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Well I don't want to say too much about the game, as a lot of my thoughts are just half planed ideas but after watching a late night horror film (as I often do) I noticed that I had never played a game based around a horror film, and I wondered why none had ever tried to make one. Sure there are a lot of games based in horror inspired settings but in the end they all play like other wargames.
I really thing a game where players can fight their own epic 1 on 1 fights could come out very good.

My idea is to try to write the rules for a narative game based on the common horror story of two powerful characters fighting over a town full of normal humans. The plan is that the characters will each take one very powerful charater and fight across the board while also trying to secure objectives (locations, game controlled civilians/ ect..). As I said earlier this game is heavily roleplay based and the idea is that the players should try to play the game as the character would, rather than doing whatever is needed to win ( not that the game can't be played competitively). To follow this I will make the rules very free alowing you to do things your way.

I plan on having rules to allow players to play either 2 evil characters against each other (where players compete to destroy all the town / kill normal humans) or to give them the option of having an equally powerful (but very different) good character who must stop the evil player from completing their objectives.

Now I think this is a good idea, but I am a huge horror movie fan and I do get over carried away with my ideas. I really need to know would this game interest you enough to play it. If you saw this game would you pick it up?

Please explain your answers and incluide any info that explains what you think about the idea.

Thanks
4M2A

Sounds like it could be interesting. Not sure how many games there are like it (or games where you could do something similar - D20 and D&D etc spring to mind) and I would certainly be interested to hear more.

I would love a game where you can play by yourself if you wanted/needed to as well though

Would it be able to work on a kind of random event system/event tree to keep it so that you don't need a DM/GM and also keep it fresh to play no matter how many times you played "the game"?

There will be alot of random civilians running around and doing other things. This means that theoritcally yes you could play by yourself. I do not plan on having the game requiring a GM as that just makes it more difficult to get a game.

They will hopefully do stuff like hide which maks them harder to find but easier to kill. I will probably add in rules for "Hard" civilians for solo games. This means they can actually fight back with a chance of succes, as in normal games they have a chance of escaping an encounter with a character but they are unlikely to do any damage back. A solo game would probably have a random game length, so any turn after turn 4 the game can randomly end.

Come on guys any feedback, positive or negative is helpful.

I think I would be more interested in playing one of the soon to be dead civilians. I always hear people talking to the stupid people on the screen. They tell the soon to be dead people not to do something or don't go in there or just run away. We all have our opinions on how to survive or defeat the "big bad monster".

I think I understand where you are coming from. I have never been a huge fan of horror flicks, but when I am able to watch them and enjoy them, I do it by rooting for the "bad guy". However, I still view myself as an average and decent person, so I think I would prefer roleplaying the average civilians.

Well it depends what sort of civilian you want to be. There will be rules to play a civilian against the bad guy but it will still be more than the average guy. They will be a lot easier to kill than the bad guys (who will be really tough) but can interact with more items, such as searching rooms. They will also get support from the game controlled civilians.

I don't know how the game could play with realistic civilians as there would be a lot of hiding then dieing when you get found.

As a new idea for random civilians, each one will get a profile randomly selected from a pack of cards. The bad guy doesn't know what profiles people have until he interacts with them. This means that they could end up running into combat with a powerful character. They also get to pick up items. Some items are visual items ( large items that can be seen from a distance such as guns, knives, and other large tools) and others aren't. Visual items are revealed when the character gets into LOS of the civilian and non visual (stuff like any kind of protective gear, keys ect..) are revealed when the characters get within a few inches of each other (distance needs to be tested)

Another idea I've had is to include rules for characters hidding. Any character can select to hide a the start of their turn and remain hidden for the turn. Hidden players remove the model and replace it with 3 numbered markers. These markers represent the character and 2 decoys. The player makes note of the numbar of the real character. From then on they move the markers around as if they were the character (the same skills). Whenever an opposing character gets within a set distance and lOS of a token, remove the token and replace it with the model unless it was a decoy.

When a character is found it leaves the hide mode and suffers a penalty for being found, making it easier to be found. When ever a token interacts with certain in game objects, for example shut doors, there is chance they will be revealed. At the start of any turn a player can elect to stop hiding and suffers no penalties.

Now I don't know if those rules are a bit complex but I am happy with them as a start.

