Celestial Saga

Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) are a form of interactive storytelling, where a group of players create and inhabit fictional characters in a shared world, guided by a game master (GM) who sets the scene, presents challenges, and adjudicates the outcomes. TTRPGs can cover a wide range of genres, from fantasy to sci-fi, from comedy to drama, and from historical to futuristic. One of the most popular and challenging genres to explore in TTRPGs is horror.

Horror is a genre that evokes fear, suspense, dread, and terror in the audience, often through the use of supernatural, monstrous, or violent elements. Horror can be found in many forms of media, such as literature, film, television, video games, and comics. However, horror in TTRPGs has some unique features and challenges that make it different from other media.

One of the main features of horror in TTRPGs is that it is a collaborative and immersive experience. Unlike other media, where the audience is passive and detached from the story, in TTRPGs the players are active and involved in the story, making decisions and actions that affect the outcome. This can create a stronger emotional connection and investment in the story, as well as a sense of agency and responsibility. However, this also means that the players have more control and influence over the story, which can make it harder for the GM to create and maintain a consistent and convincing atmosphere of horror.

Another feature of horror in TTRPGs is that it is a dynamic and unpredictable experience. Unlike other media, where the story is fixed and predetermined, in TTRPGs the story is emergent and responsive, shaped by the interactions and choices of the players and the GM. This can create a more realistic and engaging story, as well as a sense of surprise and discovery. However, this also means that the story can deviate and diverge from the GM’s expectations and plans, which can make it harder for the GM to balance and pace the story, as well as to deliver the desired effects and reactions from the players.

So, how can a GM create and run a successful horror game in TTRPGs? There is no definitive answer to this question, as different GMs and players may have different preferences and styles, and different games may have different rules and mechanics. However, here are some general tips and guidelines that may help:

• Know your players and their expectations. Before starting a horror game, it is important to communicate with your players and establish what kind of horror game they want to play, and what kind of horror they are comfortable with. Some players may enjoy a more psychological and subtle horror, while others may prefer a more visceral and graphic horror. Some players may be fine with facing their fears and phobias, while others may have triggers and boundaries that they do not want to cross. Some players may want to play a serious and realistic horror game, while others may want to have some humor and levity in the game. By knowing your players and their expectations, you can tailor your game to suit their tastes and needs, and avoid any unwanted or unpleasant situations.
• Choose a suitable system and setting. Depending on the type and tone of horror you want to create, you may want to choose a system and setting that support and enhance your game. Some systems and settings are designed specifically for horror, such as Call of Cthulhu, Vampire: The Masquerade, or Dread, while others are more generic and adaptable, such as Dungeons & Dragons, Fate, or GURPS. Some systems and settings may have mechanics and elements that create and reinforce a sense of horror, such as sanity, fear, corruption, or madness, while others may have mechanics and elements that mitigate or counteract a sense of horror, such as magic, healing, or heroism. By choosing a suitable system and setting, you can create a more consistent and convincing horror game, and avoid any contradictions or inconsistencies that may break the immersion or suspension of disbelief.
• Create a compelling and coherent story. A good horror story is not just a collection of random and unrelated events, but a coherent and meaningful narrative that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. A good horror story should have a clear and compelling premise, a central conflict or mystery, a logical and consistent progression, and a satisfying and impactful resolution. A good horror story should also have a theme or message, a tone or mood, and a style or genre, that reflect and reinforce the horror you want to create. By creating a compelling and coherent story, you can create a more immersive and engaging horror game, and avoid any confusion or boredom that may ruin the experience.
• Use effective techniques and tools. There are many techniques and tools that you can use to create and enhance a sense of horror in your game, such as description, narration, sound, music, lighting, props, and imagery. These techniques and tools can help you to set the scene, establish the atmosphere, build the tension, create the mood, and evoke the emotions that you want in your game. However, these techniques and tools should be used with care and moderation, as too much or too little of them can have the opposite effect. By using effective techniques and tools, you can create a more vivid and memorable horror game, and avoid any distraction or annoyance that may spoil the fun.
• Be flexible and adaptable. As mentioned before, horror in TTRPGs is a dynamic and unpredictable experience, and you may encounter situations that are not according to your plans or expectations. For example, your players may make unexpected or illogical decisions, your dice may roll exceptionally well or poorly, your story may take an unforeseen or unintended turn, or your game may be interrupted or disrupted by external factors. In these situations, it is important to be flexible and adaptable, and not to be too attached or rigid to your plans or expectations. Instead, you should be able to improvise and adjust your game accordingly, and use these situations as opportunities to create new and interesting twists and challenges in your game. By being flexible and adaptable, you can create a more organic and responsive horror game, and avoid any frustration or disappointment that may dampen the mood.