Do you feel that? How the air has become so crisp it sends chills straight to the bone? How the leaves begin to turn, crinkle, and fall to the ground, returning to the earth the precious nutrients their tree had stolen? Our planet’s eternal cycle of life, death, and decay marches onward with or without our say in the matter, so what better to do than try out a new tabletop role-playing game?
Autumn has fallen upon us, and for many of us it’s the best time of year. The vibes are immaculate, and luckily for us there’s a few RPG systems out there that perfectly capture the feeling of flannel and falling leaves. This isn’t comprehensive of course (Horror fans should totally try Dread), but it’s a great starting point for someone looking to branch out from their usual Dungeons and Dragons. Without further ado, let’s start in ascending order of spooky-ness:
Root
Based on the smash hit board game of the same name, the Root RPG plunges you into the clearings of the woodland, with various anthropomorphic animal factions vying for power over them. The Eyrie Dynasties and the Marquis de Cat have been at war for ages, with the common folk of the woodlands beginning to form their own Woodland Alliance to fight for their right to their home. But you’re not a part of any of those groups, at least not yet. You are a Vagabond, someone displaced by the political climate of the clearings, who sticks up for themselves and their cohorts, sometimes at the cost of those in power. Your alliances change over time, as does the world around you, for better or for worse depending on the path you take.
Who is this game for?
Root is the perfect game for those who get their thrills from knocking over political houses of cards, or for anyone who thinks it would be fun to be a little raccoon who lights everything on fire.
Monster of the Week
Remember on Saturday mornings when Scooby and the Mystery Machine gang would face a spooky monster threat that was occasionally an allegory for something greater, and end up neatly solving all the problems left behind in a clean half an hour? Monster of the Week strives to capture that feeling in slightly less cartoonish fashion. The players take on the role of monster hunters each with unique abilities and backstories, facing threats that are incomprehensible to the average person. With a sharp sense of humor and easily digestible mechanics, Monster of the Week brings mystery and intrigue to the table, as well as a whole lot of beating up monsters.
Who is this game for?
Monster of the Week is a great fit for those intrigued by the supernatural, fans of lighter rules, and anyone who enjoys supernatural drama-comedy television like Gravity Falls, Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Blades in the Dark
If thinking on your feet was a competitive sport, the sport would be named Blades in the Dark. It’s a system set in the doom and gloom of the industrial revolution, in a world where the dead cannot pass on to the next world. And what better to do in a polluted, diseased, ghost-riddled industrial nightmare than to get involved with organized crime? The players make up a crew of criminals who over time learn the tricks of their trade. The system is action packed, and expertly handles the idea of multiple fail-states. No matter how dire the situation, if you’re quick-witted, there has to be some way out, albeit with some cuts and bruises.
Who is this game for?
The players who will enjoy Blades in the Dark the most will be players who love improvisational planning and roleplay, and anyone who believes in ghosts.
Vampire: the Masquerade
It’s impossible to talk about spooky RPGs without mentioning Vampire: The Masquerade. It’s a deeply personal game wherein each player is a vampire attempting to mask their secret of the night. You choose a vampiric bloodline, and you and your cohorts take part in mysterious and deeply complex missions. Each night you walk on a razor’s edge, staving off your hunger for blood while maintaining the image that nothing about you is abnormal. Vampire: The Masquerade is a game with lore that runs deep, and character arcs that can run even deeper. And also you’re a super cool and hot vampire.
Who is this game for?
This is, of course, a superb game for those interested in vampires and all the blood, intrigue, and suave-ness that comes with them. It’s also great for real life vampires, not that I would know anything about that.
Go make the most of this fall season, whether you’re a vagabond, a monster hunter, a ghostly criminal, or a sophisticated bloodsucker. If you’re in need of tabletop supplies to do it, we’ve got you covered
