The Hideous Game by Monte Cook is a role playing game supplement published by Monte Cook Games for use with Numenera.
The supplement is available as a 22-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $4.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the front cover and one page is ads.
The introductory paragraphs explain that this is a low combat, investigation heavy adventure using the format first seen in Weird Discoveries, one described as being an instant adventure that can be run with just a few minutes of prep time. This one was intended to be run at GenCon.
The adventure takes place in Qi in the Ninth World, but can be placed in other large cities without difficulty. In the city, creatures known as slidikin are playing a game that involves kidnapping, torture and murder; not a game enjoyed by the participants. The characters get drawn in after hearing cries for help – using NPCs the PCs have connections to is suggested if needed to motivate them. There are two keys, necessary clues, to find, which can be placed in different parts of the adventure. The adventure itself is a two-page flowchart; characters may progress through it in different ways.
More Details has a map of Qi and some brief details on it, and how the characters could find out information on the slidikin and their game. There are notes on using the adventure in a campaign and for further development.
The slidikin themselves are then described, followed by a page with two handouts.
Finally, the remaining 12 pages have 6 double sided pre-generated character sheets.
The Hideous Game in Review
The PDF is well bookmarked with major and minor sections linked. The text, apart from the two pages taken up by the adventure flowchart, follows a two column with sidebar format and appeared to be free of errors. The sidebars are used for GM information, stats and references, both internal and external. There are a number of colour illustrations, some of which may be custom, and a black and white image. Presentation is good.
The instant adventure format is quite an expensive way of getting adventures, at full price. This is effectively a two-page adventure, another page detailing a new monster and some background information, some of which characters may never actually know. The adventure isn’t bad; it just seems pricy. The Hideous Game can be found by clicking here.
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