Will there be a Horror Hero Setting?

[mallet]

Hi, just wondering if there are any plans for a Horror Hero Setting to be published? If so, can you let slip what the general concept will be like?

[hancock.tom]

Note my not-steve-long trait. So this ain't official, BUT, Horror HERO is currently slated for late 2006. Hopefully this thread sparks some more information from someone thats in the know.

Here is an excerpt: The HERO System ventures into the realms of terror, dread, and darkness with Horror Hero, a genre book covering all aspects of the Horror genre for gaming. Whether your characters want to hunt monsters infesting the alleys and sewers of the city, experience the intense fear of being trapped in a deserted house with a crazed killer, try to hold back Things From Beyond that threaten Earth, or protect their souls from the perils of Hell, Horror Hero has everything you need!

[mallet]

Yah, I knew the genre book was coming out, but I was thinking of a setting book. Like Terren Empires for Star hero. That kind of thing. A kick-*** Horror setting would, well, kick-***. :thumbup:

[hancock.tom]

I guess thats why you said "setting" in your post; I missed that. Duh.

I would guess we might hear about one in february when the 2007 product schedule gets released, but since Horror hero is fairly new it might make business sense for them to wait until 2008 so they can see how horror hero sells before publishing a setting book for it.

[Susano]

If HERO doesn't do a Horror Hero setting, I suggest looking up GURPS Hellboy or the Delta Green books. Both feature government agents versus the supernatural, but while Hellboy is more fantastic, Delta Green can be down-right horrific, since your antagonists are various members of the Cthulhu mythos (and the books are very well done).

I also have two supernatural/monster hunter settings on my website -- The Phenomena Department and Silent Mobius Zeta, however both are more action-adventure than horror.

[mallet]

Yah I love Delta Green. I wish they were still making supplments for that line.

[Steve Long]

just wondering if there are any plans for a Horror Hero Setting to be published?

No, we don't have any plans for one at this point. We're not even sure we'd do supplements for it; the only one we've even vaguely discussed would be a Horror Bestiary (though I'm not sure we could top The Book Of Unremitting Horror in that respect). It all depends on how well things sell and so forth.

[Susano]

No, we don't have any plans for one at this point. We're not even sure we'd do supplements for it; the only one we've even vaguely discussed would be a Horror Bestiary (though I'm not sure we could top The Book Of Unremitting Horror in that respect). It all depends on how well things sell and so forth.

I did submit a number of articles to DH detailing vampires, zombies, ghosts, werewolves, and the like if people need that sort of thing.

[John Desmarais]

Yah, I knew the genre book was coming out, but I was thinking of a setting book. Like Terren Empires for Star hero. That kind of thing. A kick-*** Horror setting would, well, kick-***. :thumbup:
Note: I'm not being a smarta$$, this is a real question.

Other than the existance of "horrors" what would differentiate your typical horror setting from reality (keeping in mind that in most horror movies and novels the knowledge existance of "horrors" is generally not pervasive)? Or, to put this into a "horror setting book" context, what would be in the book that's not already going into the genre book?

[mallet]

Hmmm... Well, I would say a specific source or orgin for the "horror(s)". Levels of power/mystery to be uncovered (or not) by the players. How said horrors are affecting or have effected the history of the world. What the players could hope to acomplish against such horrors or as one of the horrors.

I mean it is all pretty much dependent on what the concept for you horror setting would be. Vampires is a diferent game then Cthulhu. Both are horror games, but what is included in their setting books is very diferent in tone and style. But both work very well.

What would have to happen is the creation of a new and interesting setting and then what the source book could contain would be based on that.

Also the setting should include specific uses of the powers and stats tailored directly for this setting, including a list of premade powers/abilities/talents and super talents that can be chosen from, things like that. Things that make this setting it's own unique setting. Not some hodgepodge place where the players can do anything they like (remember "Slavery is freedom"). Really, by giving the players too much freedom you allow for mini/maxing, unbalanced play, etc... A set of ground rules is a good solid base, especially in a horror setting.

Then if the Gm wants and when the players are ready, they can begin expaning on the given rules, powers, abilities by creating their own with Fred... but they don't have to. They can start playing by making cool guys and not having to do all the work themselves.

that's what would make for a good setting book.

