ChicagoGames so good they sneak up on you.™

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!"#"$%&# '"()%* +$, -,%(%"$ all contents © +../-+.0+ by 1"234 '&546 7$*. No part of this book may be reproduced without permission except small parts for review or scholarly criticism.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means

(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

1"234 '&546, 1"234 '&546 logo, 0+°, 0+° logo, !"#"$%&# '"()%* & !"#"$%&# '"()%* logo are TM and © +../-+.0+ by 1"234 '&546, 7$*.

If you have purchased the PDF version of this game, you do have permission to print one copy of it for your use.

Powered by 0+°. It is time to use your 0+-sided dice.

3

CreditsWritten by Richard Iorio II

Additional Material by Graeme Davis, James Maliszewski

Edited by Tom Cadorette

Art by Janne Ahvo, Dima Che, Clipart courtesy of FCIT (Florida Educational Technology Clearing-house), Yaroslav Gerzhedovich © istockphoto.com, Richard Iorio II, JDawnInk © istockphoto.com, jumpingsack © istockphoto.com, Dover Publications, Bradley K. McDevitt, mubai © istockphoto.com, Alex Nikada, R. A. Nonenmacher, Jeff Preston, Jeremy Simmons, Marko Stamatovic, Nikolay Staykov, stocksnappe © istockphoto.com, John Takai, xochicalco & Zbruch © istockphoto.com.

Playtesting by Mark Bee, Michael O’Brien, Dave Coulson, The West Side Crew (Bob Anders, Phil Gregg, Amber Smith, Kay McCormick & Tim Donaldson), The Saturday Collection of Mis!t Gamers aka Richard’s Test Subjects (David Carol, Henry Thompson, Patty Scalise, Jillian Ryan, Sean Misniak, B “don’t call me Beatrice” Swift, and Larry Cnota), Jae Walker, Joe Kavanagh, Phil Morey, Amanda Lange, Craig Norman, The River Gods of Gaming (Jason Duncan, Mike Barnes, Ryan Shelton & Joe Myers), Zachary Houghton, Shane Philips, Kal Christoph, Clark George, Robert Maitland, Warjna Suellen Plonski, Cirroco, James Jones, Cynthia “Jirel” Hart, William Butler, Steven Bowden, Spencer Scisson, Brendan Davis, & Anoma Chindamai.

0+° Developer Richard Iorio II

!"#"$%&# '"()%* Line Developer Graeme Davis

Special thanks to Ariana Fisch (love of my life), Graeme Davis (Since coming on board I have learned so much, and I am honored to have you as my friend), My Partners in crime, art, photog-raphy and graphic design (Brandon, Nick, Emily, Danni, Athena, Tricia, Jenni, & Kristi thanks for being there and thank you for the laughs when I needed them, the support when I did not know I needed it, and the love I was not expecting. The eight of you are the best), Timothy Eccles (a differ-ent point of view), Anthony Ragan (the older brother I never had), Zachary Houghton (making my day with a simple blog post), Jennifer Brozek (I am so happy to have your talent and input when I need it), Monica & Matt (it is time to put the past in the past), the members of the !"#"$%&# '"()-%* '&84((4 9&)"": ';"3< (I am very thankful for all the advice and willingness to lend input), the music of Mumford & Sons, Lady Gaga, Owl City, The Avett Brothers, Radiohead, fun., The Format, Andrew Bird and Susumu Hirasawa, the coffee of the Siren, the history teachers who taught me, the writers who in=uenced me & the enemies who motivated me.

Dedicated to the ones who have been played, supported, commented on, and in general been with this game from the start. You have made this edition possible.

For Kenneth Fisch (0>?@ to +.0+), no one could have asked for a better father-in-law. You were my friend, conAdant, debate partner, and there is not a day that goes by that I do not miss you. You saw this game be born, you saw it grow, and I wish you could see it now.

Published by Rogue Games, Inc.

