Heroes and Ordinaries

There are 3 types of characters in Down Cthulhu. Ordinaries (as in the core), Heroes (as in the core), and Super Heroes. All PC’s are Super Heroes, as may be select NPC’s (including possible Super Villains). Supers get all the extra feats and talents detailed below, and create ability scores as detailed below. They also receive 3 hero cards at the beginning of each session. Unused cards may be carried over to the next session, at which point the character will receive enough new cards to total 3.
Regular heroes still roll 4d6 six times and arrange as desired or use an array determined by the DM. Ordinaries use an array as in the core.

Creating ability scores

Roll 3d6 for all stats, in order. Then, roll 8d6. These are your descretionary points. You assign these as you see fit on a one for one basis until a stat reaches 16. It costs 2pts to take it to 17 and 4 points to take it to 18. 18 is the max
Characters gain an ability score raise every even level, rather than every evel divisible by 4.

Gray Eyes

Some extraordinary characters are ‘Gray Eyed’. These characters gain a plus 2 to any single ability score (this may take a stat above 18), as well as a plus 1 to all saving throws. They also gain additional special abilities unique to each individual Gray Eye.

Making up levels

All PC’s begin at 0 XP, though they all begin above first level. While the teams are making up their experience through their previous levels, each PC may gain one thing from what will be gained at their next level, from list below, upon reaching 2nd, 4th and 6th levels, but only up to their starting level. At that point, at which they are truly gaining new xp, they may gain abilities at a few ‘sublevels’ before reaching a new level, to be determined in-play for each group by the DM. This all is to give a sense of accomplishment, considering the greatly slowed rate of levelling up in Down Cthulhu.

• Base Bonuses (Base attack, save and defense bonuses)
• Fatigue Points
• Class Features: this includes talents, bonus feats and advanced class abilities
• A Character Talent, those given by the GM as a bonus.
• A Character Feat
• Skill Points, including language points if any
• Sanity
• Profession check for Wealth increase, and reputation increase if any
• Effective level/HD to determine special effects, like vs SR or if an spell is powerful enough to effect you, or the effectiveness of your own abilies with variables based on your level.
• Ability Score raise, if going up to an appropriate level

So, for instance, the Outlaws are 6th level. When their XP total passes 2nd, they may pick one of the above categories for whatever class they will go up in at 7th level, accept for ability score raise. The Aether Travellers on the other hand, being 3rd level to start, could choose ability raise.
Obviously, for many choices, you must know what class you will be taking for your next level.

Languages

Gaining languages works very differently in Down Cthulhu, including a linguist feat and a linguistics skill.
First, languages require skill points in them to learn to certain degrees. A character can not have ranks in more languages than his intelligence modifier + 1(not counting his native tongue). If a character puts ranks into linguistics (see below) he can have ranks in a number of additional languages equal to his linguistics ranks.
At first level, you receive free language pts equal to your intelligence modifer + 2 for which to purchase language ranks only. If you have a positive intelligence modifier, you receive one free language skill point each level thereafter. You also gain 1 language point for each rank in one of the 2 linguistics skills you have, but they may be spent only in the appropriate languages. Language points may be saved up over time. You may also spend your normal skill points on languages.

