dynamicworlds1 KZbin doesn't allow clickable time-stamps in the description any more. All the hour:minute times I put in my video descriptions are no longer blue and can't be clicked.

[@seanreyes8577]

This is a D&d question. Is there something that can let me copy spells as soon as I observe them? No copying or anything like that.

[@bardssinisterstories2607]

The great old one known as Squidworst commands the.

[@nobodyreally9877]

"We can move to characters creation, which is the next episode" Thats some big ass death flag Ive ever seen

[@bonthebunnycat667]

That's why I'm creating like 6 characters sheets xD

[@YGeo]

14:40 Cultist: "Hello Rosalind." Rosalind : "Sorry Darling I'm too drunk to deal with you."

[@alcormagnus8754]

CJ: *Reveals Lucille is from Innsmouth* Me, an aspiring Keeper trying to come up with twists: WRITE THIS DOWN, WRITE THIS DOWN!!

[@nikolasota4162]

uhhh!! *makes a Tic-tac-toe board*

[@nixmaritimus836]

I was just immediately like, Wait! She's a fishgirl!!!!

[@Zombiewithabowtie]

* Writes it down in detail * reads it back over * Loses Sanity because of it

[@sirunklydunk8861]

*sees Rosalind's face* Dear god she'd turning into the Joker

[@tylerhylton4927]

SIR UNKLYDUNK Worse. She’s turning into Aquaman.

[@railbaron1]

"Wharever Don't Kill You Simply Makes You, Stranger"

[@insertoriginalyoutubeusern6229]

No even worse. She is becoming female Trevor Philips.

[@Duanathar]

His is the sexy siren's voice that guides us deeper into the darkness.

[@paperbullet1945]

THAT LUCILLE PLOT TWIST, THO

[@jonathanguajardo8430]

this is call of cthullu this scenario is always looking bad

[@minze202]

Anyone else just watching this for the background story? :D

[@miguelgalvezpetersen6588]

and really enjoy how those last frames story evolves/develope. Gasp!? Lucille is from Innsmouth?! 0wO

[@TheChrisOfManyHats]

A little bit of column A and a little bit of column B.

[@Dracopol]

@@miguelgalvezpetersen6588 "I don't remember my folks very much, but they must have been fishermen because I remember a strong smell of fish..."

[@sharkerxd9094]

yes

[@miguelgalvezpetersen6588]

@@Dracopol heheh xD

[@typerez1251]

“You get used to it.” That’s an understatement. You actually start to like it over time, even enjoy it actually.

[@sunayama4650]

The thumbnail represents my slow descent into madness while waiting for the next upload

[@bonthebunnycat667]

Hahahaha mood

[@Ravenwing888]

Getting real worried about Lucille's backstory now. And Rosalind's futurestory. And all of it, honestly

[@Dracopol]

Yeah, I thought Lucille was the cute Waifu of the Century, but if she's the daughter of a Second-Oath resident of Innsmouth, there may be thrills AND gills in her future.

[@theatheistbear3117]

Dracopol Love tentacle girls!

[@adzi6164]

@@Dracopol lol, gills

[@zehragulay2894]

@@theatheistbear3117 but deep ones doesnt have tentacles they are just uglu humanoidish fishes

[@Archon3960]

@@zehragulay2894 Those touched by Great Cthulhu actually do. They have several boons gifted to them, like magic, osychic abilities, and communion with the great calamari himself. Thankfully, they are quite rare. 😎

[@Jader7777]

That Australian-Asian accent is what always has me coming back for more!

[@orgixvi3]

Phineas is exactly the kind of character I wanted to play in a CoC game. Likely to either die first, or survive to warn others not to wander too close to the edges of reality.

[@MrChupacabra555]

In addition to hearing how the rules are handled, I'm enjoying the 'misadventures' of this little gang here as well ^_^

[@miguelgalvezpetersen6588]

At the blackout from 'a bout of madness', I image she became the cult leader and got used too seeing ghouls. and the scene 14:30 cultist walks too beside the ghoul and would say "Sorry 'My lady high priestess' Charles(Ghoul) have a habit of wandering around, I'll take him away so he doesn't disturb you anymore."

[@Archon3960]

Wow. Could you imagine a Cult of Cthulhu lead by a drunkard higher-class occultist? Comic gold right there! 😎

[@luna4s]

I knew it! I knew there was going to be something with Lucille. Poor poor Lucille. She's going to end up being the key to something big...

