August 2025 Update
- Adam Donovan
- 8 minutes ago
- 13 min read
[August 2025]
Greetings all, and welcome to the August (2025) update for Roguelike Games!
This month, we will be taking a sneak peek into the Moralinth: Uncanny Edition and Enclave Edition Quickstart guides: standalone products that will come ahead of Moralinth's full crowdfunded release. These quickstarts, one for each edition, will give a Narrator and a group of players everything they need to sit down and play an introductory game of Moralinth. The best part? These guides will be completely FREE to all crowdfunding backers, regardless of their levels of support.
About the Quickstart Guides
A Quickstart Guide is being developed for both the Uncanny and Enclave Editions of Moralinth (with a third one for the Gloom Edition coming later), offering Narrators and Players the opportunity to play the game ahead of its full release. While they are obviously cut-down versions of the final product, the Quickstart Guides are designed to give groups a chance to delve into the universe and get to grips with the mechanics, lore and atmosphere of Moralinth.
What can we expect to find in the Quickstart Guides?
The Quickstart Guides are crafted for Narrators to easily read and then lead an introductory adventure (included in the Quickstart) with 3-5 players. Players will assume control of a set of pre-generated characters, so character creation is not part of the Quickstart Guides. Whether you opt to play the Uncanny or Enclave Quickstart (or both!), a simplified version of the ruleset will be provided for Narrators and players to read, use, and reference as needed. While many of the more complex systems will be excluded from the Quickstart Guides, these will be detailed in the main rulebooks upon their release. The Quickstart Guides will still offer ample material to conduct a memorable Moralinth adventure, giving everyone a solid preview of what to expect from the final release. The Quickstart Guides will be made available during the Crowdfunding phase, before the full game launch, and will be free for backers at any tier.
The free introductory Quickstart Guides are split up into 6 distinct sections (followed by some reference sheets located among the last few pages):
The first section of the Quickstart Guide is aptly named Introduction, as it acts as a primer for anyone new to Moralinth or role-playing games in general. Regardless of which version of the Quickstart Guide you choose to use, this content is identical:
What is a Role-Playing Game?
Everyone has to start somewhere, and for those who have never played a role-playing game before, this part of the introduction explains what a tabletop RPG (or TTRPG) is to the uninitiated. It explains the fundamental differences from many other games, including the inclusion of a cooperative narrative, a lack of a clear "win" condition, and how rules are used to arbitrate points of drama within the story that unfolds throughout Moralinth, or any other TTRPG for that matter.
The Players
All TTRPGs require players: individuals stepping into the roles of the storied protagonists, breathing life into a collection of statistics to create and shape truly memorable characters with strengths, flaws, ideals, and breaking points. The job of the player is akin to an actor: taking on a role to play a part in a story through the eyes of that character. This part of the introduction goes into more detail about how to play a character in Moralinth.
The Narrator
As equally important as the players is the Narrator: the referee, storyteller, adjudicator, and translator of everything and everyone the Characters interact with in the world. While a player focuses on controlling the actions of their singular character in the story, the Narrator represents and controls everything and everyone else. Theirs is the domain in which the Characters tread, yet the Narrator is not an adversary to the Characters: yes, part of their job is to challenge them, creating dramatic moments that will live on well after a game session has finished, but TRRPGs are collaborative experiences; the Narrator works as much with the Characters as against them. Together, it is their story to tell. This part of the introduction describes what it means to be a Narrator, including the increased responsibility of the role.
Gothic Horror
Moralinth is a story of gothic horror, and this part of the introduction explores what that means, including the themes that are prevalent throughout the game. Horror—true horror—is a difficult thing to portray in TTRPGs, but it is immensely rewarding when done correctly. It requires the cooperation of the players to achieve fully, though the Narrator's portrayal of the world goes a long way in helping with the level of immersion needed. Moralinth also draws heavily from the gothic aesthetic, both in a literary and stylistic sense, and this section in the Quickstart Guide helps to paint a clear picture of what players and Narrators can expect when playing Moralinth.
What's in this book?
The Quickstart Guides, while extensive, are designed for a group of players to pick up and play the included adventure -"Sleepers at Dockside" - using any combination of the four provided pre-generated characters (see Rogues Gallery later in this article). It is a trimmed-down version of the rules found in the Moralinth core rulebooks, using streamlined versions of the Cypher or Year Zero Engine rulesets, depending on whether it is the Uncanny or Enclave Quickstart Guide, respectively. A brief rundown of what can be found in the rest of the Quickstart Guide is included here.
