ROOM KEYING

While there is no unified way that rooms are keyed in Liminal Horror scenarios, we have refined it to a fairly consistent explanation presented in Einfühlung (2025). This can be helpful when thinking about how you present information in your scenario. The biggest recommendation we have is that whatever style you choose, try to stay consistent within the same scenario as it helps Facilitators parse the information when things follow a pattern.

Excerpt from Einfühlung (p. x)
HOW TO USE THE ROOM DESCRIPTIONS
Most adventures present mapped information in the form of a Location Key. This info is gathered so that the Facilitator can guide the Investigators through the physical space.

Each key is formatted similarly.
ROOM NAME Each location has a brief description of the first aspects that would be noticed upon exploration. From there, information follows a hierarchy.

Bullet points indicate details about a location in the order in which they are most obvious upon exploration.
- Magnifying glasses and nested bullets indicate details, clues, and other information that can be found through investigation.
- ! Exclamation points signify sources of danger, such as a trap or an encounter.

Bolded Terms (p. x) are used to indicate things that have a corresponding page annotation. In the digital format these can be clicked to take you to the main page reference.

STRESS
Some room entries are followed (1 Stress) to indicate potential source of Stress for investigators. The most simple way to use this is if the Investigator interacts with this object they take one point of Stress Damage. Having investigators take Stress is a mechanical indication of the ratcheting up of tension and weirdness.

Other unlisted events or objects may cause Stress (or require a CTRL save to avoid Stress).

STRESS SCALE
Stress as a mechanic can be used to increase tension, cue to Investigators that things are becoming weird and strange, and use up HP. Here is a reference scale for type of stress.

1 STRESS: Witnessing something horrid.
1d4 STRESS: Particularly horrific scenes or the abilities of minor horrors.
1d6 STRESS: Abilities of major horrors.
1d8+ STRESS: Abilities of particularly monstrous entities or witnessing events not meant for human eyes.

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