Setting The Mood In Horror Games

One of the key things to running a horror game is setting the mood. Just about every horror RPG has some hints about setting the mood for your game. There’s the usual GM tricks of just using good description but I want to talk about bringing in the other senses and letting the player’s imaginations go into overdrive. And there’s nothing that says you can’t use any of these tricks for other genres as well. Of course, your mileage may vary but here’s what I’ve learned over the years.
One of the first things people mention is lighting or even using candles. First, candles. No. Not on the gaming table and chances are you’re not going to get enough light to read dice, rule books and character sheets anyway. Yeah, it’s spooky but just not an environment conducive for gaming. Especially, if somebody knocks over a candle. You know like so many glasses or cans of soda that end up all over the table. A house fire is not a good thing. Just keep the light levels high enough that everything is still legible but still dim enough that there are a few shadows in the room. Don’t turn on the flood lights.
Music. For our group, this is a death knell. After a few minutes, someone will ask to have it turned off. For us, it’s more of distraction than mood setter. But that doesn’t mean you can ‘t use music. Since a lot of folks lug along a lap top to game sessions, it’s handy for the GM to have a few mood tracts. The player characters walk into a bar. The GM blares out some music from his laptop. This couple of seconds of music can help describe the place that they just walked into. Red Neck Joint, Biker Bar, Techno Club whatever. You can use music as a tool to set up a scene or mood then just turn it off. And don’t pause your own game just because you like a song.
Sound is so under utilized in most games. Audio manipulation programs like Audacity or sites with whole libraries of sound effects or even music are a great resource. You could describe what a character hears when he listens to the door or you could just play a little sound bite and let their imagination run wild. It’s Halloween. For just a few bucks, you can pick a CD of spooky sound effects and go wild.
The easiest prop to come up with is documents. Everybody has some sort of word processor and access to a printer. But there’s some good sources for fake documents like propdocs.com. Buy a cheap notebook and turn it into the diary of mad man. Fill it full of insane rantings, strange doodles and clue now and then. Be sure to mess it up with some cigarette burns and coffee stains (or perhaps unidentified stains). Just don’t leave where your boss can find it. You might have one of “those” meetings with your HR department. The Internet is great source for images and with a few minutes with Photoshop or Gimp, you can take normal picture and make it spooky. Or, heck, just take the pictures yourself and spooky them up. For the more creative and artistically skilled, there’s plenty of little handy tips on creating other types of props like tomes, idols and Deep Ones in a Jar over at the miskatonic.net.
I mentioned the Internet as a source for props. It can be a prop too. I have to admit, I got this idea from The Hunt Begins (the Quick Start for the Supernatural RPG). If you’re dealing with Urban Legends or Vampires or whatever monster. There’s probably a website out there. Go ahead and email some links to your players. Let them research on their own and see what happens. You know what works, just make sure that there are actual clues on the sites you send your players.
I have another idea but this comes with a BIG warning. Make sure people know that it is FAKE! There are plenty of free blogging services out there. So use one. Make a fake blog of a contact or patron of the party or perhaps the diary of the mad man. BUT LIKE I SAID MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT IS FAKE! With the sensitivity of some people, they might think that what you are posting is real. You don’t want a visit from the authorities because “you” posted about the demons living next door and having to take matters into your own hands. So let me say this again. IF THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS WILL BE SEEN BY ANYONE OUTSIDE OF YOUR GAME MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT IS FICTION!!!!!!!!!!! You have been warned.
Last, I want to talk about smell. While this sense is the most connected to memory. I do not suggest leaving a few pieces of chicken on the back porch for a week then taking it your game. “You walk into the room and you smell…” Ta Da! No, just don’t do it. Especially, if game at friend’s house.