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The Phobia Deck

 How to use the How to use the
Phobia Deck Phobia Deck
The Keeper may choose to present a player with a
(Continued)
card from this deck when their investigator goes bia should be recorded in the investigator’s
insane. The player receiving the card should apply backstory on their character sheet, (see
its effects to their investigator immediately. page 159 of the Call of Cthulhu Rulebook).
Keepers may select or chose a card randomly, • Mania cards (16)
although expect the unexpected if choosing ran- Present one of these cards to a player whose
domly! investigator has just gone insane. The ma-
nia should be recorded in the investigator’s
There are 4 types of cards within the Phobia Deck:
backstory on their character sheet, (see
• Bout of Madness – Real Time cards (8) page 159 of the Call of Cthulhu Rulebook).
Present one of these cards to the player of an
Manias and Philias: Characters with manias
investigator who has just gone insane while
may exhibit extreme symptoms, changing the
in the company of other investigators, (see
mania into a philia (effectively an intense and
page 157 of the Call of Cthulhu Rulebook).
overwhelming love or intense desire for the focus
• Bout of Madness – Summary cards (6) of the mania). Such psychological metamorpho-
Present one of these cards to the player of sis may be instigated by the character’s player or
an investigator who has just gone insane by the Keeper if the situation warrants it. Where
who is not in the company of other investi- applicable, suitable philias are suggested for
gators (i.e. they are alone or in the company extreme conditions.
of complete strangers), (see page 158 of the
Note that the types of phobias and manias de-
Call of Cthulhu Rulebook).
scribed on these cards are not exhaustive. Many
• Phobia cards (16) other types can be found on pages 160-161 of the
Present one of these cards to a player whose Call of Cthulhu Rulebook.
investigator has just gone insane. The pho

© Chaosium Inc 2015

Aboulomania
“If I do that it’s not going to work,
but if I do this it’ll be even worse!”
You are prone to indecisiveness, unable to make a
decision or agree a clear plan of action.

You suffer from mental anguish, fearing whatever

decision you make will be bad—perhaps causing
terrible things to happen to you and your friends.
This paralysis by analysis causes you to over analyze
every situation.

You’ll tend to be constantly irritable or lost in

thought, affecting your ability to function in social
situations. More alarmingly, during episodes of com-
bat your indecision can make matters even more life
threatening.

When exposed to situations where you must make

a decision, you have an overwhelming manic re-
sponse and suffer from one penalty die on all skill
rolls until the situation comes to a close or you are
out of range of the stimulus. The Keeper may alter
the level of difficulty for certain skill rolls depend-
ing on the circumstances.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
Aboulomania severe effects.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

 Acrophobia
“Don’t look down!”
You have a fear of heights. Exposure will
cause you to panic. Palpitations, trembling,
and anxiety are likely responses.
When high up, you become too agitated
to be able to get yourself down safely,
probably requiring assistance. Even the
anticipation of a height, such as thinking
about going up a tall building, can reduce
you to a gibbering wreck.
Exposure to heights causes an over-
whelming response and all actions while
in a phobic state, other than fleeing from
it or fighting (if in combat), are made
with one penalty die.
Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill
allows you to temporarily reduce your
stress so that you can handle the situa-
tion.
Acrophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Agathomania
“Here, let me do that for you.”
You suffer from pathological kindness. This mania
exhibits as needing to perform acts of kindness,
whether for a friend, stranger, or even an enemy.

You have a compulsive altruism, outwardly display-

ing a need for acceptance and recognition from oth-
ers. Internally, you may feel remorse at not having
done enough for others, or envy, as others seem to
have recognition while your efforts go unnoticed.

Altruism can be taken to unhealthy extremes.

Doing too much for others can lead you to burn-

out, as you think of others rather than yourself.

If you are prevented from performing acts of kind-

ness you suffer from one penalty die on all skill
rolls until your mania has been indulged, or you
are out of range of the stimulus (not applicable if
in combat). The Keeper may alter the level of diffi-
culty for certain skill rolls depending on the circum-
stances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
severe effects.

Agathomania
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Aichmomania
“You have to give me an injection? Great!”
You have an obsession with sharp or pointed ob-
jects. Either you have an unhealthy affection for
sharp things or you fear them.

Sharp objects can include knives, needles, forks,

nails, pins, and so on.

You might have a compulsive desire to collect

sharp things, perhaps stealing to enhance your
collection. Alternatively, you may feel the morbid
need to be pierced when you see a sharp object.

If you fear sharp things, you will do all you can to

avoid them. Perhaps eating with blunt chopsticks
rather than with a knife and fork. You might even
overreact to being prodded with a finger.

In the presence of sharp objects you suffer from

an overwhelming obsessive/compulsive response,
receiving one penalty die on all skill rolls until the
mania has been indulged, or you are out of range
of the stimulus (not applicable if in combat). The
Keeper may alter the level of difficulty for certain
skill rolls depending on the circumstances and
state of the character.

