# Bump in the Dark tags: #game/rpg/bump-in-the-dark ![[Bump in the Dark (cover).jpg]] **Bump in the Dark** is a tabletop role-playing game where players take on the roles of ordinary people thrust into terrifying situations, armed with nothing but their wits, courage (or lack thereof!), and a handful of dice. Imagine a classic horror movie scenario, but you're not the plucky hero, you're just… there. It's a game about vulnerability, tension, and the struggle to survive against overwhelming odds, powered by the *[[Blades in the Dark|Forged in the Dark]]* engine. Character creation in **Bump in the Dark** is about quickly establishing who your character is and how they approach the strange and terrifying situations they'll encounter. Players choose a character type that reflects their approach to confronting the darkness. They then detail their character's background, enhance their capabilities by distributing action dots among the nine core actions (*Compel, Connect, Hunt, Read, Rig, Scramble, Sneak, Sway,* and *Wreck*), choose a special ability, establish connections with other characters, determine their source of solace, outline their beliefs and drive, and finally, give their character a name and appearance. The core mechanic uses a dice pool system to resolve actions. When faced with a challenge or terrifying encounter, players roll a number of six-sided dice (d6s) equal to their rating in the relevant action. The highest die determines the outcome: - **6:** A strong hit! You succeed with significant effect or impact. - **4-5:** A weak hit. You achieve your goal, but with a complication or twist. - **1-3:** A miss. You fail, and face the consequences. Multiple 6s result in a critical success, allowing you to increase your degree of success, impact, or gain a "void clue" offering insight into the unsettling situation. This system creates a constant push and pull between success and failure, where even partial victories can have unsettling consequences. **Bump in the Dark** has seen one edition, released in 2017, and is designed for one-shot sessions of suspenseful horror. ## References - [Bump in the Dark: Revised Edition - itch.io](https://jexjthomas.itch.io/bump-in-the-dark) - [Bump in the Dark: Revised Edition - DriveThruRPG](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/434845/bump-in-the-dark-revised-edition) - [Bump in the Dark: Revised Edition - BackerKit](https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/jex-thomas/bump-in-the-dark-revised-edition)