What You Need & How to Play
A player's primer and a Game Master's guide to running God Complex.
What's Needed to Play
God Complex is a low-prep game. The only things you need to bring to the table are a few physical tools — everything else is provided by the rules and your imagination.
Character Sheet
One per player. Printable and fillable PDFs are available in the Character Sheets section below.
Pencil/Pen and Paper
For notes, quick sketches, and tracking clues, NPCs, and important plot points.
Six-Sided Dice
At least 5 d6 per player. Having 10 d6 is ideal so you can keep a pool ready for any task without passing dice around.
Basic Instruction
What you need to know to sit down, build your Elysian, and play your first session.
Create Your Character
Use the character sheet (downloadable below) and follow the step-by-step guide to bring your Elysian to life. The full process is also detailed in the Basic Rules on Project Hedron.
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1. Concept
A broad idea for your Elysian. Ex-Con who was wrongfully convicted. Burned-out ER nurse. Former priest. The spark that makes the character yours.
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2. Powerset
Choose one of ten — Darkness, Fire, Healing, Heightened Senses, Illusion, Invisibility, Light, Lightning, Magnetism, or Supernatural Strength. You start with one Tier 1 Ability from your chosen Powerset.
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3. Background
Choose one of ten — Student, Artist, Criminal, Mechanic, Hacker, Firefighter, Police Officer, Social Media Influencer, Boxer, or Marksman. Each grants a Feature, a once-per-session Ability, an Attribute bonus, a Specialty, a Proficiency, and suggested Allies/Enemies or Contacts/Rivals.
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4. Attributes
Distribute 6 points across your six Attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Awareness, Composure, Presence, Intelligence). The standard array is 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1 — one Attribute at 3, four at 2, and one at 1.
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5. Starting XP
You have 3 XP to spend. Attribute boost: 2 XP · Specialty: 1 XP · Proficiency: 1 XP · Ability: 2 XP per Tier · Boon: 1 XP. (Taking a Bane grants +1 XP and +1 HP.)
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6. Calculate Characteristics
Your Tier, Attributes, and Size determine your Fortitude, Evasion, Speed, Initiative, Conviction, Willpower, Health Pool, and Gloriae Pool. The exact formulas are in the Basic Rules.
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7. Finalize
Name, gender, appearance, backstory — the human details that make your Elysian yours. This is also the moment to integrate with your Pantheon and the Mythos.
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8. Domain
Choose what your Elysian is responsible for — a concept or area of influence tied to the legends of old. Your Domain is what you engage with during Reverie to replenish your Gloriae.
Character Sheets
Two-page character sheets — choose the fillable PDF for digital play, or the printable PDF for the table.
Character Sheet (1 of 2)
Type directly into the form fields. Best for digital play and screen sharing.
Download →Character Sheet (2 of 2)
The back side — Abilities, Equipment, Notes, and advancement tracking.
Download →Character Sheet (1 of 2)
Print and fill in by hand. Best for in-person sessions and conventions.
Download →Character Sheet (2 of 2)
The back side — Abilities, Equipment, Notes, and advancement tracking.
Download →Virtual Character Sheet & Creator — Coming Soon
A browser-based character sheet and step-by-step character creator is in development. It'll track your Attributes, Abilities, Gloriae, and Health automatically as you build your Elysian, with optional PDF export for printing. Subscribe to the devlog for updates.
Know Your Core Concepts
Three ideas drive everything you'll do at the table. Once these click, the rest of the system follows.
Objectives
What you're trying to accomplish. Open a door. Negotiate with a vampire. Climb a wall. Chase a lead across the city. Every action starts with an objective.
Actions
The specific choice that turns an objective into a dice roll — Attack, Move, Defend, Hide, or use one of your supernatural Abilities. Most actions cost Action Points.
Rolls
A pool of d6 equal to the relevant Attribute or Characteristic. Each die showing a 5 or 6 counts as an Advance (a 6 counts as two). Total Advances determine your success.
