SO... Every year around Halloween, I like to run a horror oneshot. I've been learning about new horror RPG systems and I want to run one of these! I have several HORROR options I want to pitch to you.
1
CHILDISH THINGS
—immersive horror
Keywords: PCs are children: ages 4-9, monsters, small secluded town, high immersion, nightmare-like, run away the terrors of the night to find your missing parents and classmates in your small secluded town. What is seen the shadows is easily misunderstood in the mind of a child…
Roleplay: HIGH
Combat: LOW
Technology: MODERN DAY (but before cell phones)
Player buy-in: For this game, you will need to be able to act, react, and talk like little kids. You will need to have some form of family in your backstory that you care about - and want to find when they go missing. Because this is horror, you won’t be able to FIGHT the monsters; rather you’ll need to RUN. This game won’t work unless you can react to things as a small CHILD, i.e. with FEAR. We only play after dark, preferably with your lights out, with headphones, and clutching your childhood blanket or stuffed animal. It should be an extremely immersive horror experience.
**note: Before the first session, I ask you to list out your ACTUAL fears to me (clowns, spiders, being kidnapped, etc) so that I do not include them in the game. In addition, I ask all my players to read and sign a waiver, telling you (among other things) that if it’s getting too intense, you must TELL me right away so that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time.
2
MOBIUS
—paranormal exploration
Keywords: modern-day teenagers, trapped on an abandoned island, paranormal, time loops, strange and terrifying secrets hidden, investigation, time travel
Roleplay: LOW (You don't need to be an actor/roleplayer to enjoy this game)
Combat: MEDIUM
Technology: MODERN DAY (but before cell phones)
Player buy-in: You don’t need to be a good roleplayer to enjoy this mysterious game. There won’t be much combat, as anything truly dangerous you’ll probably have to run from. You WILL need to be curious, investigative. You’ll also need to be driven to escape and survive, because there won’t be an opportunity for you to create another character if you die; you’ll just have to take over one of the 3-4 NPC teenagers who came with you. In other words, be careful!
**Helpful hint: The last time I ran this game, everyone signing up initially wanted to be “the quiet nerd type”…I would encourage you to go for something else if you think you can. :)
3
TEN CANDLES
—tragic horror
Keywords: modern-day teenagers, trapped on an abandoned island, paranormal, time loops, strange and terrifying secrets hidden, investigation, time travel
Roleplay: MEDIUM
Combat/Lethality: MEDIUM
Technology: ANY (Our setting can potentially any era from real-world history)
Player buy-in: 10 days ago, the sun went out. No one understands why or what happened. But then... that's when They started to appear. You can't kill Them. You can't understand Them. The only thing they fear... is light. But the electric grid (or village bonfire or whatever light source you have) has been mostly wiped out... and so has the rest of humanity. This is specifically a "tragic horror" narrative - there is no way to "win." This is a story of the last few people left alive, and their final struggles before ALL of them die at the very end.
This is a powerful narrative-driven system where we really try to tell a compelling narrative together. This system is intended to be played in-person in a dark room with actual candles that are purposely extinguished as the game progresses... so I'm honestly not sure if this sort of style can be run online. Still... if there is sufficient interest, I'm down to see what can happen!
WHAT SYSTEM WOULD WE USE?
To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. I would prefer to assemble my players first. Then we can decide the system together.
I’ve had great success in my decade of GMing running a heavily simplified system called The Bare Bones System, but I am open to running any of the following:
- Dread
- Ten Candles
- Kids on Bikes
- Everyone is John
- The Bare Bones System
Several of these systems imply that we might have a scenario not covered in my 3 ideas above. That is ok with me! :)
YOU READ THIS FAR? Great! Can't wait to meet you! Leave an application below! :)
THE APPLICATION (please copy/paste these questions into your reply)
**NOTE: I only come to Reddit once or twice a week, so DM me on Discord if you are interested! My Discord tag is moogamoogamooga
Name: (screenname is fine)
Approximate age: (specific or vague)
How many years you've played TTRPGs, which systems, and how many (if any) years you've been a Gamemaster:
Which past (or present) campaigns you've enjoyed the most, and why:
What sounds appealing about a horror game to you? (BONUS: Have you ever been in a horror campaign before, as a player or a GM?):
Tell me which campaign idea(s) sounds fun to you! What intrigues you about it? What do you imagine yourself doing?:
Pitch your character(s). This can be as short or as long as you’d like:
**NOTE: I only check Reddit once a week, so DM me on Discord if you are interested! My Discord tag is moogamoogamooga