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A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates – Rough-Hewn EditionClick to magnify
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A Ghastly Companion to Castles, Mansions, & Estates – Rough-Hewn Edition

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Here is your complete guide to gaming in the opulent Grand Houses of the Georgian, French Revolutionary, Napoleonic, and Regency eras. Although created especially for use with Ghastly Affair, “The Gothic Game of Romantic Horror”, it’s also an invaluable resource for any game set in the late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries. Whether your scenarios involve destroying supernatural terrors lurking in crumbling castles, climbing the rungs of the social ladder through opulent townhouses, or unraveling the horrible secrets of the country gentry, this book is an essential reference!

This pre-release “ashcan” version does not include the illustrations, maps, floor-plans, and indices that will be in the full release. You still get over 270 pages of historical information, random tables, and practical advice, including:

  • A discussion of the various types of Grand Houses across 18th century Europe.

  • An outline of a typical day’s activities in a Castle, Mansion, or Estate House.

  • Over 100 tables to create a historically plausible Grand House, along with its inhabitants, gardens, and events – at whatever level of detail you desire.

  • A complete guide to the servants and retainers who make aristocratic life possible.

  • Tips for running an immersive Gothic “sandbox” that doesn’t force players into a pre-determined plotline.

  • A discussion of 18th century coaching inns (and coaches).

  • Random encounter tables for an 18th century setting.

  • Complete systems for randomly generating plausible ruins, caves, and subterranean crypts.

  • Tables for creating sumptuous, historically-accurate feasts.

  • Multiple tables for generating dramatic events that occur at dinner, during dances, and on the morning promenade.

  • Tables for defining twisted family histories, and the peculiarities of inbred nobles.

  • Information on 18th century noble titles and tables to randomly determine the status of aristocrats.

  • Tables for quickly defining the most memorable characteristics of NPCs, and the scandalous desires of your house’s inhabitants.

  • Tables for randomly generating ghosts and hauntings – including Restless Houses that hunger to satisfy their own mysterious cravings.

  • An extensive system for randomly generating the multitude of paintings that festoon the walls of Grand Houses – and tips on how to make them essential facets of a scenario.

  • Tables to create typical names for British country houses, and evocative appellations for castle towers.

  • A table of technological marvels that might be found in a late 18th century Grand House.

And all at a price an orphaned scullery maid could afford! But like a Vauxhall Gardens doxy, once it’s better-dressed, the fancy new version will cost a little more!


Contains some mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised.


Now Available: Ghastly Affair Location Catalogues, for Castles, Mansions, or Estate Houses.


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Reviews (1)
Discussions (4)
Customer avatar
Michael S February 03, 2023 9:00 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Any update regarding the final version?
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Customer avatar
Daniel H February 04, 2023 12:11 am UTC
PUBLISHER
It probably won't be until after I finish the Second Edition of Ghastly Affair.
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Customer avatar
Michael S February 04, 2023 2:11 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Any idea when we might expect the second edition? Or somewhere we might follow its progress?
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Customer avatar
Daniel H February 05, 2023 2:50 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I'll be posting updates to my blog, The Engine of Oracles: https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/ . My current project is "The Uncanny Highway", a system for creating a weird Americana "road-crawl" set in the era of 1960s and 1970s. "The Uncanny Highway" book will include a condensed RPG system called "The Ready Rules of the Road". Many things we (me and and my editor/collaborator Wendy) are exploring for the Second Edition of GA are actually being tested out with "The Ready Rules" and "The Uncanny Highway". So, while the Second Edition of Ghastly Affair will not come out until after "The Uncanny Highway", it is actually being developed in conjunction with it. In particular, a goal of the Second Edition is support for play in times other than Georgian/Napoleonic era - and in particular, support for games set in the "Groovy Era" of the 60s and 70s.
Customer avatar
Tm I January 07, 2023 12:10 am UTC
PURCHASER
I’m obsessed with your games. Highly recommend.
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Customer avatar
Daniel H January 07, 2023 6:13 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thank you!
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Customer avatar
Michael S February 04, 2023 2:12 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I heartily second this obsession/recommendation.
Customer avatar
John M November 05, 2019 10:24 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi Daniel - will there be a POD version of this book?
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Customer avatar
Daniel H November 06, 2019 4:51 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Right now, my plan is to make POD available for the final, illustrated version.
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Customer avatar
William W January 24, 2020 7:27 pm UTC
Any updates on a final print version?
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Customer avatar
Daniel H January 25, 2020 5:35 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Unfortunately, I've been unable to devote the time and resources necessary to doing the final version properly. So, at this point I can't commit to a date.
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Customer avatar
Michael P May 26, 2020 6:46 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hello! Love the game and this sourcebook - wondering if there is any update on the "final" version? Appreciate times are weird so there may not be :-) Thanks.
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Customer avatar
Daniel H May 27, 2020 6:57 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Unfortunately, I still can't commit at this time to a timetable regarding the "final" version. I can say that the only real difference between the current "Rough-Hewn Edition" and any future version would be the art.
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Customer avatar
Michael P May 27, 2020 7:04 pm UTC
PURCHASER
No worries, thanks for the reply :-)
Customer avatar
Michael S February 08, 2019 6:04 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Will purchasers of the Rough-Hewn Edition receive a discount toward the final release?
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Customer avatar
Daniel H February 09, 2019 3:41 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Once the full version is released, purchasers of the “Rough-Hewn Edition” will be e-mailed a link to get the PDF at a discount. So, make sure your Account’s “Contact Options” are set up to receive e-mails from Publisher “Daniel James Hanley”, otherwise I won’t be able to send you the link.
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Customer avatar
Michael S February 09, 2019 4:51 am UTC
PURCHASER
Awesome. Really loving the book thus far, and the other books of the line. Using it for a Dark Shadows game.
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Customer avatar
Daniel H February 09, 2019 10:38 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks! And I'm definitely a Dark Shadows fan (if anyone couldn't tell).
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Product Information
Electrum seller
Pages
276
File Size:
23.41 MB
Format
Original electronic Click for more information
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File Last Updated:
February 06, 2019
This title was added to our catalog on February 08, 2019.