undergrowth
A solo monster-hunting game.
Monster Hunter meets Dark Souls.
OVERVIEW
Play as an Arbiter, chosen by the Wyldwood to seek out and strike down massive beasts known as Tyrants. Prepare by gathering equipment and information for the Hunt, then pursue them deep into the Undergrowth, facing challenges along the way. Finally, purify the Wyldwood by slaying the corrupted Tyrant.
Materials
1 Pencil w/ Eraser
1 Rulebook and 1 Playbook
1 Character Sheet and 1 Field Record
10 six-sided dice
1 deck of playing cards
MECHANICS
The Fate Oracle create a unique Hunt every time you play. Sites, Altars, and Revelations are drawn fresh each run, so the forest never throws the same fight at you twice.
Build your dice pools to face down challenges and overcome foes. An easy-to-read core mechanic, including critical and partial successes.
Combat takes place on a unique tactical grid. The Enemy Oracle determines enemy actions, with solo combat playing out like a tense and strategic puzzle.
Easy character creation. Draw one card per suit to determine your Path, Edge, Mark, and Relic – no two Arbiters ever come out the same.
Twelve unique Tyrants with twelve unique Lairs in each Hollow Playbook. Randomly chosen before each Hunt, these Tyrants represent the ultimate challenge yo must overcome. Their Lairs work in tandem to wear down your Arbiter and present an ever-present danger.
Climb the ranks or die trying. Upgrade your skills, abilities, and gear: survive and build your reputation Hunt by Hunt.
Downloads / Additional Info
Undergrowth is currently under development, and I’m hoping to release a playtestable version this fall. At its current stage the Core Rulebook is essentially done, barring some grammar and consistency corrections and missing play examples. You can explore the mechanics, absorb the lore of the Wyldwood, and even create your very own fully playable Arbiter. These core rules lay out the entire gameplay loop, the structure of play, and the mechanics that will guide your character on their Hunts through the Wyld.
The Hollow Playbook for The Hellmouth is in a much more unfinished state at the moment, but is moving along quickly. There are many placeholders currently, but you can check out some of the art and get some more lore about The Hellmouth along with its residents and notable locales.I will be updating as I go with new Tyrants and Sites. Hoping to have this fully playtestable by October at the latest (fingers crossed). Regardless, I’ll be posting about its progress as well.