Totem: The Spirits' RPG (includes digital download)

Totem is a Narrative Map-Making Horror Role-Playing Game with simple rules inspired by classics of the Ghost Story genre, from Poltergeist to Paranormal Activity, as well as The Ring, Insidious, Silent Hill, The Exorcist and other such disquieting masterpieces. 

Totem will guide your group of Seekers along a chilling voyage through the uncanny in search of contact with entities populating other planes of reality. You’ll explore haunted houses, exorcize demons, pry into the will of otherworldly entities with the Spirit Board, and even cross the threshold into the farthest reaches of Limbo!

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Game Master (GM) will take on the role of the Spirit and introduce otherwordly elements into a collaborative narrative where the players (referred to as the Seekers) must sketch the Map of the haunted location in an attempt to understand how to exorcise the Spirit.

During the investigation, the Spirit will reveal to the players three elements related to the reason for its presence in our world (the Bindings) and will present chilling challenges that must be resolved by flipping a coin.

With each Failure, the Seekers’ psychological or physical conditions worsen to the point where the Spirit might gain control of the them!

And… yes, you may play with a Spirit Board!

IT’S A MAP-MAKING GAME – after choosing a Scenario from the available options (Haunted Houses, Cursed Hunts, Chained Souls, and many other that could be unlocked as Stretch Goals) and the type of Spirit (Wolf, Moth, Cat, or Crow, each with specific powers), the Seekers, in turn, will decribe what they see and their actions, then sketch the Map of the haunted place.

IT’S RULES-LIGHT – The game fits into the vein of narrative-driven RPGs, offering essential and immersive mechanics to foster interpretation rather than rules-oriented play. It is ideal for 2-3 hour one-shots, perfect even for those completely new to RPGs   

IT’S INVESTIGATIVE – The GM, playing the eerie role of the Spirit, develops the narrative building on the descriptions provided by the players; at the end of each Seeker’s turn, the GM may:

– introduce otherworldly presences or other elements into the location
– ask the Seeker or Seekers to make a Test, assigning Trauma in case of failure
– reveal the presence of a Binding, a crucial clue about the Spirit’s presence

The adventure unfolds in a cooperative mode with the group of Seekers, who, through the guidance and clues provided in each environment by the Game Master, develop the story to try to undo the 3 Bindings related to the presence of the Spirit.