What's not in this book?
Despite its size, the Quickstart Guide is not a complete product (that's the job of the Uncanny and Enclave Edition core rulebooks!). It contains the information needed to run the included "Sleepers at Dockside" adventure, but is missing many key elements that are found in the full release. Mechanics such as Corruption and Dark Passengers, factions, and character creation are not covered in the Quickstart Guide. This section gives a rundown of what elements are removed for the sake of efficiency.
This part of the Quickstart Guide is fully narrative, with no rules mechanics whatsoever. It is intended to introduce everyone involved to the world of Moralinth, its lore, cultures, and beliefs prevalent across The Known World. Like the Introduction section, The Setting is identical across both Quickstart Guide editions:
An overview of the world of Moralinth
The Setting section of the Quickstart Guides begins with a brief outline of the landscape in which Moralinth is played, covering the continent entitled The Known World by those who live there, being the peoples of their eighteen nations of the Empire of Estania. Included here is information on the major factions within The Empire, the massive Enclaves that hold the remnants of civilisation and the cataclysm that almost caused the extinction of all life for thousands of miles: The Blight.
Technology vs Faith
The Empire stands at a great crossroads, with an industrial revolution threatening to overshadow a civilisation that has traditionally been a theocratic society. Where once The Church held absolute power, they now share that responsibility with a unified imperial government, as well as a rise in science and technology threatening to overcome the reliance on faith in the common citizen. Currently in the game is set in the Age of Reason, and the Industrial Revolution is bringing science and technology to the forefront with developmental leaps in all areas of science, from civic to industrial and medical. The Church and its three branches - The Clergy, The Holy Forces and The Inquisition - still cast an incredibly long shadow, but are not as dominant as they once were.
The Dark
In the shadows, outside the perception of most, another ancient power is rising. Called the paranormal or supernatural by some, occult or magic by others, The Dark is an insidious force that permeates everything with an entropic corruption, yet can be wielded to incredible effect by those who know how. This section explains The Dark in a summarised form, detailing the return of magic to the world, the presence of otherworldly entities known as Creatures of Darkness, a phenomenon called The Delusion which shrouds the fantastical from view, as well as the previously mentioned wielders of The Dark: potent but sometimes volatile individuals called The Uncanny. All player characters in Moralinth are Uncanny and possess many impressive talents, including an ability called The Sight, which allows them to pierce The Delusion and see the world as it truly is.
This section is where the greatest variation between the Uncanny and Enclave editions of the Quickstart Guides can be found. Comprising all the rules needed to actually play the game, because the Uncanny and Gloom editions use the Cypher System and Year Zero Engine, respectively, the content in this section will vary depending on which edition of the Quickstart Guide you are using. Where at all possible, attempts have been made to keep these sections as similar to one another as the rules allow, but obviously, there will be differences. To represent this, any of the areas here that represent the Uncanny Edition will be highlighted in red, whereas any areas that are tied to the Enclave Edition will be highlighted in silver. Sections which are common to both editions will not be highlighted.
The Basics of Roleplaying
While "What is a Role-Playing Game?" in the Introduction section goes into detail about what a TTRPG is and how it differs from other media when compared to things such as board games, video games, and similar, this section concerns itself with how to actually partake in role-playing, how players and their characters interact, and how to embody those characters in a game of Moralinth. This section is intended for newer players, but even those with plenty of experience playing TTRPGs might find useful insight.
The Cypher System, Summarised / The Year Zero Engine, Summarised
This section is obviously different depending on the version of the Quickstart Guide used, but it works to summarize the system used behind that version of the game.
For the Uncanny Quickstart Guide, this explains how the Cypher system utilises Actions, Combat, Special Rules, Narrator Intrusions, Helping others, Range and Speed rules, and how Encounters, Rounds, and Initiative work.
The Enclave Quickstart Guide covers how the YZE uses the Basics, Initiative, Rounds and Turns, Action, Combat, Dealing and taking damage, Modifiers, Conditions, and Recovery rules. It also explains how the Stress mechanic works.
