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Usher's Hollow: A Powered by the Apocalypse Game of Gothic Horror
Paperback
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jan 3 2026
Pages: 164
Weight: 0.50
Height: 0.35 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Usher's Hollow: A Tabletop Roleplaying Game of Gothic Horror & Psychological Descent
Welcome to the Abyss. The fog always comes.
Step into Usher's Hollow, a town shrouded in perpetual mist and suffocated by an ancient curse. This isn't just a place; it's a living manifestation of inner darkness, feeding on despair, guilt, and the darkest impulses of the human heart. Here, the line between sanity and madness blurs, and every shadow seems to whisper your name.
What is Usher's Hollow?
Usher's Hollow is a complete tabletop roleplaying game designed for 3-5 players, inviting you to explore a world of pervasive gothic horror and personal torment. It's a game about confronting not just external monsters, but the terrifying reflection of what humanity can become when consumed by its own darkness.
Key Features:
- Atmospheric Gothic Setting: Immerse yourself in a meticulously detailed, dread-soaked world, from the crumbling grandeur of the Shadowed Manor to the insidious depths of the Whispering Woods and the haunted cells of the Old Asylum. The Perpetual Fog and the rhythmic thrum of the Beating Heart ensure the curse is a constant, suffocating presence.
- Unique Character Archetypes: Choose from six compelling Playbooks, each tied to the curse and driven by a unique struggle:
- The Descendant: Haunted by a cursed bloodline.
- The Investigator: Driven to uncover chilling truths.
- The Empath: Bearing the world's pain, a beacon amidst suffering.
- The Survivor: Pragmatic and tenacious, against all odds.
- The Occultist/Scholar: Delving into forbidden knowledge and arcane power.
- The Penitent: Seeking absolution for past sins.
- Focus on Psychological Horror: The game emphasizes inner turmoil, with character Guilt driving narratives and mechanics. Players face choices that test their Resolve as they battle personal demons and the insidious Hyde transformation.
- Simple, Evocative Rules: Powered by a streamlined, narrative-first system, Usher's Hollow uses easy-to-learn mechanics that keep the focus on story, atmosphere, and player agency.
- Rich GM Tools: Includes detailed guidance for Game Masters, powerful GM Moves for escalating dread, unique monster archetypes (The Red Masque, Frankenstein's Echoes, Spectral Inhabitants, Corrupted Flora & Fauna), and pre-built starter scenarios to launch your first terrifying adventure.
- Uncover the Lore: Explore the deep, unsettling history of the Usher Curse, its origins in a dark pact, and the role of the enigmatic Raven as a conduit of forbidden knowledge.
Will you break the curse, or will you merely become another part of Usher's Hollow's unending nightmare?
Download free playbooks for this and other PbtA games from Circus-13 Games at https: //circus13games.itch.io/circus13playbooks
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