Horror

[snake]

Hi All.

The summer is approaching and I'm gearing up to start (or restart) a few campaigns in different genres, maybe Horror, Pulp and Post Apoc. I plan to review a few sources of inspiration and work through the SC rules book, creating PCs, NPCs and stuff and making notes as I go.

I thought it would be cool to post this and open some threads to kick off discussion about how different  people are running their games. Feel free to dive in and comment on anything.

Anyway, the moon is full and bright and things are lurking in the shadows, so here's the Horror Campaign thread. Enter freely and of your own Will !!! Coming up soon, some Horror PC concepts................... 

 

[MilitiaJim]

Another night deprived of slumber
hours passing without number.
My eyes traced slowly 'round the room,
I lay dripping sweat and now quite certain
that tonight the final curtain
drops upon my short life's precious play...

It's all in the presentation.  You can knock people out of their chairs with poetry.

[ThunderMonkey]

I've found that the more you leave to the imagination of your players, the better off you are. Nothing can recreate true horror like our own imagination. Finding that right edge to push them to is sometimes difficult to get from the beginning.

[snake]

Good words, MilitiaJim. I just can picture the old fashioned wooden panels, the candle flickering on the bedside table and then the strange tapping sound against the window...................

Spot on, ThunderMonkey. I believe Lovecraft, Karloff and Hitchcock all agreed with you thats its what you DON'T see but imagine that is most terrifying.

Now if I can just capture these aspects of horror in my game .............

[Krensky]

GURPS Horror was a good book that was mostly GM directions. You'd have to find it used or on e23 though.

[snake]

Thanks Mr K. I'll check it out. I'm keen to draw on a number of sources, maybe get different perspectives and grab some ideas to boot  !!!

Heres the first of my Horror PCs concepts:

Dr. Matthew Blakemoor. Scientist. Parapsychologist. Occult Expert. (Bit like Giles in Buffy, Abraham Van Helsing or Dr Russell V Childers, if you remember him) 

Twenty years ago, Matthew Blakemoor was a Psychology graduate from Oxford, studying for his masters degree. One vacation, he was visiting a friend of his in London. On arriving,  he found his friends body, hideously mutilated. 

He became involved in the investigation and uncovered the existence of a sinister organisation. The organaisation was attempting to exploit some bizarre Alien technology for its own ends. The leader of the organisation was an immortal, preserving his life through sinister means.

With the aid of others, Matt defeated the villains plans. But not without personal cost to his mental and physical health.  His hair turned white and he became obsessed with investigating other mysteries. 

Studying for his doctorate, he travelled the world, In the USA, he encountered ancient supernatural monsters and defeated them using knowledge he discovered in some ancient volumes.

From the outside, apart from his hair, he looks like just another ordinary academic. He dresses plainly and wears glasses for reading. However, on an investigation, he dresses in dark clothing and carries a concealed handgun (he is a crackshot) and Bowie Knife (useful for slicing through monstrous tentacles and the like).

Returning to the UK, he worked as a lecturer for a while but still sought the thrill of the unknown. Recently, he has been approached by a representative of a secret government agency called Department 7.   

They had heard of his exploits and wanted to offer him employment and support whilst he investigated a few mysteries on their behalf…………….

[glimmerrat]

Advice from Ravenloft - remember, a single well-timed drop of blood is far more frightening than an entire room spattered with gore.

I also favour rolling dice for no reason and asking players to roll Notice/Awareness checks when it isn't needed. To paraphrase a recent session:

GC: You enter the darkened ball room. There's a low stage under tall windows at the far end, and the wide dance floor is flanked by dozens of round tables on both sides, each topped with six upside-down chairs. Roll Notice/Awareness please.
Player: Ok... I got a 22.
GC: *smiles* Want to spend an action die on that?
Player: Uh... no?
GC: *Checks notes behind screen and smiles more* Ok, you look around, scanning the shadows and any possible hiding places. There's no-one here... as far as you can tell.
Player: Ok, I start looking for secret entrances.
GC: Roll Search/Perception.
Player: 20?
GC: *Checks notes* You search the walls and skirting boards, but it's very dark here. You don't find any secret doors or panels. *Rolls a die* Roll Notice/Awareness again please...
Player: What? Um... 21. I'm spending an action die. 28!
GC: Ok, You quickly turn on the spot, looking off to one side and see... nothing? *Picks up core book and starts checking Covert Feats*
Player: Screw this - i'm outta here. My character picks up his things and leaves. Quickly.

[snake]

Excellent, Glimmerrat. I guess the Players stress would be further heightened by the fact they tend to have less Action Dice in a Horror campaign.  Do they spend them now and avoid being suprised and ripped apart by the creature or save then for when the Horde descends on them and they need healing...........

[Krensky]

Euclidean action dice will not avail them in any event.

[MilitiaJim]

1:  Grab the Dremel.
2:  Drop acid.
3:  Carve non Euclidean dice.
4:  Profit???

[Mister Andersen]

1:  Grab the Dremel.
2:  Drop acid.
3:  Carve non Euclidean dice.
4:  ???
5:  Profit


is I believe the correct implementation of the meme

[Sletchman]

1:  Grab the Dremel.
2:  Drop acid.
3:  Carve non Euclidean dice.
4:  Profit???

I have a set of spherical dice, not exactly non-euclidean but its gotta be a good start.

On another note I like describing something that worries the players, especially if they're experianced roleplayers.  Give them just enough information to jump to the wrong conclusion, especially if its one that makes them nervous.  This works especially well if you have a player that knows the setting / manual backwards.

[snake]

Cool. What about Action Dice with Elder Signs carved on them ??

[MilitiaJim]

is I believe the correct implementation of the meme

You think non Euclidean dice cannot alter a mere internet meme?  MADNESS!!!1!

[Mister Andersen]

While non-Euclidian events are not bound by Euclidian rules, that doesn't mean non-EuclidIan phenomena don't also occupy Euclidian space.