[@Dracopol]

Naaah, Lucille's back-story is just a red...herring?

[@luna4s]

@@rafaeldelimacampos4524 Why do you BOTH sound like you know something I don't. xD

[@justanotherdreamer.8669]

"Tell me Mr. Robinson, what and where is Innsmouth?" I am not gonna lie, I was screaming when I heard that. The story in the background actually keeps me interested and focused in the tutorials, even though its a lot of rules!

[@Moh4a4d]

Holy hell this game is cruel. CJ is a sadist if he's the Keeper. But for real, I'm happy more TRPGs are getting attention. Everyone and their aunt makes videos on D&D, but content and tutorials for other games are scarce. I really want to play a game of this now.

[@larsdahl5528]

Yes, something that make CoC far more interesting than D&D is the characters. CoC characters feel more real as they are close to real life people. Not like D&D where you pick a race (Tiefling? Aasimar? - Or something with no real life counterpart to relate to.) And CoC characters are far more dynamic, yes they start out in a profession, but from then on they can evolve in any direction. (The future is open!) Unlike D&D where you wait for the next level already knowing what it will give you. (You know the future, and already have a plan for how to progress through all the levels.) --- And the play is far more dynamic in CoC. What is D&D? - You meet in a tavern, you get a mission, you buy some stuff (mostly weapons and armour) and then combat and more combat and even more combat, for to meet in the tavern starting over again doing the same same all over. - Again and again. (A speed run to reach the max. level... And then the game is over.) In CoC, a session can be looking around in an area where something strange have happened, next two session can be a party with a lot going on among PCs and NPCs, next sessions can be running around searching libraries and other places for a book you have figured out contain knowledge you need, next session can be a journey to a difficult to reach destination, next session you get into fight with the cultists (Yes, first at the sixth session some combat occur!), next session goes on in the hospital while recovering... (You can not speed run in CoC, if you try anyway you will soon be dead and/or insane. - You have to spend time at living a good life for to recover both physically and mentally, before your next dive into the abyss...)

[@TheChrisOfManyHats]

CJ: Arcane Keeper, inspiring Insanity instructor, Mania Mastermind. Such is the awesomeness of this series and the D&D series before.

[@christianlecroy980]

I hope you do a mutants and masterminds tutorial.

[@dynamicworlds1]

While I don't want him to rush any one, I want Savage Worlds (would also be good timing as a new edition is coming out soon) but I'm happy to see all sorts of new systems from ones I love to ones I've never heard of.

[@BenFrayle]

Also a Kult primer.

[@willnorman-bargo]

He sould do gurps 3e after this.

[@Master_E444]

You know I’m guessing there’s a lot more we’ll be learning about Lucille and Rosalind in the Future. Honestly there my favorites along with Scott. Hope they wind up relatively alright with at least some of there sanity left.

[@heavenlyguardianHG]

Wait... you don’t mean? Lucille is a-..

[@Speedy-gq8wm]

FISH!!!????!!!

[@InquisitorThomas]

eh... I'd still tap that.

[@sharkerxd9094]

read shadow over ins-mouth, you don't want to tap this fish

[@Dracopol]

Only a committed bachelor would write about delectable young people who turn into gross things after, what, age 25? A warning against marriage? Look for the early warning signs like swimming too well and a love of sushi...

[@theblueshadow3537]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! she's to attractive to end up like that

[@railbaron1]

*Innsmouth!* I've never had much exposure to Call of Cthulhu but, even I understand the significance of Innsmouth

[@jorgewilliam7103]

YES! I'm planning on running CoC to some friends soon and your videos are helping a lot. Cheers from Brazil!

[@Dracopol]

It is good to introduce games which are constructed differently from D&D, although Don't Stop Thinking covered D&D 5th-edition extensively too, almost as if he likes it. :-) I would like to see him treat Traveller in the same animated way.

[@lucasrodrigues-ew8ii]

Salve o cara é brabo namoral

[@sinnerthesinful552]

Se existe na internet, pelomenos um br já foi lá

[@lcm361]

I agree / Eu concordo... Estou na mesmas aqui haha

[@StarkMaximum]

Oh no, a chilling look into the past of Lucille, when she was only six years old and three inches shorter.