0+° created by Richard Iorio II & James Maliszewski

Visit the Rogue Games on the web: www.rogue-games.net

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INTRODUCTION !!Setting 0+For the Players 0?For the Gamemaster 0B0+° 0@Playing the Game 0@Rules Summary 0@Tests 0/Ability Tests 0/Skill Tests 0/Opposed Tests 0CSuccess and Failure 0CDramatic Success 0>Dramatic Failure 0>Degrees 0>Bonus & Penalties +.Hooks & Action Points +.What`s Next? +0

CHAPTER ONE: RULES "#Basics +BAbility +BSkill Rank +BBase Rank +BSkill Limits +DAbilities +DMight +DNimble +DVigor +DReason +@Resolution +@Vitality +@Sanity +@Skills & Hooks +/Ranks +CSkill Test ModiAers +>So How Does This Work? +>Degrees of Success ?.Automatic Successes ?.Degrees of Failure ?0Dramatic Success ?0Dramatic Failure ?0Action ?+Telling Time ?+Initiative ?+Initiative ModiAers ??Surprise ??Tactics ??Actions ?BMultiple Actions ?BRange ?DThrowing ?@

Personal Combat Basics ?@Note on Combat ?@Additional ModiAers ?/Area Attacks ?/Called Shots ?/Careful Aim ?CCharge ?CCover ?>Darkness & Obscured Vision B.Size B.Two Weapons B.Damage B+Shock B+Unarmed & Melee Combat Damage B+Ranged Combat Damage B?Zero Degrees of Success B?Dramatic Successes & Maximum Damage B?Healing BBOther Types of Damage BBDrowning BBFalling BBFire & Smoke BDAvoiding Attacks BDDefend BDDodge BDMoving, Lifting, & Pushing B@Social Interaction B@Attitudes & Social Interactions B@Changing Attitudes B/Social Interaction & Your Character BCFear & Sanity D.Fear D.Sanity D.Using Sanity D0Regaining Sanity & Losing Disorders D0Common Disorders D+Absentmindedness D+Agoraphobia D+Alcoholism D+Allergy D?Amnesia, Short-term D?Anorexia D?Claustrophobia D?Depression, Severe DB Foolhardiness DBGluttony DBMigraines DBNightmares DBObsession DDPhobias DD

Table of Contents

6

Diseases & Ailments D@Ague D@Barrel Fever D@Bloody Flux D@Bright’s Disease D/Bursten DCCamp Fever DCChin Cough DCConsumption DCCurse of the Grave DCDiphtheria D>Dock Fever D>Enteritis D>Falling Sickness D>French Pox @.Gripe @.Headmouldshot @.Hemiplegy @.Jaundice @.Lung Fever @0Lycanthropy @0Morsal @0Planet-struck @0Spotted Fever @+Rickets @+St. Anthony’s Fire @+St. Vitus’ Dance @+Poison @+Pharmasistics & Poison @?SpeciAc Poison Examples @BHemlock @BHellebore @BArsenic @BCyanide @D

CHAPTER ": CHARACTER CREATION $%The Character Creation Process @/Abilities @CVitality @CSanity @CInitiative @>Backgrounds @>Colonists @>Frontier Colonist /.Urban Colonist /0Immigrant /+Freedman /+Freed Slave /+Former Indentured Servant /?Military /?Militia /DBritish /DNative /DNative-Born /@Tribe-Adopted /@Choosing Skills //Hooks /CAction Points />

+0 Bonus />Hook />“Editing” />Experience Points C.Finishing Touches C.Name C.Age C.Gender C0

CHAPTER #: SKILLS & HOOKS &# Skill List CBAcrobatics (Nimble) CBAlchemy (Reason) CDAnimal Handling (Reason) CDArchery (Nimble, Untrained) CDAstrology (Reason) CDAthletics (Might, Untrained) CDBargain (Resolution, Untrained) CDBrawl (Might, Untrained) C@Bureaucracy (Reason, Untrained) C@Defend (Might, Untrained) C@Diplomacy (Resolution, Untrained) C@Divination (Reason) C@Dodge (Nimble, Untrained) CCEmpathy (Resolution, Untrained) C>Gaming (Reason, Untrained) C>Heal (Reason) C>Herbalist (Reason) C>Intimidation (Resolution, Untrained) C>Investigation (Reason, Untrained) C>Language (Reason) >.Lore (Reason) >.Magic (Resolution) >.Melee (Might, Untrained) >0Merchant (Reason) >0Observe (Reason, Untrained) >0Performance (Resolution, Untrained) >0Physick (Reason) >0Profession (Reason) >0Resist (Reason, Untrained) >?Ride (Nimble, Untrained) >?Sense (Reason) >?Shoot (Nimble, Untrained) >?Socialize (Resolution, Untrained) >BStealth (Nimble, Untrained) >BStreetwise (Resolution, Untrained) >BStudy (Reason) >BSubterfuge (Nimble) >@Survival (Reason) >@Tactics (Reason) >@Throw (Nimble, Untrained) >@Track (Reason) >@Trade (Might) >@Action Points >/Hooks >CChoosing Hooks >C“Bad” Hooks >>Using Hooks 0..

