Malcontent

Malcontent is a tabletop roleplaying game intended to give 2-5 players the tools necessary to tell a compelling story of an outsider who find themselves entangled within the web of secrets held within a haunted house in a single game session with no prep. Throughout the game, players will take turns in which they will set a scene and introduce a goal that one of the characters or entities would like to accomplish. Then, they will use The Action Wheel, a unique resolution mechanic, to determine and roleplay the outcome of the scene. Malcontent is a cooperative game built around the desire to tell an interesting story in which players will work together to weave a tale of mystery, terror, and possibly triumph.

What is The House?

The house is some sort of dwelling. It does not need to be a house, per se, but a place that has been and possibly still is, lived in. It can be inhabited by a single family, petitioned off and inhabited by many individuals, or it can be empty with the exception of the outsider. The house has a long and dark history which has left it infested by some sinister presence. This can be anything from spirits of the dead to mind controlling fungus or vindictive inhabitants.

Who is the Outsider?

The outsider is the protagonist of the story. They are someone who has come to this place from somewhere else with some purpose or goal. The outsider is Mexican Gothic’s Noemi Taboada or The Haunting of Bly Manor’s Dani Clayton. They do not know the extent of the history or horrors contained within the house, and have their own reasons for being here and not wanting to leave. Throughout the course of the game, the secrets of the house will be revealed to the outsider which will leave them shaken and, at times, frightened. This may make them contemplate turning their back on the house and fleeing, but they will not, either because their convictions or individual goals keep them tethered to it, or because they are unable to.