Horror Gm’s ToolkiT Paul “Wiggy” Wade-Williams Horror Gm’s ToolkiT By: Paul “Wiggy” Wade-Williams Editing: Jodi Black Proofreading: Simon Lucas, Piotr Korys, Dave Blewer Layout: Sarah Robinson Art: Leanne Buckley, Chris Malidore, Daniel Rudnicki Savage Worlds Rules by Shane Lacy Hensley Requires the Savage Worlds rules, available at www.peginc.com. Savage Worlds, Smiling Jack, Great White Games, Pinnacle Entertainment Group, and all associated marks and logos are Copyright © 2006, Great White Games. inTroducTion Horror Virtually every Savage Setting has some element of horror in it. Okay, we’ve given you enough horror to make your hair go gray, but what if you want to create your own setting? What steps do you need to take to make your world setting come to life? What gear should you use, and are the existing spells dark enough? Created with this in mind, the Horror GM’s Toolkit is a handy resource for cutting corners. It contains Gm’s advice, example rules, and gear both magical and mundane, suitable for any style of horror game. We begin our walk down the path of darkness with a look at some styles of horror. This is primarily intended for those of you who wish to create your own setting, and it explains what decisions you need to make to lay the foundation. Then we take a brief look at creating atmosphere at the table. ToolkiT The next chapter introduces new equipment suitable for a range of horror settings, including weapons and ghost hunting equipment. Whether you want to kill vampires or just bust ghosts, there’s something here for you. Then we enter the darker realms, taking a look at sanity, insanity, and fear, and how you can use them in your game. Following that we present a quick way to create grimoires (magic tomes), including books that supply the Power Points and arcane skill. Next we present a look at dark magic, including a system for summoning, binding, and banishing demons and other extradimensional entities, and some new powers suitable for the vilest of villains. Related to this are sections on curses and demonic pacts. There’s also a sample of magic items suitable for horror games, ranging from anti-demon swords to vampire’s coffins. Finally, we end up presenting a system on how you can introduce fortune telling into your horror setting. None of the new rules are written in stone. Instead, think of them as guidelines and examples to help you design the setting you’ve always wanted. If you want to use the material as it stands, then that’s going to save you some time. However, if you want to use it as a model for your own rules and creations, then that’s just as cool. Boo! Did I scare you, cowards? No, well, we’ll see if we can’t change that attitude once yu start reading. What you have in your sweaty hands, in case you missed it on the cover, is a toolkit designed to help the GM create a cool horror setting. What’s a toolkit do? Let me tell you what it doesn’t do—it doesn’t give you another rulebook. Sure, it’s got rules in, but they’re optional with a capital “O.” The aim of these toolkits is to make your life easier as a GM by giving you tools—remember that word, kiddies—to making your own setting as unique and exciting as anything my deformed minions produce. They explore every aspect of a setting, and I mean every aspect. From designing a cool world to populating it with interesting cultures; from designing new weapons to cool artifacts, like magic and starships. A lot of what’s in these toolkits is advice rather than gospel. You get to pick and choose the bits you want for your setting and discard the rest. And if you don’t like what Jack has to say, change it! We’ve giving you the tools to make kick-ass settings—if your game falls flat after reading this, then it’s your own fault for not following my advice. Now, get reading and go make Jack proud! TaBle oF conTenTs introduction 3 losing it 20 Bargaining 33 The Pact 48 draWing Board 5 edges & Hindrances 21 Bargaining modifiers 33 reWards 48 style of Horror 5 douBting Thomas 21 samPle summoning Basic system 48 action 5 (major Hindrance) Spells 34 intermediate system 48 greater evil 5 Hardened (Weird edge) 21 summon Black judge 34 detailed system 48 dark 6 sound mind (social edge) 21 summon gluttony demon 34 The cost 49 setting 6 magic 21 summon jjrikillimsg 34 salvation 49 fantasy 6 fear 21 summon liBrarian demon 34 final Word 50 sci-fi 6 knoW tHe rules 21 summon living god 34 magic items 50 modern 6 frequency of Checks 21 summon terrorizer 34 Bandages of anuBis 50 Historical 8 modifiers 22 