Ancient Cults of the Eldritch Gods

Welcome to Ancient Cults of the Eldritch Gods (or ACotEG) a single player, paper and dice game where you explore a massive world of magic, monsters and adventure. ACotEG provides players with everything they need to scratch the RPG gaming urge when a regular group of players cannot be found.

This passion project was originally intended to be a "Choose your own adventure" type campaign in a PDF document. However, as it grew in scope it became apparent that a simple PDF document would not suffice. Therefore a computer program is being written that will handle the unveiling of the world of Mystellia, it's treasures and it's monsters. Players still use dice and paper and are expected to self DM the game, with the computer acting as the source material for the adventure.

Players start off with a simple 32-page instruction manual (the Players Manual), which contains all of the rules required to roll up a character and start ACotEG. This is based strongly on the original Basic/Expert Dungeons & Dragons rules from the 1980's, however the campaign world of Mystellia is very tightly tied in to the rules, providing players with specific knowledge about the world they will be exploring. 

Players also get access to an online version of the manual which is tailored specifically to them. As they uncover new playable races, treasures, locations and monsters, the online version of this manual will expand with the new information. For example: If the player discovers a race of Gnomes (not a playable race in the original booklet), the rules for creating a Gnome character will be added to their online version of the Players Manual, allowing them to choose a Gnome avatar the next time they roll up a new character.

This mechanism allows us to provide a very simple starter set of rules for new players and not overwhelm them with choices for character classes and spells. Then as they progress through the world, expand their options to include higher level magiks and abilities.

It also helps to maintain the wonder of discovery. With traditional RPGs, players who read through the manuals have extensive knowledge of all of the capabilities of the world, from high level spells, to legendary magical items to monster abilities and weaknesses. With ACotEG, this knowledge needs to be discovered as part of the adventure.

The world of Mystellia is about 4,000 kilometres by 2,000 kilometres in size.

This is fully explorable by the players, and in the current prototype there are about 200,000 pre-generated adventure locations. Each of these locations has anywhere from 1 to 20 uinique dungeon (and above ground) maps for the players to explore. 

As monsters are cleared out of dungeons and buildings, the player can take over those locations, re-stock them with supplies and even alter the floor layout to build their own bases and fortresses.

Although ACotEG is a solo campaign, it can be played by multiple players at the same time. While the system is not designed to allow them to adventure in the same location at the same time, any changes that a player makes, affect the other players in the campaign.  You can invite up to ten other people to join you in your world. So, one player might be exploring the High Tower of Wizardry, while another might be delving in to the deeps of The Mines of Tarragoth. If Sue creates a fortress in the Fey Wilde, this will help to drive back monsters for all other players in that area, and also provide them all with a base of operations where they can heal and recuperate. 

Althoug ACotEG is based on Basic/Expert D&D, all of the later versions derive heavily from the same core set of rules. And given that the player is responsible for applying most of the rules, it would not be hard to adapt ACotEG to accomodate other versions of Dungeons & Dragons. If there is sufficeint desire for a particular version I will certainly look at adding it - once the main game is finished.

Action takes place, on, below and above the world of Mystellia. All out Thaumaturgilogical* warfare has left the world devastated and overrun by monsters, devils and demons.

The demi-human races of men, dwarves and elves have all but been wiped out, and their gods murdered. 

Players control avatars of the ancient Eldritch Gods, who are attempting to push back the unnatural forces over-running Mystellia, and regain control of the planet.

*magical