{"product_id":"before-the-worms","title":"Before The Worms","description":"\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis is a game for mature players who wish to engage with intense topics. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eA full list of content warnings for the game is included below, though other subjects may come up in the course of play. Safety tools are essential, as is a culture of trust and mutual support at the table.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e       \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBefore the Worms\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e is a game about a group of regular people who have seen a horror they could not turn away from. It's a game about the choices and sacrifices they will make to fight against that vicious, relentless evil.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eThe Worms are semi-physical parasites that feed on human suffering. They don't possess us or control us, they simply \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eencourage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e us, offering power to the worst of humanity. Those who give themselves over entirely are called the Hollowed. They are everywhere. Holding the levers of power. Infiltrating systems and institutions, turning them towards misery. Most people don't see them for what they are. Most of the time, they seem perfectly normal. Until they don't. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eUntil you've seen the Worms. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eThe game is designed to be played in short \"seasons\" of 5-10 sessions, focusing on a single infestation of Worms and the terrible choices the PCs make as they attempt to burn it out. The bleak setting of the game provides a stark backdrop meant to snap characters into stark focus. It is an engine meant to drive PCs to make difficult, painful decisions. Though you may achieve a victory over the Worms, it will cost you dearly. The story of those choices and that cost: of what you cling to, what you lose, and how it changes you, is the substance and spine of the game. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBefore the Worms \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eis a 78-page book that provides: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eA complete, concise horror system for both group and solo play that focuses on character, cost, and connection. The system is diceless, using a standard deck of playing cards to give intuitive probabilities. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eCard-draw inspiration tables for character creation and relationships, as well as prompts for creating infestations and framing downtime vignettes. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eA simple procedure for uncovering and resisting the infestations of the Worms their networks of power and exploitation, and the threats they pose. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eGuidance for setting stakes, framing scenes, and letting more complex and emotional themes unfold over time. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eGuidance for creating your own infestations, prepping sessions, and tracking the process of uncovering and fighting the Worms using a flexible yet powerful node-based design to map connections.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eA ready-to-use example infestation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eAn extended example of play. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eOver a dozen pieces of full-color art. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBefore the Worms\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e is also an \"anti-Cosmic Horror\" game. Unlike Cosmic Horror, which focuses on the insignificance of humanity before the vastness of uncaring alien gods, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBefore the Worms \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eis squarely focused on the human. The Worms are intimately entangled with us. Their horrors are our own, heightened and reflected back at us through a twisted mirror.  Although the game's setting is very bleak, it is ultimately about hope, not despair. It insists that our lives and choices \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003edo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e have meaning, even in the face of an implacable horror that cannot be fully defeated. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBecause although you cannot hope to destroy \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eall\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e the Worms, you can fight them \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003ehere.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e You can resist them \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003enow.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e You can save \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003ethese people\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBut there are no victories without cost. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eAnd all too often, that price is paid in blood. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eContent Warnings:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBefore the Worms \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eis recommended for mature players who wish to explore emotionally intense subject matter. The game engages sincerely with themes of:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eEmotional and psychological trauma\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003ePsychological manipulation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eSystemic violence and exploitation \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eInstitutional and interpersonal abuse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eComplicity, ethical compromise, and moral corruption\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003ePersonal and relational sacrifice, loss, and tragedy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eSelf-destruction, self-betrayal, and loss of agency\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBody horror (specifically, worms and parasitism used as metaphor)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003ePhysical violence and cruelty\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eMetaphors that resemble cult behavior and indoctrination\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eMetaphoric reflections and implications (though no direct depictions) of patterns of abuse, grooming, intimate partner violence, and gaslighting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eThough the text contains disturbing imagery and grapples with intense subject matter, it does not directly depict graphic violence. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eAlthough sexual abuse is indirectly implied, it is never specifically discussed nor directly depicted in the text or imagery. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eThough this game focuses its horror on human violence and cruelty, pains have been taken to ensure that these depictions are not gratuitous. The game treats this subject matter seriously, and centers player support through the use of explicit safety tools and \"breaths\" built in to the system. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRemember: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ethis is not a game about despair. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThough it centers trauma and cruelty, it is not \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eabout\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e evil. It is about we choose to do in the face of it. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Goblin Door Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43742958321738,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0251\/6674\/1578\/files\/GmeBw1.jpg?v=1782336590","url":"https:\/\/store.darkholdgames.com\/products\/before-the-worms","provider":"Darkhold Games","version":"1.0","type":"link"}