Acheron is a Grimpunk tabletop role-playing game where you must sacrifice your humanity to fight against the evils of the world. Mystery, monsters, and magic collide in this 1930's-era setting where The Government controls the path of History, Factions war for resources, and The Wall looms forever upon the horizon. Are you another cog in the great machine of society, or will you forge your own destiny in the bustling city streets and ancient places once lost to time?
At its core Acheron is about sacrificing your humanity, both temporarily and permanently, to fight against the horrors that inhabit the world. Whether they be cultists, madmen, beasts, or the strange Outsiders.
Acheron's development philosophies reflect this primary concept in multiple differing ways. These philosophies are Player Choice, Gritty Combat, Simplified Realism, Character-Altering Consequences, and Fun.
You will experience our 1930s era world through the lens of a unique character. Three distinct races, Humans, Darkleechers, and Soulmenders, as well as their many pedigrees, make up the vast population of the world. These races, along with a the selection of Attributes, Skills, Merits, Flaws, and Abilities, create extremely individualized characters. Our free-form Progression System allows for many different approaches to the challenges the world presents, whether that be a combat focused brute or a smooth talking dame that has never hurt a fly.
Gritty Combat and intense role-play meet in a game that doesn't shy away from the realities of the world. Gunfights are deadly, and so are monsters. One must plan accordingly. Simplified Realism means that all of the lore and the mechanics in the game are crafted with an eye to the real world for influence and grounding. Acheron has trauma, societal issues, moral dilemmas, and the atrocities of the past woven into it's canvas. This is a game with mature themes. Therefore we thought it only appropriate that the mechanics reflect the realities of the world. This even extends to magic, which is seen as dimwitted mysticism by some and wielded with maleficence by others.
Player Choice and Fun are central to Acheron, and we make sure to never lose sight of them in our quest for a realistic world. That is why we've chosen a free-form Progression System, have included optional rules for Players and Game Masters to modify their games, and have even designed Magic, Mancies, and other systems to be semi-modular if Game Masters wish to include some of our mechanics while excluding others.
The final book will deliver a complete Tabletop Role Playing Game experience. In our core book we will have what would normally be spread between a Players Manual, Game Masters Guide, and Bestiary.
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The world of Acheron is often brutal. The Greys work people to the bone in mega-factories reclaimed from the old world. The Freemen remain cautions, ready to strike out at the first sign of major conflict. Ellsons keep indentured servants on ever longer contracts. The Government watches, protects, contains, enforces, and controls. Historians dig through the past with fervor, uncaring of any consequence for future generations. The Church resists change with hatred in their heart for Magicians and Mancers. Hunters kill beasts as they always have and Wexler Agents do the dirty work of anyone with enough cash and a willingness to turn a blind eye.
These factions aren't the only players in the great game. Anyone who's anyone wants a slice of the pie, but while everyone is scrambling after crumbs there are worse things than men waiting in the dark corners of the world.
Acheron is filled with many bright and colorful characters. Different races, backgrounds, and cultures define all the people of Acheron. While the great machine of society may make many feel like worn down cogs, everyone has something more to offer the world.
Spirit Darkleechers (left) for instance are as diverse both in looks and culture as nature itself. A deep connection with the natural world and spirit realm give them a great amount of empathy for all living things, but can also lead to cold heartedness for humankind and their kin.
Eldritch Darkleechers (right) are the most alien of all Darkleechers, often finding themselves positioned deep within Darkleecher society or at the fringes of Human society, though rarely by choice. Sly and suspicious due to their connection with the Eldritch plane, they also have great insight into people, places, and things unseen by other eyes.
The Second Government Report of Your Nations Many and Varied Districts.
Read More +Welcome to the Acheron Creature Creation Competition! We are happy to announce that, through a generous donation from The Monster and Anomaly Preservation Society, we will be including several fan documented creatures in our Acheron core rule book (CRB) bestiary section. If you have seen, heard, or better yet fully analyzed a creature you wish to be documented please submit a full report by reviewing the information and following the steps below. We look forward to reading your submission!
Read More +An Overview of Your Government
Read More +Table Top RPGs often have different philosophies at their core. We give a breif overview of our core philosophies that have shaped Acheron into the game it is today.
Read More +Dark World Studio started as a dream over six years ago when a few avid ttRPG gamers weren't satisfied with the lack realism, player choice, role-play focus, and gritty combat in many games. This world, and game, grew slowly over many years and iterations. Now the Devs are working hard to bring their vision of a brutalist 1930's world, filled with horrors which go bump in the night, to life.