Warding 34 Blood money 50 Open or secret additional fear creating a Warding 35 Brazier of knoWledge 8 modifiers 22 testing tHe Ward 35 conjuration 50 Open 8 insanity taBle 22 Binding & BanisHing 35 canniBal mask 50 closed 9 tomes of PoWer 23 Bind entity 35 ceramic masks 52 location 9 mundane tomes 24 BanisH entity 35 cold iron Chainmail 52 Hook 9 taBle 1a: suBject taBle 24 neW PoWers 36 corPse dust 52 Plot Point 9 taBle 1B: skill Bonus 24 designing from scratch 36 diary of a madman 52 Plot Point ideas 10 taBle 1c: language 24 introducing neW Spells 36 flail of unHealing flesh 52 Background 10 naming Books 24 examPle neW PoWers 36 frankenstein’s forWard Planning 10 descriPtion 26 consecrate ground 38 laBoratory 52 creating atmosphere 11 using a mundane tome 26 corPse senses 38 corPse golem 53 set tHe initial mood 11 Passive 26 drain life 38 grave dust 53 trappings & tools 11 active 26 encHant WeaPon 38 Hellfire Blade 53 ShoW, don’t tell 12 samPle mundane Books 26 enHance undead 38 Hockey mask of terror 53 isolation 12 The land of atlantis 26 grave Shroud 39 jack’s scalPel 53 The sense of tHe ecliPses, alignments, grave Speak 39 jade mirror 53 unknoWn 12 and otHer celestial nigHtmares 39 mark of tHe demon 55 suBtlety vs gore 12 events 26 sacrifice 39 collector demon 55 tools of tHe trade 13 egyPtian Book Spirit Shield 40 moonBlade 55 melee WeaPons 13 of tHe dead 26 strengtH of tHe music infernalis 56 corPse catcHer 13 leylines of undead suppress 40 nigHtmare stone 56 stake 14 Western euroPe 27 lycantHroPy 40 Portrait of immortality 56 ranged WeaPons 14 The sealing of jars 27 curses 40 Puzzle Box 56 atomic Ghost Spell tomes 27 mundane curses 41 ring of magical Warding 56 Hunting Pack 14 taBle 2a: arcane fundamentals 41 sacrificial knife 57 flare Pistol 14 Background 27 tyPes of curses 41 soul candles 57 Holy Water grenade 14 taBle 2B: self-induced 41 staff of tHe necromancer 57 Holy Water Pistol 14 random Spell 27 vengeance 41 temPlar Blade 57 rePeating crossBow 15 grimoires 27 Wording a curse 41 voodoo dolls 57 WincH crossBow 15 creating a grimoire 28 crime & PunisHment 42 Warding Chalk 58 ultraviolet grenade 15 taBle 3a: arcane Background 28 triggers 42 Wax messengers 58 ammunition 15 taBle 3B: Spell 28 strength 42 WitcHes’ cauldron 58 garlic Bullets 15 taBle 3c: arcane PoWer deadly 42 vamPire’s coffin 58 silver Bullets 15 and PoWer Points dangerous 42 fortune telling 58 silver nitrate Bullets 15 taBle 3d: numBer of 28 deBilitating 42 limiting readings 59 ultraviolet Bullets 15 Speical Abilities annoying or Basic card system 59 Holy Water 15 taBle 3e: Speical Abilities 28 emBarrassing 42 Basic dice system 59 making Holy Water 16 using a grimoire 28 loopholes 43 in-dePtH card system 59 mundane gear 16 no arcane Background 28 game mecHanics 43 The story metHod 59 crucifix 16 arcane Background 30 curse modifier taBle 43 Professional edges 60 Ghost trap 16 examPle grimoires 30 effects 43 designing newEdges 60 melee WeaPons 17 Book of eartHly examPle curses 44 name 60 ranged WeaPons 17 resurrection 30 tyPical fantasy curse 44 requirements 60 ammunition 17 Book of tHe limited effect curse 44 Bonus 62 kirlian camera, still 17 WritHing one 30 PoWerful curse 44 drawbacks 62 kirlian camera, video 17 The dark scriPture 30 magical curses 44 acquisition 62 kirlian goggles 19 The fletcHer’s guide 30 existing Spell 44 Background 63 mirror 19 liBer timor 30 extended duration taBle 44 arcane Professional edges 63 motion tracker 19 dark magicks 30 neW Spells 45 examPle Professional edges 63 neck Protector 19 summoning rituals 31 examPle curse Spells 45 exorcist 63 UV flasHligHt 19 WHat can Be summoned? 31 curse of tHe Babbling fool 45 FANATICISM Warding material 19 summoning Spells 31 curse of tHe emPty stomach 45 (leadersHiP edge) 63 sanity & fear 19 rank 31 curse of lost sigHt 45 fortune teller 64 sanity 19 cost 31 curse of misfortune 45 necromancer 64 starting sanity 20 range 31 curse of luna’s calling 45 imProved necromancer 64 losing sanity 20 duration 31 curse of tHe snail’s Pace 47 occult researcHer 64 recovering sanity 20 trappings 32 demonic Pacts 47 talisman creator 64 sanity recovery taBle 20 timing 32 not for Players 47 vamPire slayer 64 treatment 20 arcane skill roll 32 finding a Patron 47 WereWolf Hunter 64 your typical fantasy or pulp heroes, and can hold their own in a drawinG Board fight against all but the toughest foes. And there should be some tough foes. Sure, there are vampires and zombies that you can bitch slap into submission, Horror stories are as old as humanity.