[Sketchpad]

Personally, I think I'd rather see a book of mini-settings rather than one setting per se. Perhaps have them all placed in Hudson City and cross-market that book. Of the ones I think would be interesting are:
- Zombie Takeover: Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, All Flesh Must Be Eaten ... the heroes must survive! (50+50 heroes, normals)
- The Slayer: Buffy/Van Helsing ... monsters are real and you gotta kill them beffore they kill/enslave/party with others. (100+150 low-powered supers)
- Things from Beeeeeyond!: Call of Cthuhlu, mind-bending horror. (50+50 heroes)
- Slasher: Friday the 13th ... welcome to Camp Killnomore, hope you survive the night! (25+25 teen heroes)
- The Truth is Out There: X-Files/Initiative ... Agents of an agency that's tracking down the evil things that go bump in the night. (75+75 heroes)
This, combined with a horror bestiary, would be extremely cool :)

[Lord Liaden]

Well, you could probably find a copy of Horror HERO: Endless Nightmares for Fourth Edition in circulation somewhere. That book gave a fair amount of detail for three horror campaign settings: a demon-worshipping cabal in the American Old West, a pulp-era voudou-esque black magic cult (the most horrific of the lot IMHO), and a modern-day shapeshifters' conspiracy. There are various PC packages and special abilities included. Oh, the optional Spirit Rules are fully described there as well.

EDIT: It just occurred to me that you could develop an awesome Lovecraftian-style horror campaign for almost any genre, from pulp era to contemporary, out of Allen Varney's great Anopheles (http://www.allenvarney.com/anopheles.html) adventure setting. Just look at that timeline of events leading up to the adventure: major developments dating from 1928 on, with intrigue and conspiracy and plot twists ripe for PCs to meddle in. :eg: The nonhuman enemies are already detailed, requiring only updates to Fifth Edition. Since so much of the danger from these creatures is non-physical, you could easily use them for heroic-level campaigns, or throw some of the tougher monstrosities at superheroes.

[Lord Liaden]

If HERO doesn't do a Horror Hero setting, I suggest looking up GURPS Hellboy or the Delta Green books. Both feature government agents versus the supernatural, but while Hellboy is more fantastic, Delta Green can be down-right horrific, since your antagonists are various members of the Cthulhu mythos (and the books are very well done).

I also have two supernatural/monster hunter settings on my website -- The Phenomena Department and Silent Mobius Zeta, however both are more action-adventure than horror.

Regardless, they are both fine, fine work. I'd also recommend your excellent adaptation of Hellsing, which can readily be used as the basis for a campaign. I guess that is still strongly action-adventure, though.

OTOH you shouldn't gloss over everything you've done to convert characters and creatures from the Lovecraft mythos in general, and Call Of Cthulhu and Delta Green in particular. Tons of gems from that stuff on your website. :thumbup:

While we're on the subject of fan horror settings, I'd be remiss in not mentioning Will "Yamo" Mistretta's chillingly well thought out Twilight Of The Dead (http://www.yamoslair.com/totd.html) webpage, adapting the world of George Romero's "Living Dead" films. Everything for your HERO System walking corpse needs. :eg:

[Bazza]

DEMON with it's Lovecraft overtones could easily be adapted/applied to Horror HERO.

[Eosin]

Delta Green, Dark Champions, DEMON, and Hudson City are just screaming to be used in one great big ole freak fest!!

PC to GM: "Gulp....Did you really put the Other Dimensional Servant template on The Harbinger."

[Susano]

Regardless, they are both fine, fine work. I'd also recommend your excellent adaptation of Hellsing, which can readily be used as the basis for a campaign. I guess that is still strongly action-adventure, though.

OTOH you shouldn't gloss over everything you've done to convert characters and creatures from the Lovecraft mythos in general, and Call Of Cthulhu and Delta Green in particular. Tons of gems from that stuff on your website. :thumbup:

Yeah... Hellsing can become true horror if the PCs are Hellsing troopers and not vampires themselves. While well-armed and well-trained, they are only mortal, fighting (at times) very powerful and very dangerous vampires and ghouls. It is possible other supernatural beings exist, as well, based on some off-hand comments from characters in the series, and heck, when you consider all the various vampires from around the world, you have more than enough to deal with right there!

As for the PD and SMZ, both need to be converted to 5th, and SMZ needs me to sit down and watch all of Silent Mobius the TV series and re-read the manga run, and do a proper set of character sheets.

[Dr. Anomaly]

EDIT: It just occurred to me that you could develop an awesome Lovecraftian-style horror campaign for almost any genre, from pulp era to contemporary, out of Allen Varney's great Anopheles (http://www.allenvarney.com/anopheles.html) adventure setting.
You can say that again; I did use that during a dimension-hopping campaign, but I expanded considerably on some of the horrors (and added a lot of new ones myself). Horror isn't my 'thing', but I've been told frequently over the years I run a very good horror game...quite possibly because I keep it in small, isolated doses.

In any case, that particular adventure is one that still gets brought up and talked about, years later...that is a great jumping-off point for a horror campaign across a wide variety of genres/times. :thumbup: