tl;dr: looking for some thoughts regarding latest edition of Chill RPG, thank you.



A bit longer version (please disregard if it's not relevant to your viewpoint - I'm not skilled enough to defend my own preferences and frankly, I don't think I should):

I loved CHILL back in old days, when it was one of seldom games, with horror well done. I perceived it as one of precursors of "shady group/organization fighting evil from above" theme, very popular right now, featured in RPGs (Esoterrorists), cinema/telly (Supernatural tv series) and other forms of entertainment (SCP Organization and alike), even in spite the fact that it was a bit rough on the edges (frankly, which game wasn't back then?)

I was very happy to learn about CHILL being released as a modern game, featuring updated content and ruleset, and I was determined to buy it.

Then, a few of my friends who already got it gave me the warning that the game features no short number of LGBT-SJW-PC elements. While this alone is not that big problem, they were described to be "interwoven in the game's setting, but serving little to no purpose". In short, controversial elements added for the sake of being there.

There were supposed to be parts of lore where characters were described as "xxx,yyy,zzz, oh, and a gay", pregenerated characters whose backgrounds involved gender switch, or a discovery of alternative sexual preferences for no apparent reason and without any observable purpose aside of "just because".

Now, I'm not denying being highly prejudiced creature, but it's not that I'd like to crucify everyone who don't do things as I do (meaning: everyone else). I can easily disregard elements that don't match my tastes and opinions, for the purpose of enjoying well done product, be it a game, a movie or a book. However I have a serious trouble with bad design and cheap marketing moves.

Here's where I need some help. I'm neither rich enough to simply buy a game and check how things are, nor I play that often to risk buying a book that won't be used.

So, anyone read it/plays it? Is it really that bad, or it's just an exaggeration and while some elements involve propaganda, it actually plays with the setting, or, perhaps is even fun?

Once again: please disregard this topic if it's itself "too controversial" or something. The point of this topic is to settle whether it's a game for me, not to discuss what's supposed to be universally acceptable and what not.

Goblinoid Press' Cryptworld is the true spiritual successor to the old Pacesetter Chill. You might want to check that out. They recently released a fun bestiary for it as well, titled Monsters Macabre.

Quote from: 3rik;879310Goblinoid Press' Cryptworld is the true spiritual successor to the old Pacesetter Chill. You might want to check that out. They recently released a fun bestiary for it as well, titled Monsters Macabre.

I didn't realize that. Thank you for the recommendation.

For the record, we're talking about this thingie?

Yup, and this thingie.

I haven't seen that cover, maybe they have a different one for the physical book, which is weird. Anyway, it's a good game, but the organization is very annoying. I honestly don't remember the elements of which you speak, but then again, I tend to gloss over pregens and stuff.

Cryptworld is like the OSR version, using the original system. It's much smaller, easier to use, and cheaper.

Chill three uses some FATE like mechanics.  Mainly the players got light powers and the GM gets to use dark powers.  The more light powers are used the more dark powers is gained and vice versa.  In other words you don't want to use powers because that means you get to starve the monsters so they can't use powers.  So in short mechanics designed to screw the players for the sake of some bullshit drama that never needed to happen.

Quote from: Snowman0147;879339Chill three uses some FATE like mechanics.  Mainly the players got light powers and the GM gets to use dark powers.  The more light powers are used the more dark powers is gained and vice versa.  In other words you don't want to use powers because that means you get to starve the monsters so they can't use powers.  So in short mechanics designed to screw the players for the sake of some bullshit drama that never needed to happen.

I take it you're not a fan

Quote from: brettmb;879340I take it you're not a fan

You would be correct sir.  Mainly because mechanics like these are designed to screw both the GM and the players.  The GM should give each monster their own energy pool and the players should have their own energy pool.  Hell if you want it fair count all the player energies and just make collective dark energy pool that is equal to the total.

Point is you don't want a conversion system that is featured in chill.  Smart players are going to starve the monsters from much needed energies and malicious GMs will do the same to the players.  Just a bad mechanic all around.

Quote from: Snowman0147;879342You would be correct sir.  Mainly because mechanics like these are designed to screw both the GM and the players.  The GM should give each monster their own energy pool and the players should have their own energy pool.  Hell if you want it fair count all the player energies and just make collective dark energy pool that is equal to the total.

Point is you don't want a conversion system that is featured in chill.  Smart players are going to starve the monsters from much needed energies and malicious GMs will do the same to the players.  Just a bad mechanic all around.

Can't argue with that.

I like that cover, but the bit of text on the left 'Courage is the price for looking into the unknown' is annoying me.

Also, some of the art in there is amazing, but I'm old school Chill, and this doesn't have the same feel.

BTW, the cover in the OP is from the abandoned Chill Third Edition by Other World Creations:

http://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=11916

Here's the version you're thinking of:

http://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=21037

I don't really like either of them. The 3E cover is too close to the Mayfair cover, which was awful. All that fancy art inside and they couldn't use it for the cover?

Thanks for the input guys. So far it seems that while CHILL might not be that bad as some among my colleagues claim, there's also little to call it worthy of time and money. This is kind of heartbreaking, since it'll be nth game announced as "the next best invention since a toilet paper" turns out to be just a boring, uncreative crap.

I'll check how things are with CRYPTWORLD. Thank you very much for the recommendation and for the help.

The thing is that I wouldn't call it uncreative crap. It is a good game, but there are some small issues here and there with it. It has some good source material and the system is quite usable.