Pullo loved summer evenings on the Aventine.
When the sun went down, a pleasant coolness washed over the district, bringing relief after the day’s heat. A gentle breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of wine, sweat, and herbs. True, you could occasionally run into unsavory types here, but Pullo had lived in this neighborhood for over seventy years. He knew nearly everyone, and everyone knew him. Besides, who would bother robbing a poor old man? And for what?
That evening the air felt light and fresh. Pullo walked along the street, greeting familiar faces. He smiled at the beautiful women who displayed their charms in hopes of profit.
“Maybe a decade ago,” he thought, waving at them with amusement.
He heard the footsteps first.
A stranger was running,  pounding feet, ragged breath. He rushed past the old man, nearly knocking him over. Pullo jumped aside at the last moment. He saw the man’s face only for a fraction of a second,  but that was enough.
Madness in his eyes.
Fear so pure it seemed inhuman.
The stranger didn’t even notice him. He kept glancing back over his shoulder as if something were chasing him.
Pullo looked into the alley from which the man had fled. It was empty. Somewhere deeper inside, someone emptied a chamber pot out a window. Nothing unusual.
And yet the old man felt cold creeping beneath his skin.
The evening was no longer pleasant.
A few minutes later, a scream cut through the air.
A strange scream. Short. Abrupt.
A homeless veteran quickly moved away. The prostitute around the corner did not even attempt to check what had happened,  though normally such situations were an opportunity to find a purse near a body. This time something held her back.
Only one person entered the alley.
A tall man in a dark cloak.
The one who had screamed lay on the ground.
Dead.
He had no eyes.
Only blood-filled sockets and a frozen grimace of terror remained.
The man in the cloak noticed, without surprise, a dark mark on the corpse’s neck.
The victim wore a fine tunic, a gold chain, and a ring. Beneath his robe,  a dagger. He had not drawn it in time.
“I’m sorry,” the stranger said quietly. “I was too late. But know this,  I will find the one who did this to you. And he will feel your fear. I promise.”
It was not the last terrible death that night.

What is Romanitas?

Romanitas is a dark tabletop roleplaying game set in an alternative version of the Roman Empire in 80 CE, where beneath the façade of marble, law, and imperial order lies a world of mysteries, secrets, and things humanity was never meant to understand.

It is a world of investigations, disappearances, secret cults, and a hidden philosophical conflict unfolding beyond the awareness of most inhabitants of the Empire. Players take the roles of ordinary people drawn into events that gradually reveal the true nature of reality.

Romanitas is not heroic fantasy.

There is no simple division between good and evil.
There are no perfect solutions.
Every decision has consequences, and every discovered secret comes with a price.

A Different Kind of Horror

The horror in Romanitas is not about constant battles against monsters.

It is slow and creeping horror.
Unease.
The feeling that the world does not work the way it should.
That beneath everyday life lurks something older, stranger, and far more dangerous than anyone wishes to admit.

Core Themes
investigations and uncovering mysteries,
narrative and atmosphere,
political intrigue,
secrets and hidden organizations,
moral and philosophical dilemmas,
consequences of player decisions,
slow-burn horror,
an alternative vision of ancient Rome.
What Will You Find in the Rulebook?
a complete rules system,
mechanics for investigation, combat, and magic,
a depiction of the Roman Empire and its inhabitants,
secret organizations and hidden factions,
a bestiary and supernatural threats,
an introductory adventure.

Romanitas is not a game about saving the world.

It is a game about trying to understand it.

Romanitas

Maciej Gos is a journalist who has been involved with the RPG community for over 20 years. In tabletop roleplaying games, he particularly values strong narrative, atmosphere, and mystery. Romanitas is his debut original tabletop RPG.

Maciej Gos

There are wounds that never heal.
In the shadows of the Eternal City, an unnamed horror has been born. A series of mysterious deaths spreads fear, while the answers lead to truths that should never come to light. But what is the truth? Will the characters manage to solve the mystery behind these terrible deaths? And will they be ready to accept what they discover?
Romanitas is a dark tabletop roleplaying game set in an alternative version of the Roman Empire in 80 CE, focused on investigations, narrative, atmosphere, and slowly escalating horror.
This is not a black-and-white world. Morality comes in every shade of grey, and every decision may bring consequences the characters never expected.
This Quickstart includes pre-generated characters, simplified game rules, and an introductory adventure into the world of Romanitas.
Welcome to the world of Romanitas!

Game

Quickstart Romanitas