Taglined itself as a mid-90s pre-apocalyptic serial killer investigation tabletop RPG, the independent game Midnight of the Century by By Odin’s Beard RPG, has been a topic of discussion recently. At present, the game is in an open crowdfunding campaign, with a primer available for purchase.
This article serves as a starting point to Midnight of the Century, delving into the game’s setting, mechanics, and objectives. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Midnight of the Century Overview
Created by freelance writer, illustrator, and game designer Colin Le Sueur under the imprint “By Odin’s Beard RPG”, Midnight of the Century is an occult investigation tabletop roleplaying game set in the mid-1990s of the Pacific Northwest. Players act as investigators who work as consultants for the Oroboro Group to find and capture serial killers.
Taking inspiration from X-Files creator Chris Carter’s TV series Millennium, David Lynch’s famous TV series Twin Peaks, David Fincher’s Seven, and the cult classic Silence of the Lambs, the game allows players to gather a team and track down the killers before they commit their next crime.
Midnight of the Century Gameplay Mechanics
The game can be played by two or more players, in which one player takes the role of the facilitator or the game master who guides all other players. Unlike regular tabletop games, Midnight of the Century leaves a large portion in control of the players.
You first create the investigator and the team, then get hired as consultants for the Oroboro Group. The investigator is an X FBI officer who has extra sensory powers when it comes to investigations. He can see through the killer’s eyes, which means he sees everything the killer sees.
The John Constantine-like psychic investigator and his team start working on an investigation, in which they will be introduced to the rules of the game. The first investigation is included in the Primer.
Midnight of the Century Itchfunding
Itch.io, a platform that facilitates the crowdfunding of small-scale games, has featured Midnight of the Century with three Itchfunding tiers. The funding has already hit £1,500, which unlocked the hardcover print run. If it reaches £2,000, additional investigations will be unlocked. The tiers include:
Tier 1 – Deluxe (£60)
This is the ultimate version in which you will receive the early print version of the Primer, personally signed by Colin Le Sueur himself. You will receive the complete game once it is complete, and all future updates will be included. All digital unlocks and all physical unlocks with free shipping are also included.
Tier 2 – Physical (£25)
The £25 physical copy offers the Primer PDF and all future updates. When the full game is complete, the complete PDF will be available, and all the digital unlocks will be included. If you purchase it from By Odin’s Beard RPG’s official shop, you will get a £25 voucher for the hardcover version of the game.
Tier 3 – Digital (£5)
Users can download the PDF version once the full game is complete and get all the future updates and digital unlocks. You will get discounts for the hardcover version (£5 off) if you purchase it from the official online shop of By Odin’s Beard RPG.
Concluding Thoughts
A playable version of Midnight of the Century is available right now, and updates will be available according to how well the Itchfunding goes. There is no deadline for the funding, and all players will get full updates with a single purchase. The game will also be introduced at the UK Games Expo. For more information, you can connect with By Odin’s Beard RPG (Colin Le Sueur) through his social media handles and YouTube channel.
If you are into music, Colin Le Sueur has created a Spotify playlist that aligns with the mood of Midnight of the Century. You can access the link by visiting the official website of the game.