The Breakdown of a Character
Though the Quickstart Guides do not include rules for creating custom characters, it is important to know how the included pregenerated characters work within the game systems, and this section covers the composite parts of a character, based on which Quickstart Guide is being used:
The Uncanny Quickstart Guide explains Character Statistics, Pool, Edge and Effort, Effort and Damage, Skills (and Inabilities), Special Abilities and Cyphers, as well as Currency and Equipment.
The Enclave Quickstart Guide focuses on Character Attributes, Health and Sanity, Pushing Rolls and Stress, Skills, Talents and Gear, including Enchanted Items.
Moralinth-specific rules
Moralinth: Uncanny Edition is built off of the Cypher System but varies from it in a few key areas: the addition of The Sight, the subtle manner in which magic works, the inclusion of Sanity mechanics, as well as the inclusion of The Blight and The Gloom and their mechanics in-game. Additionally, a couple of optional rules from the Cypher System—namely, the use of Shock and Horror Mode —are standard rules in Moralinth: Uncanny Edition.
Moralinth: Enclave Edition uses the Year Zero Engine as its foundation, but like the Uncanny Edition, these additional rules are added to the YZE, making it into its own entity. The Sight is an additional mechanic exclusive to Moralinth, and the Magic system used in the YZE is expanded and overhauled, including the use of The Delusion to modify how spells work. Insanity systems are added to fit alongside the usual Health mechanic found in the YZE, as well as adjustments to Conditions and their separation into States. Shock and Horror Mode has been adapted and adopted from the Uncanny Edition to fit into Enclave Edition rules, as well as rules for The Blight and The Gloom.
This section includes the character sheets and background information for the 4 pre-generated characters for the included adventure, "Sleepers at Dockside". The Quickstart Guides do not include character creation rules, but they do explain everything on the character sheets so the players can learn how to use them in either edition:
Mr. Sebastian "Bastian" Walsh
Bastian Walsh is a man with a powerful connection to The Dark, able to shape it into strange and unusual effects. He is well known to the Arcanum Magicka, a secret society of sorcerers and mages who can be called on to help cover his tracks. An arcane investigator, in the Uncanny Quickstart, Mr Walsh is classed as a Perceptive Adept who Investigates Strange Events. In the Enclave Quickstart, he is represented as an Estanian Human Sleuth.
Mr. Jack Hobbs
Born into high society, Jack Hobbs can weave The Dark into powerful, believable illusions and is a master of getting inside people's heads. He is also an up-and-coming author of a series of best-selling novellas. In the Uncanny Quickstart, Mr Hobbs is recorded as a Craven Dilettante Who Crafts Illusions. In the Enclave Quickstart, he is an Estanian Human Dilettante.
Mr. Lucien Carmichael
A Clockwork with an unusually strong connection to The Dark, Lucian Carmichael is something of an oddity among his people, sometimes struggling with social situations that humans seem so naturally adept at. Despite his often introverted ways, Lucien is a good friend of Ms. Taffy, whom he sees as something akin to a sister. In the Uncanny Quickstart, Lucien is described as a Clockwork Adept Who Knows The Hidden Paths. In the Enclave Quickstart, he is a Mk II Guardian Clockwork Occultist.
Ms. Tiffany "Tiffy" Taffy
A foreigner to the Capital Enclave of Elysium, Tiffany Taffy is a skilled musician who taps into The Dark with her powerful renditions on the fiddle, known to hypnotise those caught in its rapture, making them susceptible to persuasion. Originally infuriated that Mr Carmichael seemed immune to her music, she has come to trust and rely on him, seeing the Clockwork as a replacement for her absent brother. In the Uncanny Quickstart, Ms Taffy is referred to as a Sharp-Eyed Explorer Who Charms The Unwary. In the Encalve Quickstart, she is a Fetchling Enshrouded Explorer.
The Advice for Narrators section in the Quickstart Guides serves as a valuable resource for Narrators of all experience levels, providing essential information for setting up and managing the included adventure. The insights from this section are also applicable to the main core rulebooks, making it an excellent starting point for Narrators to immerse themselves in the game-world mindset before creating their own stories.