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Hook Examples 0..Hooks in Play 0.0A Final Word on Hooks & Action Points 0.0

CHAPTER ': THE MAGICAL ARTS !(#The Magic of !"#"$%&# '"()%* 0.BCategories of Spells 0.BAcquiring Spells 0.DSpell Power Ranks & Tests 0.@Using Spells 0./Time 0./Attack Rolls 0./Resistance 0./Range 0.CSanity Cost 0.CMaintaining Spells 0.CSpell Descriptions 0.>Common Spells 0.>Arcane Spells 0+.People 0++Places 0+?Objects 0+?Alchemy 0+>Acid & Alkali Creation 0+>Alchemical Poisons 0?.Alchemical Vitriol 0?0Elixirs 0?+Ability Elixir 0?+Boost Elixir 0??Elixir of Health 0??Soap & Perfumes 0?BMetallurgy 0?BPesticides & PuriAers 0?DPigments & Dyes 0?@Transmutation 0?@

CHAPTER ): CURRENCY, WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT !#*

Economy & Trade 0?>Note on Historical Accuracy 0B+Spanish Currency 0B+French Currency 0B?Portuguese Currency 0B?Starting Currency, Weapons & Equipment 0B?Descriptions 0BBMelee Weapons 0BBHand-Edge 0BBHand-Axe 0B@Hand – Blunt 0B@Hand – Spear & Polearms 0B@Ranged Weapons – Archaic 0B@Ranged – Pistols 0B@Ranged – Muskets & Ri=es 0B/Ammunition 0BCObjects of the Occult 0BCDescriptions 0D?

Clothing 0D?Traditional Native Clothing 0DB

CHAPTER $: A GUIDE TO THE COLONIES !))Introduction 0DDColonists 0D/Education 0D/Government 0D>The Tories & Whigs 0@+Printing & Publishing 0@?Libraries 0@?Religion 0@DAnglicanism 0@@Catholicism 0@/Puritanism 0@CQuakers 0/.Other Groups 0/0Transportation 0/+Travel 0/+The Major Land Routes of the Colonies 0/DThe Boston Post Road 0/@Braddock’s Road 0/@The Conestoga Road & Forbes’ Road 0/@The Fall Line Road 0/@The King’s Highway 0//The Mohawk Trail 0//Water Travel 0/CAlchemy & Magic 0/>Alchemy 0/>Goals of Alchemy 0C+Magic of the World 0C?The Five Elements 0C?Historical Persecution 0CBNatives 0CDAbenaki 0C/Catawba 0CCCherokee 0>.Chickasaw 0>0Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) 0>+Lenape (Delaware) 0>BMahican (Mohican) 0>DShawnee 0>@

CHAPTER %: ENEMIES & MONSTERS !**Colonists +..Agent of the Inquisition +..Freemason Agent +.0Knight Templar Agent +.0Minuteman +.0Soldier +.+Typical Colonial Alchemist +.+Typical Colonial Mage +.+Woodsmen +.+The Mandoag +.?Mandoag Warrior +.?Mandoag Shaman +.BNative-Born +.B

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Typical Shaman +.BTypical Warrior +.DCreatures +.DThe Basics +.DCreature Design +.@Step 0: Determine Power Level +./Step +: Purchase Abilities with Creature Points +./Step ?: Purchase Traits with Trait Points +.CAcidic +.CAttack Bonus +.CAttack Penalty (Drawback) +.CBite +.>Bony Spurs +.>Breath +.>Brittle Bones (Drawback) +.>Claws +.>Combat Fear (Drawback) +.>Control +0.Curious +0.Damage Reduction +0.Disease +0.Drain +0.Elasticity +00Extra Arms +00Fear +00Fierce +00Flight +0+Frailty (Drawback) +0+Gaze +0+Gills +0+Glider +0+Gore +0+Head Butt +0?Heat/Cold Susceptibility (Drawback) +0?HorriAc Visage +0?Horns +0?Hug/Squeeze +0?Hypersensitivity +0?Infernal +0BImmunity +0BInvisibility +0BInsubstantial +0BKick +0BLeaper +0BLethargy (Drawback) +0DLight Sensitivity (Drawback) +0DManifest +0DMindslave (Drawback) +0DMoan +0DNatural Armor +0DNatural Armor Penalty (Drawback) +0@Night Vision +0@Poison +0@Plasm +0@Prehensile Tail +0/

