Classic vs. Pulp: Setting the Tone in Masks of Nyarlathotep

Before diving into Masks of Nyarlathotep, you’ll want to decide whether your table is bracing for slow-burn dread or pulp-fueled action. The choice will shape how you experience the horror, the danger, and the story’s lasting impact.

Are you outnumbered by ancient cults or hurling them through a stained-glass window? Before you begin Masks of Nyarlathotep, there’s one question every group should answer: What kind of story are we telling?

The campaign supports two distinct modes of play: Classic Call of Cthulhu and Pulp Cthulhu. Each one shapes how you experience the horror, face danger, and how long you might last. Let’s look at the differences and how to choose the version that fits your table.

Slow dread. Sudden death. Stories that scar.

Classic mode stays true to Lovecraft’s tone. Investigators are ordinary people (scholars, journalists, explorers) drawn into extraordinary events. They carry no plot armor, just notebooks, shaky resolve, and the weight of what they’ve seen.

In Classic Masks of Nyarlathotep:

• Violence is fast and lethal
• Sanity fades quietly but steadily
• Choices matter, and consequences follow
• There is no guarantee of survival, just the hope someone understands what you’ve found

You won’t be kicking down doors or tossing grenades. But you will lose sleep over a scrap of forbidden text or a name you should never have spoken aloud. Classic mode is about enduring the Mythos.

Larger-than-life action. High-stakes horror. Mythos with a right hook.

Pulp mode turns the dial up. You’re still battling cosmic powers, but your characters are tougher, faster, and better equipped. They’ve seen combat and chased myths, and while the Mythos can still ruin them, they might leave a crater on the way down.

In Pulp Masks of Nyarlathotep, expect:

• Talents like Quick Draw and Hard to Kill
• A higher starting pool of Luck (and more ways to spend it)
• Greater physical resilience and narrative leeway
• A tone closer to 1930s adventure serials, with equally deep shadows

It’s still horror, but horror with dynamite, rooftop chases, and the occasional haymaker to a cultist’s jaw. Think The Mummy meets At the Mountains of Madness.

Both modes are fully supported in Masks of Nyarlathotep. You don’t need to rewrite the campaign to switch. Simply adjust tone, character creation, and scene approach.

• If your group likes cautious investigation and doomed epilogues, go Classic.
• If you prefer high-octane adventure with real stakes, choose Pulp.
• For tragedy with moments of swagger, blend both.

Many tables mix elements, such as Classic character arcs with Pulp mechanics or starting in Classic and shifting to Pulp as the campaign escalates.

Get Masks of Nyarlathotep now on the Quest Portal Marketplace

Whichever mode you choose, Quest Portal keeps you immersed:

• Linked scenes and visual notes to track clues
• Integrated handout sharing for instant prop delivery
• Customizable timelines for cult activities and plot events
• Player-accessible Character Sheets for both Classic and Pulp rules

Masks of Nyarlathotep plays differently depending on your chosen lens. One whispers. The other shouts. Both lead you into ancient horror, cost you pieces of yourself, and maybe (maybe??) let you glimpse the truth before it’s too late.

Choose the version that makes you feel most alive. Survival isn’t promised, but the story will be worth telling.

• Masks of Nyarlathotep offers two modes: Classic (slow-burn horror) and Pulp (action-heavy horror).
• Classic is lethal, investigative, and true to Lovecraft.
• Pulp adds resilience, talents, and cinematic action.
• Both modes can be blended for a unique tone.
• Quest Portal supports running either mode seamlessly.

• Add the CoC 7e Quick-Start Rules to your Quest Portal library
• Get Masks of Nyarlathotep now on the Quest Portal Marketplace
• Join our Discord to talk CoC in #chaosium
• Learn how to create a character in Call of Cthulhu
• Build a Classic or Pulp character in our no-code editor

Q: Can I switch between Classic and Pulp during Masks of Nyarlathotep?

A: Yes. Many groups start with Classic tone and shift to Pulp mechanics as events escalate.

Q: Is Pulp mode easier for new players?

A: Generally, yes. It provides extra Luck, Talents, and resilience to make the game more forgiving.

Q: Does Classic mode take longer to run?

A: Not necessarily, but its investigative pacing can feel slower compared to Pulp’s action beats.

Q: Can Quest Portal handle both modes?

A: Absolutely! Our tools work with either style, letting you adjust tone without losing campaign organization.