99 Ghost Stories
Asymmetrical 1-page TRPG: GM wants a scary story, players want to ruin it
Players
3–7 players
Play Time
20min-
Asymmetrical 1-page TRPG: GM wants a scary story, players want to ruin it
A horror-storytelling TRPG. The players are at a "Hyaku Monogatari" gathering — a Japanese tradition where 100 ghost stories conjure something terrible. The GM is about to tell the 99th, and the players must somehow turn it into a non-scary story. "GM trying to be scary" V.S. "Players trying to ruin the scary story" — an asymmetrical party TRPG.
Each player decides their character and occupation. Occupation determines fear stat and special abilities. Each player also chooses a number from 1–6 that no one else picks — discuss to avoid collisions.
The GM picks today's story. Use an in-app story or one prepared in advance. For prepared stories, register 10 keywords — single words are best, but a clear short phrase is OK. Pick the words that are most central to the scariness.
The setting: someone just finished the 99th story of a Hyaku Monogatari gathering. Everyone is feigning a "this is genuinely scary" vibe. The GM begins the story. Players hit STOP when they spot a keyword and correct it: "That wasn't XX, was it? Wasn't it ZZ?" "I thought it was ZZ when I heard it." Aim for corrections that ruin the scariness (e.g., "Wasn't it a red skirt? Wasn't it a light-blue loincloth?"). When STOPped, the GM pauses for judgment.
The player who interrupted rolls a die. If they roll anything except their chosen number, judgment succeeds — the GM substitutes the word and continues. Success: the GM says whether the word was a keyword and continues with the substituted version. Failure (the chosen number is rolled): no correction, fear stat drops by 1. At fear 0, a player goes mad and can no longer correct. Failed words can be re-attempted by other players.
If all keywords are corrected, players win and the game ends. If 10 keywords go uncorrected and the story is still scary at the end, the GM wins. Whether it's scary is decided by group discussion. If it wasn't scary, the Hyaku Monogatari was prevented and it's a draw. If it was scary, the Hyaku Monogatari completes and terrible things will happen…
If all 10 keywords in the ghost story get corrected, the players win
If all players go mad or the story remains "scary," the GM wins
A kind GM may bring back keywords that were missed by introducing them more obviously
Players: replacements in the same category (e.g., "train" to "stroller") preserve the story while creating absurd situations — more ruinous
If you missed a keyword, you can still flag it after the story has moved on
GM: at any cost, push through to make the story scary
Circle Naitsuo @ Omajina Radio is a circle that plays and creates TRPGs. They air "Inutsuki Pakuman to Kuo Bardith's Omae ga GM na!" — "Omajina Radio" for short — a TRPG-themed live show on YouTube several times a year.
Official site: https://omaegagmna.jimdosite.com/
BOOTH (storefront): https://omaegagmna.booth.pm/
"Omajina" is short for "Omae ga GM na!" — "You be the GM!" Your favorite TRPG is one you often end up GMing yourself, but you'd love to be a player too. By pitching the TRPG you love, you hope to be able to say, "Next time, you be the GM!" "TRPG Omajina Daikyōen" is built to be the kind of simple, fun TRPG where you can do exactly that on the spot.
An original TRPG collection containing 9 TRPGs across genres including medical drama, glasses-girl, sentai (super sentai), ethnic-girl, dating sim, and death-flag tropes.
Available online through BOOTH and similar storefronts. The book includes 6 roles total (including Medium, Scientist, and Editor — not in the app) and rules for original TRPGs that still spark playthroughs and discussion online, such as "Death-Flag TRPG" and "Meganelion" (a TRPG about putting glasses on glasses-suited girls).
Included in the doujinshi anthology "TRPG Omajina Daikyōen," distributed at Game Market Autumn 2012. Designed by circle member "Kankōhī."
Play 99 Ghost Stories for free on the Dokopa app.
