Surviving Childhood Horrors in a Cursed Town

Creating your character

We will create characters together as a group in session 0. Session 0 will primarily be about filling out the character sheet and interlinking backstories between PCs, as well as a full discussion of the specifics of Content Comfort with the group. Session 0 is free of charge, but will likely take longer than an average session, the GM will coordinate schedules to make the experience work for everyone. We will begin at zero Experience points, the equivalent of Level 1 for level based RPGs.

Preparing for the session

Players will need a Discord account for game correspondence between sessions, and to receive updates and announcements. Players will also need a microphone for session play. While reading the rules is encouraged, this system is simple enough to be picked up at the table. If you would rather learn as you go, I strongly recommend using some of the printable materials I provide. I teach RPG systems and group strategy as part of this hobby; I am always willing to teach at the table, but I do recommend being prepared by using available resources.

What Vinnie brings to the table

I will provide a PDF of the system core rules as well as any expansion books as we begin using them, a Discord server custom made for this campaign, select atmospheric music, maps of the neighborhood and some indoor areas, and several printable materials you can use if you find pen and paper notes helpful, such as, character sheets, weapon cards, a combat quick reference sheet, and a document with all of the game options available to you.

Homebrew rules

We use Morality as a Innocence mechanic more than WoD's usual morality and guilt system. We include a few gateway progressions into adding expansion books to their repertoire and hidden resources that the players can uncover in the game through play.

How Vinnie creates a safe table

Before game begins each player needs to fill out on of my custom Content Comfort Form. My Storytelling style is largely improvised but based within deeply developed aspects of Valley Crowne's fictional world. Therefore this form gauges what MIGHT be covered in our campaign much more than what will be in the game. What will be in the game is covered in the express content warnings. The CCF covers a lot of specific, common but under-discussed triggers, and many topics that I use but am willing to remove or replace. Gameplay will be broken up into two kinds of sessions: Nighttime and Daytime. During Daytime sessions, you will multitask mundane issues like family, friends, school, homework, chores, hobbies, life, etc. and investigating the difficult-to-explain phenomena of Valley Crowne. Daytime sessions will often consist of multiple in-game days or sometimes weeks, with brief time skips leading to the next nighttime session. Daytime sessions will have very little action but will rarely be consecutive with one another. Nighttime sessions will be where most of the danger occurs - rescuing classmates, monster hunting, infiltrating enemy bases, and the like. They will be set at night, and usually involve the party working together to investigate a specific place within the town that has recently experienced difficult-to-explain activity, or is the workplace or home of a suspicious individual. Nighttime sessions will center action, primarily stealth and observation during investigations, with occasional combat and chases. Investigation and mystery elements will be pervasive during both Day and Night session. I tend to run very fast and dangerous combats when they happen, but most monsters and villains can be defeated or even slain without rolling initiative. In this game, players purchase individual features and stat increases by spending Experience, which the group earns based on heroism, cleverness, teamwork, and objective completion. Experience will be rewarded between one session and the following. I usually take 3-4 days to rate the team on their success to remain fair in awarding Experience. Base Experience is 3 points for players regardless of attendance. Up to 3 additional experience for accomplishments may be awarded to attendees. This game will be broken up into several "Stories", each of which will comprise either a semester of school or adventures during summer break. The story of this campaign is divided into two halves called "Chronicles" each of which will have a conclusive ending. The first will span from the beginning of 4th grade to the end of summer after 5th grade, and will contain 5 stories. If there is enough interest, after the first Chronicle, everyone who participated in the first will be invited to return for the second, which will span from the beginning of 9th grade to the end of High school and contain 9 stories.