Old Gods of Appalachia RPG Review


18 May 2024
|
There’s Something Dark in Them There Hills, as we look at why you should play Old Gods of Appalachia

Written by Richard Jansen-Parkes

Just like the podcast that inspired it, Old Gods of Appalachia is a haunting example of horror that doesn’t look to shock or disgust, but creep into your bones. When run properly, the game can make your house feel a little darker, a little more isolated, especially after the session’s over and your friends head home. If that doesn’t sound like an endorsement, then it’s probably not the game for you.

What is Old Gods of Appalachia?

If you haven’t heard it, the original show is a skin-creepingly haunting podcast that explores the myths and monsters of an alternate-world Appalachia - the mountainous stretch of lonely valleys and small towns running down the eastern United States. This deeply regional approach allows the setting to stand out amidst the crowded world of horror roleplaying.

Rather than exploring the Lovecraftian worlds of Call of Cthulhu or the angst-ridden urban horror of the ‘World of Darkness’ games, Old Gods of Appalachia is steeped in the world of eldritch folk horror. It’s a game about weird things living in the hills, cults scrabbling out their rites in abandoned coal plants and the supernatural backlash you get when desperate people do dark things to survive the winter.

Set loosely in the early 1900s, the players step into the boots of folk trying to keep their friends and family safe from these horrors. One might play a backwoods sheriff who’s unconvinced by the occult, but willing to do whatever it takes to protect their town, while another could be a healer who’s only a pointy hat away from being a full-blown witch. As the weeks roll by, the threats can grow more perilous as the story grows and grows.

It’s a slick premise for an RPG, one that uses the sheer scale of the setting to its benefit. Everything in the book feels old and isolated: Even if the players wanted to call for help, the nearest city is hours away and the roads are treacherous. They’re on their own against the darkness - exactly the kind of thing that makes for good horror gaming.

Content continues after advertisements

Old Gods of Appalachia's System

The other key to Old Gods of Appalachia’s identity is the ruleset. The game is based on the Cypher System, which is also used to power Numenera and most of Monte Cooke’s RPGs. The system prides itself on flexibility and range of options, which is reflected in the game’s sheer scale. The core rulebook is a beast, with over 400 pages of content to chew through, which brings both benefits and drawbacks.

The most obvious positive is that there’s a huge amount of room for both rules and worldbuilding. The book is packed with options that virtually guarantees no two characters will play the same, as well as an exhaustive lore-dump that spans six states and countless NPCs.

However, the downside is that there’s a lot of information to take in. This isn’t an issue when combat and special abilities are key (such as in Numenera), but the sheer quantity of crunchy rules sometimes clashes with the horror vibe: it’s easy to be frightened when your character is some poor shopkeeper armed with a torch and a Civil War rifle, but when you look down at your character sheet and see a sixth-tier protector with the ‘Spin Attack’ ability, the darkness suddenly seems a lot less threatening.

Still, even if the system isn’t your cup of tea, it’s hard to dismiss the wealth of information and imagination on display throughout Old Gods of Appalachia. It’s a magnificent book, packed with enough horror and history to keep your group running for years.

Old Gods of Appalachia Verdict

Should you play this game? Yes. It's a haunting game stuffed with bone-chilling lore and a deep – if sometimes unwieldy – ruleset.

Try it if you loved the mysteries of Monster of the Week but wished things were creepier.

About this Game

Designer: Shanna Germain

Publisher: Mote Mooke

Pages: 414

Ages: 15+

Price: £62

Comments

It is extremely upsetting to lose Bitcoin (BTC) to a fraudulent online investment platform, move your cryptocurrency to the wrong wallet, or forget your wallet's password. After falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam, I was fortunate enough to read an article on Redeemed Hacker Pro. His reviews were really good and reliable. Redeemed Hacker Pro assists fraud victims in recovering their losses as a certified specialist in digital currencies. My wallet and all of my Bitcoins were magically retrieved by Redeemed Hacker Pro in less than 48 working hours. Redeemed Hacker Pro comes highly recommended and is a professional to anyone in need of his services. His contact information is available at: Email: [email protected] Website; www.redeemedhackerpro.com Website: https://redeemedhackerpro.wixsite.com/redeem-hacker-pro. Don't make the same mistake I did; stay blessed and stay informed

Posted by Angela Smith on Wed 13 Nov 01:25:07

It is extremely upsetting to lose Bitcoin (BTC) to a fraudulent online investment platform, move your cryptocurrency to the wrong wallet, or forget your wallet's password. After falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam, I was fortunate enough to read an article on Redeemed Hacker Pro. His reviews were really good and reliable. Redeemed Hacker Pro assists fraud victims in recovering their losses as a certified specialist in digital currencies. My wallet and all of my Bitcoins were magically retrieved by Redeemed Hacker Pro in less than 48 working hours. Redeemed Hacker Pro comes highly recommended and is a professional to anyone in need of his services. His contact information is available at: Email: [email protected] Website; www.redeemedhackerpro.com Website: https://redeemedhackerpro.wixsite.com/redeem-hacker-pro. Don't make the same mistake I did; stay blessed and stay informed

