Cult of Cathulhu: How to play online
Cult of Cathulhu is an intense single-round social deduction game for 4-11 players in under 15 minutes.
 | The Cultists try to find another Cultist to vote for, or have themselves be chosen to Ascend and finish their ritual at the end of the game. |
 | The Investigators try to sneak one of them in the Cultists' ritual, ruining it. |
This app follows (and enforces) the board game rules. When in doubt, check them. They also list all of the available skill cards.
Note that this is a social game, and the app is simply a substitute for the physical components -- you will need another channel of communication between players. Physical presence or voice chat very strongly recommended. You are always allowed (and encouraged) to discuss any information you see.
Creating a game
One player should click "New game". This generates a "game code" which other players can use to join the same instance. If you happen to get disconnected during the game, simply join with the same code & player name.
The game creator can change game duration and the set of Skills included in the game. We recommend you play a few games with "Automatic: Beginner", and when you feel comfortable, switch over to "Automatic: Standard".
The "Custom" option allows for writing the names of skills to be included, separated by commas, at least as many as the number of players. Allowed skills are Absolver, Antagonist, Friend, Gambler, Greedy, Influencer, Leader, Joker, Meddler, Medium, Onlooker, Secretary, Seer, Teacher, Troubler, and Witness. Duplicates are allowed.
Setup & Mission Briefing
Each player is dealt a random, hidden, Alignment and Skill. The number of Cultists and Investigators is determined based on the number of players and displayed in the beginning of the game. The set of included skills is determined by the game host; only these skills will be listed in the sidebar, with card counts displayed after skill names.
Cultists only know their own cards. Investigators also know other Investigators' cards.
Council
The Council is the main phase of the game. During the Council, players can discuss and use their skills. You may discuss, but not show, any hidden information. The council lasts until the timer runs out, or no one has a skill card left.
Using a skill
Using a skill always requires a skill card. The skills give information to Cultists, but also an opportunity for the Investigators to mislead them. You can use a skill any time during Council unless someone else is using a skill at the same time.
Skills in game are listed on right or below the game board. If you have a skill card, you will see on some of them. Clicking will proceed with skill use. If you are a Cultist, you can only use skills from your card (including "Everyone"); if you are an Investigator, you can use any!
The skill you use is public. Whether your real skill card matches it or not, is not.
After, if the skill requires targets, select them by clicking on their cards, then with the button in the middle. Possible other choices are shown in the middle and should be selected before confirming. You cannot target yourself.
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Some skills require one or two Favor  . Not having enough Favor will disable the use button. Ask another player to bestow you some! |
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Some skills can only be used by the first player using them. If you are not the first, the use button will be disabled. |
You see any cards you have looked at as face-up. Other revealed information is written to the log. Messages shown like this are only shown to you.
Voting
After the Council, all players simultaneously vote for another player. (Click that player, then confirm the selection) You should not discuss during the Voting.
After everyone has voted, the votes are automatically counted and revealed.
The Cultists with at least two Favor are
in Cathulhu’s favor and receive one
bonus vote from Cathulhu. With
4/6/8/10 players, all Cultists receive a
further extra vote. All players with the
most votes (unless prevented from
doing so) Ascend, finishing the ritual;
the game ends.
If all Ascended are Cultist, the Cultists win. If any of them is an Investigator, the Investigators win.