So, let me try to clear this up, your making a game kinda like Freddy Vs Jason, where it's two evil characters trying to kill a bunch of NPCs? That would be awesome and I would pick it up.

I would also pick up it up if it where set up to be civilians, too.

just wondering, what kind of abilities do the bad guys have?

So, let me try to clear this up, your making a game kinda like Freddy Vs Jason, where it's two evil characters trying to kill a bunch of NPCs? That would be awesome and I would pick it up.

You have the idea perfectly. It was a jason film that lead me to freddy vs jason which then inspired the idea.

The plan is to make characters very customisable. My current plan is to make classes of bad guys, which specialise in different areas. This means I will have the standard slasher character, but then add other options like animal creatures and others (which I need to think of). Each class has a base statline but can then buy lots of upgrades and weapons. a lot of the uprgades are only for one type of character, but other (more standard things) can be accessed by all.

Good characters will be slightly different. They won't be as powerful in a fight but with have other rules to make up for it. They won't be attacked by civilians and their objectives will be easier (basically stop the bad guy killing all the people.)

I plan on making the combat tactical as that is a main feature of horror films. Instead of role a dice and look at a table they will take turns to choose different kinds of attacks with different results. This means they can choose to shove, stab slash ect. You can also choose where to hit the opponent for different results. The characters will be easy to hurt but as seen in horror films it's really hard to kill a main character.

The game will be able to be played with 2 evil characters competeing or 1 evil guy and 1 civilian character.


I am torn on the idea of having a GM. Part of me says a GM who controlls the NPC civilians and keeps the game going is a good idea. If they keep impersonal they can create the stats of the civilians as well as allowing the characters to improvise things. I am not sure a written set of rules can allow a character to deal with every situation. As its 1 character each the details are important.

The other side of me is concered it would loose it's game side if I include a game master. I want people to play in character but the idea is they also compete. I am leaning towards a GM who controlls NPCs and makes rules for improvising but I am not sure.

What do you think?

Horrorclix did this in a very gamey format, actually using Freddy vs. Jason and Alien Vs. Predator licensed miniatures. The RP element you bring up complicates things.

The way it sounds you don't actually have a clear vision of what you're trying to accomplish. What do you want players to walk from the game feeling like? What part of the game is the more important "experience," the story or the gameplay? Do you want to perfect the system first or match the system to the fluff? Get your basic vision down first then go from there. It's useless debating specifics when you don't have a good general summary yet. Write notes, outlines, whatever you need to and understand what direction you're headed.

A few ideas:

-If you want to avoid dice rolling and make it an action-reaction system, there are a few ways to approach it. One is to let players take turns. Issue being one guy counters the other counters the other guy etc. on and on. There will be unavoidable loops. Another option is a blind reveal. If both players write down what they're doing or choose a face down card or some other mechanic then both flip it over at the same time it helps to balance that out some. Another approach could be a "point" system. Let's say a civilian has 5 points to take actions with. For every point he spends in movement he can go from one location to another that turn. For every point he spends in attack, the other guy has to have spent equal points or more and excess is damage. Something along those lines.

-What are the players playing on? Is it a grid, a map or just a list of locations with the imagination to provide the landscape? If you go with a grid the game much more "gamey" and micromanaged. If you go with locations (like clue) a character might move from the library to the hallway then to the cellar as opposed to a set number of squares.

-I vote no GM. The NPCs can have an auto-pilot set of abilities written on their cards. Maybe the "unstable war veteran" civilian goes from room to room til he finds one with a gun, then sits there til someone opens the door and automatically opens fire. The "high school lovers" go to the nearest parking lots and stay there until attacked/rescued, then the guy tries to sacrifice the girl first and then runs away the way he came. A million possibilities. Just make sure the instructions for each one are simple and quick to understand and account for any possible situation (what if one gets stuck in an impassible area or there's no "safest route" for him to take?)

Just a few things to get you started. I recommend making a solid game before you perfect the fluff however. Good luck and PM me if you want any more of my brand of help

The way it sounds you don't actually have a clear vision of what you're trying to accomplish. What do you want players to walk from the game feeling like? What part of the game is the more important "experience," the story or the gameplay? Do you want to perfect the system first or match the system to the fluff? Get your basic vision down first then go from there. It's useless debating specifics when you don't have a good general summary yet. Write notes, outlines, whatever you need to and understand what direction you're headed.

