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Credit rating (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Skills

Definition

Credit Rating is unique among Call of Cthulhu skills—it represents not a learned ability but your investigator's financial standing, social class, and reputation. It determines your standard of living, the resources you can access, and how society treats you. In the class-conscious 1920s, Credit Rating opens doors that no amount of skill can. A high Credit Rating means you can afford hotel suites, hire help, access exclusive clubs, and be taken seriously by banks and officials. A low Credit Rating means you struggle for basic necessities and are dismissed by polite society. Credit Rating also determines your spending level and cash on hand, making it mechanically important for equipping your investigator.

How it works

**Base Value**: 0% **Key Uses**: - Determining starting wealth and spending level - Gaining access to exclusive locations and social circles - Establishing credibility with officials and professionals - Affording equipment, travel, and accommodations **Special Rules**: Credit Rating ranges define social class: 0 = destitute, 1-9 = poor, 10-49 = average, 50-89 = wealthy, 90-98 = rich, 99 = super rich. Your occupation sets minimum and maximum Credit Rating. Cash and assets are derived from Credit Rating.

Tips

**Build Advice**: Don't neglect Credit Rating. It determines your lifestyle, starting cash, and social access. At least 20-30% keeps you functional. **Occupation Synergies**: High Credit Rating supports Persuade and Charm by lending authority. Pairs with any social skill for navigating upper-class situations. **Character Concepts**: Dilettante, professor, doctor, lawyer, journalist, private investigator.

Frequently asked questions

How does Credit Rating affect starting money?

Credit Rating determines spending level (daily funds), cash on hand (10x spending level), and assets (5x cash). A Credit Rating of 50 gives much more resources than 10. Check the rulebook table for exact amounts.

Can Credit Rating change during play?

Yes. Financial setbacks, job loss, or scandal can lower Credit Rating. Windfall gains or career advancement can raise it. The Keeper adjudicates changes based on story events.