Mothership vs Vaesen
Compare Mothership and Vaesen side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Mothership | Vaesen | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Scifi, Horror | Horror |
| Play Style | Rules-Light, Deadly, One-Shot Friendly, Survival, Atmospheric, Low-Prep, Cinematic, Fast-Paced | Investigation, Narrative, Atmospheric, Mystery, Character-Driven, Gritty, Deadly |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d100 under stat/skill. Stress and panic mechanics escalate tension. | Roll a d6 dice pool (attribute + skill). Each 6 is a success. Push your roll to reroll failures but take a Condition (Exhausted, Wounded, Frightened, Hopeless). Mysteries follow a structured investigation format. Between mysteries, upgrade your shared headquarters. |
| Dice | d100 | d6 dice pool |
| Complexity | Low | Low |
| Accessibility | High | High |
| Runnability | Very High | High |
| License | 3rd Party License | Year Zero Engine OGL |
| Cost | $ | $$ |
| Publisher | Tuesday Knight Games | Free League Publishing |
| Year | 2022 | 2025 |
| Best For | Terrifying sci-fi horror one-shots and short campaigns. Panic table creates unforgettable moments. | Investigation-focused Nordic horror campaigns where players uncover folklore mysteries, confront tragic mythological creatures, and build up a shared headquarters between cases. |
| Highlights | Rules-light, well-regarded module library, panic system creates mechanical tension | Strong atmosphere and thematic design, structured mystery format keeps investigations focused, push mechanic creates tension, headquarters upgrades add campaign investment |
| Considerations | Panic table can cascade and end sessions abruptly, limited long-campaign support in core rules, stress mechanics can feel repetitive over extended play | Investigation success is heavily GM-dependent, narrow 19th century Nordic horror focus, dice system can feel too simple for complex mysteries, information layout can be hard to navigate |