Aichmomania Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows you

to temporarily ignore the mania and its most severe
effects.
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Amenomania
“We’re all going to be eaten? Well, don’t
be so glum - look on the bright side!”
You suffer from irrational cheerfulness. No matter
what is happening around you, you can’t help but
be happy, optimistic, and exuberant.

Even in the face of certain death, terror, or un-

imaginable monsters from the outer void, you
will delude yourself and see only nice things in-
stead. Such pleasing delusions make you blind to
threats and so you become rather foolhardy, reck-
less, and prone to causing great anxiety in those
around you.

If anything or anyone prevents your cheerful

demeanour you become extremely anxious and
suffer from one penalty die on all skill rolls until
your compulsion can be indulged (not applica-
ble if in combat). To resist your delusion and see
things for what they really are, you must make a
Hard Reality Check roll (Hard Sanity roll). The
Keeper may alter the level of difficulty depending
on the circumstances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most

Amenomania
severe effects.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

 Amnesia
Bout of Madness—Summary
“Who am I?”

You awake and, as you come to your sens-

es, you find yourself in an unfamiliar place.
As you take stock of your surroundings,
you realize that eight hours have passed
that you cannot account for. You have
no memory of how to came to be here.
Even more shockingly, you can’t seem to
remember who you are!
All you know is that you are covered in
cuts and bruises and there is dried blood
on your clothes.
1D10 hours later (or as the Keeper judges
appropriate), your memory slowly begins
to return.

Amnesia
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Amnesia
Bout of Madness—Real Time
“Where? What? How?”

You have no memory of the events that

have taken place in last six hours.
You have no explanation for how you
came to be in this place and why you are
here.
The amnesia lasts for 1D10 rounds.

Amnesia
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Arachnophobia
“Cobwebs…! Cobwebs everywhere!”

You have an irrational fear of spiders. You feel

uneasy in any place that could harbor these
eight-legged nightmares. Just seeing cobwebs will
be enough to make you start sweating and your
heart beating faster. If a spider suddenly touches
you or is at least in very close proximity, you are
liable to scream, have trouble breathing, and fear
that the spider will hurt or kill you.

In extreme cases even a picture of a spider is

enough to set you off.

Exposure to spiders and the signs of spiders causes

an overwhelming response and all actions while in
a phobic state, other than fleeing from it or fighting
(if in combat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows you

to temporarily reduce your stress so that you can
bear to be around the spider (or potential presence
of spiders) for a short time.

Arachnophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Arithmomania
“Numbers! Numbers everywhere!”
You have an obsessive preoccupation with numbers.

In stressful situations you have the compulsion to

count things. This could be certain actions (count-
ing your fingers), or objects in your surroundings
(flights of stairs, buttons on a keyboard).

Before you read, you might be compelled to count

the number of letters in the words before compre-
hending them. You may count the number of steps it
takes to reach your destination.

Often you feel it necessary to perform an action a

certain number of times to prevent imagined ca-
lamities, such as only being able to use a weapon if
you have cleaned it three times, and so on.

If anything prevents your counting you become

anxious and suffer from one penalty die on all skill
rolls until your mania can be indulged, or you are
out of range of the stimulus (not applicable if in
combat). The Keeper may alter the level of diffi-
culty for certain skill rolls depending on the cir-
cumstances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

Arithmomania you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
severe effects.
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Battered
Bout of Madness—Summary
“Ouch!”
Ten hours have passed. You wake up to
find yourself in a ditch or gutter. Your
body aches as if you have spent five
rounds being punched by a professional
boxer. As you slowly stand up, you realize
that your body is battered and bruised –
someone has “done you over” good and
proper. Your lips are swollen and you
have a smashing black eye.
Even worse, any valuable items or mon-
ey are gone, presumably stolen by your
mysterious attacker, whom you have no
memory of. If you were carrying a Trea-
sured Possession (per your investigator’s
backstory), make a Luck roll to see if it
was also stolen.
Reduce your current Hit Points by half
Battered (though this does not cause a Major
wound).
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Bibliomania
“Lovely books. I want them all!”
You have an unhealthy obsession with books: a
form of obsessive-compulsive disorder which
involves collecting as many books as you can.

Perhaps one book is the object of your compul-

sion, or it’s simply all books. Some strange com-
pulsion makes you want them. Your compulsion
to horde books most likely includes buying be-
yond your means and stealing.

At times of stress you want to surround yourself

with your books, perhaps frantically reading or
obsessively counting the number of volumes you
own. Your mania will affect your relationship to
the world and others.

