Running Horror TTRPGs, Part 3 – It’s a Joke

When a DM sets out to run a horror game, they will often fixate on getting the atmosphere just right. Hell, I know I do.

There’s nothing wrong with this! That said, many of us have groups where the best part of the game is getting together and making stupid jokes. Hey, if everyone is having fun, there aren’t any wrong answers. The genre of horror is big, and it’s large enough that it’s become satiric and self referential.

Vampires became popularized in the modern day with Dracula. Many cultures had their own blood sucker myths before this. They’ve outgrown those beginnings, however. I would not consider the film series “Underworld” horror. They’re action movies that just happen to have gun toting vampires fighting werewolves – and they’re a lot of fun. We all know the Count from Sesame street. Is anyone afraid of him?

Then there is What We Do in the Shadows, of course. A comedic vampire show (or movie, if you saw that first) that doesn’t mean to scare anyone. That said, it’s hilarious through and through. I would say it’s one of the funniest shows I’ve watched in the last decade.

Horror tropes are everywhere. Our fascination with the creatures of the genre have given us so much art that is meant to do anything but scare. There’s no reason our campaigns can’t be the same. If you’re running a “horror” game, and no one is getting scared, a good place to start is with a simple question to yourself – do they need to be fearful? Or is everyone having fun with things just the way they are?

Heavy Metal often exists in that area. Ya know Gwar? Over the top creatures and gore that put on a hell of a show, but I wouldn’t call them scary. I would say a lot of Mork Borg exists in that murky area as well. Controlling little freaks through a dying world and watching them die in the most ridiculous ways can be quite entertaining.

So here’s the deal – on February 1st, we’re Kickstarting a Mork Borg dungeon on a book mark. It’s gonna be $2. Seriously, that’s it. Shipping is going to be as cheap as we can get it as well.

You can follow the campaign here. Sign up and you’ll get notified as soon as it launches. It’s completely created – all we have to do is send it to the printer.

Let’s do this thing!