Witch Hunt (role-playing game)

Witch Hunt is a horror role-playing game focused on investigating and combatting supernatural threats, primarily witches, in a historical or modern setting. The game emphasizes investigation, social dynamics, and the psychological impact of dealing with the occult.

Core Concepts:

• Hunters: Players take on the roles of Witch Hunters, individuals dedicated to protecting humanity from supernatural forces. These hunters may be driven by faith, knowledge, duty, or personal trauma.
• The Supernatural: The game deals with a variety of supernatural entities, with witches being the most common antagonist. These creatures possess varying degrees of power and employ different methods to achieve their goals, which often involve manipulating or harming ordinary people.
• Investigation: A significant portion of gameplay involves investigating clues, interviewing witnesses, and researching occult lore to uncover the identities and plans of the supernatural threats. This aspect is often reliant on player skill and ingenuity rather than simple dice rolls.
• Combat: When investigation fails or confrontation becomes necessary, Witch Hunters must engage in combat with supernatural creatures. Combat is often dangerous and deadly, requiring Hunters to utilize their skills, knowledge, and available resources strategically.
• Sanity and Corruption: Exposure to the supernatural can take a toll on the Hunters' mental and spiritual well-being. The game may feature mechanics that track sanity, corruption, or similar concepts, reflecting the psychological impact of their experiences. As Hunters delve deeper into the occult, they risk losing their minds or becoming tainted by the very forces they fight against.
• Setting: Witch Hunt can be set in various historical periods, such as the 17th-century witch trials, or in modern-day settings where supernatural threats operate in the shadows. The setting influences the available resources, the types of threats faced, and the social context in which the Hunters operate.

Gameplay Mechanics:

While specific rules systems vary depending on the edition and implementation of Witch Hunt, common mechanics include:

• Skill-based system: Players typically use dice rolls and skill modifiers to determine the success or failure of actions.
• Investigation mechanics: Rules for gathering clues, interpreting evidence, and researching occult lore.
• Combat mechanics: Rules for resolving combat encounters, including attack rolls, damage, and special abilities.
• Sanity/Corruption mechanics: Rules for tracking the psychological impact of exposure to the supernatural.
• Resource management: Players may need to manage resources such as ammunition, medical supplies, and information.

Themes:

Witch Hunt often explores themes such as:

• Fear and paranoia: The constant threat of the unknown and the difficulty of discerning truth from falsehood.
• Power and corruption: The dangers of unchecked power and the temptation to use dark magic for personal gain.
• Faith and doubt: The struggle to maintain faith in the face of overwhelming evidence of the supernatural.
• The nature of evil: Exploring the motivations and origins of supernatural evil.
• Morality and sacrifice: The difficult choices Hunters must make and the sacrifices they must be willing to make to protect humanity.

Witch Hunt as a genre also lends itself to exploring the dangers of prejudice, mob mentality, and the abuse of authority, often mirroring the historical events of witch trials.