If anything prevents you from pursuing your ma-

nia or if someone removes your books, you get
anxious and suffer from one penalty die on all
skill rolls until your mania can be indulged (not
applicable if in combat). The Keeper may alter the
level of difficulty for certain skill rolls depending
on the circumstances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
Bibliomania severe effects.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

 Bibliophobia
“Take that thing away from me!”
You have a fear of books. Being forced to hold or
read from books will make you shake, sweat, and cry.

It could be the books themselves (the crisp paper,

the leather bindings) or what they contain that you
most fear. Perhaps it is the act of reading, of learn-
ing new and terrible things, that sets you on edge.

You will avoid reading and libraries are simply

a no-go area for you. While you might be able
to enter a room with a bookshelf (and quickly
leave!), the thought of being asked to handle a
book or worse, read from it, will send your pulse
racing and fill your heart with dread.

Exposure to books causes an overwhelming

response and all actions while in a phobic state,
other than fleeing from it or fighting (if in com-
bat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows you

to temporarily reduce your stress so that you can
quickly look through a book, read a short section,
or perhaps pass the book to another person.

Bibliophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Claustrophobia
“Please don’t make me go in the creepy,
dark cellar…”
You have a fear of confined spaces. It might be the
thought of being closed-in with little chance of
escape or the thought of what might happen to
you if you become trapped – perhaps you’ll suffo-
cate or something dark and terrible will eat you?

You will be resistant to entering small spaces, like

cellars, caves, or elevators. If you find yourself in
a confined area, such as a small room without
windows or a locked car, you will begin to pan-
ic, sweat, and have the sense that something is
smothering you. During bad episodes you may
feel compelled to remove your clothes in order to
regain some semblance of freedom.

Exposure to confined spaces causes an over-

whelming response and all actions while in a
phobic state, other than fleeing from it or fight-
ing (if in combat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily reduce your stress so that you
can perhaps pass through the area, or calm you
enough to get out.

Claustrophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Coloromania
“Yellow! Yellow everywhere!”
You have an obsession with a specific color. Decide
whether you have an unhealthy like or fear of it.

Colors are known to evoke psychological effects, for

instance, calming greens and passionate reds. Such
thoughts cause you to have unwelcome ideas or
urges, making you very anxious or serene depend-
ing on whether you loathe or love the color.

You will find interactions difficult with people

wearing that color and avoid places exhibiting the
color (or lack of it).

When confronted with the color you fear, or if there

is an absence of your preferred color, you will be-
come extremely anxious and suffer from one penal-
ty die on all skill rolls (not applicable if in combat),
until you are away from the stimulus, or can fully
indulge yourself (covering yourself in paint as an
example). The Keeper may alter the level of difficul-
ty for certain skill rolls depending on the circum-
stances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows you

to temporarily ignore the mania and its most severe
effects.
Coloromania
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Compelled by Belief
Bout of Madness—Real Time
“Listen to me!”
What has just happened has hit you like
a thunderbolt and you have a sudden in-
sight that massively confirms one of your
held beliefs or ideology. This insight caus-
es you to take your ideology or belief to an
extreme, crazed, and demented level far
beyond the norm. Immediately act upon
this accordingly.
The Keeper should review the investiga-
tor’s backstory entry for Ideology/Beliefs.
The investigator is consumed by the most
appropriate of these, which manifests in a
hugely exaggerated way. If the entry on the
sheet is blank, the Keeper is free to choose
something suitable.
You come to your senses and calm down
after 1D10 rounds.
Compelled by Belief
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Demophobia
“They’re all watching me…”
You have a fear of crowds. You will avoid large
groups of people, whether this is a sporting event,
busy high street, or church congregation. Perhaps
it is the thought of becoming trapped, or because
all those people out there are against you, waiting
for you—they know your secrets and they will
turn on you given half a chance.

You can become paralyzed with fear by just the

thought of finding yourself in a busy place full
of people. Turning a corner to find yourself in a
crowd, you sweat, shake, and your mouth goes
dry. Every fibre of your being is telling you to flee
and if you cannot do so, then you crumple and
fall to the floor, violently shaking.

Exposure to crowds causes an overwhelming

response and all actions while in a phobic state,
other than fleeing from it or fighting (if in com-
bat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily reduce your stress so that you
can quickly move through a crowd.

Demophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Eisoptrophobia
“Don’t look in the mirror! It’ll steal your soul!”
You have an abnormal fear of mirrors. Perhaps
the silvery surface hides a sinister evil that knows
your secrets and will tell you to do bad things?
Perhaps seeing your own image reflects all of the
horrible things you have done? What if some-
thing lives in the mirror and is waiting for you…

Mirrors are often associated with bad luck—if you

go near one you could break it and bring all that
bad luck upon your head. When you pass a mirror,
you might notice something watching you.

You will avoid handling mirrors and you will do

everything in your power to resist looking in a
mirror. However, if forced to look, you are filled
with absolute terror, your heart rate rises and
your body trembles until you suddenly faint and
collapse to the floor.

