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Dark Horrors & Hidden Places RPG (OSR Edition)

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Dark Horrors & Hidden Places RPG (OSR Edition)

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Precis Intermedia

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$3.95

It is the year 1884. Many places sank beneath the earth after a worldwide tremor. Strange creatures spill forth onto the streets of towns and cities, as governments struggle to keep these monstrosities a secret. The lawful and wealthy hire the bold and adventurous to fix their issues and recover their possessions from places of wonder and danger, unseen but for myths and legends. Worlds have collided and adventure awaits the brave.

Imagine mixing the worlds of Jack the Ripper, H.P. Lovecraft, Hammer Horror, and old science-fiction fantasy movies like Journey to the Center of the Earth in this OSR roleplaying game of dark gothic horror, featuring:

Five character classes: Arcanists, Brutes, Engineers, Pistoleers, and Scoundrels.
List of arcane spells and a random table to create new ones.
Simplfied OSR rules relying mostly on roll-over attribute checks and attack rolls.
Mundane and exotic weapons, plus a random table to create new ones.
Horrific beasts, adjustably dangerous by increasing level.
Includes an adventure and an exotic locale with unknown dangers to face.

Note: This download contains the same content as the Softcover.

Scenematic Edition also available here.

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Reviews (1)

Discussions (6)

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Brett B December 11, 2020 6:15 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

If you wish to make standard OSR-type rolls for attributes (rather than the modified Classic D&D method), use the following notes: https://www.pigames.net/store/articles.php?page=539

Brian C March 20, 2021 12:55 am UTC

PURCHASER

Cool - thanks sir!

Brian C October 27, 2020 3:15 am UTC

PURCHASER

As a bit of constructive criticism, I would suggest revising the standard difficulty check to perform tasks upward, from base 20 to base 25, given that attributes are 4d6, drop lowest. Or simply keep difficulty checks at base 20 but have characters roll 3d6 for attribute scores. For example, I rolled up a starting Engineer character, and with 4d6 drop lowest, the Engineer has an 18 Intelligence. Engineers get a +2 to Smart-related checks, making his score a 20. He also picked 'bookworm' as a skill, giving the Engineer a base 22 to lore checks. This beginning character virtually cannot fail most Intelligence checks, and is superhuman at lore checks. The task difficulty scale seems way too easy for beginning characters, even if they are a cut above the normal person. The game pops with fun ideas and atmosphere...but mechanically rules-as-written, it seems too easy to 'do stuff.' Perhaps tweak the rules a bit so that characters are still a cut above normal folk, but not waltzing through so many task checks....See more

Brett B October 27, 2020 3:29 am UTC

PUBLISHER

That provision is already in the rules, suggesting that you adjust as needed. Thanks.

Brian C October 27, 2020 3:50 am UTC

PURCHASER

Hi Brett - yes, I've seen that in the text (thank you for the speedy reply). While the text does say 'adjust as needed,' why start at ultra-easy for task checks and then advise GMs to 'adjust as needed?' Why not make task checks a bit more difficult for beginning characters in the rules-as-written, and then keep the 'adjust as needed' advice as a bit of an encouragement for GMs who do feel the urge to tweak the numbers. I guess I'm just used to more traditional OSR approaches where beginning and low-level characters are not so adept at completing most tasks (unless playing in the superheroes genre). In any case, I appreciate your reading my comments and do salute you on the hard work and creativity it takes to create a game. Thanks (again) for considering.

Brett B October 27, 2020 3:54 am UTC

PUBLISHER

I appreciate your feedback. I may add some optional companion rules as a free download and include that in there.

Brian C October 27, 2020 3:59 am UTC

PURCHASER

Thanks Brett - that would be eagerly downloaded by yours truly - cheers!

Jeffrey C October 10, 2020 2:53 am UTC

Man, I have shelves upon shelves of rpg books, but this little book really shines it's darkness. I really like the mechanics. It leaves just enough for the GM to improvise if need be. I just ran a game tonight and it was great. Looking forward to making a mini gm screen for it as well as creating more weapons and enemies. 10/10 for me!

Brett B October 10, 2020 2:11 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Awesome. Thanks.

