They should really fix that in GURPS Horror!

[Mercator]

What do you think should be changed in the next edition of GURPS Horror?

I have been accepted for the playtest, and am reading the manuscript right now. It is very good (no surprise, considering the author), and I want to contribute as much as possible to make it even better.

Following on a previous thread by Icelander for Low-Tech, I want to know what experiences people have had with previous incarnations of Horror: what did you miss; what rules should be changed, expanded or removed; what is so good it shouldn't be altered under any circumstance... to make clear what I need, allow me to quote Icelander's original message (edited to remove references to cabaret dancers and ice):

Originally Posted by Icelander

I'm not looking for extra material. [...] The main challenge of the playtest will not be how to fill the books, it will be how to avoid making them bloated abominations that threathen to burst their earthly bindings.

What I am looking for are cases where the rules as they currently stand were insufficient to describe something that happened in a game and the forumites discussed how the rules could have been expanded upon. And after having gotten a pretty good answer, it made you think: "Wow, they should totally include that in [GURPS Horror]. It adds next to no complexity to the current rules and it makes it much easier to stat something that was historically common!"

Or even, some contentious subject was discussed for a long time and Kromm (or someone else) finally made a brilliant ruling that wasn't in the books. When asked why it wasn't official, he'd say: 'Okay, that might need looking into. How about we discuss it during the playtest?'

The only aim of this thread is to collect ideas to present at the playtest, not to discuss details of the manuscript with people not on the playtesting list. I will not reveal anything under any circumstances, do don't bother trying. Also, you won't get playtesting credit for participating on this thread; but you might help make Horror better.

So: anything you'd like to share?

Thanks in advance,

M.

[Crakkerjakk]

Some way to heal damage done by fright checks, a la this post would be useful for CoC-style games. And I don't think the mythos fright checks from cthulhupunk should be included. They were too extreme.

[RedMattis]

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk

Some way to heal damage done by fright checks, a la this post would be useful for CoC-style games. And I don't think the mythos fright checks from cthulhupunk should be included. They were too extreme.

I agree with the linked post.

[trooper6]

I, on the other hand, think Mythos fright checks should remain. They are supposed to be for those things that very specifically drive you mad...like Eldritch Horror. The Mythos fright checks are more than appropriate when trying to model the descent into madness of a Lovecraftian sort of game. You don't have to use it in your games if you don't want to, it is optional. But it is very useful for Lovecraftian games.

[Crakkerjakk]

I just don't think it's a descent. It's a step off a cliff. One deep one and you're done for.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by trooper6

I, on the other hand, think Mythos fright checks should remain. They are supposed to be for those things that very specifically drive you mad...like Eldritch Horror. .

The addition of Terror and Cosmic give a better way to handle insanity-inspiring powers of a true Great Old One. Cthulu fright checks kind of bugged me when applied to vermin like the Deep Ones which were not in fact especially exotic.

[vicky_molokh]

I agree about healing psychological damage.

As for the descent into madness, I think the problem is that the Fright Checks are too unpredictable, AND the table is too 'slow', AND there is no way to make fright damage 'cyclic'.

[Gollum]

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk

Some way to heal damage done by fright checks, a la this post And I don't think the mythos fright checks from cthulhupunk should be included. They were too extreme.

I do agree. I game mastered a lot of GURPS-Cthulhu campaign and I am still game mastering one with the GURPS fright check rules as they are written in the Basic Set (with a huge penalty for Cthulhu monsters, of course). It works very well: taking more and more disadvantages is as terrifying for players than losing more and more sanity points. Perhaps even more.

[moldymaltquaffer]

There's already a way to heal that damage. Pay the points, and make up a good rationalization.

[trooper6]

Originally Posted by moldymaltquaffer

There's already a way to heal that damage. Pay the points, and make up a good rationalization.

I agree. Since what you get are disads, those disads can be bought off with points and a good rationalization.

Heck if you want to model the sanitarium experience of CoC, just have them committed, and use the Time-Usage sheet...the time you spend healed earning points to buy off the newly gained disads.

I think the rules are already there.