Totem: The Spirits' RPG Core Rulebook

Totem – The Spirits’ RPG

Totem – The Spirits’ RPG is a narrative map-making horror role-playing game with simple rules. It is inspired by classics of the ghost story genre.

The game guides your group of Seekers on a chilling voyage. Along the way, you travel through the uncanny and search for contact with entities inhabiting other planes of reality.

As the journey unfolds, you’ll explore haunted houses. You’ll confront and exorcise demons. Eventually, you will cross the threshold into the farthest reaches of Limbo. There, you can pry into the will of otherworldly beings through the Spirit Board.

In Totem – The Spirits’ RPG, the Game Master (GM) takes on the role of the Spirit. The Spirit introduces otherworldly elements into a collaborative narrative. Players (referred to as the Seekers) must sketch the Map of the haunted location in an attempt to understand how to exorcise the Spirit.

During the investigation, the Spirit reveals to the players three elements related to the reason for its presence (the Bindings). The Spirit also presents chilling challenges to be resolved by flipping the Coin of Destiny.

With each Failure, the Seekers’ psychological or physical conditions worsen to the point where the Spirit might gain control of the them!

A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT RPG

• MAP-MAKING

After choosing a Scenario from the available options and the Archetype of Spirit (Wolf, Moth, Cat, or Crow), the Seekers, will describe what they see and their actions, then sketch the Map of the haunted place.

• RULES-LIGHT

The game fits into the vein of narrative-driven RPGs, offering essential and immersive mechanics to foster interpretation rather than rules-oriented play.It is ideal for 2-3 hour one-shots, from 2 to 6 players (Master included), perfect even for those completely new to RPGs.

• INVESTIGATIVE

The GM, playing the eerie role of the Spirit, develops the narrative building on the descriptions provided by the players and introduces otherworldly presences into the location.