[@InquisitorThomas]

*Lucille wants to know your location*

[@Dracopol]

Lucille may get much thicker soon, and won't have to buy swim-trunks ever again...

[@robertmoorhead2406]

This is actually something where Trails of Cthulhu (a spinoff of Call of Cthulhu by Peregrine Press that uses the GUMSHOE system, an even simpler system then BRP) handles it better. Trails of Cthulhu uses a Sanity/Stability system, splitting off the "How Crazy You Are" and "How Good You Are At Hiding It" into two different bars. Stability can be recovered by Psychotherapy, increased like skills (although any given adventure is only going to give you two points to spend on that, so it's always vulnerable), and you can spend small amounts to gamble not losing big amounts on your roll.

[@Incrediblefatslug]

Always makes my day to see you spreading the joys of Call of Cthulhu

[@bluetyphoon__]

*The Lucille plot thickens*

[@bonthebunnycat667]

T H I C C

[@InquisitorThomas]

F I S H

[@Dracopol]

And her thighs will too...

[@frydfish4934]

* ghoul breaks down door * Rosalin: "been there, done that. Bring a fish person or something."

[@luckyowl1681]

I mean... cool twist that is appropriate for a backstory change as a result of a loss of sanity, so... kudos, CJ, that guy who's voice we've gotten used to.

[@theunwateredone6150]

I got a Phobia of the living so had to be convinced things were dead HAHA XD

[@ThompsonExpress]

CJ: Aight so Lucille is from Innsmouth Me: *Dark corner of the earth flashback* Man the people we're so GODDAMN nice we're they

[@Archon3960]

Ah, this is so true... x) *_Stranger! Stop!_* *_Kill the Outsider!_* *Search the area!_*

[@lunatic0verlord10]

14:08 Wait! *Is Lucille a Deep One Hybrid?!*

[@natsune09]

Keeper: You see a ghoul. Investigator (after hitting the max insanity from ghouls): Oh, hi Bob. How's it going? Bob: Ugggnnnnnfffffff ... nerp. Investigator: yeah, I hear ya!

[@mikesands4681]

Just such a great guide and sub-story

[@malaketh]

These are really helpful. Thanks for making this series

[@Biodeamon]

there should be a buff that after you overcome some sanity afflictions you learn some insight (or become jaded) to fighting off the darkness

[@Zombiewithabowtie]

Thing is, in Call of Cthulhu insight into the darkness is what drives you round the bend in the first place.

[@sillymonger]

You have a good sense of humor CJ, and great videos, thanks brother!!

[@krjstoffer]

Love these educational vids, keep them coming!

[@piercegalactic]

I love your series!! I'm running my first scenario tomorrow night and your videos have been a great help in prepping!!

[@kaankafka2751]

This videos are helping me so much. Thanks for making them.

[@WestonSKA]

Thank you for this series. It has been a very good refresher and I really enjoy the animation/design. Between you and Seth Skorkowsky, I hope more people play Call of Cthulhu.

[@colinflanigan9153]

Great video! Learned a lot!

[@trumanjgc]

Thanks a lot for your videos. You are helping a couple of brazilian dudes enjoy this wonderful game.

[@handsomeman-child8751]

CJ, your enthusiasm more than compensates for your accent. Keep up the great work! I refer everyone I know to your channel!

[@eskoevtyukov4764]

This series is awesome and informative!

[@TheWeekendGeek]

These videos are well made, keep up the great work

[@cooltrainervaultboy-39]

Fittingly, you sound like an Egyptian archeologist to me. Now your avatar just needs a Fez (which to be honest, would fit right at home with the material in question)!

[@UnChatAlcoolique]

You're like the Indian guy who explains math on KZbin, but with CoC (i love your video)

[@samc.6324]

I love this channel is like having a code DM and Lk.

[@chakatBombshell]

Getting a bout of madness that rolls psychopathy can sometimes actually be beneficial which is hilarious. I actually like to play it sorta like the video game Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem where if your character is able to kill a horror it temporarily restored some lost sanity because it makes sense for a person to feel (slightly) empowered if they know that it can die and they did survive. It would be temporary boost because after a bit of thinking outside the action you have time to reflect and remember "oh god what was that, its black blood got on my face!"

