THE OBSCURED - ashcan edition

The Obscured is a tabletop roleplaying game about paranormal investigation and the protection of threatened communities. The game follows a group of mysterious Guardians in 1980’s New York City as they learn about various threats in the city and conduct investigations to neutralize them. Over time the Guardians become aware of a larger conspiracy that is acting behind the scenes to threaten their community. The Guardians will eventually be force to confront and address this conspiracy in order to save Allie Lane, their community, and potentially the city.

The Obscured is somewhere between a hack and a remix of the Between inspired by 1980’s to early 2000’s Vertigo Comics titles, 1980’s underground music and similar properties. The setting shifts from 1890’s London to 1980’s New York. The game explores being othered during a time of conformity and the various ways the supernatural might show up engaging themes of religion, magic, nature, and art. Many of the playbooks clearly wear their influences on their sleeves and threats regularly investigate themes of conformity, otherness, gentrification, and other threats to community.

Importantly, the Hunters of the Between are reframed here as Guardians. The Obscured’s Guardians are outsiders themselves and use their skills and abilities to defend and protect community and culture that are threatened by the spread of gentrification and the mainstream.

THIS IS PLAYTEST MATERIAL

The game is fully playable, but also currently in early development. All material in this ashcan is subject to change. The game is also incomplete and does not include all of the material on safety, basic gameplay, or GM guidance that will appear in a complete release.

The Ashcan Edition contains the core game text, five playbooks, a starter threat, a mastermind threat, and three playbook-specific threats. Reference materials include instructions on modifying threats from The Between to work with The Obscured.

A character keeper for online play is also available.

You will need a full copy of The Between in order to play effectively.

Feedback and inquiries can be directed to:
TheObscuredRPG [at] gmail [dot] com