Posted by Angela Smith on Wed 13 Nov 01:24:50

I'm Dolores, a retired real estate developer from Essen, now dedicating my time to running a charity organization supporting underprivileged communities worldwide. In 2017, I started investing in Bitcoin to expand our charity's outreach. By 2024, my Bitcoin holdings reached nearly $900,000—a life-changing amount for future projects helping those in need. Disaster struck during a European trip when my phone, containing access to my Bitcoin wallet, was stolen. Panic set in when I realized I couldn't access my funds. Despite trying every method, all attempts failed, putting our charitable initiatives at risk. After weeks of stress, a fellow investor recommended DIGITAL RESOLUTION SERVICES. Initially skeptical, I trusted them and reached out. Their team was professional, compassionate, and transparent. I appreciated their reassuring approach. To my astonishment, within weeks, DIGITAL RESOLUTION SERVICES resolved the issue, returning $900,000 to my hands. I felt immense relief and gratitude, knowing our charity could continue impacting countless lives. DIGITAL RESOLUTION SERVICES exceeded expectations, securing our mission's future. If you face similar challenges, don't give up. Their expertise, professionalism, and dedication are unmatched. CONTACT DIGITAL RESOLUTION SERVICES EMAIL: [email protected] WHATSAPP: +1 (361) 205-7313 Sincerely, Mrs. Dolores Whorton

Posted by Dolores Whorton on Tue 12 Nov 09:27:37

This is so amazing and real; at first, I thought it was a scam because I was duped by a number of people who said they could help me invest my money in bitcoin trading, which is how I lost $89,000 seven days ago. However, with the assistance of a legitimate hacker at Redeemed Hacker Pro, A hacking and stolen digital assets/BTC recovery agency, I was able to withdraw $200,000 from an ATM without leaving any trace, which is more than the money I lost seven days ago. I will continue to tell people about Redeemed Hacker Pro if you are in need of a legitimate hacker or have any financial difficulties in order to pay off debts and begin a new life. reach out to team Redeemed Hacker Pro now by visiting their Email & website at: [email protected] or redeemedhackerpro.wixsite.com/redeem-hacker-pro

Posted by Quincey Murdock on Sun 03 Nov 00:27:35

This is so amazing and real; at first, I thought it was a scam because I was duped by a number of people who said they could help me invest my money in bitcoin trading, which is how I lost $89,000 seven days ago. However, with the assistance of a legitimate hacker at Redeemed Hacker Pro, A hacking and stolen digital assets/BTC recovery agency, I was able to withdraw $200,000 from an ATM without leaving any trace, which is more than the money I lost seven days ago. I will continue to tell people about Redeemed Hacker Pro if you are in need of a legitimate hacker or have any financial difficulties in order to pay off debts and begin a new life. reach out to team Redeemed Hacker Pro now by visiting their Email & website at: [email protected] or redeemedhackerpro.wixsite.com/redeem-hacker-pro

Posted by Quincey Murdock on Sun 03 Nov 00:22:42

Regrettably, hackers are now focusing their efforts on Bitcoin, the virtual money that has completely revolutionized the financial industry. Because of its rising market value and popularity, Bitcoin theft is becoming a major problem for both individuals and companies. This is where SACLUX COMPTECH SPECIALST experience is useful. Getting back stolen Bitcoin is a difficult endeavor. Transactions with cryptocurrencies are by their nature complicated, requiring numerous addresses, decentralized networks, and sophisticated encryption techniques. These elements make it very difficult to track down and recover funds that have been stolen. But SACLUX COMPTECH SPECIALST is a master at negotiating these obstacles and uses creative tactics to track down the robbers. Cryptocurrency theft investigation calls for a certain set of abilities and knowledge. It entails looking for unusual patterns in blockchain transactions, evaluating them, and tracking the stolen money to different addresses. The staff at SACLUX COMPTECH SPECIALST use new technologies and methods to locate and retrieve Bitcoin that has been stolen. They have a thorough understanding of the inner workings of blockchain technology. The foundation of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain technology, is essential to recovery efforts. Investigators can track the flow of stolen money because of the blockchain's thorough audit record of transactions, which is made possible by its transparency and immutability. By using advanced technologies to track and analyze the movements of Bitcoin that have been stolen, SACLUX COMPTECH SPECIALST takes advantage of this technological advancement. One of the top companies for recovering Bitcoin that has been stolen is SACLUX COMPTECH SPECIALST. To help victims recover their priceless digital possessions, their team of experts combines their expertise in cybercrime and cryptocurrencies. SACLUX COMPTECH SPECIALST has established a brilliant reputation in the field thanks to its extraordinary skill and professionalism.  With a staff of very talented individuals, SACLUX COMPTECH SPECIALST is well-versed in forensics, cybersecurity, and cryptocurrencies. They ensure their clients receive the best service possible by keeping up with the newest industry trends and approaches. If you need any help reach them on their website:  (  https://sacluxcomptechspecialst.com/ ) 

