Mapping the Catacombs by Matthew Madsen is a role playing game supplement published by Sorceress & Witch. This is a complete solo game and is covered by the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license.
The supplement is available as a 16-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $4 although it was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the front cover and the final page is credits and some details on the game.
Introduction explains that this is a solo game about creating a map and a story for a group of adventurers in some lethal catacombs. An overview of what it involves and what to do on a turn follow.
How to Play explains that what’s needed is a sheet of paper, pencil, at least one d6 and a coin. Winning the game is achieved by exiting the catacombs, hopefully without anyone dying. New chambers are drawn as a circle, then 2d6 is rolled to determine what’s inside. The coin is tossed to determine who goes first in an encounter. Rules and examples are given for combat and experience points are gained from defeating monsters. Gold can be converted to XP. When XP is more than 50, an attempt can be made to exit the catacombs. Doing so requires the route be retraced; no new encounters are rolled for but catacomb confusion and light are still tracked. The thurible is used by one class to prevent catacomb confusion rolls by reducing fear.
Prepare your Adventure has characters randomly rolled; there are six character types, each with different gear and abilities. One is classed as the point man, and will take damage. Light source is determined, and light and herbs for the thurible are tracked.
Entering the Catacombs explains how they are drawn and explored, including the effects of confusion. There are then a series of tables used to determine the contents and effects of catacomb confusion.
Next, there’s a d6 table of rumours.
The final two pages are an example of play.
Mapping the Catacombs in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough that these would have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text varies between one and two column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of black and white illustrations that appear to be custom. Navigation is okay.
This is a surprisingly complex game in a fairly short supplement. It can be used to different levels of depth, from simply drawing what is encountered to building backstories and writing down what happens. There’s enough content to have a number of different games, though after that it might get a little repetitive, given that only d6 tables are used. Mapping the Catacombs is a decent little game, though rather expensive at full price, and it can be found by clicking here.
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