Dread
Dread StandardCore Mechanic
The host calls for a pull when a character attempts something uncertain, outside their experience, or under aggravated conditions. The player removes one block from a shared tower and places it on top: a stable tower means success, while refusing means failure without character removal. Collapsing the tower removes that player's character.
Best For
Groups seeking focused horror where improvised character drama and irreversible risk matter more than tactical combat
Highlights
Successful pulls leave the shared tower increasingly precarious, turning prior success into mounting risk for the whole table. Questionnaire answers establish capabilities and vulnerabilities, giving the host material that directly shapes rulings and scenarios. Deliberately toppling the tower converts character removal into one final dramatically appropriate success.
Considerations
The intended tower-based experience requires a physical block tower, a stable surface, and manual dexterity. A collapse removes a character from play, so players can lose their original role before the session ends. Creating original scenarios asks the host to prepare tailored questionnaires and make frequent pull judgments.
Third-Party Publishing
The rulebook text may be shared and adapted noncommercially with attribution and ShareAlike; illustrations and trademarks are excluded.