Posted by williams james on Wed 18 Sep 23:01:23

I am most grateful to Spyhost Cyber Security Company and I am writing a review for you with a grateful heart. I was a novice with crypto-currency but I heard it was so profitable and I was willing to give it a try. I was taken advantage of during my investment into cryptocurrency as I fell into the wrong hands and 580,000 USD was stolen from me. I almost gave up as I was told it was not traceable neither is it possible to recover scammed funds. Through my readings, I saw an article about a recovery company know as SPYHOST and they didn’t disappoint . I contacted them on their email, Spyhost@cyberdude .com. It was a struggle but they didn’t give up on my case. Thankfully, helped me recover about 80% of my lost funds within a week and I was so happy. So, catch them up for your lost funds through their email or through their WhatsApp No: +1 (228) 313-3152

Posted by ARVID ERIKSSON on Sun 04 Aug 17:09:04

I recommend Hack Recovery Web Wizard to anyone who needs this service. I decided to get into crypto investing and lost my crypto to an investor late last year. The guy who was supposed to manage my account was a fraud the whole time. I invested $180,000 and at first my read and profit margins looked good. I got worried when I couldn't make withdrawals and realized I had been tricked. I found some testimonials that people had to say about Hack Recovery Web Wizard and how helpful it was in getting their money back. I immediately contacted him via his email at hackrecoverywizard@techie. com and texted him via WhatsApp for help: +1 (757) 237-1724. After a week-long refund process, the money was traced and returned by the scammer. I cannot praise Hack Recovery Web Wizard enough for the professionalism..

Posted by Anita Wolverine on Wed 24 Jul 12:35:20

I recommend Hack Recovery Web Wizard to anyone who needs this service. I decided to get into crypto investing and lost my crypto to an investor late last year. The guy who was supposed to manage my account was a fraud the whole time. I invested $180,000 and at first my read and profit margins looked good. I got worried when I couldn't make withdrawals and realized I had been tricked. I found some testimonials that people had to say about Hack Recovery Web Wizard and how helpful it was in getting their money back. I immediately contacted him via his email at [email protected] and texted him via WhatsApp for help: +1 (757) 237-1724. After a week-long refund process, the money was traced and returned by the scammer. I cannot praise Hack Recovery Web Wizard enough for the professionalism..

Posted by Anita Wolverine on Wed 24 Jul 12:35:06

If you’re not familiar with cryptocurrency trading, I strongly advise you to either stay away from it completely or invest very cautiously. I was finessed and deceived to invest a significant amount of my life savings on a forex platform to increase my profits where I Significantly lost roughly 95,000 USD to this investment scam. I was not allowed to take my money out after I had invested and made a profit. I reached out to customer service, but it was ineffective, so I realized I had been duped. I was fortunate enough to come across a genuine retrieval (REFUNDDPOLICI) after so much looking on YouTube and google for ways to acquire recovery assistance. I decided to give it a shot and explained my condition to them. they gave me their word that they would help me get my money back. Honestly, they performed a fantastic job through Alexis their staff who was really patient with me and guided me through the whole process until my money was recovered and sent back to my wallet in less than 48 hours without any upfront payment. I appreciate having encountered REFUNDDPOLICI with such exceptional abilities, it’s truly remarkable and i recommend to other victims. TELEGRAM: REFUNDDPOLICI WATS APP: +1( 972) 998,27,55 EMIL:Refunddpolici@gmailcom Website-https://refundpolici.wixsite.com/refund-policy

Posted by Carolanne Harrington on Tue 23 Jul 19:07:19

How to Recover Cryptocurrency from fraudulent investment platforms. Have you ever been a victim of a scam? or have you Suffered a loss from a Fraudulent Ponzi Scheme? I implore you to Contact DWOH, A Certified Cryptocurrency Assets Recovery Expert. I once fell victim to an online imposter who convinced me to invest in a Bogus Cryptocurrency scheme by claiming to have made large profits from the plan. My Mycelium wallet contained $579,000 in Crypto that I lost, I had been reporting to the Authorities tirelessly for a longtime without getting assistance before I finally got in touch with DWOH. Fortunately after a serious long chat with DWOH all my funds were recovered back. I recommend this Expert to any victim who has lost Crypto to any fake online Schemes. Talk to DWOH Through ; Mail: [email protected] WhatsApp: +18033921735 Website: www.darkwebonlinehackers.com

Posted by Laura Remy on Fri 31 May 14:53:27