“Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!”
-Dracula, and also my neighbor Ron when I was blasting This is Halloween at 2 AM last night
Happy Halloween from Roll20!
It’s no secret we have a soft spot for this holiday. Halloween’s the perfect time to dress up and play pretend, so it goes hand-in-hand with roleplaying games. Plus, there’s something so rewarding about putting together a terrifying one-shot for your players. A great Halloween one-shot invokes classic anthology horror like Tales from the Crypt or Treehouse of Horror.
And we’re here to help you meet that (un)timely end. If the idea of tons of prep for a single session sends shivers down your spine, fear not: Here are six of our favorite horror-themed items from the Roll20 Marketplace. Why six? Because it’s scarier than five. Obviously.
1. Vintage Monsters from David North
If your guest list includes Wolf Man, Dracula, and his son, look no further. David North’s Vintage Monsters delivers Universal-style scares with an assortment of classic silver screen baddies. Sometimes, the best way to kick-start a session is to blend your game with familiar tropes and characters, things that’ll immediately inspire your players to act and react.
2. Eldritch Horror Assets from Caeora
One of the most popular Horror systems on our site is Call of Cthulhu, Chaosium’s eldritch-rich tabletop setting. If you’re getting your CoC on, or if you want to deliver similar ancient evils in your own setting, Caeora’s pack is a must-have. It’s got over 120 assets, including books, sigils, statues, and more! It’s kind of like that giant nondescript Lego bucket you’d get as a kid, but with tentacles instead of bricks.
3. Sabbat: The Black Hand from Renegade Games Studios
Renegade has revitalized the beloved horror TTRPG system Vampire: The Masquerade for a new generation, and their latest sourcebook is a fright to behold. It’s packed with tons of lore and info on the cultic fanatics of the Sabbat. You’ll get 18 antagonists, 17 new powers, and even a character art pack featuring the interior art of the book built on pre-made tokens and handouts. If you’ve been meaning to give Vampire: The Masquerade a try, tonight’s the night!
4. Death’s Rider from Kelfecil’s Tales
A horseman’s scary enough, sure, but a headless one?! Perish the thought!
Inspired by Washington Irving’s classic tale of 1700s American scares, Death’s Rider by Kelfecil’s Tales is a Fifth Edition one-shot adventure for level 11 characters. It’s got everything you need to play, including maps, tokens, and of course, lore. If you’re looking to jump into a one-shot with as little prep as possible, check out Death’s Rider.
5. The Cursed Bridge from HorribleHouse
Sometimes, all it takes to write the perfect encounter is a little inspiration, and nothing helps get the creative blood flowing like some enchanting maps.
The Cursed Bridge from HorribleHouse comes with an incredible 24 total variants of the titular map, each with a unique mixture of time of day, weather, and wear-and-tear. You also get a handful of tokens to help set the scene, plus free-floating bridge covers that can be moved or removed during play.
6. Creatures! Halloween Party from Renflowergrapx
Maybe what you really need to get the party started is a handful of weirdos.
Renflowergrapx’s Creatures! Halloween Party includes evil teddies, a gaggle of gargoyles, giant spiders, and more offbeat creatures that go bump in the night. If you’re looking for an unexpected Halloween tale to tell, Creatures! Halloween Party will provide you with the inspiration you need.
If you’ve got a frightening one-shot planned for your players today, we want to see–tag us @roll20app on Instagram or Twitter and let us in on your diabolical plans.
Happy Halloween and happy gaming, folks!