Rejuvenation +0/Second Wind +0/Scent +0/Shift +0CSize +0CSpawn +0CSpeed +0CSpellcaster +0CSpirit Animal +0CStench +0>Stomp +0>Swarm ++.Tail ++.Taint ++.Telekinesis ++.Thermal Vision ++0Thick Fur Coat ++0Undead ++0Unfathomable ++0Wall Crawler ++0Weakness +++Weak Immune System (Drawback) +++Webbed Digits +++Step B: Purchase skills with Skill Points +++Step D: Calculate Plasm, Taint or Vigor, & Initiative Rating +++Step @: Assign Hook ++?Step /: Pit Creature Against Characters ++?Creatures Great & Small ++?A-senee-ki-wakw ++?Apotamkin ++BBadger ++BBat ++BBear, Black ++DBear, Brown ++DBeaver ++@Cat, large ++@Cat, small ++@Chepi ++@Devils ++/Devil, Imp ++/Devil, Tormentor ++/Dog ++CEagle ++CEwah ++CGhost ++CGhoul +?.Headless +?.Honochenokeh +?0Horse +?+Jogah +?+Owl +?+Pim-skwa-wagen-owad +??Pok-wejee-men +??Rat +??

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Raven +?BSkeleton +?BSnake, poisonous +?BSpirit +?BVampire +?DWendigo +?/Werewolf +?/Wolf +?CZombie +?C

CHAPTER &: GAMEMASTER ADVICE "#*The Use & Abuse of History +?>Two Types of History +B.A Note about the Word “Cinematic” +B?Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff +BBUsing History to Your Advantage +B@Antagonists & Villains +B>The Heart of Villainy +D0One-Shot or Recurring? +D+Bringing It All Together +DBNuts & Bolts of Villain Design +DBAssign Hook & Action Points +D@Running a Horror Game +D@Setting the Mood +D@Pacing & Horror +D/Creating Teamwork +DCAwarding Experience Points +D>Spending Experience Points +@.Raising Skill Ranks +@.The Cost of Skills & Spells +@0Campaigns +@+The Colonies +@+ In The Shadows +@+The Revolution +@BDawn of the American Revolution +/0Timeline +/+Bibliography +/D

Colonial Gothic is a supernatural historical role-playing game inspired by the history and setting of the American colonial period, from the founding

of Roanoke in 1568 to the end of the War of 1812 at the Bat-tle of New Orleans in 1815. From the initial discovery of America by the Europeans to the War of Independence, Colonial Gothic provides Gamemasters and play-ers with everything they need to set games in this period, but with a supernatural twist. In Colonial Gothic you will play a character who, through the course of your adventures, will slowly come to discover that the “New World” is so much more than what it seems to be.

Introduction

Colonial Gothic

12

Mysterious conspiracies and evil plots abound. Lurking in the shadows are malevolent enemies working in secret, pulling strings and in=uencing events. While the world may be witnessing the dawn of a new Age of Reason, there is much that remains mysterious and hidden, defying the rationality and logic of the new philosophies: Magic is real, and creatures of the occult and supernatural exist. The player characters might already know this, or will come to know it as they begin to uncover the truth about the world they live in.

This book contains everything you need to know about !"#"$%&# '"()%* as a player or Gamemaster (GM). This introduction will serve as your primer to the game, describing its setting, explaining its core me-chanic, providing you with general knowledge of how the game works and what you will be able to do with it. As a player, this chapter will give you a sense of what your character will experience in the world of !"-#"$%&# '"()%*, and how you will be able to interact with it. As a Gam-emaster, you will And plenty of ideas and inspiration of what you can do with the game and setting, and how you will be able to craft adventures and campaigns that will work best for your group’s taste and preference. Consider this chapter an amuse-bouche, if you will, a single tasty bite to help prepare you for the feast to come.

So without further ado, welcome to the world of !"#"$%&# '"()%*!

