d20 Call of Cthulhu uses classes in only the most basic terms. In theory, every character belongs to the same fundamental class. The process of creating an investigator essentially customizes a generic class template. Characters are defined primarily by their stats and skills.
The optional rules presented here are designed to add an additional level of customization to characters. Character templates work much like PC races in d20 fantasy or science fiction games. A template represents a character's line of work before he began investigating the mythos. For example, a college professor has access to a few different resources and abilities than a private investigator.
Character templates are an optional feature. Just like races in other d20 games, they are designed to balance against one another. The templates operate a lot like highly detailed professions. They each have an income modifier and list of associated class skills.
Character templates are presented in the following basic format:
Name: The template's name.
Description: A brief explanation of the template's origin and abilities.
Hit Die:: The die type used to determine the template's hit points.
Mandatory Class Skills: Some templates have a defined list of class skills that they must choose as class ones.
Skill Points: The template's base skill points per level. At 1st level, the template multiplies this value by 4.
Benefits: The bonuses and options the template grants a character.
Drawbacks: The penalties the template incurs on a character.
Wealth Modifier: The modification to the roll made to determine your wealth.
Description: The basic investigator covers any character concept that does not fit into the templates described here. It is analagous to a character created using the core d20 Call of Cthulhu rules.
Hit Die:: d6.
Mandatory Class Skills: None
Skill Points: 8.
Benefits: None. The basic investigator's strength lies in his flexibility.
Drawbacks: None. The basic investigator doesn't receive any special abilities, but he does not incur any penalties.
Wealth Modifier: As per selected profession.
Description: An academic spends his life in study, perhaps as a college professor or a highly skilled research scientist. Academics study one area to an incredibly depth but sometimes suffer from over specialization.
Hit Die: d6.
Mandatory Class Skills: Concentration (Con), Knowledge (Int), Research (Int), and Speak Other Language (Int).
Skill Points: 8.
Benefits: The academic may spend as many ranks as he wishes on Knowledge skills. He is not limited to a maximum of 3 + his current level. The academic also receives the Skill Emphasis feat for any Knowledge skill of his choice.
Drawbacks: The academic gains one feat rather than two at 1st level.
Wealth Modifier: 0. Academics earn a moderate living through research and teaching at a local university.
Description: A hardboiled character with a knack for uncovering information others would rather keep hidden, the PI is an expert at tracking down people, picking up clues, and dealing with uncooperative witnesses. The PI is equally at home chatting up the police chief as he is working a dockside dive for clues.
Hit Die: d6.
Mandatory Class Skills: Bluff (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Drive (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis).
Skill Points: 8.
Benefits: Private investigators have plenty of contacts around town to help turn up information. Even when working out of town, he has an intuitive sense for where to start hunting for clues. He gains the feat Skill Emphasis (Gather Information). In addition, the PI spends a lot of time snooping around the rough side of town. He knows how to defend himself, and gains either Weapon Proficiency (melee weapons) or Weapon Proficiency (pistols).
Drawbacks: The PI gains one feat rather than two at 1st level.
Wealth Modifier: -1. Private investigators live a hand to mouth existance. However, a PI begins play with a small office in his home town. He is assumed to pay the rent with the income from his practice.
Description: A veteran of military service, the soldier as trained extensively with weapons, military procedures, and other issues relating to the armed forces. The soldier fought or served as an infantryman, commando, or other area that focused on combat.
Hit Die: d8.
Mandatory Class Skills: Climb (Str), Drive (Dex), and Swim (Str).
Skill Points: 4.
Benefits: Soldiers are trained in combat. They begin play with the following Weapon Proficiencies: melee weapons, pistols, and rifles. In addition, the soldier may select either Martial Arts, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus, or another Weapon Proficiency feat.
Drawbacks: The soldier chooses only one feat at 1st level, rather than two. In addition, he chooses 8 class skills rather than 12. Many soldiers enter active service before or right after completing high school (or its equivalent in their native land.) Thus, most of their education and training tends to focus on skills they need to complete their roles in the army rather than gaining a wide range of skills over the course of a college education or less structured existence.
Wealth Modifier: 0. Soldiers earn an average wage for their era.