Dead of Night
A horror movie role-playing game published in a small¸ pocket format for ease of pick-up games. It is based on classic horror movies (vampires¸ zombies¸ werewolves¸ and the like)¸ and nominally set in the generic American town of Chaddlestone. It uses a very simple system¸ with options for playing the victims or monsters¸ as well as for distributed game-mastering. Resolution is by rolling 2d10 versus a target of 15 (for standard rolls) or 10 + opponent's stat (for contests). Characters are defined by four stat pairs: Identify/Obscure¸ Persuade/Dissuade¸ Pursue/Escape¸ and Assault/Protect. There are no separate skills¸ but a stat may be specialized in an openly-defined manner. Characters also have Survival Points¸ which function both as damage and hero points. Each failed combat roll costs one point. Survival Points can also be spent for different effects: to reroll¸ gain initiative¸ flip a stat pair¸ find a clue¸ or cancel another Survival Point expenditure. Characters begin with around five¸ and more are earned for rolling doubles (or rolling 13 for monsters)¸ advancing the plot¸ cool descriptions of your actions¸ resting for a full scene¸ and by acting out horror movie cliches. Character creation is limited point-based. - A description fromdarkshire.netwith kind permission of John H. Kim