Hey Liminal Horror community!
I'm excited to post the first official newsletter blog from the new platform. As fall is taking hold here in the PNW, I'm excited to give a glimpse into all the things going on in the Liminal Horror space!
LIMINAL HORROR OCTOBER MONSTER JAM
It didn't seem right to go into Halloween season without some sort of community jam. So us over in the LH dev camp threw together a Monster themed Liminal Horror jam. Submissions will be open from October 11th 2025 at 11:02 AM to October 31st 2025 at 11:59 PM. During this time we are inviting creators to make monsters for Liminal Horror! We've included a bunch of resources, from creator advice to templates to examples. Hop on over to the jam page to take a look! https://itch.io/jam/liminal-horror-halloween-monster-jam
SPECIAL ABILITIES
In order to support creators making things for the Liminal Horror Halloween Monster Jam we decided to make the October patreon sneak peak free for members during the month of October. This draft entry for an upcoming Case Files presents a list of Special Abilities and Critical Damage triggers. These can be used to create your own monsters or to create monster variants and unique creations to throw at your Investigators! You can find it here:
All you need to be is a free member to get access: https://www.patreon.com/posts/140458063
DELUXE EDITION UPDATE
Over on Backerkit we shared an update on the development of the Liminal Horror Deluxe Edition. Not only that, but we've included some goodies for backers (the adventure Camp Coldwater along with a preview of the draft pregens) https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/space-penguin-ink/liminal-horror-deluxe-edition/updates/29511
LIMINAL HORROR TOUCHSTONES
I recently rewatched three movies that are seminal works in the genisis of Liminal Horror. Not only that, but they act as a great reference point for some of the mechanics of the system.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
As I've been working this morning, I revisited this movie. Much to my enjoyment, I remember why this acted as a touchstone not only for Liminal Horror, but Documentary Mode (a supplemental ruleset that was included in Case Files 01). The framing of this movie is great in that it showcases exactly how a group of Investigators can stumble upon a mystery and combat against forces greater than themselves. From the way clues are presented, the world entangles the characters, and how sometimes trying to get the shot can lead you to to horrific truths.
Documentary Mode can be found:
Case Files 01 (digital): https://goblinarchives.itch.io/case-files-vol-1
Case Files 01 (physical pre-order): https://liminal-horror-deluxe-edition.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
As a patreon reward: https://www.patreon.com/posts/case-files-01-139357720
As a part of the Liminal Horror Creator Kit SRD: https://liminalhorrorrpg.com/srd-documentary-mode/
Evil Dead (2013) and Evil Dead Rise (2023)
So I had the opportunity to rewatch the Evil Dead remake and sequel over this past week. As many of you know, the original Evil Dead trilogy is a seminal work for me, sparking my passion for film, creative creation, and laying the seeds that would one day become Liminal Horror. Taking the time to rewatch these two (which are amazing additions to a killer body of work) reminded me how well they exemplify different types of Liminal Horror play. Both act as a great exemplar for structuring a LH scenario.
I was reminded about how much Evil Dead (2013) inspired the addition of the Wounds mechanic into Liminal Horror Investigators. The scene with the nail gun and crowbar is a perfect example of LH combat and pushing through obtaining multiple Wounds during a brief, violent encounter. If you are trying to unpack how combat works in Liminal Horror, look no further than here.
Both are worth a watch. While Liminal Horror is dynamic and adjustible enough to work with any horror-sub-genre, it is fun to watch these as they highlight a type of play I really love. These characters definitely embody this quote from the Deluxe Edition Intro:
CHARACTER LIMINALITY
Investigators embark on a process of change as a direct result of the horrors they are forced to grapple with. This transition from “normality” to the weird is the main function of Liminal Horror’s core design. Exposure to monsters, Stress, Fallout, and being forced to make increasingly difficult choices results in Investigators who may or may not survive, but will undoubtedly be changed through play.
DEATH
The world is dangerous, and death is always a possible consequence. It should be ever present, but never random or unexpected.
Death comes for everyone, but some suffer a worse fate.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
If you're looking for something fun to play during the month of October, there are hundred of adventures for Liminal Horror that would be perfect to bring some terror to the table. You can find them cataloged here: https://liminalhorrorlibrary.com/
For future newsletter posts we will look at some of the entries from the jam along with some dives into some things we've been working on in tandem with the Deluxe Edition!