Play With Your GM
The GM sets the narrative and challenges. You decide how your character acts within those scenes, roll when uncertainty exists, and collaborate on the story. God Complex rewards creative solutions — talk to your GM about what you want to try, and they'll help you find a way to roll for it.
Take Notes
Keep track of clues, NPCs, and any important plot points on your paper. A session can introduce a dozen named characters and twice as many locations — even the best memory needs a backup. The notes you take during session one will pay off in session ten.
Running the Game & Building a Mythos
Your job is to set the stage, adjudicate the rules, and bring the city to life.
Your Role & Responsibilities
The Game Master wears five hats. On any given session you might swap between them mid-scene.
Narrator & Arbiter
You craft the world's events, describe scenes, and adjudicate rules. You decide when a roll is needed and what the consequences are.
Player Facilitator
Encourage players to explore their backstories; weave those threads into the session. The best moments usually come from PC history, not plot you prepped.
NPC Manager
Voice multiple characters (quest givers, adversaries, bar patrons) and keep them consistent. A vampire who intimidates in session one should still intimidate in session ten.
Challenge Designer
Build encounters (combat, social, investigative) that fit your plot hook. Mix the three — not every problem needs a fistfight.
Rule Moderator
Use the core mechanics: roll pools based on attributes/characteristics; apply Advances to determine success or failure. When in doubt, narrate first and look up the rule after.
Creating a Mythos — The Heart of God Complex
A Mythos is the living backdrop against which your Pantheon (the players) and the ordinary citizens of your city fight, negotiate, and uncover secrets. It's more than just a map — it's a narrative hub that links every character's personal story to the larger supernatural drama.
Pick a Setting
Your city is the stage. Choose the one that fits the kind of story you want to tell.
Real-World City
e.g., Los Angeles, London, Chicago. Immediate cultural references and recognizable landmarks. Players can lean on what they already know.
Fictional Metropolis
Full freedom to design unique lore, factions, and urban myths. A blank canvas for entirely original supernatural politics.
Hybrid
Blend a real location's vibe with invented districts or neighborhoods. Best of both worlds: familiar references, fresh lore.
Define the Mythos Core
The three pillars that hold the whole story together.
Narrative Hub
The central story thread that ties together all sessions — think of it as the "main quest" of your city. This is the throughline that gives the campaign shape.
Themes & Tone
Decide whether the mood is noir-dark, whimsical urban-magic, or a blend of both. Setting the tone early keeps every session consistent.
Key Factions
List the major supernatural groups (the players' Pantheon, rival Pantheons, ancient beings, vampire courts) that will shape the city's politics.
Your Role in Mythos Creation
The hands-on work of building and running the world, session by session.
Draft a Session Outline
A skeleton plot with potential complications and hooks for player backstories. The outline is a safety net, not a script — let the players surprise you.
Populate NPCs & Stat Blocks
Ready-to-use sheets for allies, foes, and random encounters that fit the setting. Pre-build a handful so you're not improvising stats mid-combat.
Set the Stage
Describe key locations (e.g., a shadowy speakeasy, a crumbling cathedral, a corporate penthouse) and give players sensory details — sight, sound, smell. The scene is the story.
Balance Player Arcs with Overall Plot
Use player backstories as potential session themes while keeping the larger Mythos intact. Personal and epic can coexist.
Collaborative Mythos Building
The best Mythoi are built with the table, not handed down from the GM.
Player Input
Encourage players to suggest locations, local lore, or personal quests that could become session arcs. Their investment makes the world feel lived-in.
Rotating GM
Allow different players to step up as the GM for a short period — a single session, an arc, a month of play. This lets each person bring their own narrative flavor and keeps the Mythos fresh.
Shared Spotlight
The GM must share control of the story with the Pantheon so everyone feels heard, yet still maintain the overarching direction. It's a balance — listen more than you direct.