Exposure to mirrors causes an overwhelming

response and all actions while in a phobic state,
other than fleeing from it or fighting (if in com-
bat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily reduce your stress so that you
Eisoptrophobia can handle a mirror, or take a quick glance in one.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

 Epistemomania
“I must learn everything I can!”
You have an unnatural compulsion for acquiring
knowledge. This could manifest in a number of
ways: from pouring over books, checking statis-
tics in your notebook, to relentlessly asking ques-
tions of learned people.

You will feel guilt or anger if you are not learning

something. Perhaps you despair or get agitated
when important information is lost. You will go out
of your way to acquire learning; stealing or putting
yourself in danger to satisfy your compulsion.

In times of stress you may become obsessed with

certain facts; endlessly repeating phrases or scrib-
bling notes from memory before you can act.

If anything prevents you from following your

mania you become extremely anxious and suffer
from one penalty die on all skill rolls until your
compulsion can be indulged, or you are out of
range of the stimulus (not applicable if in com-
bat). The Keeper may alter the level of difficulty
for certain skill rolls depending on the circum-
stances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

Epistemomania you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
severe effects.
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Faint
Bout of Madness—Real Time
“I can’t take it anymore!”

It is all too much to take, your senses

overload and you fall in to a faint, sub-
mitting to the darkness of oblivion and
ignorance.
You immediately fall prone and become
unconscious.
Nothing can rouse you for 1D10 rounds,
after which you regain consciousness
with no memory of why you fainted.

Faint
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Find a Friend
Bout of Madness—Summary
“Where are you?!”
Why are you here? Shouting out the
name of someone you know? People are
staring at you and you have no idea how
you came to be here and why you are in
such a desperate need to get to this per-
son. Depending on where that person re-
sides, you could be a very long way from
home…
The Keeper should review the investigator’s
backstory entry for Significant People and
choose one of these. If the entry on the sheet
is blank, the Keeper is free to choose some-
one suitable.
The investigator has been compelled to find
and get to that person by all means neces-
sary. Roll 1D10 to determine how many
hours have been spent traveling to find the
Find a Friend significant person.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

Flee in Panic
Bout of Madness—Real Time
“RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!”

You are compelled to get as far away as

possible from your current predicament.
Use whatever means are available to you,
even if it means throwing others in front
of you and leaving everyone else behind.
You run and keep on running for 1D10
rounds, and then fall to floor exhausted.
Make a Hard CON roll, failure indicates
that you pass out.

Flee in Panic
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Haemaphobia
“Blood! Blood everywhere!”
You have a fear of blood. Seeing blood causes
your heart rate and blood pressure to rise. Your
mouth goes dry and you become dizzy.

If there is a lot of blood (an accident, during a

fight, or even witnessing a medical procedure)
you are liable to become nauseated and experi-
ence fainting. You will most likely overreact to
minor injuries affecting yourself and others, per-
haps running away rather than offering help.

You will be reluctant to seek medical treatment,

enter a disaster scene, or hospital where there is a
risk of seeing blood.

Exposure to blood causes an overwhelming

response and all actions while in a phobic state,
other than fleeing from it or fighting (if in com-
bat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily reduce your stress so that you
can handle the sight of blood, have a blood sam-
ple taken, or administer First Aid.

Haemaphobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Homichlophobia
“Close the curtains! The things in the fog
will see you!”
You have an abnormal fear of fog and humidity. Fog
is the perfect cover for the very worst of crimes
(just think of Jack the Ripper); it hides things
and you never know who could be out there, just
inches away from you, ready to strike.

You might get lost forever and never find your

way home, or some damp monstrous hand could
appear from nowhere to steal your life.

Being inside with plenty of light is much prefer-

able to going outside into the fog. If forced to do
so, you will feel anxiety, shortness of breath, nau-
sea, and sweats. If alone or forced to spend any
serious length of time in foggy conditions, you
are liable to shake, be unable to articulate words
or sentences, and most likely pass-out.

Exposure to fog or humidity causes an over-

whelming response and all actions while in a
phobic state, other than fleeing from it or fight-
ing (if in combat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

Homichlophobia
you to temporarily reduce your stress so that you
can bear to move quickly through a patch of fog.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

 Hydrophobia
“Save me from this watery hell!”
You have an abnormal fear of water. Whether it is
the ocean, a river, or even a bathtub, you are filled
with dread at though of immersing yourself in
the slick, bubbling, and ever-moving liquid.

You will avoid swimming and if unexpectedly

pushed into a body of water you will experience
a violent physical reaction—shaking, trembling,
and flailing about. You are liable to drown as you
grow more panicked, unable to make your body
swim to safety, unless someone can help you.

In extreme cases, even drinking water can be a

frightful experience, bringing on sweats and an
increased heart rate.

