Best system for horror... Thoughts?

Calico_Jack73

First Post

• Aug 21, 2006

• #1

I am a big fan of the Supernatural series on the WB and thought it might be neat to run a game based on the same premise. I've got Call of Cthulhu d20 and d20 Modern but neither seem to be a good fit. In fact, none of the "Hit-Point" systems seem to be a good fit since the brothers seem to be getting knocked-out fairly frequently. I'm leaning toward Call of Cthulhu (Chaosium) but I was curious to see what the rest of the EnWorlders though might be the best system for a cinematic horror game.

 

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Infernal Teddy

Explorer

• Aug 21, 2006

• #2

For a cinematic game? Well, either you try using Cthulhu d20 with the rules for Wounds and Vitality from Star Wars d20 / Unearthed Arcana...

... Or you run with the new World of Darkness.

 

Philotomy Jurament

First Post

• Aug 21, 2006

• #3

I'm not familiar with the Supernatural series, but Call of Cthulhu (BRP/Chaosium) is my favorite horror RPG.

 

Piratecat

Sesquipedalian

• Aug 21, 2006

• #4

I love Call of Cthulhu... but I can't recommend Dread enough. It uses a Jenga tower for a mechanic instead of dice, believe it or not, and the nervousness of pulling and knocking down the tower translates perfectly into a horror game. Sounds odd, but it plays extremely well.

http://www.tiltingatwindmills.net/dread/index.html

 

Nebulous

Legend

• Aug 21, 2006

• #5

i'm using d20 Call of Cthulhu spliced with the additional Horror Rules from Grim Tales, and a massive Damage threshold = Con, and it's working beautifully.

 

Ralif Redhammer

Legend

• Aug 21, 2006

• #6

I'd go with Chaosium's CoC or Warhammer 2e if you want a more fantasy element.

Chaosium's ever-diminishing sanity system was a great way of generating PC fear, as far as doing so mechanically is concerned.

 

resscane

Explorer

• Aug 21, 2006

• #7

modern horror

This guy had a great story hour a while back. Wish he would have kept it up. I think he used a mixture of Darkmatter and star wars rules.., although I cant remeber all of it. The story hour is good for inspiration also.

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=4912

 

FATDRAGONGAMES

First Post

• Aug 21, 2006

• #8

Calico_Jack73 said:

I am a big fan of the Supernatural series on the WB and thought it might be neat to run a game based on the same premise. I've got Call of Cthulhu d20 and d20 Modern but neither seem to be a good fit. In fact, none of the "Hit-Point" systems seem to be a good fit since the brothers seem to be getting knocked-out fairly frequently. I'm leaning toward Call of Cthulhu (Chaosium) but I was curious to see what the rest of the EnWorlders though might be the best system for a cinematic horror game.

Click to expand...

If you're wanting to avoid a "hit point" system you may want to check out True 20 from Green Ronin. It has a toughness save similar to M&M and would probably be a better match for what you're describing.

 

D

Delta

First Post

• Aug 21, 2006

• #9

Calico_Jack73 said:

I'm leaning toward Call of Cthulhu (Chaosium) but I was curious to see what the rest of the EnWorlders though might be the best system for a cinematic horror game.

Click to expand...

D&D with lots of monsters draining levels & eliminating magic items with no save.

 

Gothmog

First Post

• Aug 21, 2006

• #10

For regular horror? No question, CoC BRP is the best. Honorable mention goes to Kult for some really weird ideas and disturbing imagery, and Warhammer 2e is great for fantasy horror. Oddly enough, some of the creepiest games I have run were with Deadlands classic rules too, but thats more for Weird Westerns. I haven't tried True 20 with horror, but it looks like it would also be a great fit.

 

Last edited: Aug 21, 2006