Heart: The City Beneath

No. You can arrive with no prior knowledge. A professional Game Master will explain the rules in minutes and guide you through character creation. The system uses pools of d10s and straightforward outcomes, so it comes together quickly. You will learn about Stress and Fallout as you experience them. Familiarity with Spire enhances the atmosphere, but it is not necessary. You can also choose someone who enjoys teaching beginners when you browse available Game Masters.

Heart focuses on risk, cost, and discovery rather than tactical combat. There is typically no grid. Position and narrative matter more than exact distances. You create dice pools based on your actions and location, then manage Stress to tracks like Blood, Mind, and Supplies. Fallout alters scenes and characters, not just hit points. Equipment is lightweight and tagged, magic is potent but expensive, and factions influence your decisions. Delves feel like perilous expeditions where objectives and consequences drive gameplay.

Prepare for surreal horror, obsession, and bizarre wonder. Scenes may feature body horror, cults, scarcity, and psychological strain. This experience is intended for adults, not children. Prior to play, our Game Masters establish lines and veils and utilize safety tools such as Script Change or the X-card. You determine the level of intensity you desire. The game can be grim and desperate, or balanced with moments of hope and beauty. The goal is to create tense, meaningful play where you feel secure as a person, even when your character is in peril.

Heart is designed for 2 to 5 players. Fewer players mean more focus on individual characters and a more intense, perilous journey. More players introduce dialogue, strategies, and more complex consequences. Sessions usually run for 3 to 4 hours. A one-shot is ideal for a single adventure with a clear goal and a definite conclusion. In an ongoing campaign, you develop connections and resources, take on riskier explorations, and deal with lasting outcomes. Your Game Master will adjust the pacing to fit your group's style.

You choose a class with a unique flavour, such as Deep Apiarist, Vermissian Knight, Junk Mage, Cleaver, Heretic, or Hound. Your Calling determines what motivates you, whether it be Adventure, Enlightenment, Profit, or Protection. Abilities, equipment tags, and Beats influence your actions and development. Character creation takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes with guidance, or you can opt for pregenerated sheets for a quicker start. Expect bold, flawed individuals who are ready to trade safety for their desires.

Stress accumulates on various fronts as you test your luck. When Fallout occurs, the Game Master enforces an appropriate consequence. Minor Fallout may damage equipment, change the scene, or leave a temporary scar. Major Fallout can alter your journey, affect relationships or resources, or even remove your character from play. While death is a possibility, the game often transforms you before it takes your life. Risks are clearly indicated, allowing you to decide when to push forward, regroup, or negotiate for a safer path.

Yes. Heart operates seamlessly over video with straightforward maps, shared dice rollers, and handouts. Many of our Game Masters use Roll20, Foundry, or Owlbear Rodeo, or keep it simple with theatre of the mind and a shared document. The system’s dice pools and narrative positioning are ideal for online play. If you have a preferred setup, please mention it when booking. For common platform options and what they offer, see online play platforms.