[@nikolasota4162]

and become a "Hunter" against that creature they spot so many times EX: ghoul

[@chakatBombshell]

@@nikolasota4162 I do think if you're characters profession should sometimes effect how much sanity a monster or scene actually affects them. A crime scene investigator or slaughterhouse worker should be desensitize to blood and gore for instance and a morgue worker should be more able to deal with a skeleton or zombies existence once he gets over it walking around.

[@nikolasota4162]

@@chakatBombshell true

[@ralphjackson2518]

The twist being that Phineas was involved in the raid on innsmouth would be interesting, although the timeline would get a bit fucky as iirc that happened in 1929/1930 depending on the source.

[@sifthethedoggo5119]

am i the only one who also uses insanity in dnd i have them roll it every time a truly horrifying event or when they see an abberation

[@yeissonvelandia699]

you tink was a Ghoul, put was ME DIO

[@haydongonzalez-dyer2727]

Love it

[@thetheoristking8731]

Thank you for doing this. I have starting writing a murder mystery campaign already

[@iHDFarmer]

thank you for this series its really amazing you need to do an special episode for pulp cthulhu

[@mathieuvart]

Your videos are very good

[@narcolepticcow807]

"Lucielle, where did you get a hand grenade?" "...ha ha ha ha ha."

[@simplerole-play9176]

Love sanity rolls!!

[@TheRamblingSoul]

Also I'd love to see a Call of Cthulhu RPG in this art style! 😁

[@Wingspand1]

I have had bad experience with this game and I kinda don’t like the insanity mechanic but it’s nice to know they are now clearly explained

[@calebrobinson7965]

This video to make me 10 Point of sanity

[@AttilaVoices]

LOL I like it how Rosalina just side glances and shuts the door on the ghoul and the cultist

[@toddtaylor4649]

Love this series. The wonderful animations, concise and simple explanations...and your accent rocks and is NOT a difficultly. You speak, what?...three languages??? Ppl need to stick a cork in that bottle of negativity. Keep up the great work? Ps. Too bad I can't get a players screen like your crazy cool art deco styled one. PEACE!!

[@sharkdentures3247]

Never played Chuthulu. Still, loving the visuals & the understandable rule explanations.

[@lowidex7803]

still getting the hang of the game i need to wait for more videos coming for tutorial episodes for the game

[@2010AZ]

FINALLY

[@augment9211]

I love you CJ

[@mr.nazareth4501]

The voice who keeps the arcane lore

[@davidreno6]

That part about collecting phobias reminded me of Monk

[@luckyowl1681]

Hm... Hearing that part with Lucille and Innsmouth... I am intrigued. But yeah, I got into this game as well. I've yet to actually be able to put together a group, but I keep collecting the books and I have friends that *are* interested in playing.

[@ericdiaz9579]

Gg I love this series.

[@pume_trpg]

Yeah!

[@Sharkakaka]

14:40 Cultist: "I've come to..." Rosaline: * slams the door * "I am not drunk enough to deal with this"

[@atomykebonpyre]

Ghoul: *Shows up at Rosalind's house* Rosalind: This shit again?

[@matc8085]

Amazing amount of work your videos have. :) Keep the excellent work and carry on my friend. Thanks for sharing :) And your accent is not hard to follow, just ignore the haters.

[@jackadamsdaniels6719]

CJ look sharp ;)

[@Avankiri]

CJ's voice makes me think he's saying every line between bites of his lunch, especially on his "O" sounds

[@Avankiri]

Also makes me hungry for some readon

[@Becix157]

just noticed that the opening is a reference to gravity falls amazin videos

[@howcas8744]

i never used it, but i was thinking in a situation tha the player does get mad in a house theyre investigating, or any place that being loud could get dangerous, i allow the player to do a POW roll to keep themselfs quiet, they are still out of the game, but they are not gonna be a big problem for example: a player that passed the roll: they could sit in the closest corner and just stare at the wall while saying very quiet:"He's here, i'm looking at him, i'm looking, i'm looking. He's gonna get me, he is, he is, he is..." while a player that failed: this can vary a lot, normally they just start crying for a moment(i like to describe this as their last moment of sanity) but after a while they can start hurting themself and if a 100 is rolled, killing themself(seems like birdbox right?)

