Hello, Im new to the system and getting ready to start scripting out campaigns for my buds. Is there any suggestions for long term gm with setting. I have been a long time fan of MotW television shows. I have a few ideas but Im struggling with how campy to be or how much true horror. Or a blend?
Last thing I swear, can people post original campaign ideas for critique?
Hi, welcome!
I don’t think anyone else can really answer where you should go on the campy < -> terrifying line: I think the game can handle any point, but it’s probably best suited to somewhere in the middle, tending to camp and self-conscious humour (i.e. like Buffy and Supernatural).
Feel free to post your game ideas here for discussion, that’s what the community is for.
To answer the question of how campy/horrific, ask your players what they want. They’ll twist whatever you throw at them into what they want anyway. Just be sure to talk about it with all of them together so they come to a consensus together.
My game was all fun and games until the Expert accidentally erased a man’s soul from existence, trapping him in an eternal feral werewolf hell.
We laughed, we cried, we got beaten up by a soulless demon werewolf.
I’m new to running Monster of the Week myself, but have played and ran a lot of PbtA sessions generally.
I’d recommend holding off on planning too much for themes or tone; if you plan ahead and the game play doesn’t match what you anticipated, you may be disappointed, and might get frustrated trying to make your game meet your expectation. Leaving it open ended also gives the other players more influence over the game that develops, which puts you in a great position of sitting back and watching the story unfold.
Instead, i’d discuss the questions of theme and tone with the full group, and be clear that you’re not establishing rules, but simply giving everyone a chance to get on a similar page. If everyone has been part of this conversation, the choices you each make during character creation and in game should tend generally toward the kind of game that your group wants to play. Then if there are any disruptive behaviors, the group can call a time out and handle them, instead of leaving it on the GM to be the sole authority.
Be willing to let the game evolve based on the group input. Let them tell you what you want and then observe and see what works and they enjoy. Maybe just start with a simple “vampire hunt” or something and let the players actions and reactions guide the creation of the material. How do they decide to kill the vampire? Deal with the police? Respond to a weird “Renfield” bug eating madman? All of this will help…