Ex Tenebris is a sci fi occult horror game inspired by Warhammer 40K

Ex Tenebris is a tabletop roleplaying game about a future civilisation living under the constant threat of invasion from a terrifying, nightmare realm of space known as the Tenebrium. The only thing standing between the people and a horde of horrifying, blood-thirsty creatures, are the players, a rag-tag team of criminals, occultists, retired cops and reanimated corpses, otherwise known as the Guardians of Moira.

The next release from Black Armada, the creator of the award winning Lovecraftesque - which inspired titles like Brindlewood Bay and Apocalypse Keys - Ex Tenebris is a horror roleplaying game that mixes the grotesque imagery of the Aliens franchise and Dead Space with the existential dread of Event Horizon, in a sci fi world that’s reminiscent of Dune’s mysticism and Warhammer 40k’s own gothic and gritty 41st Millenium.

Whilst visiting various planets and interacting with a myriad intergalactic species on their missions for the Republic of Stars’ government, Ex Tenebris players will investigate the more disturbing aspects of the game’s world: including animated war machines, necromancers, blood cults, angry spirits and forgotten gods of torment.

Unlike many other tabletop rpg settings that feature a combination of both science fiction and fantasy elements - such as Shadowrun and Starfinder - Ex Tenebris veers away from the tired trope of elves in space, in favour of depicting advanced technology and magic as being two sides of the same dangerously seductive coin.

Throughout the game, the player characters will be tempted, or even forced, to utilize powerful instruments of science and sorcery in order to overcome impossible odds. A prime example of this is the ancient Labyrinth, a now abandoned alien structure which twists into a series of vast corridors, providing swift passage across space through the cosmic horror dimension of the Tenebrium.

Of course, there’s always a cost to using these instruments - whether physically or spiritually - that’s represented in Ex Tenebris by a gameplay mechanic called Shadow. As the player characters are pushed into increasingly stressful situations they’ll have the potential to gain more Shadow, which they can use to acquire new abilities but will eventually drive them down a dark path, resulting in terrible tragedy or even permanent corruption. 

Like Lovecraftesque, Ex Tenebris is primarily an investigative tabletop rpg wherein players solve a series of mysteries using a new system, Spawned from the Tenebrium. Though missions may begin with a single question for players to answer, they spiral out into much larger conspiracies riddled with threats and end in climactic boss fights. In Ex Tenebris, players and the game master work to unravel the mystery together, with the GM providing the clues and the players proposing the eventual solution.

Whenever players want to perform an action that will meet resistance, the GM may ask them to perform an action roll by rolling 2d10, with the goal of getting at least a 10. Players can add various modifiers to their dice rolls depending on what type of Sitch and Skill they choose. Sitches are the overall type of action being performed - such as fighting or discovering - whereas Skills specify the method you’re using to complete the action: i.e. if you persuade someone by inspiring rather than manipulating.

Though players will be engaging in combat and exploration at various points, Ex Tenebris is mainly a sleuthing game in space with added monsters, indescribable horrors and no backup.

The crowdfunding campaign for Ex Tenebris is now live on Kickstarter . The campaign is funding two books: the core game, and an accompanying campaign book with expanded setting detail and scenarios. Backers will be able to pledge £40 ($54) for a hardcover copy of the core rulebook (£10/$13 digital), or £70 ($94) for both the core rulebook and campaign books together (£20/$27 digital). 

Ex Tenebris was written and designed by Josh Fox, with artwork from Juan Ochoa and layout by Nathan Paoletta. Other writers include Becky Annison, Yoon Ha Lee, and Kieron Gillen.