Infaernum - Gameplay Preview Bundle

-- THIS IS A GAMEPLAY PREVIEW OF THE CORE RULEBOOK INCLUDING A 2-PAGE BROCHURE WITH RULES AND SETTING PLUS A 12-PAGE GAME EXAMPLE DOCUMENT -- 

Disclaimer: Infaernum is a Role-Playing Game that deals with dark and violent themes, including death, violence, disease, and other adult situations, as well as negative feelings of sadness, despair, and rage. The game’s setting also features creatures, imagery, and situations that are entirely fictional, not representing any actual religion, cult, or formal set of beliefs. This is a work of fiction, and all names, characters, terms, events, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance with actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or organizations is purely coincidental. Reader discretion is advised.

Description of the upcoming core rulebook:

Infaernum is an RPG (Role Playing Game), a storytelling game where you interpret characters in a pre-determined narrative. With a book of rules, some dice, and something to take notes, players create a fictional scenario in which these characters come to life. For newcomers, it's worth noting that all of this happens using imagination.

This game doesn't provide a closed or specific setting. That's not the game's proposal. Instead, expect to find rules with guidelines for creating your own setting as you play. However, it's neither closed nor generic. The book presents a thematic premise to you: there is a prophecy, a major event that triggers the end of all things. The story you will tell takes this major event as a starting point.

Still, even though there is a proposal, it's possible to create completely different scenarios around it. It could be that the prophecy is true, partially true, or even a complete lie. You will define this as you play.

The name of the game might be intimidating, but this doesn't have to be a game about angels and demons – in fact, these terms don't even appear on the pages of Infaernum – but nothing prevents you from giving that tone to the apocalypse you will narrate.

In addition to the prophecy, the rules will introduce events: random occurrences from the last days. It will be up to you to interpret and reinterpret them in the story being told. For example, the manifestation of the apocalyptic horsemen could mean something completely different in your narrative. Infaernum allows you to treat whatever you wish as a metaphor.

An apocalypse where the fallen are the result of religious oppression?

An apocalypse where the fallen are machines that turned against humanity?

An apocalypse where investigators try to prevent the awakening of an ancient fallen? 

Or maybe there is no apocalypse at all, just exploration of dungeons and plundering of treasures?

All of this is possible with Infaernum – and without any adaptation acrobatics, as thematic changes do not influence the rules.

3 Ways to Play

Solo: When playing alone, you create a character to role-play and tell a story about them. In this mode, you will ask questions, and the game itself will provide you with answers to interpret. Additionally, the game will provide rules to help you generate ideas and imagine what they mean in the narrative you're telling. If you wish, you can keep records of your story, noting a summary of events as the plot unfolds.

A note about solo mode: Infaernum is not a choose-your-own-adventure book with a closed story and a plethora of choices for you to make. In solo mode, you'll have tools that assist you in creating the game world and telling your character's story with complete freedom. Unfortunately, many people are still unfamiliar with this style of RPG and tend to think only of choose-your-own-adventure books when they hear "solo RPG." However, it's not a new concept. There is a multitude of games that encompass this mode, and Infaernum is here to join them.

Co-Op: It is possible to play Infærnum cooperatively without the need for a player commonly referred to as the 'Game Master.' In this mode, you and your friends will each define your own characters and collectively tell a story about them. Similar to the solo mode, players can ask questions to the game itself or generate ideas following the rules of the book. However, there's a difference here: you can also ask questions to the player taking on the role of the Oracle.

A note about cooperative mode: the book features a marker called the Oracle. In cooperative games, this marker will sit in the center of the table, pointing to one player. Other players can ask broader questions for that player to answer. What they say automatically becomes a truth in the fiction. Additionally, the Oracle can interpret the actions of other characters that appear as the story progresses. One detail: there's a specific rule that ensures players take turns as the Oracle. And, of course, don't worry: nobody is obligated to take on this role if they don't want to.

Guided Mode: Resembling more traditional RPGs, this way of playing assumes that one of the players takes on the role of the 'Game Master.' This person will be responsible for portraying characters other than those of the other players, as well as breathing life into the world around them.

A note about the guided mode: the goal here is to avoid excessive preparations. Use the rules of the book as inspiration and, instead of telling your own story, create the story together with the other players, the story everyone wants to tell.

Features:

Infaernum uses 3 types of rolls:

• 1d6 for questions
• 2d6 for ideas
• 3d6 for actions

Instead of binary outcomes like 'succeeded/failed,' things always happen with each action roll, including disasters, neutral events, feats, or miracles. Rolling 3 dice is driven by your character's desire to do something, but the result of this roll can tell you much more. That's why every dice roll always pushes the story forward.