I wanted to do a more in-depth overview of what’s available in Codex – Dark, the newest issue of our fanzine, for…

I wanted to do a more in-depth overview of what’s available in Codex – Dark, the newest issue of our fanzine, for those who have yet to take the plunge.

Here’s what’s inside:

Called is a microgame by Wendy Gorman. In fact, it’s kind of a LARP/parlor game, and it is very, very creepy. The premise is you and your friends sit in a circle and summon a demonic creature into the world. You play the game by candlelight, and as the creature reaches further and further into your space, invading your bodies in increasingly grotesque ways, the room gets darker and darker. It features a suitably disturbing layout by Oli, plus art by Dirk Detweiler Leichty.

The Conjuration by Oli Jeffery is rather interesting in that it’s a scenario for The Final Girl, a game that does not otherwise use scenarios. It comes with a predetermined killer & cast, and a custom ruleset to tell a story inspired by movies like The Conjuring and The Amityville Horror. It is smartly written and does a good job moving The Final Girl away from the default mode of play, which is a somewhat gonzo, over-the-top splatterfest with lots of fucking. There is a really nice piece of art in this one by Allan Dotson.

Pizza Time! is a scenario for Lovecraftesque written by myself. It was originally my entry for the contest Becky and Josh ran a couple months ago, but I wasn’t able to submit it on time. Pizza Time! is inspired by both my years working at a Chuck E. Cheese’s back in high school, as well as video games like Five Nights at Freddy’s. It’s a somewhat non-traditional take on Lovecraftian horror, and has the theme of urban legends at its core. It features a lovely illustration of the restaurant’s animatronic band by Ron Thomas.

Plunged Into Darkness is a supers/noir setup for 6d6 by Jaye Foster. It’s a little unusual compared to the normal Codex fare in that it is a full scenario, complete with a story arc and NPC stats (whereas other Codex scenarios have been of the looser “starter” variety, for people who just need inspiration to get things going). Jaye is also one of the creators of the 6d6 system, and this scenario reflects that in its precision and usefulness. You could grab this thing and run a full session or two with very little prep beforehand. It also features two beautiful pieces of art by Nery Mejicano.

Three Dozen Seedy Taverns The miscellany in Codex – Dark is one of my very favorites. Each entry might only a sentence or two long, but they are packed with imagery. If you need to jazz-up a tavern scene, just grab one of these guys. Here’s a favorite of mine: “The Last Drop, the sign for which doubles as a gallows.”

If that sounds cool to you, you know where to get your hands on it: https://patreon.com/gauntlet