Four against the Great Old Ones (2020)

Overview

Based on the Four against Darkness system, this pen-and-paper game pits the player(s) against classic Lovecraftian horror. The game can be played solo, coop, or RPG-lite.

Four Investigators and a party of Helpers will travel 1930s America looking for three Clues to uncover the location of an upcoming great ritual. They only have 40 days to find and stop the ritual, before the world comes to an untimely end!

The core of the game revolves around a system of encounter tables that will generate terrifying events and will provide the players with clues, arcane items, and more terrifying events! Combat is dice-based and highly tactical, due to the many options the players have in their attack and defense phases.

Relevant features include:

8 new classes of main Investigators, plus MANY types of Helpers for nuanced customization... ... but the players shouldn't get too attached to any character in particular. High lethality. insanity, curses & incorporeal enemies to make the challenge even harder many spells, arcane items, weapons (did someone say flamethrower???) 6 possible epic final encounters, each a complete mini-game clue system that actually gives the players information as they investigate, allowing them to gradually narrow down the possible location of the ritual race against the clock: limited time to complete the adventure side quests to exotic locations and... other planets? enter the Dreamlands at your own risk! many secrets hidden in the game to increase replay value. A trivial event experienced in one game may take on completely different connotations in the next. based on extensive knowledge of Lovecraft, and strictly on Lovecraft (so the Elder Sign looks right, you meet Ghatanothoa, but sorry no Hastur) professors and graduate students are bad@$$&$, just like in Lovecraft and in real life.

Expansions

Carcosa Rising

Dawning Horror