Horror

This episode I'm joined by the GM of the Negative Modifier podcast, Charley, to discuss horror in our TTRGPs. Horror is variable and subjective, and so has unique challenges when attempting to introduce it into your setting. The first being the age old problem of having to play with other people! As everyone is different, it's impossible to know what another player might find uncomfortable, and even with a Session Zero it's challenging to appreciate the sensitivities of others. Juggling these issues can make introducing horror a terrifying experience (both literally and as a pun). The key, as with many things in D&D, is foreshadowing. Not only does this neatly sidestep the cheapness of things like jump scares, it also clearly informs the players of the theme of a setting or scene. An additional, tertiary benefit, is that it builds in an atmosphere of unease; if you can get the players scared of literally nothing, then you're doing your job well. Ultimately, D&D is probably not the best placed for a horror TTRGP, as the hero fantasy can undermine any vulnerability you might be trying to convey.

01:44 - The Different Types of Horror
11:31 - Different Strokes
28:02 - Self-Sustaining Emotion Machine
35:32 - Marrying Horror with TTRPG Nuance
49:43 - Baked In Horror Mechanics

Find Charley on the Negative Modifier podcast:

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/negativemodifier
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NegModPod
Instagram: https://instagram.com/negativemodifier
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Lj4y_MJ7vH1Gin91AZHPg
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/negativemodifierpodcast
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@negativemodifier

Find me on:

Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkCritDnD
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingCriticallyDnD
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Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thinkingcritically

References:

Delta Green
Alien by Free League Publishing
Symbaroum by Free League Publishing

Patrons:

Matt Street @mpstreet88: https://www.virtualtimehustle.com/

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod

Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod

Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod