Author: Marcus Bone Page 2 of 6

A Casting the Runes Scenario written by Linden Dunham

In the west country county of Dorset, a local doctor’s suspicions of a vampire preying on the district’s inhabitants proves to be well-founded. What will the Investigators do and how will they ever find The Marshwood Vampire?

The Marshwood Vampire is a scenario for the Casting the Runes roleplaying game. In this adventure the Investigators will travel to the west country in an attempt to track down and destroy an evil reborn. But things, of course, are never what they seem and recent wrongs, old manors and reluctant locals all stand in the way on the party’s success…

– Download The Marshwood Vampire (PDF, 10 pages, 776KB) –

Immersion amid a Sea of Confusion: A Review of The Secret of Chimneypots

By Marcus Bone

On February 17, 2025

In Casting the Runes, Review

The Secret of Chimneypots is a short scenario written for the glorious Casting the Runes roleplaying game (itself a derivation of the GUMSHOE ruleset modified to replicate the Edwardian ghost stories of M R James). Produced as an exclusive reward during the game’s crowdfunding campaign in 2020, the scenario is a self-contained mystery that can be easily run in a few hours.

Written by Christian Jensen Romer and released by The Design Mechanism, this publication is 30 pages all up and can accommodate a party of any size (although the author recommends up to 5 Investigators). Similar in design and layout to the core Casting the Runes rulebook (see here for my thoughts on that book) it has a very evocative cover drawn by Júlio Rocha, and a liberal sprinkling of period photos and line art throughout (including a very nice piece illustrating the adventure ‘McGuffin’ and some decent maps).

The adventure itself is set in the winter of 1900 and revolves around the strange events arising from the death of one Lionel Sharp, the owner of the small country holding called Chimneypots House. Drawn into this mystery, the Investigators will soon discover that the hauntings at the house are far darker and menacing than any simple ghost of the manor’s previous proprietor.

Quaint Mysteries & Curious Ghost Stories: A Review of The Predestination Engine & Other Stories

By Marcus Bone

On February 17, 2025

In Casting the Runes, Review

So dear reader, please allow me to indulge myself with a little story, one that harkens back to the airy days of late 2022, when half asleep and somewhat saddened by the prospect of travelling to work, your erstwhile reviewer was drawn once more into the world of quaint mysteries and curious ghost stories. We all know the story, an innocuous Facebook post, the lightest of clicks on a seemingly innocent link and the next thing you know you’ve suddenly added yet another book to your already overgrown RPG library… sigh…damn you DrivethruRPG!

Now, while, I know that little scenario was a little facetious, in this case at least, it does act as an appropriate lead into my experience of purchasing the wonderful The Predestination Engine & Other Stories; a collection of six scenarios by Paul StJohn Mackintosh and Tobias Cooper for Mr Mackintosh’s much respected Casting the Runes. That said, while my alter ego seems as if he was somewhat fooled or coerced into this purchase, I was overjoyed to delve once more into a new supplement for this fantastic roleplaying game.

For those of you who might not know of Casting the Runes, it is a game I’ve waxed lyrical about previously (see my review here). However, to save you time, let me reiterate my quick introduction with the following: Casting the Runes (or Casting the Runes: Occult Investigations in the World of M. R. James, to give its full name), is an impressive implementation of Pelgrane Press’ GUMSHOE open game system, set against the world of M R James’ unique late Victorian and Edwardian ghost stories. Of course, for some of you, the writings of Montague Rhodes James might not ring too many bells, but rest assured, if you’re a fan of horror, you will have most definitely felt his (indirect and direct) influence in everything from modern fiction, television, movies, and more. In fact, M R James’ stories are so much a part of the British ethos that even today his tales are still regularly being brought to life through a variety of media old and new.

A Study in Quaint Horror: A Review of Casting the Runes

By Marcus Bone

On February 17, 2025

In Casting the Runes, Review

…It began, like all these stories do, with a brief message from a friend. This note was simple enough, and at the time one could little expect it to have as much an impact on my life and future as it would. So it was with little concern or trepidation that I clicked on the link provided in the aforementioned communique, expecting to find within it nothing more than a spark of light entertainment or, at worse, a selection of humour that one would find reluctant to share in one’s workplace. Imagine then, dear reader, my despair to discover that this link did not only lead me deep within the internet but would also reveal a dark and mischievous plot dedicated to parting your humble author from his hard-earned coin… yet another RPG Kickstarter!

Casting the Runes is a roleplaying game of Edwardian¹ ghost stories and mysteries, written by Paul StJohn Macintosh, and published by The Design Mechanism. Based on the works of M R James, an English scholar and weird tale author of that period (whose style I have so ham-fistedly attempted to replicate above), it uses the GUMSHOE mechanics to reproduce investigative mysteries steepled in British graveyards, sprawling mansions, and occult practices.

For anyone who knows me, it will come as no surprise that this sort of setting and system are right in my wheelhouse, so much so that I’ve even attempted to do my own version of a gaslit GUMSHOE game once or twice in the past. The core book was funded via Kickstarter in early 2020, and I received my copy of the deluxe edition hardback a few weeks ago ². Given the myriad of other Kickstarter games and items I’ve backed in the past, you have to be impressed by both the speed and quality of this crowdfunding campaign (although I believe at the time of this writing, the last of the North American backers are yet to get their copies – not long now, Covid impacts I believe!). I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised at such a professional approach to the crowdfunding campaign, as the talent behind The Design Mechanism, Lawrence Whitaker, and Pete Nash, are top blokes, but in this day and age, even the most successful of publishers seem to be beset with delays and issues (only some of which, I reluctantly mention seem to be outside their influence).