1 rank = simple communication is possible, but complex plans and academics impossible. This rank requires a DC 10 linguistics check an 2 weeks exposure.
2 ranks = Speak fairly fluently but with an obvious non-native accent. DC 15 and +1 month of concentrated exposure to gain this rank. This is the typical level for someone who knows a language well or needs it academically.
3 ranks = Flawless speaker, knows idioms and nuances well, as good as a native. DC 20 and + 2 months concentrated exposure to earn this rank. This is the assumed number of ranks one has in their native tongue.
4 ranks = a true expert with a linguist’s knowledge of the grammar and syntax and you may even be able to pass yourself off as a native with a linguistics check. DC 25 and + 2 years concentrated exposure to earn this rank. You know it so well you may gain small bonuses to charisma based checks and writing checks. If you are teaching someone the language they gain a +2 to their linguistics check to earn a rank. Some of the best writers have this level in their native tongue.
+1 rank: to read and write a language you must have at least 2 ranks in. Typically, a character has this rank in his native tongue for free.
Ancient languages work similarly to above, but are condensed into 3 ranks and you do not need the extra rank to read and write, as that is how one learns them to begin with. However, with a 3th rank, you may be able to communicate in the dead language with a linguistics check. You may only be able to receive and transmit the amount one would pick up with a deciper script check for written languages. With a 4th rank you may freely communicate with that dead language as if you had learned it as a living language.
exposure typically means intensive study every day or immersion by way of living amongst native speakers and making an attempt to learn the language each day.

Skill
linguistics (int): you put ranks in this like any other skill. For each rank, you may have ranks in one additional language beyond the normal limit, and you gain 1 language point to spend on appropriate languages. To put a rank into a language you must make the appropriate linguistics check. For each previous failure, until success, you gain a cumulative +2 on your next attempt.
Ancient Linguistics: works like Linguistics above, but for dead languages.

Feat
linguist (req.: int. 13 or higher) : you gain a +2 to linguistics checks. You receive 4 language skill points/level beyond first, rather than one.

Hit Points

Hit points are split between fatigue (the hp you role based on class + con. mod) and wound points (= to your constitution score).
You also have a heroic reserve = to your fp. From this reserve you can heal fatigue quickly on a one for one basis. Non-lethal points heal at twice that rate, as well as one free non-lethal for every lethal fatigue healed.
Wound Points get divided into thirds, with unequal portions added in the first. The first third constitutes only light wounds and have no adverse effect. The second third are moderate wounds and give a -2 penalty to strength and dexterity. The last third are serious wounds and cause an additional -4 to str and dex. These penalties are gone as soon as the points are healed.
Wound points come back slower, on a /day basis. The maximum you can heal in one day is 2 + your con. modifier. It is a fortitude save, base DC 10 for light damage, DC15 for moderate, and DC20 for serious. Add your amount of wound points to the base DC. You heal 1 point + 1 per 5 you beat the DC. Each day you fail you receive a cumulative +1 to the check the next day. This save can be modified by extended rest and/or a Treat Injury check for long term care. Full day of bedrest adds +4 to the heal check, 8 hours rest adds 2. A doctor’s kit adds a +2 and a hospital a +4 to the doctor’s roll.
Once/day on a given character, and only once for a give wound, the Treat Injury skill can heal wound points instantly. DC 15 heals 1pt + 1 additional/5 points your roll beats 15.

Firearms

Gunbelts hold 30 rounds
Bandoleers hold 45 rounds
4 3/4" revolvers gain a +1 to intitiative on a fast draw.
Single Action revolvers adds a +1 initiative to a proficient user on a fast draw for the round they are drawn due to the cocking of the hammer while drawing.

Talents

All characters as Super Heroes receive a bonus talent at every odd level. This may be chosen from the talent lists of any class you have levels in.

Feats

All characters as Super Heros receive 1 bonus feats at 1st level, and a feat each level afterward in place of the normal feat progression.
All characters receive the Personal Firearms feat for free at 1st level. For certain characters, another feat may be substituted.
Brawl:: does not provoke an AoO. Otherwise unchanged. Nonlethal damage works like in dungeons and dragons, aka subdual damage.
Combat Martial Arts: due to the modification of Brawl and the use of fatigue points creating less of a difference between lethal and non-lethal damage much of the time, this feat also raises unarmed damage to a d6. Otherwise unchanged.
Adaptive Personality: this modifies diplomacy not knowledge checks.

Skills

All characters as Super Heroes receive one bonus skill point at each level.
The Pathfinder class skill system is in use in place of the core.

Classes

Martial Artist Advanced Class: Each damage die is one higher due to the Combat Martial Arts modification above.