The Diner

The Diner is a collection of five gruesome scenarios for Horror: A Roleplaying Game. Let me just say, that even if I hadn't bought the rule system, I planned on picking up this horrific beauty.  The covers are fantastic and Rick Hershey of Fat Goblin Games outdid himself. It really has that video nasty VHS vibes and the coffee ring on the cover is a nice touch. The interior art is just as good.

The book begins with four pages of universal content about the titular diner aka The Last Stop Diner. There is a map included and a QR code to scan if you want to get a copy of the map for players. This is followed by a page of new stuff/equipment. We are presented a list of weapons found at the diner as well as weapon stats for hot liquids and gear stats for fire extinguishers and shitty weed. This is followed by a few pages of scenario rules. It basically lets you know what to expect. Each scenario has a set-up, three acts, an epilogue, discussion of using it in Franchise Mode, and relevant stats. Each act includes several action/rpg bits and lets you know relevant dice rolls and such. There is also a critical injuries for monsters table.

The first scenario is Mind Eaters. This scenario focuses on aliens and paranoia. The titular mind eater has possessed one or more patrons and a group of alien bounty hunters have staged situation to capture their prey. The Mind Eater get stats, as do the two alien bounty hunters, and their special gear.

The second scenario is The Night Shift. A vampire-like creature feeds in the diner and has a minion and hypnosis to cover things up. This crimson abomination and his zombie servant is statted out.

The third scenario is Eight-Legged Pandemic and definitely isn't for arachnophobes. Space spiders rain down from the sky. Their bite is venomous and can even turn victims into spider hybrids. There are stats for swarms, hybrids, and giant versions.

The fourth scenario is Demonomicon. A band called Gibbering Mouther has been using a sinister tome as a prop and accidently unleash a demon on the diner. The Demonic Entity is given stats.

The final scenario is Slime. This adventure is essentially the Blob at a diner. The characters are quarantined and must survive. We are given stats US Army soldier, a colonel, and the titular slime.

There are 10 characters presented: a near retirement detective, employees of the Last Stop Diner, and the band Gibbering Mouther. Each character is given stats and personal agenda items. There are also extra personal agenda items secretly given to the mind eater possessed character and crimson abomination's servant instead.

This book rocks and I recommend it to anybody looking for some simple to run horror adventures. Honestly with a little work, you could use them in any system, though as I mentioned before Horror: A Roleplaying Game is a simple and concise system. You can grab your own copy of The Diner from DMDave Publishing's online store. The pdf is 17 and the print copy is 22.

I was told this is the first in a line of one shot books like this. The first, The Gas Station, is nearly complete. It will be followed by The Sherriff's Office.