Setting!"#"$%&# '"()%* is a world deeply mired in mysteries, secrets, and

plots. The sense of darkness and horror your group will want to experi-ence in your game sessions will rely heavily upon both the Gamemaster’s creativity and the players’ imaginations—and this book provides plenty of ideas and resources to stimulate both. Together, the Gamemaster and the players will craft a story in which the characters will face increasing wickedness and villainy in the world, discovering that while some enemies are all too human, others have never been human at all. Whether your character is a soldier grimly facing the brutality of war in the campaigns of the American Revolution, or a witch hunter relentlessly searching out and battling evil, is entirely up to you.

!"#"$%&# '"()%* is designed with a simple premise: the occult and supernatural are real and extant within the world. Drawing upon history, !"#"$%&# '"()%*’s perspective is that of the American Colonists: witches are real, devils and monsters run rampant in the world, and Magic can be

Introduction

13

worked—usually with terrible effect on all involved. Most Colonists have either chosen to deny the supernatural or rationalize it away, while oth-ers have been irreversibly damaged by their experiences with it. But some know and accept it for what it is and act accordingly, willingly choosing to place their reputations, faith, and sanity on the line to Aght back. Seeing themselves as the last line of defense against the onslaught of evil, these characters war with the terrifying forces that lurk in the shadows.

For the PlayersYour character is a Colonist hailing from one of the 0? English Colo-

nies in America. For the most part, the world is entering a new era, what Thomas Paine called the “Age of Reason,” slowly but steadily leaving behind the old beliefs rooted in myth and superstition, and beginning to embrace new philosophies deAned by logic, mathematics, and science. The works of Descartes, Hobbes, and Newton have changed the way mankind thinks about not only the world, but existence itself. Though many have adopted these new systems of belief and thought, some have not. There are those who know the truth: Magic is real, a power immanent in the very fabric of reality itself!

In !"#"$%&# '"()%* you play a character who not only knows Magic is real, but also the unspeakable horrors it spawns—and these horrors are every-where: witches who curse an isolated settlement, a vampire that followed European immigrants to the New World, or angry spirits terrorizing a Cherokee tribe. Whether your character is Aghting in the frontier or fending off a supernatural disease like Curse from the Grave, you—along with others like you who know the truth—ceaselessly wage a hidden war against the forces seeking to plunge the world into chaos and darkness. There are none but you and your compatriots who are brave enough to face the Devil’s minions, Aght them, and triumph.

The Adventure ContinuesThe !"#"$%&# '"()%* rulebook is your passport to a whole world of adventure in the

Thirteen Colonies and beyond.All !"#"$%&# '"()%* products are fully compatible with this edition.The '&84((44; is your guide to the Thirteen Colonies and their mysteries. D stars, Amazon.comE)4 F#&546 "G F;44,"5 !&5<&%2$ plunges the players into the secret side of the

Revolutionary War.In H"6("$ H46%424, (!"/!", Paizo.com), a kidnapping leads to a desperate struggle that

ends with the British driven from the city.The I)%#&,4#<)%& JGG&%; (!"/!", RoleplayersChronicle.com) uncovers a deadly plot

that threatens the Continental Congress.Each book contains detailed city maps and source mate-

rial, along with dozens of adventure seeds.E)4 F;4$*) &$, 7$,%&$ K&; gives players and GMs

all the information they need to Aght the French with Braddock and Washington, walk the woods with Hawkeye and Uncas, and storm the heights of Quebec with General Wolfe. #/!", RoleplayersChronicle.com

L4M F;&$*4 opens up a new region and a new point of view. Explore early Canada, Aght British aggression, and face new threats in three time periods. $ stars, BarnesAnd-Noble.com

E)4 ';%5"%;4 offers expanded magic rules and a selection of new spells and monsters. #/!", RoleplayersChronicle.com

N;2&$%8&(%"$6 H""O 0: E)4 E45<#&;6 traces the secret history of this most mysterious of orders and follows their ac-tivities in the New World. It includes Templar secrets and rules for Templar PCs and NPCs. #/!", RoleplayersChronicle.com

P"*&(%"$6 describes four towns from Massachusetts to Florida, with their people, plac-es, and secrets lovingly detailed. Each place can be a short stop along the way or a long-term campaign base. $ stars, DriveThruRPG.com.

!"#"$%&# '"()%* is also supported by a range of ebooks in a range of formats includ-ing PDF and Kindle. Find them at your favorite online store or visit www.rogue-games.net.