Running a Moralinth game
Running a TTRPG isn't easy, and Moralinth comes with layers of nuance that can complicate matters for new Narrators (or Gamesmasters, as they are often known in other TTRPGs). This section is designed specifically to ease that learning curve, offering new and even experienced Narrators helpful tips on how to run a game of Moralinth. Tailored specifically to the included "Sleepers at Dockside" adventure but relevant to all Moralinth products, this section details how to create the theme and mood of a Moralinth game, looking at the twisted Victoriana aesthetic, representing the subtler side of both horror and the fantastical, and balancing mysticism and scientific elements. Additionally, this section delves deeper into how The Dark works, allowing Narrators an extra level of understanding of how best to portray the mysterious and dangerous power in their games.
Props and tools
While Running a Moralinth Game offers in-game narrative and mechanical advice on how to portray a Moralinth game, this section details ways to use practical aids to assist in creating the right atmosphere for players. Covering such topics as music and ambience, handouts and images, as well as other physical props, this section also discusses the use of safety tools in your games: horror is a deeply personal experience which affects people in very different ways. People have varied thresholds when it comes to horror, and despite its often adult themes, Moralinth is meant to be a game to be enjoyedby everyone round the table. These tools allow a Narrator to ensure everyone is comfortable with what they can expect from a game before it begins.
The final section of the Quickstart Guides is an included adventure called Sleepers at Dockside, where the characters are tasked with investigating a disappearance and a string of murders along the docks of the North Ward in the capital Enclave of Elysium. In addition to the adventure itself, all manner of maps, non-player character portfolios, and tokens are included, regardless of whether you are playing the Uncanny or Enclave edition of the Quickstart Guide.
Synopsis
This section provides an overall summary of the adventure, giving the Narrator a snapshot of how it should approximately play out (these things can never be exactly pinned down; players will always go in surprising directions!). The Synopsis section is entirely narrative and identical in both versions of the Quickstart Guides.
North Ward Gazette
A snapshot from the Core Rulebooks, this section provides a look at North Ward, the city-sized area in which the adventure is set. "Sleepers at Dockside" is an investigation adventure, so this part of the Quickstart Guide (identical in both versions) covers many individuals, locations, and local information that Narrators might need on hand, depending on who and where the players want their characters to explore.
Getting the Players involved
The largest part of this section, "Getting the Players Involved," covers how to introduce the characters (and their players!) to the adventure, how to get them invested in the story, and then breaks down the events of the adventure into four acts, including a climactic conclusion. Various parts of this section differ depending on which Quickstart Guide is being used, to accommodate the different rule system mechanics.
Maps and Handouts
This final section of the Quickstart Guides holds all the non-player game mechanics, maps, art handouts and other resources needed to support playing the Sleepers At Dockside adventure. Many of these resources are different depending on which Quickstart Guide is being used (seeing as they use different system mechanics), but are laid out in the same order to accommodate those who have access to both versions of the Quickstart Guides.
Roguelike Community
The Moralinth Official Facebook Group is the place to visit for quick and concise updates for those who only want the summarised details of what is happening with Moralinth and is a great place to see the artwork, lore snippets, and updates. We're looking to add more to it so that we can add extra information, but we need your help! What sort of things would you like to see included in the Facebook Group that isn't there already? Feel free to leave comments so we can know what is a priority for everyone, and make sure you tell your friends!
DISCORD:
For a more in-depth and interactive playground for all things Moralinth, you can head over to the Morlainth Official Discord Server. We're looking to foster the community and grow it out, and a few of the messages we've received of late have asked for more ways to interact with the game world, as well as an increase in setting information. We're looking to try and grant both requests simultaneously, so keep an eye on Discord for more information! Feel free to invite anyone who you feel might want to follow the project but please remember they need to verify their account when they first join the server (you need to click the little "tick" to be granted the Uncanny role and gain access to all the Categories, Channels and Events).
Future Plans
Faith plays a crucial role in the Moralinth Universe, upheld by an ancient tradition guided by a formidable group. In September, our update will explore the Multi-Faced Pantheon and its preachers, The Church. Made up of The Clergy, The Inquisition, and The Holy Forces, The Church is led by The Prime, an individual selected by The Gods to serve as their spokesperson to the people. Join us next month to delve into this captivating organisation!
....and that wraps up our update for this month! Feel free to drop us a message or come visit us on our Facebook page or our Discord Group if you'd like! Until our next update,
Happy Gaming!
- Adam
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