Hi, I am looking for some extra books and or settings for a modern horror game. I will cherry pick them for neat ideas and mix and match those within my own setting. Now I mainly use several games for inspiration consisting of the nwod mortal line, Ghostories, East Texas University and several others. The games must be preferably non Cthulhoid horror and no urban fantasy (so no peoplez with powerz).

Esoterrorists comes to mind. Heard of Fear Itself but never seen. Apparently another Gumshoe setting?

Bureau 13 was great for this.  However, with the recent death of its creator, I have no idea if any of the material is available anymore.  Not to mention, the creator also had a strange view on electronic files, only selling them on cd-rom for huge prices

Dark Conspiracy was also interesting.

My selection:

Kult - The absolute antidote to Cthulhu-jadedness. Visceral violence in a meticulously constructed Judeo-Christian/Gnostic vision of our our world. Flatly you cannot consider modern horror without experiencing Kult. A controversial masterpiece, with the back story and magic systems being evocatively authentic in feel. I'm also awaiting for a translated edition of Spain's Aquelarre - a medieval horror game, also based upon Christian-inspired horror.  

The World of Darkness games - especially Wraith: The Oblivion. Again it's a change of pace from Cthulhu horror, and the seminal Shadow-Play system actually delivers on the personal horror that is mooted - rather than just Urban Fantasy. Vampire is still the most popular game though, and Werewolf the most immediately playable. With regards to the Chronicles of Darkness line, you could do no worse than a straight up game of Hunter: The Vigil.

Unknown Armies - puts a massive emphasis on psychological profiling, which is built in to character profiles that goes beyond most other games. It also has a provocative set of magic systems, based upon reinforcing (Avatars) or corrupting (Adepts) reality as we know it. Darkly ironic.

For me, that's the three. They can all be played without 'powers' as such too.

Just want to add that with me horror goes hand in hand with investigation. My setting is based off the dark animism of both of the werewolf games and the wod, but in combination with black magic, cults, serial killers and conspiracies. It doesn't have any other monsters like vampires, werewolves or fae. You can pretty much divide the setting in three. There is the spirit world, people who to investigate and/or hunt the spirits and people who want to make use of the spirits for their own benefit.

TSRs Marvel Superheroes interestingly enough can handle horror and investigation. But unfortunately there were no good modules to show it really.

Another one forgot is Alternity's Dark*Matter RPG. Very X-Files vibe at times.

Not quite modern, depending, but TSRs Masque of the Red Death Victorian horror setting has alot of potential. Cant say how viable it is for examples though. I've only seen one module for it in an issue of Dungeon.

Oh, and there is the Conspiracy X game, which was similar to Delta Green as a modern agency conspiracy, but stuck with straight Alien conspiracy theories rather than anything to do with Lovecraft. Its was kinda eclipsed by Delta Green at the time, but it still had a lot going for it. Eventually converted to both GURPS and the Unisystem.

Unknown Armies certainly puts a different take on 'occult horror'.

Also, Palladium's Beyond the Supernatural is a very underrated game. Even if you don't like the Palladium system, there's tons of good stuff in there.

Quote from: TrippyHippy;962224Flatly you cannot consider modern horror without experiencing Kult. A controversial masterpiece, with the back story and magic systems being evocatively authentic in feel.

Agreed. Another vote for Kult.

KULT!!!
Kult's cosmology is chock full of great ideas to steal. Lots of occult stuff to mine there, so go at it!

Quote from: RPGPundit;962756Also, Palladium's Beyond the Supernatural is a very underrated game. Even if you don't like the Palladium system, there's tons of good stuff in there.

Totally forgot about Beyond the Supernatural. Its actually a great system as its a pre-Rifts pre-Megadamage system and the magic is overall toned down enough to be managable.

The other is Palladium's Nightbane setting. Though that is a rather different take on horror more akin to Vampire.

Most of the games I already know. Dark Conspiracy is worth a look, but Beyond the Supernatural seems the most interesting suggestion till now and very much in line with what I am doing. I also like to keep the psychics and mediums for the players and the dark magic and cults for the npc's for example.

Dead of Night 2nd edition is a good read, in line with your request.
Call of Cthulhu has good non-chtulhoïd scenarios : Sisters of sorrow, Coming Full Circle...

Quote from: jan paparazzi;963145Most of the games I already know. Dark Conspiracy is worth a look, but Beyond the Supernatural seems the most interesting suggestion till now and very much in line with what I am doing. I also like to keep the psychics and mediums for the players and the dark magic and cults for the npc's for example.

Thats pretty doable with BTS since theres not alot of professions and thus its easier to prune or restrict access. Especially the magic types. The Diabolist is I believe intended as NPC only. The Latent Psychic and Psychic Sensetive are two of the easier psi options to keep. The others make for good NPCs. But you'll have to look over them yourself and figure out what works and what doesnt.

Quote from: jan paparazzi;963145Most of the games I already know. Dark Conspiracy is worth a look, but Beyond the Supernatural seems the most interesting suggestion till now and very much in line with what I am doing. I also like to keep the psychics and mediums for the players and the dark magic and cults for the npc's for example.

Well, it's good if you've found your inspiration. However, the choice of playing psychics and mediums does seem a little against the initial notion of wanting 'no peoplez with powerz'. In fact, I always felt that Beyond the Supernatural was basically an urban fantasy too, but I guess I'm looking at it wrong.