''The Hartlewick Horror'' is an adventure published by FASA in 1985 for ''

The Doctor Who Role Playing Game ''The Doctor Who Role Playing Game'' is a ''Doctor Who'' roleplaying game published by FASA in 1985. The game allows players to assume similar roles to the Doctor and his companions or as agents of the Celestial Intervention Agency. Set ...

'', itself based on the long-running BBC television series ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

''.

Plot summary

The player characters, usually consisting of one or more Time Lords and their Companions, are sent to Earth in 1923 by the Celestial Intervention Agency to investigate a large energy field centred on the English village of Hartlewick, where a number of people have recently disappeared at night. The characters will eventually discover an ancient alien imprisoned underground who is using its telepathic powers to force the local villagers and an archaeologist to free it. Pregenerated characters are provided for the Fourth Doctor, and his well-known companions Leela, Sarah Jane Smith, and Harry Sullivan.

Publication history

''The Hartlewick Horror'', a 40-page book with a cardstock card published by FASA in 1985, was written by

Ray Winninger Ray Winninger is a game designer who has worked on a number of roleplaying games, including the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. He is the former Executive Producer for the Wizards of the Coast '' Dungeons & Dragons'' studio. ...

with interior art by Jane Bigos and Todd Marsh, and cover art by

David Deitrick David R. Deitrick is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Career David Deitrick has had illustrations published in several different science fiction role-playing games. In 2014, Scott Taylor of '' Black Gate'', named David De ...

Reception

In the August 1986 edition of the British magazine '' White Dwarf'' (Issue #80), Barry Bailey reviewed both ''The Hartlewick Horror'' and another ''Doctor Who'' adventure, '' The Legions of Death'', and said of ''The Hartlewick Horror'', "You could be forgiven for thinking it was a scenario for a certain popular rolegame with the initials '' CoC''." Bailey thought the plot "was simple, and designed for less experienced players", but he admitted that those players would "find it very entertaining." He also noted that "players were guided through it, without being too obvious that there was manipulation involved." However, Bailey criticized the American designer for a lack of research, "apparently unaware of the distinctive differences between English and American towns." He concluded that, compared to ''The Legions of Death'', "''The Hartlewick Horror'' is the better of the two scenarios, and should provide a solid one or two sessions' gaming."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hartlewick Horror Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1985 The Doctor Who Role Playing Game adventures