Exposure to water causes an overwhelming re-

sponse and all actions whilst in a phobic state,
other than fleeing from it or fighting (if in com-
bat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows you

to temporarily reduce your stress so that you can
pass through a body of water, take a bath, and so on.

Hydrophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Hysterical
Bout of Madness—Real Time
“The angles! That noise! It’s coming!”
Whatever you have seen, heard, or understood is
too much for your limited human brain to take. You
immediately become hysterical and can do nothing
other than give in to madness—roll 1D4 to deter-
mine the nature of your crazed behaviour:

1: It’s so funny—the big joke is on you, and you can’t

stop laughing manically.

2: You’ve failed—everything has come to naught,

and you can’t stop weeping and crying.

3: The horror—nothing has prepared you for this,

and you can’t stop screaming.

4: It’s in you!—“something” has infected you and

you must get it out; remove the thing inside you
(cutting off the offending limb, performing imme-
diate surgery, or drinking alcohol, bleach, or what-
ever’s at hand to cleanse your system).

The hysteria lasts for 1D10 rounds.

Hysterical
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Institutionalized
Bout of Madness - Summary
“Let me out!”
You come to their senses and realize
there are restraints on your wrists. You
appear to be alone in some sort of room.
There are no windows. The door has a
small opening covered in stout iron bars.
“Let me out!” You hear yourself shout-
ing; it sounds like the raving of a mad
man. Slowly calmness descends and you
fall quiet. You begin to recall the events
that led you here. There’s a sound of
a door opening and someone saying,
“Are we feeling better now?”
Depending the circumstances of the event
leading to the investigator’s bout of in-
sanity, the Keeper should decide whether
the investigator wakes up in a police cell,
hospital bed, or asylum ward.
Institutionalized
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Kleptomania
“It must be mine.”
You have an irrational compulsion for stealing. This
is an impulse-control disorder that means you have
an inability to refrain from the urge to steal items for
reasons other than personal use or financial gain.

Your compulsion could be for specific items or

just anything at all, including things like paper
clips, pens, flowers, spoons, pencils, or ashtrays.

You are highly likely to show signs of stress, in-

cluding restlessness and anxiety, before stealing
and then feel a release of pressure following the
theft. However, soon feelings of guilt emerge and
you may wish to confess your crimes to others.

If anything or anyone prevents you from stealing,

you become extremely anxious and suffer from
one penalty die on all skill rolls until your ma-
nia can be indulged (not applicable if in combat).
The Keeper may alter the level of difficulty for
certain skill rolls depending on the circumstances
and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
severe effects.

Kleptomania
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Ligyromania
“BANG!”
You have an uncontrollable compulsion to make
loud noises, especially at inappropriate times,
such as when everyone is trying to be quiet in a
theatre or when sneaking through some cult’s lair.

Most likely you will favour one or two signature

noises, or perhaps you make a range of outland-
ish sounds when you feel nervous. Naturally, see-
ing a balloon will make you want to pop it.

You may also function better when immersed in

loud noise, such as music played at full volume.
Perhaps this stems from a fear of silence, and
so you are only able to fully function and think
clearly when in a noisy environment.

If anything or anyone prevents you from mak-

ing a loud noise you become anxious and suffer
from one penalty die on all skill rolls until your
compulsion can be indulged (not applicable if in
combat). The Keeper may alter the level of diffi-
culty for certain skill rolls depending on the cir-
cumstances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
Ligyromania severe effects.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

Ligyrophobia
“Oh my! Did you hear THAT?!”
You have a fear of loud noises. A sudden loud
sound, such as a siren, firearms, and explosions
will cause you dramatic anxiety.

Likely effects include: hyperventilation, muscle

spasm, dry mouth, feeling dizzy, and palpitations.

You will be cautious of musical instruments, es-

pecially drum kits, and will avoid parades, car-
nivals, and firework displays. Wherever possible
you will ensure the volume on radios, music play-
ers, and televisions is turned down to low.

Watching someone blow-up a balloon will fill you

with dread, making you feel out of control, and it
will be difficult for you to pay attention to any-
thing other than the source of the noise.

Exposure to loud noises causes an overwhelming

response and all actions while in a phobic state,
other than fleeing from it or fighting (if in com-
bat), are made with one penalty die. Note that the
penalty applies if you are surrounded by gunfire.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily reduce your stress so that you
Ligyrophobia can calm down and avoid the worst of your pho-
bic responses.
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Monophobia
“Don’t leave me!”
You have an acute fear of being alone. If you find
yourself alone with no friends nearby you will
enter a phobic state. You will be filled with anxi-
ety at thought of being left alone, even for a short
period.

Symptoms can include feeling unable to cope,

severe self-doubt, and panic. You may experience
an increased heart rate, an inability to articulate
words or sentences, and extreme mood swings.
Being alone leaves you at the mercy of strangers.

