''Chill'' is an investigative and modern
horror role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...
originally published by
Pacesetter Ltd
Pacesetter Ltd was a game company based in Delavan, Wisconsin, founded in 1984. Company founders included CEO John Rickets, and Mark Acres, Andria Hayday, Gaye Goldsberry O'Keefe, Gali Sanchez, Garry Spiegle, Carl Smith, Stephen D. Sullivan ...
in 1984 that captures the feel of 20th-century
horror film
Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...
s.
Setting
''Chill'' is inspired by, and attempts to capture the feel of, 20th-century horror films, where usual foes are
vampires
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...
,
werewolves
In folklore, a werewolf (), or occasionally lycanthrope (from Ancient Greek ), is an individual who can shapeshift into a wolf, or especially in modern film, a therianthropic hybrid wolf–humanlike creature, either purposely or after bei ...
,
mummies
A mummy is a dead human or an animal whose soft tissues and Organ (biology), organs have been preserved by either intentional or accidental exposure to Chemical substance, chemicals, extreme cold, very low humidity, or lack of air, so that the ...
,
ghosts
In folklore, a ghost is the soul or Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit of a dead Human, person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from a ...
, and
ghouls
In folklore, a ghoul (from , ') is a demon-like being or Monster, monstrous humanoid, often associated with graveyards and the consumption of human flesh. In the legends or tales in which they appear, a ghoul is far more ill-mannered and foul t ...
. Players take on the role of envoys,
members of a secret organization known as S.A.V.E. (''Societas Argenti Viae Eternitata'', or, The Eternal Society of the Silver Way) that tracks down and eliminates evil in the world.
Pacesetter (First Edition)
The game was introduced by Pacesetter Ltd in 1984.
The following year,
Target Games released a Swedish version under the name ''Chock'' (Swedish for "shock" or "fright"), and in 1985,
Schmidt Spiele
Schmidt Spiele is a German games publisher for a wide variety of games, especially German-style board games.
Founder Josef Friedrich Schmidt developed Mensch ärgere dich nicht in 1907/1908, based on antique forerunners. Five years later his new ...
released a French version. Pacesetter also launched the board game ''
Black Morn Manor'', also translated into French (''Le Manoir des Ténèbres'') by Schmidt Spiele.
The game components include an introductory folio, a Campaign book, a book of monsters, a map of the world, 140 die-cut double-sided counters, a range stick, and dice. The
boxed set
A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit.
Music
Artists ...
also includes a 16-page adventure, "Terror in Warwick House".
Other Pacesetter publications
* ''
Chill Master's Screen'' (includes ''Castle Dracula'' scenario)
* ''Blood Moon Rising'' (adventure)
* ''
Creature Feature
A monster movie, monster film, creature feature or giant monster film is a film that focuses on one or more characters struggling to survive attacks by one or more antagonistic monsters, often abnormally large ones. The film may also fall unde ...
'' (sourcebook)
* ''
Death on Tour'' (adventure)
* ''Deathwatch on the Bayou'' (adventure)
* ''Evenings of Terror with Elvira'' (book of adventures hosted by
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark)
* ''Haunter of the Moor'' (adventure)
* ''
Highland Terror'' (adventure)
* ''Isle of the Dead'' (adventure)
* ''
Things'' (sourcebook)
* ''Thutmose's Night'' (adventure)
* ''
Vampires
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...
'' (sourcebook)
* ''Vengeance of Dracula'' (adventure)
* ''
Village of Twilight'' (adventure)
Pacesetter ceased operations in 1986, bringing the publication of the First Edition of ''Chill'' to an end.
Reception to First edition
In the October 1984 edition of ''
Dragon
A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
'' (Issue 90), Jerry Epperson had a few quibbles with various game mechanics. He questioned the economics rules that essentially gave characters access to unlimited amounts of cash. Epperson also wondered why a range stick was included, since there were no regulated combat maneuvering rules that would make use of the stick. And he found the introductory adventure included in the game was overly simplistic: "''Terror in Warwick House'' is much like a guided tour of a national monument. While it portends to be a dangerous place, one gets the feeling that those who fell victim to the sinister occupants before the player characters were called to the scene were either idiots or invalids. The clues required by the characters to dispose of the evil are practically spoon-fed to the players." But Epperson concluded that "these problems are not major flaws in the game’s design; any
GM should be able to alter them with little effort. All things considered, the ''Chill'' game does just what it sets out to do. It doesn’t stall play with unwieldy rules or sub-systems, and it allows the GM to pace the storyline and preserve the intensity of a situation thanks to the game’s elegant simplicity. As an alternative to dungeon delving, superheroing, or chasing after Cthulhu, the ''Chill'' game is something you can really sink your teeth into."
