Horror Downtime Activities

Between investigations, characters need time to recover, research, and prepare. These downtime activities help investigators regain sanity, gather information, and build resources for future horrors.

💚 Mental Recovery & Therapy

Rest & Normalcy

Time Required: 1 month minimum
Effect: Regain 1d3 SAN
Requirements: No supernatural encounters, normal routine

  • Must avoid horror and investigation
  • Maintain regular job and relationships
  • Cannot exceed starting/maximum SAN
  • Keeper may require roleplay of normal life

Psychoanalysis

Time Required: 1 day per session
Effect: 1d3 SAN per successful session
Cost: $50-100 per session (1920s) / $150-300 (modern)

  • Requires trained psychiatrist
  • One session per day maximum
  • Therapist makes skill roll
  • May help with specific phobias/manias

Institutionalization

Time Required: 1d6 months
Effect: Recover from indefinite insanity
Cost: Significant expenses, loss of freedom

  • For severe mental breaks only
  • Character out of play during treatment
  • May regain enough SAN to function
  • Some conditions may be permanent

Self-Care

Time Required: 1 week
Effect: Reduce stress, improve mental state
Cost: Variable

  • Meditation, hobbies, relaxation
  • No direct SAN recovery
  • Mechanical bonuses to resist future loss
  • Roleplay opportunity

📚 Occult Research & Study

Library Research

Time Required: 1 week per topic
Effect: Gain knowledge or clues
Cost: Access to library/archive

  • Research specific topics or entities
  • May require Library Use or Research skill
  • Can discover new leads or connections
  • Rare books may require special access

Tome Study

Time Required: Varies by book (weeks to months)
Effect: Gain Mythos knowledge, lose SAN
Cost: Sanity points

  • Study forbidden texts like Necronomicon
  • Increase Cthulhu Mythos skill
  • Permanent SAN maximum reduction
  • May learn spells or rituals

Academic Consultation

Time Required: 1-3 days
Effect: Expert knowledge on specific topic
Cost: Social capital, potential favors

  • Consult professors, specialists
  • Faster than independent research
  • May create ongoing NPC relationships
  • Expert may become involved in mystery

Fieldwork

Time Required: 1-4 weeks
Effect: Gather physical evidence or samples
Cost: Travel expenses, equipment

  • Visit related sites personally
  • Collect artifacts or specimens
  • Interview witnesses in person
  • May trigger new investigation

🎯 Preparation & Skill Training

Skill Training

Time Required: 1-6 months
Effect: Improve specific skills
Cost: Tuition, time investment

  • Formal classes or private tutoring
  • Combat training, languages, etc.
  • System-specific skill improvement rules
  • Roleplay learning experiences

Acquiring Resources

Time Required: Variable
Effect: Obtain equipment, contacts, or information
Cost: Money, favors, or reputation

  • Build network of informants
  • Purchase specialized equipment
  • Establish safe houses
  • Stockpile supplies for emergencies

Ritual Learning

Time Required: 1-4 weeks per spell
Effect: Learn occult rituals
Cost: SAN, magical materials

  • Study from grimoires or mentors
  • Each ritual costs SAN to learn
  • Dangerous but potentially necessary
  • May attract unwanted attention

Investigation Prep

Time Required: 1-2 weeks
Effect: Better prepared for next case
Cost: Time and resources

  • Background research on next location
  • Gather appropriate equipment
  • Establish contacts in target area
  • Create cover stories or alibis

👔 Career & Social Activities

Maintaining Employment

Time Required: Ongoing
Effect: Steady income, social cover
Cost: Time away from investigation

  • Balance investigation with normal job
  • Profession may provide resources
  • Risk losing position if too absent
  • Can use job as investigation cover

Networking

Time Required: Ongoing
Effect: Build contacts and allies
Cost: Social time, potential obligations

  • Attend social events, clubs, societies
  • Cultivate useful relationships
  • Information sources for future cases
  • May provide alibis or assistance

Family & Relationships

Time Required: Regular attention
Effect: Maintain important relationships
Cost: Emotional energy, time

  • Protect loved ones from knowledge of horrors
  • Maintain facade of normalcy
  • Source of strength and motivation
  • Potential vulnerability if threatened

Legal Affairs

Time Required: Variable
Effect: Resolve legal complications
Cost: Legal fees, time

  • Deal with consequences of investigations
  • Establish legal protections
  • Create trusts or contingency plans
  • Handle arrests or charges

💡 Using Downtime in Your Campaign

For Keepers/GMs

  • Allow time between scenarios for recovery
  • Use downtime to develop character relationships
  • Let investigators research and prepare
  • Introduce complications through downtime events
  • Balance game time with player engagement

For Players

  • Plan downtime activities between sessions
  • Recovery is essential - don't skip it
  • Use time to develop character backstory
  • Build resources for future investigations
  • Maintain balance between horror and normalcy

Changelog

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