Operate heavy machinery (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)
Definition
Operate Heavy Machinery represents your ability to operate large industrial and construction equipment—cranes, steam shovels, bulldozers, tractors, printing presses, and similar heavy machines. In Call of Cthulhu's 1920s setting, the industrial age is in full swing, and heavy machinery is central to construction, mining, and manufacturing. While niche, this skill can be dramatically useful when it comes up. Operating a crane to move a massive stone slab blocking a cave entrance, using a steam shovel to excavate a buried Mythos site, or driving a tractor to escape across farmland—Operate Heavy Machinery provides options that other skills can't replicate. The skill also covers understanding how these machines work, which can be useful for sabotage.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
When would I actually use this skill?
Excavating a buried site, moving massive obstacles, creating barricades, ramming things with heavy equipment, or sabotaging industrial machinery. It's situational but can solve problems nothing else can.
Does this cover trains or ships?
Trains may fall under this skill at the Keeper's discretion. Ships typically use Pilot (Boat). The exact boundary depends on the equipment and the Keeper's ruling.