You will find it difficult to carry out certain

activities, including moving through a crowd
(you might get separated), entering an elevator
or a dark place, and using public transport.

When alone you will have an overwhelming pho-

bic response and all actions while in this state,
other than fleeing from it or fighting (if in com-
bat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily reduce your stress, allowing
you to calm down and avoid the worst of your
phobic responses. Note that talking on a tele-
Monophobia phone with a friend might also be enough to help
you deal with the situation.
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Mythomania
“It wasn’t me.”
You are compelled to lie and exaggerate to an
abnormal extent. It is impossible for you to tell
the truth, even if your life depends on it.

Lies act like armor, they shield you and protect

you from harm. You may hide the truth in ex-
aggeration, while promoting your own self-in-
terest. You spice things up with elaborate stories
demonstrating how important you are.

As your condition worsens, your web of lies

grows. You must keep track of your lies, writing
them down to help you remember them. In times
of stress your lies and exaggerations grow more
wild and bizarre.

When confronted about your lies, you grow anx-

ious and suffer from one penalty die on all skill
rolls until you are able to exit or create new lies
that are believed (not applicable if in combat). The
Keeper may alter the level of difficulty for certain
skill rolls, depending on the circumstances.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
severe effects, perhaps allowing you to admit the
Mythomania truth of things for a brief moment.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

 Nosomania
“Unclean! Unclean!”
You have a deep delusion of suffering from an
imagined disease or severe medical condition.

Perhaps an existing condition becomes amplified

in your mind, or you imagine a disease that be-
gins to affect you. You exemplify the condition;
walking with a limp, covering yourself in ban-
dages, and so on. Perhaps you believe your legs
don’t function anymore, making others push you
around in a wheel chair, or you like performing
minor surgical procedures upon yourself.

You may pester doctors to try and find suitable

treatments. You may feel forced to steal drugs
when doctors won’t believe you.

You become agitated and hostile if others doubt

your condition, and suffer from one penalty die on
all skill rolls until you are able to exit the scene (not
applicable if in combat). The Keeper may alter the
level of difficulty for certain skill rolls depending
on the circumstances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
severe effects.

Nosomania
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Odontophobia
“Aahhh! Teeth!”
You have a fear of teeth. You fear the gnashing,
biting, and crunching of mouths filled with razor
sharp teeth. Animals, like dogs, cats, and worse,
look at you and lick their teeth. You know what
they are thinking. They are going to eat you!

Even some humans, with mouths filled with rows

and rows of pale, milky teeth, might be cannibals
who want nothing more than to feast on your
flesh—chomping and grinding your bones.

You are anxious around strangers and actively

fearful of animals with sharp teeth. When faced
with snarling animals, people getting up in your
face bearing their teeth, or even worse—mon-
sters, you have an overwhelming response and all
actions while in a phobic state, other than fleeing
from it or fighting (if in combat), are made with
one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily reduce your stress, allowing
you to calm down and avoid the worst of your
phobic responses.

Odontophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Onomatomania
“F’tagn! F’tagn! F’tagn!”
You have an irresistible desire to repeat certain
words.

It may be a word that most signifies the event that

broke your mind. Alternatively, the words could
be unimportant, even gibberish. Perhaps you are
compelled to repeat the last thing said to you.

You will take comfort in repeating your word/s to

yourself; you may feel compelled to write them
down as well.

You become frustrated or annoyed at those who

don’t understand you, or who unwittingly use the
word/s themselves.

When prevented from saying your word/s you

become anxious and suffer from one penalty die
on all skill rolls until you are able to satisfy your
mania (not applicable if in combat). The Keeper
may alter the level of difficulty for certain skill
rolls depending on the circumstances and state of
the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
Onomatomania severe effects.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

Paranoia
Bout of Madness—Real Time
“I know you are all against me!”
Suddenly you realize that you can only
count on yourself.
Trust no one.
Everyone is out to get you – even your
so-called allies and friends!
You experience an episode of severe
paranoia. You will not listen to reason.
You are being spied on, or someone has
betrayed you, or what you are seeing is
an elaborate trick to deceive you.
You feel compelled to confront the “real
enemies” in your midst—your friends
and allies.
The paranoia lasts for 1D10 rounds.

Paranoia
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Psychosomatic Disability
Bout of Madness—Real Time
“What’s happening to me?”
A specific part of your body immediately shuts
down. Roll 1D6 or choose from the following:

1. Blindness—your vision suddenly goes

black and you can see nothing!

2. Deafness—your hearing disappears; all you

can make out are whistles and moans.

3. Speech loss—you open your mouth but it

makes no sound!

4. Touch—you cannot feel anything, includ-

ing pain, (the Keeper will secretly record all
hit point losses while you are affected).

5. Limp fingers—whatever you are holding

suddenly falls to the floor as your hands be-
come lifeless, unable to hold anything.

