Spun out of the Grimdark thread...

For those of you that run Horror games, or games with elements of Horror in them. Do you go for WTF scary? Or campy horror? How do your games hold up under the dark clouds of super-scary games?

I've spent years trying to sell my players on Cthulu - but they veto it. So I have to sneak it in without actually saying CTHULU!!! Ironically they tend to enjoy the dread when I do it... but only in doses. Anyone run something longterm like this? Or is it Evil Dead campy horror?

Isn't it the point of a horror scenario to be scary? I wouldn't say that horror elements in my games are never campy, but they are almost never so on purpose.

I'm always going for the scary over the campy.
As always it depends on the group. If the Players are in the mood to be scared, willing to play it that way... then scares will work.
If they're just inclined to make jokes at everything it doesn't matter what you throw at them.
Most of the people I'm willing to run games for are horror fans like me, so it works out well.

Also, I think 'scary' works better with smaller groups. Maybe it's just the lessened chance of drawing a joker in the crowd but I'm thinking fewer people is less comfortable armor against the frights.
I noticed in some online CoC games we played recently that when a chunk of the group didn't make it for the regular campaign session the GM ran a one-shot with just a couple of us and it was waaaaaay scarier than when the full group was present.
Then again, I've generally preferred smaller groups anyway.

I incorporated part of the AR/Creepypasta "Ted the Caver" story in one of my AD&D games and it was wildly successful in scaring the crap out of a player.  And she's an adult, about my age.  So...yeah, I'd say "Scary".

Scary depends on immersion and immersion depends heavily on players making the choice to suspend their disbelief. Viewers get scared at horror movies, because they want to be spooked and get bummed when the movie doesn't spook them.

If you have players who love scary stuff and want that experience, you can achieve scary stuff more than campy stuff. But some players really love horror for the camp and for them, the Army of Darkness level of campy horror (not even Evil Dead level) is the most fun.

Of course, as with so many other aspects, open communications with players is key.

Quote from: thedungeondelver;833441I incorporated part of the AR/Creepypasta "Ted the Caver" story in one of my AD&D games and it was wildly successful in scaring the crap out of a player.

I had to go and read that of course... good stuff! I'm curious how you implemented it... I'd definitely borrow that scene of the rope being pulled back into the darkness.
Thanks for pointing out that creepy tale.

I generally run D&D in various iterations and horror there is generally campy, I can't really maintain a mood of creeping dread without breaking the tension, and class/level systems are really poorly suited to scary horror anyway. I can do scary-horror ok with Call of Cthulu, but haven't run it since ca 1997.

Quote from: Simlasa;833463I had to go and read that of course... good stuff! I'm curious how you implemented it... I'd definitely borrow that scene of the rope being pulled back into the darkness.
Thanks for pointing out that creepy tale.

The characters were exploring a dungeon area and passed a shaft much like the one that led to the haunted cave (the one Ted had to crawl horizontally through), the only person that could fit through was the half-elf magic-user/thief in the party...and we go from there:

http://www.therpgsite.com/showpost.php?p=551726&postcount=47

Haven't any of you had "those players" that are wisecracking through everything? And what you thought was going to be creepy-Cthulu turned into the HBO Lovecraft show with Remo Williams?

My creepiest games are actually online text based.  very little character wise-cracking.

Quote from: tenbones;833539Haven't any of you had "those players" that are wisecracking through everything?

I really try to avoid players who refuse to focus. We generally keep our games to shorter durations and stay on target but a joke now and then is fine... especially in-character.
Just as bad for me as the Players who turn up drunk or stoned or with electronic toys that compete for their attention.

As a player, I make an effort to buy in to what the GM is selling and I do what I can to avoid undermining his intent.  If he is trying for serious scares, I will not get silly.  However, I can't honestly think of any circumstance where I might actually experience horror at the gaming table (other than perhaps somebody at the table emitting terrible B/O or something).  Even when it comes to scary movies most of that is the result of "shock moments" where something jumps out of the darkness.  Creepiness?  Sure...but actually horror?  I'd almost go so far as to say that it's achievement is an unreasonable expectation of an rpg.  It's a criticism that is often leveled at Call of Cthulhu - "pfft, what's so scary about the mythos?"  I'd ask that about most horror games.  What's so scary about vampires and werewolves?

Quote from: Zevious Zoquis;833563Creepiness?  Sure...but actually horror?

I dunno, I'd say I've experienced a fair number of 'horror' moments in RPGs... along with terror 'run away!' moments, dread, layers of creep. Eclipse Phase was probably more horrific for me as Player than it was for my PC... some of those Transhumanist ideas freak me out.
Again, I chalk it up mostly to my desire to be scared... wanting to be horrified at situations that other Players might just charge into swinging. Without that willingness to be scared... yeah, I doubt in movies/books/games would scare me.

Quote from: tenbones;833422Spun out of the Grimdark thread...

For those of you that run Horror games, or games with elements of Horror in them. Do you go for WTF scary? Or campy horror? How do your games hold up under the dark clouds of super-scary games?

I've spent years trying to sell my players on Cthulu - but they veto it. So I have to sneak it in without actually saying CTHULU!!! Ironically they tend to enjoy the dread when I do it... but only in doses. Anyone run something longterm like this? Or is it Evil Dead campy horror?

I find that "WTF Scary!" loses its punch if you are doing it all the time. So I tend to lean more on campy and occasionally throw the players a scary adventure or two.

Quote from: Zevious Zoquis;833563As a player, I make an effort to buy in to what the GM is selling and I do what I can to avoid undermining his intent.  If he is trying for serious scares, I will not get silly.  However, I can't honestly think of any circumstance where I might actually experience horror at the gaming table (other than perhaps somebody at the table emitting terrible B/O or something).  Even when it comes to scary movies most of that is the result of "shock moments" where something jumps out of the darkness.  Creepiness?  Sure...but actually horror?  I'd almost go so far as to say that it's achievement is an unreasonable expectation of an rpg.  It's a criticism that is often leveled at Call of Cthulhu - "pfft, what's so scary about the mythos?"  I'd ask that about most horror games.  What's so scary about vampires and werewolves?

It isn't the mythos or the werewolves themselves. It is how it is handled.

I have certainly experienced it much the same way I've experienced it with a movie. It takes letting your guard down and things aligning just so. It also takes a GM who has a handle on how to do horror. But it can happen. I think a lot of people might also expect too much from the experience of Horror in movies and games. We are not talking an actual traumatic event like you are literally there being chased by a werewolf. But it is a palpably different experience from a standard night of gaming.