Gradient Descent: Into The Deep (Sci-Fi Horror)
Details
Once, it was Cloudbank’s greatest achievement. Now, Monarch rules what’s left.
A Mothership RPG Campaign
️ Dive into The Deep — a derelict orbital factory controlled by a rogue AI known as Monarch. Every dive into The Deep costs more than it pays. Most don’t return.
EXPECT
- In-person pen & paper play (Mothership 1E)
- Sci-fi horror (disturbing content & themes)
- Expedition-based open table (1+ sessions per dive)
- Regular, consistent players get first spots
- Temporary, drop-in, players welcome if space permits, or join wait-list
- Player-driven exploration & survival
- Beginner-friendly, no prep — turn up and play
When: Fridays (usually every two weeks)
Where: In-person (see invite details)
System: Mothership 1E
TURN UP & PLAY
Everything needed to play is provided. No dice, pencils, prep or experience required. Optionally bring snacks / drinks to share
JOINING A SESSION (EXPEDITIONS)
Crews dive into The Deep and return when they choose— you don’t have to play every week, but for regular players, once you start an expedition, you’re expected to play regularly until you return back to base.
Places go first to regular players. If a regular can’t make a session, anyone can join that session as a temporary crew member. If a regular drops out, anyone can join as a new regular crew member.
Join the waitlist and Whatsapp group to get a chance at upcoming dives, when a spot opens up.
COMMUNICATION
We coordinate via a WhatsApp group. Those in the group typicaly get first pick at regular and wait list spots.
PLAY STYLE
Fiction-first sci-fi horror with modern, quick, simple and accessible, fast-paced play, focussed on what happens at the table:
- Theater of the Mind (verbal description ) with atmospheric visuals
- Player creativity and problem-solving
- Exploration, investigation, risk–reward choices
- Fast, lethal, narrative-driven combat — survival depends on planning, imagination, using environment
- The Deep is vast and open: multiple paths, no fixed story, high lethality
- In game character growth: from scars, allies, items, reputation, wealth, skills and what happens fictionally
- Quick character generation
NOT INCLUDED
- Eloborate character builds, backgrounds, or skill trees / paths
- XP or complicated leveling
- Grid / battle maps or miniatures
- Long, rules-heavy combat sequences
- Fixed storyline / character arcs / adventure paths
⚠️ Content Warning: Horror for mature players. Includes violence, trauma, body horror, psychological distress, and harm to android children