I have a good idea of what I want the game to play like but I am still trying to find mechanics to get the correct result. The idea is for the game to free enough to be able to get into character but still be basically a skirmish game. As you said it's find a way to slip in a small RP element which is confusing me. I don't want the game to be turn and phase based like GW games because thats to static for a horror setting.

As confused as I appear I do have a good idea of the basics . The game is going to be runusuing action points, each player has a set amount per turn, and different actions take a number of points. For example for each 2 action points you spend you can move you speed characteristic in inches. You play your turn in whatever order your character does the things (basically no turn phases).

As for locations the game will be played inside a building. When I write up the rules I am going to create rooms which can be printed and cut out, this will work like a modular map. The players can then arrange these howver they like and fill them with small terrain peices (furniture). I guess that larger games could be played in between multiple buildings. There is nothing stopping this game being played on an normal gaming table, as long as there is a lot of terrain being used.

At the moment I am just thinking how to fit different things into my plan. My usual plan technique is to come up with as many idea as possible then pick out the good ones.

A lot of good advice from Cannerus_The_Unbearable there.

And I would certainly vote for no GM - fringe games are lucky enough if you have 2 people, let alone 2 players and a GM

As I said, something that can be played alone would be fantastic, plus it is then easy to add more players. Designing something for 2+ people makes it then hard to design something that works for a simple player.

Sounds good plus usuing random random movement for civilians means making a 1 player version would be easy.

Thanks everyone for the great help so far. It's really good to see there is a chance people may want to play my game. Now that I have seen that people don't think it's a stupid idea I will start getting my ideas together and writing them up.

I would really like to see the system you come up with for the NPC's, as well as how you will handle the turn/action/interaction/etc between players, NPC's and PvP.

If you want to bounce any ideas, feel free to give me a PM when you have something you want to share.

Also, if you want a hand writing any characters, background, or anything else, just let me know.

Thanks for the offer Silver, I am sure I will need somehwere to put up new ideas as my nearest source of gamers is quite far away.

I am a complete failure at fiction writing so I may have to take you on the offer of background writing help.

Even though people seem to be against having a GM, I would leave some options for having a GM to control the civis. That would make it a lot harder for the hero players.

EmpBobo wrote:Even though people seem to be against having a GM, I would leave some options for having a GM to control the civis. That would make it a lot harder for the hero players.

That would add something to the game that may attract more players.

Sounds awesome, if you need some help coming up with rules/ideas whatever, give me a PM and I'll help you out.

Well it seems I better get started lol.

I am going to try and knock up a basic rules set then I could PM you guys to see what you think. Due to having exams over the next month and a half it might be a while before anything appears, but I will turn something out eventually. Unfortunately I haven't done anything of this size before so I am not sure how long to expect for a first version.

I haven't read all the replies so i don't know if any of these had been mentioned (i wanted to get my thoughts down before i forgot lol...) but i instantly thought of Shadowrun when i read this. Shadowrun for those of you who don't know is a rpg on the snes (best game EVER) and later on a crap xbox 360 game.... but it also had a miniature game by wizkids i believe where you had an action figure that you could attach weapons to (actual action figure, was amazing =D) and then you battle with em, one on one, gunning away, slinging magic, was rather cool.......not quite horror but this is what your idea reminded me of..... =D


~RoflIron~

Lol I own that game on xbox so I kind of know what you mean about the idea of the game. The idea of attaching items is very close to what I am doing. So far the characters will be able to get weapons, skills and other things depending on what they are.

rofliron wrote:I haven't read all the replies so i don't know if any of these had been mentioned (i wanted to get my thoughts down before i forgot lol...) but i instantly thought of Shadowrun when i read this. Shadowrun for those of you who don't know is a rpg on the snes (best game EVER) and later on a crap xbox 360 game.... but it also had a miniature game by wizkids i believe where you had an action figure that you could attach weapons to (actual action figure, was amazing =D) and then you battle with em, one on one, gunning away, slinging magic, was rather cool.......not quite horror but this is what your idea reminded me of..... =D


~RoflIron~

Shadowrun was originally a pen and paper RPG, I believe. Came out in the late '80s.
Kind of a cyberpunk setting mixed with magic and all the creatures/races you expect from a fantasy setting.

Others may know more, but I thought I would mention what I knew.