6. Dead legs—you fall to the fall. You cannot

stand and can only move by pulling your-
self along with your hands (your MOV is
reduced to 1).

Psychosomatic Disability This psychosomatic disability lasts for 1D10 rounds.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

Pyromania
“Burn it all!”
You have an obsession with fire and a compul-
sion to start fires. Fire is cleansing and you are
its instrument, purging the world of darkness.
You have the power to bring change through the
red-hot fires of redemption and absolution. Your
obsession may stem from a belief in hellfire—the
flames turn sin into ashes. Alternatively, you real-
ize that chaos is true master of all things and so by
causing fires you set the chaos free.

In the presence of a flame you are drawn to it,

not realizing the amount of time passing as you
stare into its burning heart. If able, you will carry
implements of fire starting with you.

At stressful times you desire to set things alight

and, if prevented, you become anxious and suffer
from one penalty die on all skill rolls until you
are able to exit or fulfil the compulsion (not ap-
plicable if in combat). You may be able resist the
urge by succeeding with a Hard Sanity roll. The
Keeper may alter the level of difficulty for certain
skill rolls depending on the circumstances and
state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

Pyromania you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
severe effects.
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Question-Asking Mania
“What’s that?”
You have a compulsive urge to ask questions.
Wherever and whenever, you are unable to resist
asking questions.

Most of the time your questions will be direct-

ed at others; however, sometimes you will begin
to question yourself. You may feel compelled to
ask questions of those in authority, shopkeepers,
religious leaders, and so on.

Your may be concerned with matters of import

or, more likely, obvious things that really require
no questioning—repeating the same question
over and over. You cry or grow angry if no one
gives you the answers you desire.

When prevented from asking questions you be-

come anxious and suffer from one penalty die
on all skill rolls until you are able to satisfy your
mania (not applicable if in combat). The Keeper
may alter the level of difficulty for certain skill
rolls depending on the circumstances and state of
the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
Question-Asking Mania severe effects.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

Rhabdophobia
“Aahhh! He’ll turn us in to frogs!”
You have a fear of magic. Anything related to
magic, from the card tricks of stage magicians to
the ancient tomes of those who purport to con-
duct real magic, is liable to turn you into a quiv-
ering wreck.

Magic changes things; it could change you. It’s

the occult, the gateway to a world of darkness and
evil. Beware magicians. You know the real truth
and the danger they pose.

When exposed to magic, magical paraphernalia,

and those who perform magic, you become anx-
ious, filled with dread, and experience excessive
sweating, nausea, and an inability to articulate
sentences. If you are aware that you are the tar-
get of Mythos magic, your reaction will be dire,
reducing you temporarily to a catatonic state (a
successful Sanity roll avoids this effect).

Exposure to magic causes an overwhelming re-

sponse and all actions while in a phobic state, other
than fleeing from it or fighting (if in combat), are
made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill will ease

Rhabdophobia your stress, allowing you to calm down.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

 Robbed
Bout of Madness—Summary
“It’s gone! I’ve been robbed!”

Your senses gather and you find your-

self alone. Its obvious some time has
passed—perhaps six or more hours. You
feel groggy. Checking your pockets, you
find to your dismay that you have been
robbed.
Whatever equipment, weapons, or
money you last remember having are
now gone—in fact anything of value
has completely disappeared.
If you were carrying a Treasured Pos-
session (per your investigator’s back-
story), make a Luck roll to see if it was
also stolen.

Robbed
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Scotophobia
“Where’s the light? Where’s the LIGHT!”
You have a persistent and severe fear of darkness,
or of the night in general.

Darkness hides things—things that want to hurt

you. If you enter the darkness you will be taken.
Bad things happen in the dark—murder, theft, and
worse. You will want to avoid any place of darkness:
empty houses, dark crypts, and overgrown forests;.
Going out into the night will bring deep dread.

When exposed to darkness you will become

breathless, experience hot and cold sweats, shake,
and be filled with dread. If you experience pro-
longed exposure to darkness you will have an in-
tense anxiety attack, being unable to speak clearly
and likely to become catatonic (a successful Sani-
ty roll avoids this effect).

Exposure to darkness causes an overwhelming

response and all actions whilst in a phobic state,
other than fleeing from it or fighting (if in com-
bat), are made with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill will ease

your anxiety, allowing you to hold things together
for a while.
Scotophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Taphephobia
“Dead things everywhere!”
You have a fear of being buried alive or of ceme-
teries. Perhaps you fear being pronounced dead
and waking up under the ground, trapped and
suffocating. Maybe your fear is focused on dead
things and graveyards; the living have no business
bothering the dead.

Cemeteries are bad places. The dead can sense the

living and they grow envious of your life. Some-
times the desire for life is too strong and zombies
rise to consume the living.

You will actively avoid entering graveyards and

mausoleums. You fear being near the dead. If your
fear is centered on being buried alive, you will
avoid seeking medical attention and hospitals.