Brian C September 20, 2020 6:07 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I have purchased this game and have a few rules questions. Can someone help me? Here goes:

Opposed rolls are not addressed that I can see. How are these handled? For example, if the vampire on page 62 casts its Enslave spell on a PC, the PC is allowed an Intelligence check to resist. Does the PC want to roll above a flat 20 to resist? Or does the vampire add its WIS score to a d20 roll, and that becomes the new target number for the PC to beat? This becomes especially relevant when you have an Arcanist that starts out of the gate with a 15 WIS, plus an additional +2 to weird-related checks, and an additional +2 to resist Arcane damage if they choose the 'Arcane Resistance' skill...they have a 19 total, at character creation. Makes rolling above a 20 trivially easy (even for a beginning character), UNLESS they're facing off against a seasoned foe; I.E., an opposed roll. But again, no text on opposed rolls, so ???

The monsters, animals, and npcs in the rulebook don't follow the...See more

Brett B September 20, 2020 6:49 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Hello. There are no opposed rolls, as is the case with most old-style OSR games. If it says to make an ability check, just make an ability check. Saves are the same as ability checks, so any sort of opposed roll is essentially an ability check. Ability checks are exactly the same as classic D&D ability rolls, except roll over instead of roll under. If someone gets thats many bonuses to resist an effect, more power to him -- these characters are meant to be experienced and above average.

Monsters don't necessarily follow the same methodology as characters -- think of it like building a character in the normal manner, but then having some sort of advantage that increases a particular element (like AC, for example).

I hope that helps.

Brian C September 20, 2020 8:48 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Hi Brett - thanks! Yes, this is very helpful...it provides a bit of context for why things are the way they are, which I very much appreciate. And thank you for responding so promptly, too! Now I can approach the game confidently, that I'm not misunderstanding these elements. I work in academia, so oftentimes things are spelled out, cited and annotated to the nth degree...so I tend to look at rpgs through the same lens...my brain wants to make sure I'm playing it 'correctly' - rules as written. Your commentary here helps me better understand both the 'how' of ability checks (no opposed rolls) as well as the 'whys' of the same, as well as why the monsters 'break the rules' a bit. And the comment that even beginning characters are supposed to be a cut above the herd, that helps me put some of their ability scores and bonuses into context as well. Again, much appreciated! I can LIKE the game now unreservedly, without my analytical side getting hung up on these particulars. It's a fine game and well worth...See more

Brett B September 20, 2020 11:48 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Great. Thanks!

Michael H September 21, 2020 9:25 am UTC

PURCHASER

Hi Brian, I've refereed this game. For an opposed roll, I'd just go with the party that rolled the highest and rolled 21+. That situation didn't arise in our first game. As for the difficulty of rolls, yes, I think failure is far to unlikely however, I don't roll 4 dice and drop the lowest die. I went for 3d6 in order.

Monsters that don't follow PC conventions? I would say that's pretty typical. For my original critters I calculated their scores in the same way I would a PC's abilities and then fiddled with them a bit.

Cheers

Brian C September 21, 2020 4:57 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Thanks Michael, thanks Brett - and I have another question (!). Here goes: on page 14, under 'Teaming Up,' the rules say 'Characters can choose to team up to complete a task (or attack an opponent).' That last part in parentheses ('or attack an opponent') gives me pause.

Does that mean when the typical adventuring party encounters a monster, they all roll d20s, pick the highest roll, and if that roll beats the monster's AC, all the player-characters roll their damage for their individual weapons? Or do they all roll their weapon damage and pick the highest damage score as well?

And this seems to contradict the example of play on page 22, where the Brute and the Arcanist encounter a lone gargoyle, and both roll separately to attack the gargoyle. Help! Thanks!

Brett B September 21, 2020 5:17 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

This is best reserved for hordes of creatures, rather than one or two. If one hits, they all hit, applying damage to more than one creature in the horde. The example was written for a typical encounter. The teamwork rule is more of an option or niche rule: use it when it makes sense, such as for my example above or when everyone piles on top of a monster to wrestle him to the ground.

Brian C September 21, 2020 5:42 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Good to know - thank you Brett

Brett B September 21, 2020 6:07 pm UTC

PUBLISHER

Any time.