Two reviews of ''Chill'' appeared in issues of ''
Space Gamer
''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...
''. In the November–December 1984 edition (Issue No. 71), William Barton admired ''Chill'' for being less violent and less weird than other horror roleplaying games, saying, "''Chill'' is a viable alternative in supernatural gaming for those who desire less gunplay than is typical in ''
Stalking
Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance or contact by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitorin ...
'' or prefer more conventional creatures than the sanity-blasting horrors of ''
CoC''."
In the July–August 1985 edition (Issue 75),
Warren Spector
Warren Evan Spector (born October 2, 1955) is an American role-playing and video game designer, director, writer, producer and production designer. He is known for creating immersive sim games, which give players a wide variety of choices in how ...
thought that "Though superficially simpler than ''Call of Cthulhu'', the clear leader in the horror field, ''Chill'' falls somewhat short of the mark."
Keith Herber
Keith Donald "Doc" Herber (January 3, 1949 – March 13, 2009)"United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch: accessed October 25, 2013), Keith Donald Herber, March 13, 2009; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death M ...
reviewed ''Chill'' for ''
Different Worlds
''Different Worlds'' was an American role-playing games magazine published from 1979 to 1987.
Scope
''Different Worlds'' published support articles, scenarios, and variants for various role-playing games including ''Dungeons & Dragons'', ''Rune ...
'' magazine and stated that "I found ''Chill'' to be a well-thought-out, well-presented game that simulates the world of horror as represented in (particularly) the movies. The rules are flexible enough and complete enough to allow a gamemaster to set whatever tone or mood he desires his campaign to have and there is a large amount of written and filmed material from which to draw adventure designs."
In the January 1985 edition of ''
White Dwarf
A white dwarf is a Compact star, stellar core remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. A white dwarf is very density, dense: in an Earth sized volume, it packs a mass that is comparable to the Sun. No nuclear fusion takes place i ...
'' (Issue 61), Angus McLellan gave ''Chill'' an average rating of 7 out of 10. McLellan felt the gameplay was fairly slow and lacking in scares; furthermore, ''
Call of Cthulhu'' had already paved the way for horror-based role-playing games.
Paul Mason reviewed ''Chill'' for ''
Imagine'' magazine, and stated that "if you fancy a game of investigation with gothic horror overtones, and you don't much care for H P Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos, then Chill would be the game to buy."
In the December 1988 edition of ''Dragon'' (Issue 140),
Ken Rolston
Ken Rolston is an American computer game and role-playing game designer best known for his work with West End Games and on the computer game series ''The Elder Scrolls''.
Tabletop role-playing games
Ken Rolston began working as a professional g ...
reviewed two supplements published by Pacesetter just before it went out of business, ''Vampires'' and ''Creature Feature''. Rolston had a more favourable opinion of ''Vampires'', calling it an "excellent book... The graphic presentation is top-notch." Rolston was particularly enthusiastic about the writing, which he called, "exceptional" and concluded, "I highly recommend this supplement." He was less enthusiastic about ''Creature Feature'', saying, "This supplement lacks the graphic quality or refined presentation of the finer ''Chill'' supplements." Rolston thought the concept of allowing players to become monsters and prey on humans did have "an oddly redeeming appeal", but felt that "the replay value
snegligible." He gave this supplement a thumbs down, saying, "''Creature Feature'' will not be of use to most GMs, but students of the hobby may find it interesting for a brief diversion or as a curiosity."
In his 1990 book ''
The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games
''The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' is a book written by Rick Swan and published by St. Martin's Press in 1990 that explains role-playing games and provides reviews of those that were on the market at the time.
Contents
''The Complete G ...
'', game critic
Rick Swan
Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR.
His work for TSR, mostly for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', appeared from 1989 to 1995.
Swan also wrote '' The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin' ...
was not impressed by ''Chill'', calling it "A horror game for the easily frightened." Swan could not find anything to like in the game system, commenting, "The feat rules are puzzling ... the combat rules are stiff ... and the economic system is ridiculous." Swan concluded by giving the game a below average rating of 2 out of 4, saying, "''Chill'' is too shallow for extended campaigns, and lacks the depth to please anyone but the most undemanding players."
Other reviews and commentary
*''The V.I.P. of Gaming Magazine'' #4 (July/Aug., 1986)
* ''
Casus Belli
A (; ) is an act or an event that either provokes or is used to justify a war. A ''casus belli'' involves direct offenses or threats against the nation declaring the war, whereas a ' involves offenses or threats against its ally—usually one bou ...
'' #22 (Oct 1984)
* ''
Casus Belli
A (; ) is an act or an event that either provokes or is used to justify a war. A ''casus belli'' involves direct offenses or threats against the nation declaring the war, whereas a ' involves offenses or threats against its ally—usually one bou ...
'' #23 (Dec 1984)
* ''
Casus Belli
A (; ) is an act or an event that either provokes or is used to justify a war. A ''casus belli'' involves direct offenses or threats against the nation declaring the war, whereas a ' involves offenses or threats against its ally—usually one bou ...
'' #38 (June 1987)
*''
Asimov's Science Fiction
''Asimov's Science Fiction'' is an American science fiction magazine edited by Sheila Williams and published by Dell Magazines, which is owned by Penny Press. It was launched as a quarterly by Davis Publications in 1977, after obtaining Isaac ...
'' v9 n9 (1985 09)
*''
Jeux & Stratégie'' #46
Mayfair Games (Second Edition)
In 1990,
Mayfair Games
Mayfair Games was an American publisher of board game, board, card game, card, and roleplaying games that also licensed German-style board game, Euro-style board games to publish them in English. The company licensed worldwide English-language pub ...
inc. purchased the rights, and the following year published a second edition of the game system called ''Chill Core Rulebook''.
Over the next three years, Mayfair published fourteen sourcebooks for the setting and a collection of short stories:
* ''Chill Accessory Pack'' (included ''Isle of the Dead'' scenario)
* ''
Apparitions
Apparition may refer to:
Supernatural
*Apparitional experience, an anomalous, quasi-perceptual experience
* A vision, something seen in a dream, trance, or religious ecstasy
*Ghost, the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear ...
'' (sourcebook with scenario) "The Visitation" pg.96
* ''The Beast Within'' (standalone RPG compatible with Chill where you play monsters)
* ''Chill Companion'' (sourcebook)
* ''Horrors of North America'' (sourcebook with scenario) "Once Bitten" pg.81
* ''
Lycanthropes'' (sourcebook with 2 scenarios) "The Beast of Exmoor" pg.84, "Long Hot Summer" pg.111
* ''Things'' (sourcebook)''
* ''Undead & Buried'' (scenario)
* ''Unknown Providence: SAVE in New England'' (sourcebook with 4 scenarios) "Weekend in New England" pg.30, "Death's Head Revisited" pg.47, "Bitter Remnants" pg.81, "Dark Providence" pg.93
* ''Vampires'' (sourcebook with scenario) "Vengeance of Dracula" pg.97
* ''Veil of Flesh'' (scenario)
* ''Voodoo'' (sourcebook with scenario) "Drums in the Night" pg.93
* ''Chilled to the Bone'' - anthology of short stories
Mayfair's game was translated into French by
Oriflam in 1994.
Reception to Second Edition
In Issue 47 of ''
Challenge'',
Lester W. Smith reviewed the Mayfair edition and noted the abundance of new material. Smith also liked the revamped game mechanics, and concluded, "Problems? None that I've found so far. If you liked the old ''Chill'', I suspect you're going to like the new one even better."
Stewart Wieck
Stewart Douglas Wieck (May 10, 1968 – June 22, 2017) was one of the founders of the publishing company, White Wolf, Inc. He was also one of the original writers of Mage: The Ascension.
Career
Stewart Wieck was born in Freeport, Illinois, in 1 ...
reviewed ''Chill'' in ''
White Wolf'' #23 (Oct./Nov., 1990), rating it a 3 out of 5 and stated that "''Chill'' is a good, solid horror game, but the terror is not quite real enough."
In the October 1992 edition of ''Dragon'' (Issue 186),
Rick Swan
Rick Swan is a game designer and author who worked for TSR.
His work for TSR, mostly for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'', appeared from 1989 to 1995.
Swan also wrote '' The Complete Guide to Role-Playing Games'' (1990), published by St. Martin' ...
reviewed three supplements that had been published by Mayfair Games: ''Apparitions Sourcebook'', ''Lycanthropes Sourcebook'', and ''Vampires Sourcebook''. Overall, Swan thought the material was not very original: "The designers have hardly let their imaginations run wild; the approach draws primarily from legends and movies, meeting the expectations of conservative horror buffs but rarely exceeding them. Dracula and the Wolfman are welcome; vampiric Martians and lycanthropic cattle need not apply." However, Swan found the books "consistently entertaining and filled with interesting material that is intelligently presented." He concluded, "Players and referees alike should get a kick out these engaging books... I would’ve liked stronger scenarios and a few more adventure hooks, but all in all, the fastidious research, evocative writing, and enthusiasm for the material makes for a winning combination. I’m looking forward to future volumes."
Christian Lindke compared the First and Second Editions in ''
Black Gate'', saying "There are many games from the 80s that — mechanically and tonally — seem extremely dated by modern gaming standards. ''Chill'' — the first Pacesetter edition — isn't one of them. It has a kind of classic feel to it, just like all the Hammer and AIP movies it was inspired by. It isn't a dark and serious horror game, but it is an adventurous one. If you wanted to pretend to be Peter Cushing's Van Helsing hunting Christopher Lee's Dracula, there was no better game than ''Chill'' during the early Pacesetter era. The later Mayfair game never captured the charm of the original and for a time it looked like fans of non-Lovecraftian horror were going to be left without a high quality horror RPG."
Other reviews of the Second Edition
Reviewin
Shadis
''Shadis'' is an independent gaming magazine that was published in 1990–1998 by Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG). It initially focused on role-playing games.
Publication history
Shadis was conceived and started by Jolly Blackburn as an inde ...
Third edition
In 2012, Mayfair Games sold ''Chill''s intellectual property rights to Martin Caron and Renée Dion. Two years later, Growling Door Games announced they had entered into a licensing agreement with Caron and Dion to publish ''Chill''. The following year, Growling Door Games published the third edition of the game. They subsequently published three sourcebooks and several scenarios from 2016 until Growling Door ceased operations in 2019.
* ''Chill 3rd Edition Core Rulebook''
* ''Chill Master's Screen''
* ''Chill Tokens''
* ''Free scenarios''
** ''A Lamp Gone Dark''
** ''Big Sky''
** ''Cold Dark Earth''
** ''Dead Hearts''
** ''El Cucuy Came for Carlito''
** ''High Tide''
** ''in the Domain of the Mariner''
** ''Let Sleeping Dogs Lie''
** ''Manhunt''
** ''Sunshine in Maine''
** ''Temple of the Skin Man''
** ''The Last Stop Boys''
** ''The Wild Hunt''
** ''Whispered Confessions''
* ''Good Fences Make Good Neighbors'' (free quickstart)
* ''Monsters'' (sourcebook)
* ''SAVE: The Eternal Society'' (sourcebook with 4 scenarios)
* ''Undead'' (sourcebook)
The third edition and two sourcebooks were translated into French by A.K.A. Games in 2017. A.K.A. Games also translated the ''Chill Master's Screen'', ''SAVE: The Eternal Society'' and ''Monsters'' into French. The third edition rulebook and supplements remain for sale directly from Martin Caron.
In 2019, Salt Circle Games signed an agreement with Caron and Dion to release new material for third edition to be sold via the
crowd-sourcing website
Patreon
Patreon (, ) is a monetization platform operated by Patreon, Inc., that provides business tools for content creators to run a subscription service and sell digital products. It helps artists and other creators earn a recurring income by provid ...
. In 2020, Salt Circle Games began closed playtesting of an unannounced Fourth Edition of ''Chill'' and published a supplement for the third edition titled ''Horrors of the Unknown: Volume 1''.
Salt Circle Games made new third edition character sheets available in 2021 and announced an upcoming setting supplement, ''Unknown Atlanta'', with no expected publication date.
References
External links
Chill official page on FacebookSalt Circle Games' Chill Patreon
{{Authority control
Horror role-playing games
Mayfair Games games
Pacesetter games
Role-playing games introduced in 1984