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Ghastly Affair Player's Manual

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Ghastly Affair is the Gothic Game of Romantic Horror, set in the fevered age of Marie-Antoinette, the Marquis de Sade, and Napoleon. It's a world of haunted castles, desperate love, and wicked Libertines, where High Society is filled with human monsters as terrifying as any werewolf!

The rules of Ghastly Affair utilize the familiar terms and concepts of Old-School role playing games, but with a modern twist. The basic system is a simple “roll-under-Ability” mechanic. Character Classes include such classic Gothic tropes as the Bandit, Grave Robber, and True Innocent. Each Class has its own flavorful array of Special Abilities and Weaknesses, and can also be customized with free-form, player-defined Assets and Afflictions.

The illustrated Ghastly Affair Player's Manual contains all the information needed to be a Player in the Ghastly Affair RPG. It includes complete rules for creating and advancing characters, with nine Gothic Character Classes (and optional rules for playing Vampyres and Werewolves). Guidelines are given for situations ranging from flirting at the masquerade ball, to fighting supernatural horrors. Plus, extensive information on the culture, clothing, objects, and attitudes of the Georgian, Regency, and Napoleonic eras is woven throughout the text. Experience Love and Death in the decadent and disastrous times of the late 18th century (and early 19th century).

Intended for Mature Readers

The 195-page Black & White Hardcover Version has a text-based, two-column layout which takes full advantage of the 8.5 x 11 inch format.

The 370-page PDF Version has been designed for on-screen viewing and usability, with a large font and single-column layout. It is fully bookmarked, indexed, and extensively hyperlinked throughout.


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Reviews (1)
Discussions (3)
Customer avatar
Simon S August 04, 2023 6:59 am UTC
Just got this and I’m reading through it - more on whim really.

One question - the system is “roll under” and not “roll under - or equal to” - what was the thinking there and do you think anything would break if it was “roll under and equal to”?

Thanks in advance
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Customer avatar
Daniel H August 05, 2023 10:22 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
The game definitely won’t “break” if you use “roll equal or under” for Ability Checks. The difference in probabilities is only 5% after all. The original reason for using a purely “roll-under” system was to rein in PCs with Ability Scores of 20 (since they will otherwise automatically succeed on most relevant Ability Checks). Using an "equal or under" system will produce a more Gothic Fantasy feel - which might actually be what you want, especially if your Affairs will feature a lot of combat.

Although it’s not in the rules as written, I nowadays like to give Players who roll exactly equal to the relevant Ability a choice – their PC can simply fail, or they can choose to succeed at a cost. If they choose to succeed at a cost, the PC will automatically fail any further Ability Checks to perform that same task for the remainder of the day. For example, the character might make the shot they need, but suffer a powder burn that make them unable to hold a pistol properly for...See more
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Simon S August 08, 2023 8:51 am UTC
Ahhhh. That’s an excellent idea in your reply and I appreciate the time to respond. I bought the books as paperback hard copies (not on drivethru) and therefore don’t think I can review it here (otherwise it’s good) - but I’m loving what I’m seeing so far. Writing style is great and hardly any formatting issues or typos and a nice spin on OSR/open license which seems to be greater than the sum of its parts.
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Customer avatar
Daniel H August 08, 2023 7:02 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thank you!
Customer avatar
Tim L November 17, 2017 9:43 pm UTC
PURCHASER
According to DT I own this product, though I can't remember buying it, but when I download it I get a pdf that looks nothing like the preview? The file i get is an illustrated two column file of 196 pages without hyperlinks, just like the description of the actual book rather than the hyperlinked pdf?
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Customer avatar
Tim L November 17, 2017 9:43 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Same thing for the presenter's manual apparently..
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Customer avatar
Daniel H November 17, 2017 10:23 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
There seems to have been a brief period when the interior print file of the Hardcover Version was inadvertently available as a free download. You appear to have been one of the beneficiaries! Since that file was not actually intended to be public, it does not have the extensive hyperlinks and bookmarks of the Illustrated PDF Version.

Originally I had made the Hardcover B&W and Illustrated PDF Versions two separate titles on the site, because of the difference in interior layouts. The two versions are now merged under a single title, with the option to buy in either format. The Previews above show the Illustrated PDF version. As you see, the the interior of the Hardcover version differs in having a two-column layout, which better utilizes the 8.5 x 11 inch format of the printed page.
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Customer avatar
Tim L November 17, 2017 11:57 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Ah, I see! I remember trying to download what I thought was a free preview version of some kind given the nil price (presumably that was the inadvertently exposed file you talk about then I guess) but getting some errors and giving up eventually.

I do like what I read in the 'free' version I got here, so I'll try to rebuy it during my next spending spree and hopefully that'll swap it with the correct pdf file then! :)
Customer avatar
Thilo G July 14, 2017 8:54 pm UTC
FEATURED REVIEWER
Any plans for a print version for the books?
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Customer avatar
Daniel H July 21, 2017 5:32 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Sorry for the late reply. Right now, the print version is only on Amazon.
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Customer avatar
Daniel H November 08, 2017 2:19 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
The Hardcover Print version is now available: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/222725/Ghastly-Affair-Players-Manual-Hardcover-Version.
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Product Information
Electrum seller
Pages
370
File Size:
12.7 MB
Format
Original electronic Click for more information
Scanned image
These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

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For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.
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Original electronic format
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File Last Updated:
February 17, 2017
This title was added to our catalog on February 20, 2017.