About to design a Horror RPG for our Network setting (there is a little on it at my website: Bedrockgames.net). All I know is I want to do modern horror in the style of film (not literature). Want it to be as generic as possible, so people can run vampires one night, and alien body snatchers the next. Beyond that I have nothing. Before going forward I am trying to get a sense of what has already been done in this area, and not sure how to go about tracking down lists of established Modern Horror RPGs. The RPG website has about 9000 horror games listed (though most of that is supps.). Anyone know where I can find a list on the net of horror RPGs? Also interested in what people think has been done to death, what has been done but not well, and what hasn't been done at all.
This could be what you need:
http://rpg.geekdo.com/geeksearch.php?objecttype=rpgitem&advsearch=1&action=search&q=&familyids[]=158&B1=Search
Curious:
Are the players intended to play Humans vs the Monsters, or the Monsters themselves?
In Classic Horror "you" are Human, but it almost soun like you want the players to play the Monsters?
Players are the humans in this one.
Seamus,
Some recommendations for play:
- Dread (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/104870) uses a Jenga tower to represent encroaching demise. It's not a flawless game, but it's indeed good at raising suspense. I find the prep and GM rules lacking, but I love what it does.
- The Mountain Witch (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12162.phtml) is very good at having external pressures (often monsters) provide pressure for the characters to turn on each other.
- Cold City (http://www.contestedground.co.uk/coldprev.html) takes The Mountain Witch and tunes its features to be more descriptive. I count it as one of my favorite RPGs because the monstrosity is genuine monstrosity given fantasy color.
- Sorcerer (http://www.sorcerer-rpg.com/) is pretty Clive Barkery. Characters have very direct relationships with monsters and the characters both need and are needed by their demons
Play those. They're really good games. Jenga, The Mountain Witch, and Cold City can all be played satisfyingly into one to three sessions. Sorcerer takes longer, but might be what you're after. They'll give you a good idea of where other designers have gone and help you figure out where you want to go.