Mothership: Decagone One-shot

Image by Larry Brown Inspired by (Bodie H.)

Mothership: Decagone One-shot

Every ten minutes, the loop resets. Trapped in a deep ocean research facility filled with horrors, can you escape before you lose your mind?

TYPE

One-Shot

LEVELS

1

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

All Ages
1 NEEDED TO START
Free

Details

3 players following this game

Once / Monday - 1:00 AM UTC

Jan 18

Session Duration / 2–3 hours

2 / 5 Seats Filled

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This game will begin once 3 players have joined

Meet your party members

2/5

About the adventure

Welcome to the bottom of the ocean, where the pressure can crush steel, corporate secrets run deep, and death is only the beginning. In this Mothership sci-fi horror adventure, you and the other players are newly assigned crew members arriving at a remote underwater research facility. Moments after stepping off the elevator, something goes terribly wrong. Every ten minutes, time resets, sending you back to the moment you arrived. Trapped in an endless loop alongside escaped experiments, malfunctioning systems, and horrors that should never have existed, you must uncover the truth before your sanity collapses. This game is perfect for players who enjoy investigation, problem-solving, survival horror, and tense roleplaying. Combat is deadly, resources are scarce, and every loop offers new opportunities to learn from your mistakes. Inspired by SOMA, The Thing, Dead Space, and Event Horizon, this adventure emphasizes atmosphere, mystery, and difficult choices over heroic power fantasies. No experience with Mothership is required. New players are welcome; rules will be taught during play, and pregenerated characters will be provided. Whether you are a veteran horror gamer or completely new to the system, prepare for a night of cosmic terror, impossible science, and the question that haunts every loop: how many times can you die before you stop being yourself?

Game style

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Meet the Game Master

4.9

(8)

Educator

2 years on StartPlaying

1 game hosted

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Beginner Friendly, Inclusive

About me

I run games with the goal of giving every player a chance to shine. I have spent years GM-ing for kids, teens, and adults, and that mix of experience has made me good at guiding brand new players while still giving seasoned adventurers the excitement they want. My background in community programming shapes the way I run tables. I focus on creating safe, welcoming spaces where everyone feels included. I enjoy teaching rules in a natural, stress-free way and building encounters that reward teamwork, clever thinking, and bold choices. I have played and run a wide range of tabletop systems over the years, with Dungeons and Dragons as my home base. I love bringing stories to life with vivid narration, player-driven decision making, and fast-paced combat that stays fun and clear. If you want a GM who brings heart, structure, and energy to the table, I would be excited to host your next adventure.

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Character creation

Creating your character

Character creation takes place before the session. Players may choose from a roster of pregenerated characters on a first-come, first-served basis, or create their own with my assistance. I am available via chat before game day for one-on-one or group character creation, and I am happy to help new players learn the system.

What to expect

Preparing for the session

Required: Discord and a microphone. We will be using Roll20 for character sheets, dice rolling, maps, and game management. Instructions for getting set up will be provided before the session. No prior Roll20 experience is required. (https://roll20.net)

What Larry brings to the table

Whether you are new to Mothership or a seasoned horror gamer, my goal is to create a tense, immersive experience where player choices matter and the story evolves naturally through your actions. I focus on atmosphere, problem-solving, exploration, and the consequences of your decisions under pressure. My GMing style favors common sense and cinematic play over getting bogged down in rules. I strive to be fair, consistent, and supportive of creative solutions. I am a fan of the players and want to see your characters succeed, survive, and occasionally make terrible decisions that lead to memorable stories. Combat is handled using theater of the mind, keeping the focus on fast-paced action, narrative tension, and player creativity.

Homebrew rules

N/A

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Safety

How Larry creates a safe table

Mothership is a fast, intuitive system that is easy to learn. New players are always welcome, and I can usually teach the basics in just a few minutes. Player comfort is important to me. If there are any topics, themes, or content you would like added to the Lines and Veils list, please let me know before the game. During play, you can use the X-Card at any time, either by voice or private message, and we will pause, adjust, or move past the content without question. That said, Mothership is a survival horror game. The system includes mechanics for stress, panic, injury, and psychological trauma, and the scenarios often explore themes of isolation, fear, body horror, and the unknown. While player safety always comes first, players should expect an intense horror experience.

Content warnings

Blood
Body Horror
Character Death
Death
Guns
Insects
Language/Cursing
Medical Issues
Mental Illness
Panic Attacks
Small Spaces (Claustrophobia)
Violence

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions