Gothic

In gas-lit streets, behind the elegant façades of Victorian manors, and deep within the misty forests of the countryside, darkness lurks. In this game, science and superstition collide, the ghosts of the past refuse to rest, and madness is always a risk. Gothic draws its inspiration from 19th-century literature and the enduring legacy of gothic horror in literature, cinema and the small screen. From the psychological terror of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw to the doppelgänger motif in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, from the decadence and moral decay explored in Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray to the cosmic horror hinted at in the works of Arthur Machen, this game seeks to capture the essence of Victorian and Edwardian-era fear and fascination with the unknown. The goal of Gothic is to immerse players in a world of atmospheric tension, moral ambiguity, and supernatural dread (328 pages).

Gothic uses the Red system, a ruleset inspired by Old School Renaissance (OSR), making it accessible to newcomers. The core mechanic involves rolling a twenty-sided die (d20) and adding relevant modifiers to meet or exceed a Target Number (TN) set by the core rules or by the Game Master (GM). Players begin by rolling for six primary attributes: Strength, Intelligence, Wits, Agility, Toughness, and Charisma. These attributes, ranging form the foundation of your character’s capabilities. Characters also possess a range of skills, from the scholarly (Knowledge, Linguistics) to the practical (Stealth, Combat). Skill levels range from +1 to +5, representing increasing degrees of mastery. Specializations allow for further refinement, granting +1 bonuses in specific applications of a skill.

Central to the Gothic experience is the management of Fear Points. As characters witness horrific events or confront the supernatural, they accumulate Fear Points. When these points exceed a character’s Panic Threshold, they must make Panic Rolls, risking breakdowns, flight, or even descent into madness. This mechanic ensures that the psychological toll of horror remains a constant threat, even for the bravest souls. And while Gothic is not primarily a combat-focused game, when violence erupts, it is swift and potentially deadly. The combat rules emphasizes quick resolution and high stakes, with critical hits capable of inflicting lasting injuries or even instant death.

But Gothic is much more than just its mechanics; it’s an immersive experience that seeks to evoke the atmosphere of dread and wonder that characterizes Gothic literature. The game explores several key themes: History is never truly dead, family curses, ancient pacts, and long-buried secrets all play crucial roles in shaping the present. Characters will grapple with inherited guilt or unravelling mysteries set in motion generations ago. The 19th century was an era of rapid scientific advancement, yet old beliefs died hard. This setting places players at the intersection of rationalism and the supernatural. As characters investigate the unknown, their grip on reality will begin to slip. Perception cannot always be trusted, and the greatest horrors sometimes lurk within one’s own mind. Finally, beneath the cosmopolitan veneer of Victorian propriety lies a world of corruption, debauchery and excess. Gothic doesn’t shy away from exploring themes of forbidden desires, and the moral decay that often accompanies great power and wealth