Exposure to anything that makes you think of the

dead (funerals, morgues, coffins, etc.) causes an
overwhelming response and all actions while in a
phobic state, other than fleeing to a place of safe-
ty or fighting (if in combat), are made with one
penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill will ease

your anxiety, allowing you to hold things together
Taphephobia temporarily.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

Titillomaniac
“Out, out damned spot!”
You have an unhealthy compulsion for scratching
yourself.

You feel the need to repeatedly pick and scratch at

your own skin to the extent that damage is caused.
Most likely, you feel that you have a skin defect or
some strange ailment afflicts you.

The condition will flare up at times of stress or

when alone with your own thoughts. While the
whole of your body can be the subject of your
urges to pick, the most common region tends to
be the face (long-term face scratching may reduce
your character’s APP, as directed by the Keeper).

When prevented from scratching or picking you

become extremely anxious and suffer from one
penalty die on all skill rolls until you are able to
satisfy your compulsion (not applicable if in com-
bat). The Keeper may alter the level of difficulty
for certain skill or characteristic rolls depending
on the circumstances and state of the character.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill allows

you to temporarily ignore the mania and its most
severe effects.
Titillomaniac
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Violence
Bout of Madness—Summary
“Did I do that?”
Suddenly you come to your senses and
look around. Surrounding you is a
scene of devastation: people lie on the
floor groaning, some nurse injuries
while others are covered in blood. Some
do not move at all.
A stark realisation grips you… Did I do
this? You look down to your hands to
see they are covered in blood. You re-
alize that it’s not your blood. You don’t
remember a thing, least of all why you
instigated a spree of violence and de-
struction. You stare at the fear on the
people’s faces as you hear the sound of
sirens approaching.
Reduce your current Hit Points by
1D6—though this does not cause a ma-
Violence jor wound.

© Chaosium Inc 2015

Violent Behavior
Bout of Madness—Real Time
“AAARRRHHHH!”
A red mist descends, filling you with
insane anger. You explode in a spree of
uncontrolled violence and destruction
directed at your surroundings, allies,
and foes alike.
Each round, roll 1D6 to randomly deter-
mine the subject of your manic aggression:
1-2: Your physical surroundings (a
wall, door, object, etc.)
3-4: The foe closest to you
(human or otherwise).
5-6: The ally closest to you.
Your berserk rages lasts for 1D10
rounds and then you fall to the floor ex-
hausted—make a Hard CON roll, fail-
ure indicates that you pass out.
Violent Behavior
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Xenophobia
“They are trying to get me!”
You have a fear of strangers and foreigners. Any-
one you perceive as different (foreign) or unfa-
miliar (strange) is a potential threat, and someone
who sends your heart racing in terror.

Unfamiliar people cannot be trusted as their mo-

tives and agendas are unknown. Strangers hide
dark secrets and they could be anything from
murderers to those who want to steal your identi-
ty so that they can take your life and things.

You experience extreme mood swings when faced

with people who are different from you, from
anger and aggression to outright terror. Any sit-
uation where you are in unfamiliar territory and
where you are exposed to foreigners or strangers
will make you anxious or angry.

Exposure causes an overwhelming response and

all actions while in a phobic state, other than flee-
ing from it or fighting (if in combat), are made
with one penalty die.

Successful use of the Psychoanalysis skill will ease

your anxiety, allowing you to hold things together
temporarily.
Xenophobia
© Chaosium Inc 2015

Mistaken Identity
Bout of Madness - Real Time
“Good golly! It’s YOU!”
Suddenly you recognise a person important in
your life is here—it doesn’t matter how they
are here, what’s important is that they are here.

Consider the nature of your relationship to

this person and immediately act upon it.

The Keeper should review the investigator’s

backstory entry for Significant People. The
investigator mistakes another person in the
scene for this Significant Person. If the en-
try on the sheet is blank, the Keeper is free to
choose something suitable.

The mistaken identity lasts for 1D10 rounds

and no matter what is said or done during
this time, you are unwilling to believe that
the person is anyone other than your signif-
icant person.

Mistaken Identity
© Chaosium Inc 2015
 Credits Disclaimer
Devised, written, and edited by Mike Mason. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, busi-
nesses, places, events, and incidents are either the
Phobia Deck illustrations by Reuben Dodd. products of the author’s imagination or used in
a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual
Layout and card design by Nick Nacario.
persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely
Box design by Nick Nacario. coincidental. No offence to anyone living or dead
is intended.
The reproduction of material from within this
book for the purposes of personal or corporate
profit by photographic, electronic, or other
retrieval media is prohibited.

This accessory pack is best used with the role-

playing game CALL OF CTHULHU, available
separately.

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chaosium.com

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Product : 23135pcd

© Chaosium Inc 2015