[Scenario] Operation Parcel Post – The Esoterrorists

By Marcus Bone

On January 3, 2025

In Scenario, The Esoterrorists

“Just a quick and dirty pick up they said… a cake walk, huh?
Well, we’ll just see about that shall we…”

OPERATION PARCEL POST is a quickstart scenario written for Pelgrane Press’ The ESOTERRORISTS Roleplaying Game. Complete with three pre-generated characters, this adventure is designed to be run as either a one-night sample session or as a pick-up game at a convention.

In this scenario, the are Operatives assigned to investigate a strange crate that has been stopped passing through Customs in a large, international airport near where they operate. Arriving amidst an influx of holiday session travellers, the party will discover that the package in question contains an artifact infused with an Outer Dark Entity (ODE). Of course, what starts as a nice and simple ‘locate and grab’ mission soon escalates into a bizarre game of cat and mouse as the ODE uses its influence and power to escape the airport and the perhaps our heroes!

[Review] The Esoterror Summoning Guide

By Marcus Bone

On December 4, 2024

In Review, The Esoterrorists

If I’ve ever publicly made a complaint about Pelgrane Press’ The Esoterrorists roleplaying game (powered as it is by the GUMSHOE system), then it has been the fact that no concerted effort has ever seemed to be made to really define its setting and background. As such, it often gets called a knock-off of other, more detailed, modern horror settings such as Delta Green, Hunter, or even good old Conspiracy X. (As an aside, I personally think this is an opinion that is a little unfair, given the unique approach The Esoterrorists takes on the conspiracy-horror genre, but hey!)

Despite this, it is still a valid point to say that if there is anywhere that Pelgrane Press has not done the game justice then it has been in its ongoing support. Sure, over the years we’ve had an expanded second edition of the game, a couple of official scenarios and even a campaign or two, but what has always been missing is that comprehensive explanation of the Esoterrorists world, i.e. the ‘this is The Esoterrorists bible’ or a guide that explains the game fictional premise in a concise manner. If that wasn’t unfortunate enough, what information there is about the ‘world of The Esoterrorists’ is spread between three separate products (these being the core rulebook, the excellent Esoterror Fact Book, and the supplement to which this review is dedicated – The Esoterror Summoning Guide)¹.

So, why do I call The Esoterror Summoning Guide a vital part of the Esoterrorists’ core, and just what does this supplement add to the game? Well, read on and let’s see what’s inside this short but intriguing supplement, one that I think should be in everyone’s The Esoterrorists collection.

[Scenario] The Stench of an Open Grave – Updated to V1.1

By Marcus Bone

On November 29, 2024

In Call of Cthulhu, Cthulhu Dark Ages, Scenario, Site News

Something rots in the heart of Somerset… and where old traditions met new, death is the only outcome…

The Stench of an Open Grave is a short adventure designed to introduce a small group of players to the atmosphere and intrigue of Cthulhu Dark Ages 3rd Edition for the first time. Ideal also for Keepers looking to run a dark – yet simple – mystery set in the early Middle Ages, it gives you everything you need (including three pregenerated characters – created specifically for the scenario) to bring this world – and its horrors – to life.

—- Buy this scenario on DriveThruRPG.com —-

Updated to version 1.1 November 2024 –

With ‘Stench’ successfully reaching Copper status at DrivethruRPG, I thought it was high time that this scenario got a good edit and update. While none of the content has been altered for this version, the text has been tidied up in places and should have far fewer spelling and grammar errors (sorry about that!). I have also done a bit of tinkering with the fonts and styles to align the document with my next planned Cthulhu Dark Ages adventure set around Glastingberi Abbey (no date as yet for a release).

Should you buy this scenario?

This scenario was created with the express purpose of introducing new players to Cthulhu Dark Ages and as such presents what I hope is a simple, almost linear, mystery for them to explore. With this audience in mind, ‘Stench’ attempts to downplay the more fantastical elements that can sometimes seep into Dark Ages games and instead tries to bring to life the culture and experience of living in the Early Middle Ages. Of course, this may mean more experienced role-players (especially those well versed in the Dark Ages) might find the story a little too simplistic for their tastes, but nevertheless I would still like to think that you ‘hold in your hand’ a well thought out, fun scenario; one that can give a good night or two’s entertainment for any fan of the Cthulhu Mythos.

After much effort and time Stench of an Open Grave (for Cthulhu Dark Ages 3rd Edition) is now available up on Drive Thru RPG for sale (my first non ‘pay-what-you-want’ offering).

You can get it here for just $6.00 US. I’m hoping – if this sells well – it might break the shackles and motivate me to produce some of the myriad of other Call of Cthulhu scenarios (and campaigns) I have floating around on my various drives.

[Review] Sub Rosa – 1st Edition

By Marcus Bone

On September 30, 2024

In Conspiracy X, Review

“Three may keep a secret… if two of them are dead.”
– Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack

While Conspiracy X is best known for its setting focused on humanity’s ongoing struggle against aliens, monsters, and the supernatural, perhaps its most intriguing notion – its diamond hidden in the rough, so to speak – is its exploration into the very concept of ‘conspiracy’ itself. Sub Rosa: The Conspiracy Creation Sourcebook, is the game’s deep dive into this very subject, a supplement that aims to present a theoretical examination of how conspiracies come about, how they are run, and most importantly how they are created within the Conspiracy X ruleset.

But just how well does it succeed in this task? Do we get nothing more than a shallow look at the same old tired conspiracies we see in so many other game lines, or will it break the shackles and truly deliver a sourcebook that allows Game Masters to build brand new layers of intrigue into their existing campaigns? Well, dear reader, read on and we shall find out…