Belief in Beyond the Veil

It’s just the wind…

In a setting where the general populace are protected from the true horrors of reality we wanted to have scope for Investigators to span a spectrum of mindsets. During character creation we define this fundamental view of the world as their Belief value and where an Investigator sits on this scale provides a default reaction to a situation. Just how far would a sceptic go to explain an unsettling event? Or how might a true believer react to a sudden revelation they’d always suspected but never proven?

Initially a player can choose where their Investigator sits on the scale, or they can roll for it as the scale runs from 1 to 10. Intentionally, there is no sweet spot on the scale. Whether a player chooses to be a sceptic, believer, or simply ‘not sure’, it is a chance for narrative over mechanical advantage. We view it as a default mindset when faced with uncertainty, some may try to rationalise even in the face of overwhelming evidence, others may simply embrace events without question. Either works during an investigation and having a range of beliefs within a group may even be a benefit.

It is worth noting that while belief is determined at the start of an Investigator’s career, it is by no means a fixed value. The events that unfold around them, their reactions to anxiety inducing situations, or even their acceptance of their own experiences can shift the belief value up and down the scale. This provides another interesting way for players to immerse themselves in the setting… ask yourself ‘just how would my character react in this situation?’ and lean into it for the most effect. A canny Overseer may even choose to phrase things a certain way to different Investigators to elicit narratively interesting reactions and trains of thought!

By the end of an investigation or two every single Investigator should be a true believer though, right?

Well, not quite. Just because it turns out that ghosts are real doesn’t mean that aliens and vampires are too… [spoiler alert: they are]. Even seasoned Investigators can still maintain a sceptical default mindset, seeking to explain and understand rather than simply accepting is a valid investigative technique even when your core view of what is real has shifted towards accepting the true breadth of existence.

Mechanically, Belief feeds into two key survival stats: the Fear Threshold (how much you can take before breaking) and the Fear Check Modifier (how likely you are to keep your cool when things escalate). Absolute sceptics benefit from a high Fear Threshold, their rigid views provide a rational barrier to panic. But they struggle to resist the obviously extra-normal experiences they encounter with a greatly reduced Fear Check Modifier. At the other end of the scale, a true believer knows just how dangerous the situations they find themself in can be and as such may give in to panic much earlier thanks to a lower Fear Threshold. They will, however, easily handle things in the moment thanks to their flexible thinking and therefore benefit from a high Fear Check Modifier. For those who sit somewhere in the middle there are varying degrees of benefit for handling the effects of fear but no optimal place.

Think of it like The X-Files. Mulder believes everything whereas Scully believes nothing. Their arguments are the show. Beyond the Veil brings that tension to the table, not just between players, but within each character themselves. Belief is a lens that colours their choices and their reactions forcing them to reevaluate their concept of reality at every turn.

Ultimately that’s what makes it a powerful narrative tool. Two Investigators might witness the same impossible event, but draw completely different conclusions. So when you build your Investigator, consider this: “How open are they to the possibility that the world is far stranger than they imagined?”

When they see Beyond the Veil… will they believe?

Uncover the Truth, Survive the Unknown.