[@dvdrpg]

CJ will you turn this series into a downloadable scenario? Thank you for these videos :]

[@simplyclover7410]

Yo why tf am I so invested in the example story

[@alexeaves7694]

Correction for those watching... At 12:24, the Cthulhu Mythos score is irrelevant. An investigator always increases their score by 5% for "the first instance of Mythos-related insanity," and 1% for each mythos-related insanity thereafter.

[@Dracopol]

Would you say the Insanity mechanic in the rules, and the recovery options, have become more lenient in this edition, or as harsh as always?

[@PingusWorls]

The Videos are god damn helpfull! and YES! You really get used to the accent. Lol

[@zekerboy9877]

Who knew the count plays a eldritch horror dnd crossover. PS I love this series.

[@Egryn]

Favorite gun AR-15

[@KarlKristofferJohnsson]

The first time I played Call of Cthulhu, I somehow ended the first session with more sanity than I started with.

[@ericawhalen9465]

How to play Call of Cthulhu 7-E is my favorite anime

[@darkblue7312]

Well given what we learned about Lucille I just have to know... Given her skill with dancing, will she learn/teach Water Ballet?

[@ChurchofCthulhu]

Girl, you so crazy!

[@TheNesdsachannel]

Na I always loved your name ^_^.

[@nykthar4251]

Wait... Innsmouth? As in SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH?!

[@Dracopol]

Maybe it's one of those things like the same town name in different states, like in the Simpsons so you can't pin down where Springfield is...

[@jonathanguajardo8430]

not in south, not with this sadist of a keeper

[@mitchellslate1249]

Little girl mention of Innsmouth set instantaneous sanity check and possible failure on my end....Why Keeper! Why!!!!

[@MiseryLovesCompany263]

Hi CJ you lovely raisin bread of a Keeper. I was wondering, are phobias and manias the only long-lasting BoM effects? It seems kind of lame to have things that only last 10 seconds at most

[@DontStopThinking]

It lasts through the insanity, but only affects investigators when exposed to those. During BOM, they see their phobias & manias everywhere.

[@MiseryLovesCompany263]

@@DontStopThinking Thank you! But I was wondering about things like amnesia or loss of senses or limbs. Do those end once the Bout of Madness ends? Or continue for the 1d10 hours?

[@DontStopThinking]

Until the Bout of Madness end. But remember, if they are alone, the Bout of Madness lasts longer.

[@MiseryLovesCompany263]

@@DontStopThinking Awesome, thank you so much! Loving the series so far, I shared it with my players so they can learn more about the game before we start! :)

[@jvukovic4]

Who does the art for the series?

[@Majo_Ellen]

Hey, I love your accent. >:[

[@tjcross2]

You know, I hate the cthulu mythos but this series is really making me want to try the system. Good work man.

[@adzi6164]

then check out RuneQuest. Or even the Basic Roleplaying System in general.

[@Dracopol]

@@adzi6164 Yes, Chaosium Inc. Is fighting to promote their rules system as an alternative to the D&D juggernaut. You can get free quickstart rules downloads for all their games. www.chaosium.com/free-stuff/ www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/82093

[@dynamicworlds1]

I mean, you can always swap out the "canon" mythos for your own homebrewed cosmic horror if you'd like, just like you could homebrew your monsters for any system. I'd even argue that sticking to mythos "canon" is contrary to the very idea of unknowable cosmic horror, so you _should_ change it up to keep your players from being able to know what is going on to preserve the style of horror.

[@adzi6164]

also, the overall style of campaing is still up to you. There's a even a supplement with "pulp" rules which allows for more action-packed games without both having players drop like flies and decreasing the overwhelming factor of Mythos. And even finally dropping players in a truly hopeless situation, with no real way to survive in any meaning of the world (barring the intervention of the Elder Gods on a good day, lol) can be fair, if it's a logical conclusion of *several* failures earlier in the campaing/scenario. CoC is not a game about gathering levels and gear to defeat the boss in glorious combat - although some *lesser* monstrosities can be defeated, at least temporarily, with *artillery barrage.* It's s game about investigation, and struggling against the risks involved.

[@tjcross2]

@@Dracopol Thanks! I'll give these a readthrough and see if I can put them to good use in a game later.

[@Masterwloczykij]

#ClarificationNeeded 12:30 - isn't it that you gain 5% the first time you suffer a bout of madness from the mythos source? so i.e. if a character has 2 points from a random mythos book and then gets temporarily insane from seeing a mythos creature wouldn't he gain 5% making a total of 7%?