Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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clavis123
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

Post by clavis123 »

ssfsx17 wrote: I'd go as far as to say that much of modern horror got its origins in real stories and common urban myths from the Victorian era. The twisted insane asylum. The serial killer who sends mysterious messages to the police. Mysterious deaths as a result of disturbing "cursed" things. And so on...
Definitely all those things were in the public consciousness during the 19th century, as the Horror genre was emerging from the Gothic Romance.

The horrors of the asylum have been a theme in my own Ghastly Affair Saga, since the True Innocent character had been locked in a madhouse. She escaped when the place (which had been a convent before the French Revolution) was attacked by Royalist insurgents (who were then besieged by the Gendarmes). The attack occurred on "visitor's day" - when the inmates would be brought to the common hall so that paying locals could gape at them. The asylum itself was fairly progressive - the presiding doctor had recently stopped having the inmates regularly beaten as a form of therapy!
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
Reader discretion is advised.

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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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clavis123 wrote:
ssfsx17 wrote: I'd go as far as to say that much of modern horror got its origins in real stories and common urban myths from the Victorian era. The twisted insane asylum. The serial killer who sends mysterious messages to the police. Mysterious deaths as a result of disturbing "cursed" things. And so on...
Definitely all those things were in the public consciousness during the 19th century, as the Horror genre was emerging from the Gothic Romance.

The horrors of the asylum have been a theme in my own Ghastly Affair Saga, since the True Innocent character had been locked in a madhouse. She escaped when the place (which had been a convent before the French Revolution) was attacked by Royalist insurgents (who were then besieged by the Gendarmes). The attack occurred on "visitor's day" - when the inmates would be brought to the common hall so that paying locals could gape at them. The asylum itself was fairly progressive - the presiding doctor had recently stopped having the inmates regularly beaten as a form of therapy!
Sadly, that is fairly realistic ...
"And so I am become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows!" - Mark Twain

Forgive all spelling errors.

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clavis123
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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The latest addition to the popular “Highdark Hall” series is The Enclosed Park & Outbuildings map. Venture outside the great house, and wander the gardens, strange follies, and haunted landscapes of the surrounding park. Use the map for your Gothic, horror, and even steampunk games, or just lose yourself in dark reverie as you mentally explore the grounds. Imagine what secrets lie buried (quite literally) on the property!

Highdark Hall: The Enclosed Park & Outbuildings
https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/2 ... buildings/
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
Reader discretion is advised.

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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

Post by Omote »

Gods of gaming! Those maps are so cool. Somebody is getting stabbed on the tennis court for sure... *psst* Because I know it will happen.

~O
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clavis123
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Thank you! More to come...
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Omote wrote:Gods of gaming! Those maps are so cool. Somebody is getting stabbed on the tennis court for sure... *psst* Because I know it will happen.

~O

Rgr that !!!!
"And so I am become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows!" - Mark Twain

Forgive all spelling errors.

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Tadhg
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Great map!

Is it safe to go for a walk out on the Moors at night during a full moon if you hear a hound baying?

:o
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clavis123
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Rhuvein wrote:Great map!

Is it safe to go for a walk out on the Moors at night during a full moon if you hear a hound baying?

:o
I'm gonna say.....no!
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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clavis123 wrote:
Rhuvein wrote:Great map!

Is it safe to go for a walk out on the Moors at night during a full moon if you hear a hound baying?

:o
I'm gonna say.....no!

Yet, someone will ..... the fool that they are !
"And so I am become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows!" - Mark Twain

Forgive all spelling errors.

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clavis123
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Enter the famous Hedge Maze of Highdark Hall, and discover what walks its shadowed paths.

Highdark Hall: The Hedge Maze
https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/2 ... edge-maze/
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
Reader discretion is advised.

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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Exceptional!

~O
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Thank you! I aim to have more writeups on the Park features ready soon. I'll mostly keep to the format of having multiple conflicting rumors about the various locations. That way different GMs can develop the material in ways appropriate to their own games, and players can't be sure what's going to happen next!
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
Reader discretion is advised.

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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Omote wrote:Exceptional!

~O
Darn. I've got to top this praise . . . hmm, fantabulous! Aw crap, that's all I got
. :|
Lord Tadhg - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Ardmore

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

Post by Tadhg »

Well done, Daniel!!

I'm thinking of adding a few more benches and mebbe some other weird or ancient statues.

But what really has me stoked, its putting in some secret hedge doors and perhaps some moving hedges or snake vines from Harry Potter's Goblet of Fire.

Great stuff! :P
Lord Tadhg - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Ardmore

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

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clavis123
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

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Rhuvein wrote:Well done, Daniel!!

I'm thinking of adding a few more benches and mebbe some other weird or ancient statues.

But what really has me stoked, its putting in some secret hedge doors and perhaps some moving hedges or snake vines from Harry Potter's Goblet of Fire.
Sounds great! All the Highdark Hall material is meant to be a base that can be customized and further developed by GMs.
Rhuvein wrote:Great stuff! :P
Thanks!
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
Reader discretion is advised.

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clavis123
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Re: Highdark Hall: A Free Setting for Gothic Roleplaying

Post by clavis123 »

Over at RPGGeek there is a thread using the Highdark Hall maps as the basis for a collaboratively-designed haunted house.

https://rpggeek.com/thread/1857716/lets ... nted-house
Daniel James Hanley
Creator of Ghastly Affair, "The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror".
Player's Manual Now Available on DriveThruRPG and Amazon
Reader discretion is advised.

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