Cursebearer is a roleplaying game focused on a group of troubled companions, thrown into adventure by curses threatening their future. In this pursuit they will come into contact with strange beings, uncover secrets and struggle with dangerous power of their curse. They will be worn down by the adventure and in those moments they make the most heroic decisions.
Game is inspired by folklore, sword and sorcery literature, Dark Souls and the Witcher series. Magic is often build on pacts, strange beings inhabit deep woods and live under the cupboards. Fights are furious, unpredictable and full of choices. Knowing your enemy is important as great adversaries have secrets behind their power and with knowledge the power can be turned against them. But mostly the game is about the characters. How they manage their curses and how they change through the course of the game.
Playing Cursebearer
Party of adventurers delve into deep wilds and forgotten dungeons full of hidden knowledge, glittering gold and danger. To face these dangers they call on their prowess and resilience, pushing odds to their favour. This is needed as battles are unpredictable and every clash may leave them in a dire state. Desperation and lure of power will draw them into stirring their curses invoking powerful abilities and risking losing a piece of themselves to the curse. When it is time to rest and reflect their guides will grant them new insight on how to face danger. Then they venture out again to steal from dragons and to deal with seers.
Player Roles
Everyone at the table is a player, but there are two distinct roles. One player takes the role of the Bearer and others take the role of the Adventurer. Together you create a story of adventure and gritty heroism.
The Adventurer
As an Adventurer you explore the game from your characters perspective solving mysteries and fighting monsters. You interact with the world by asking questions and making bold decisions for your character’s actions. You build the world with actions that change the world; Befriend non-player characters, make new enemies, aid or undermine factions and defeat legendary beasts. Before the game you build the world by giving your character a history, friends and enemies, home and significant events.
The Bearer
Bearer arbitrates rules and sets the stage for the adventure. As a Bearer you design dungeons, cities and traps. You create non-player characters, secrets and dangers for the Adventurers to investigate and instigate.
Whenever Adventurers take action you change the world in response. These changes wary from minute changes of enemy behaviour to great changes that alter communities and balance of powers that be.
You referee the rules. Whenever there is a conversation over how a rule should be resolved you make a final ruling considering the other player’s input and the situation at play. Every table plays the game in their own way. Important thing is to stay consistent and reinforce the type of game you all want to play.