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Post by OFTHEHILLPEOPLE on Oct 12, 2016 11:20:16 GMT -8
What with it being that time of the year I thought it would be cool to talk about using mechanics in games to create horror in the story, making the characters and players nervous and afraid, and all while using everything but fear mechanics. Hell, even tips for how to just tell a horror story and hitting that tone, even if it's a reminder from past podcasts, would be awesome.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 0:04:06 GMT -8
I'm a fan of the gumshoe system for horror games. That is because of providing static modifiers to rolls, it offers you a pool of points you can spend to add to your rolls. Thus you can only be a bad ass as long as your pool holds out (not long). This gives players a reason to switch modes. If shooting it hasn't stopped it from coming at you and your pool is dwindling, that's a strong signal that it is time to change your tactic (likely to running). If your running pool is drying up, it may be time to hide.
What is good about this system is that it puts you up against the wall without crippling you in the process. Most games count on HP (or some other kind of health/wound indicator) to signal when things are going badly. By allowing all your skills to be pools that can deplete, you can be in fear do to resource loss without being horrendously injured. Finding ways to get rest or solace become important to refilling those pools. Thus the system is in a unique position to run a game where your players will be under stress a lot.
Another up side, gumshoe has its own version of call of cthulu (I forget the name off hand) as well as other horror themed games. Its easy enough to tweak in or out a mechanic (such as horror/sanity mechanics) to the lines not designed with them.
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Oct 13, 2016 0:12:48 GMT -8
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Post by Stu Venable on Oct 13, 2016 12:11:52 GMT -8
I like this one! We'll talk about it on the 21st.
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Post by ayslyn on Oct 13, 2016 15:00:53 GMT -8
I like this one! We'll talk about it on the 21st. No Hell's Kitchen party?
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maxinstuff
Supporter
Posts: 1,939
Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
Favorite Species of Monkey: Proboscis
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Post by maxinstuff on Oct 13, 2016 16:01:00 GMT -8
Would I be taking the question out of context if I said that FATAL does a good job of this?
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