Paizo announces 13 Omens, a new horror RPG

Paizo has announced a new horror RPG that will not use the Pathfinder/Starfinder 2E game engine. Announced today, 13 Omens is a new rules-lite RPG designed by Jason Bulmahn and Joe Pasini. The game is set in a "dark reflection of our world; beset by horrifying specters, bloodthirsty killers, cursed places, and secrets best left unknown." No further details were announced for the game, save that it will use an easy-to-learn game engine that ramps up tension as the game moves along. You can sign up for a mailing list on Paizo's website.

The new RPG is notable as it marks Paizo's third-ever RPG. Paizo as a company has focused primarily on Pathfinder and Starfinder, as well as accessories and the occasional peripheral tabletop or card game. Bulmahn is the Director of Games for Paizo and has previously worked on Hopefinder, a horror-themed zombie apocalypse RPG that used the Pathfinder 2E engine.

 

[Jason Bulmahn]

Is the GM Jason Bulmahn or Alex Speidel?

I'd be tempted to sign up, but finding 4 spare hours in a busy working convention schedule is nigh impossible!

I am the GM of three sessions at the show.

Which, btw, is the first convention I will be attending in almost 6 years. Looking forward to it.

 

[Morrus]

I am the GM of three sessions at the show.

Which, btw, is the first convention I will be attending in almost 6 years. Looking forward to it.

Hopefully I’ll see you!

 

[wicked cool]

You lost me!



Anybody claiming any of these games are WotC killers is woefully misinformed or trying to sell you something.

I say the same thing but I bet if you put that in YouTube you will see what I’m talking about.

Not to beat a dead horse but paizo for a bigger publishing/game company doesn’t do a lot of marketing

 

[MadmanMike83]

It will be interesting to see how this stacks up against 10 Candles.

 

[Kaodi]

I would expect Paizo to be somewhat risk averse in this respect so I think the odds are good that the system will work nicely. I do not care to guess whether it will sell. But I would bet that it will be well regarded design wise.

 

[VelvetViolet]

So they're making a non-mythos horror game? I wonder how this will compete against Call of Cthulhu. I'm all for non-mythos horror games. Maybe Paizo's support as publisher will allow it to break into the mainstream without being buried like every other non-mythos horror game.

 

[Reynard]

I am the GM of three sessions at the show.

Which, btw, is the first convention I will be attending in almost 6 years. Looking forward to it.

If you can tell us, is the game designed for ongoing campaigns or more short expriences?

 

[Planescape]

• Not using a previous system
• Horror
• Rules-Lite

3 DINGS! I'm on board!
Can't wait to hear more!

 

[marroon69]

hmmm why not use the system their fans know? I have Hopefinder by Bulmahn and it is pretty good...a lighter classless version of the PF2e system. You diffently not super heroes in Hopefinder. Not sure about this....

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

hmmm why not use the system their fans know?

1. Because as much as "any" RPG game can be played in "any" RPG system, system makes a big difference in the experience. You could probably play a game of Risk using the Monopoly rules, but it would play very differently.
2. Game designers don't tend to want to just work on the same game system, and nothing but, for 20+ years and letting them do something different in-house helps keep them in-house. You see this same phenomenon with video game studios as well.