Midnight of the Century Primer

Dive into the shadows of the '90s in this occult serial killer investigation TTRPG

The Primer is a 20-page black and white rulebook from writer and designer Colin Le Sueur. The Primer serves as a quickstart guide and introduction to Midnight of the Century, a mid-'90s pre-apocalyptic serial killer investigation TTRPG inspired by '90s movies and TV shows like Millennium, Silence of the Lambs, Twin Peaks, and Homicide: Life on the Street.

This book contains everything you need to learn and run the game, including:

• A lightweight no combat framework for running investigations.
• Rules for creating an Investigator, with two Specialism to choose from offering distinct playstyles.
• See through the killer's eyes with the shrewd and analytical Profiler.
• Commune with the dead and pierce the veil with the spiritual and cunning Occultist.
• A taste of the dark secrets running under the surface of the mysterious and enigmatic Pacific Northwest of the 1990s.
• An introductory investigation tracking a ritualistic killer through rain-soaked Seattle.

Midnight of the Century is inspired by Liminal Horror, Cairn, Into the Odd, Mothership, Vaesen, and Brindlewood Bay. 

The full game is now available:

MOVIES

• The Bone Collector (1999)
• 8mm (1999)
• Fallen (1998)
• Ringu (1998)
• Seven (1995)
• Man Bites Dog (1992)
• Candyman (1992)
• Silence of the Lambs (1991)
• Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
• Manhunter (1986)
• The Dead Zone (1983)

Want to watch more films like these? Check out the Letterboxd Midnight of the Century Appendix N list!

TV

• Millennium (1995-1999)
• Nowhere Man (1995-1996)
• Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999)
• Twin Peaks (1990-1991)

COMICS

• Stormwatch (WildStorm)
• Hellboy (Dark Horse Comics)
• Sin City (Dark Horse Comics)
• Hellblazer (DC/Vertigo)

TABLETOP GAMES

• Liminal Horror (Goblin Archives)
• Cairn (Yochai Gal)
• Into the Odd (Chris McDowal)
• Mothership (Tuesday Knight Games)
• Brindlewood Bay (The Gauntlet)
• Vaesen (Free League)

MUSIC

https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/3rXlxPQKm5BlY5Hg85j5Jb?utm_source=generator

• Colin Le Sueur - Writer and Designer
• Karen Twelves - Copy Editor
• Amy Le Sueur - Proofreader

Midnight of the Century is a clever mashup of pieces of some of my favorite systems, pulled together by inspiration from some of my favorite media. It all clicks in a way where I instantly want to get it to the table.

Emmet Byrne, tabletop writer and designer (Old Oak Games)

Midnight of the Century absolutely nails the vibe and feel of serial killer drama with a hint of supernatural weirdness. As a huge fan of Millennium, Silence of the Lambs, and Seven, I can't wait to get my hands on the finished book!

You can find Colin on Bluesky, TikTok, or YouTube.

Or you can find our store at shop.byodinsbeardrpg.com.

Midnight of the Century is a love letter to the TV series Millennium (Fox, 1996-1999), created by Chris Carter, and the show’s protagonist Frank Black (played by Lance Henriksen). Millennium was one of my favourite shows as a teenager in the '90s, and I wanted to make a game that replicated the feeling of hunting serial killers through a rain-soaked city in the Pacific Northwest.