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Chronicles of Darkness

Second Edition
Modern horror where ordinary people confront the supernatural
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horrormodern
AtmosphericCharacter BuildingCharacter-DrivenClasslessCorruptionDramaFear & Stress MechanicsImprovisationInvestigationStrong GM Support
✎ Third-Party Publishing
Languages: English
Diced10 dice pool
System FamilyStoryteller
Cost$
LicenseAll Rights Reserved
PublisherOnyx Path Publishing
Year2015
Complexity Medium
Accessibility Medium
Runnability Very High

Core Mechanic

Build a d10 pool from an Attribute plus a Skill and count each 8, 9, or 10 as a success. Tens reroll, five successes are exceptional, and a pool reduced below one die becomes a chance die that succeeds only on a 10.

Best For

Groups who want modern supernatural horror built around investigating mysteries, navigating personal consequences, and confronting threats before they overwhelm an ordinary life.

Highlights

The investigation system can reveal an Incomplete clue on a failed roll, preventing a mystery from stopping at one check. Conditions, Aspirations, and Beats link consequences and personal goals to character advancement. Horror Anchors create investigative inroads for supernatural threats.

Considerations

The core contains detailed procedures for combat, chases, investigation, social maneuvering, and supernatural threats, so groups need to decide which rules to emphasize in a campaign. Damage, Integrity breaking points, and Persistent Conditions create lasting consequences. Social Maneuvering includes sexual goals and hard leverage, so players should back away from uncomfortable concepts.

Creator information

Third-Party Publishing

✓ Commercial publishing allowed
RouteStorytellers Vault
Commercial useAllowed with conditions
LicenseStorytellers Vault Community Content Agreement
What it covers

Chronicles of Darkness community content may be sold through Storytellers Vault under its current program terms; required legal text and platform conditions apply, while independently printed products and outside-IP crossovers are excluded.

The program is not an Open Game License.

Read official terms ↗ Verified 2026-09-03 · Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing.