CoC Stock NPCs

A small collection of quick-and-dirty stock NPCs for the Call of Cthulhu RPG. The stats are drawn on the assumption that these NPCs will not need to be fully-fleshed characters, but rather simply there to do a job in one scene and disappear. Skill percentages are given in a small percentage range - pick a number in the range; when in doubt just go with the higher number.

Scientists and Experts

The Absent-Minded Professor

• Quotes: "Extraordinary!" "Preposterous!" "It's theoretically possible, but that would mean... no, no, it would rewrite the very laws of physics!" "Yes, yes... who did you say you were, again?" "Now, if you don't mind, I really must get back to my work, and I really must not be disturbed!"
• Stock Character Role Description: An eccentric scientific genius who is so focused on his work that he has shortfalls in other areas of life (remembering things, grooming). This is the benign version of the mad scientist. The Absent-Minded Professor might be consulted by investigators for his expertise in a scientific matter, analyzing or researching a scientific question, translating a tome, etc., but due to the focus on his work, he may have little time, attention, or even patience for the investigators' distractions. A particularly interesting distraction, however, may drive the Absent-Minded Professor to begin ignoring the investigators while his full concentration is turned on the extraordinary implications of the question the investigators have posed for him.
• NPC Skills/Stats:
  • Absent-minded Scientist (any specialization): 40-50%
  • Other Scientific fields, or Medicine/Psychoanalysis: 15-25%
  • Language/Translation (Latin, Greek): 20-40%
  • Library Use or Consulting with his Colleagues: 30-40%
  • Use/Maintenance/Construction of Inventions or Improvised Lab Equipment: 20-30% (A failed pushed roll may result in a dangerous invention!)

Coroner or Crime Scene Investigator

• Quotes: "Unlike the living, when the dead speak, they do not lie!" "Every crime scene tells a story. For example, the story this stiff tells me is...." "Blood stains, the charred remains, the poor bastard who blew out his brains: I've seen it all, it's routine to me at the crime scene...." "I thought I'd seen it all until tonight, but this ain't a crime scene, it's a horror show!" "Oh no, not you guys again... the last time I talked to you, the stiff went missing and the Chief chewed me out for a month. You wanna get information from me, you gotta give me something in return...."
• Stock Character Role Description: Middle aged, drily sardonic, and desensitized to the horrors of death, perhaps eating a sandwich while casually examining a mutilated body or a gory crime scene, or engaging in one-sided banter with a corpse. The Coroner or Crime Scene Investigator might be a valuable source of information for Mythos investigators, but, depending on the investigators' Credit Rating, or relationship with this character or the police department in general, may be reluctant to talk to the investigators without a little Persuasion, Fast Talk, Intimidation, or creative bargaining such as doing the Coroner/Crime Scene Investigator a favor, or providing a bribe in the form of a gift, or an addition to the character's eccentric or even morbid collection.
• NPC Skills/Stats:
  • Forensic Science, Crime Scene Analysis, Crime Scene Photography, Tracking, Listen, Spot Hidden, Gallows Humor: 40-50%
  • Maintenance/Engineering: 15-25% (if this character has specialized in investigating e.g. aviation crash analysis, arson investigation, etc., this might go as high as 40% or more)
  • Criminal Psychology: 20-30% (if this character has specialized in criminal profiling, this might go as high as 40% or more)
  • Accounting: 20-30% (if this character has specialized in white-collar crime, this might go as high as 40% or more)

Criminals and Thugs

Crooked Surgeon or Veterinarian

• Can patch you up with no questions asked, for a price, but don't count on the results being pretty: this doctor is just a step up from a butcher. Paired with The Thug to provide some Intimidation, the Crooked Surgeon might do double-duty as a reluctant torturer.