Hey there. We just played MotW on saturday and I liked it. I’d been reading it so that I could help the Keeper if needed (it was her first time).
I’ve been meaning to GM some pbta urban fantasy for quite some time and was planning to run Urban Shadows, because I thought it was the only candidate (even though the high emphasis on inter-faction political shenanigans is really not my cup of tea). But I’m starting to think MotW could work, even outside the strict framework of a self-contained episode.
One thing I did like in Urban Shadows was the possibility of playing different types of monsters as a regular character option, not limited to the Monstrous playbook. It really helped with the “commonplace supernatural” aspect that I want to install.
So, I’ve been thinking on allowing players to make supernatural characters even if the playbook has a regular human in mind. Like, a demon being The Crooked. I’m using demon in the buffyverse sense, where some of them are just regular people with green skin, little red horns and some basic supernatural power.
What it would look like would be a player taking the “human” playbook they want (The Expert, the Initiate…for example) instead of just The Monstrous.
Then, if their “breed” of monster really HAS to have a power that’s not just narrative polish, and has to have mechanical effects, I would simply have them tick “Take a move from another playbook” and get the corresponding Monstrous move, effectively starting the game with an advancement already, which I don’t think really unbalances the game. I probably wouldn’t ask a demon to take a monstrous Curse, but I may ask so from a vampire (or offer to the player the possibility that their character has overcome their thirst somehow) .
In that perspective, playing the Monstrous would be playing Angel from Buffy: a tormented character with a Curse, who wants to atone/ hates their monstrous nature. it would be a character whose main narrative attribute is that their are a Monster ; as opposed to a character whose narrative axis isn’t that their are a demon, but a private eye. Does that make sense?
So, yeah, what do you guys think of using MotW as a urban fantasy game that would be less centered on a “one game = one mystery” structure, but not “everything is politics, all the time” either?
Amaury Fourtet I recently got asked a very similar question via email, so I’ll share my comments about how I’d do this here too. The TL;DR version: yep, perfectly doable with a few adjustments.
The full version:
How I’d do this sort of setting:
1. The Monstrous playbook only applies to “non standard” creatures… so if humans, werewolves, and vampires are common, a Monstrous hunter would not be a regular vampire or werewolf, but could be a demon or swamp monster or whatever.
2. Define standard curses and natural attacks for “standard” monsters, just like in the Monstrous playbook. Make a list of moves for each breed with supernatural moves they can take, either from the Monstrous playbook or anywhere.
3. A hunter “standard monster” picks a regular playbook as usual and then adds the breed template (curse and natural attack) from step 2. They can take moves from the breed options as normal playbook moves (during character creation or when levelling up).
That shouldn’t unbalance things because the only free bits of being a monster are the curse and natural attack, and other supernatural moves are purchased normally. You could even let them take one breed move at character generation, too, and just lean on the curse a little harder to make the human hunters feel like they aren’t missing out.
Note: I haven’t actually tried that, but I think it should all work okay.
And I notice that your suggestion is almost exactly the same as mine anyway, on a second read. 👍
oh hello ! thanks for your answer !
So, what you’re saying is that the curse “evens out” with the basic attacks ? I didn’t think of that. It would then work out with my idea of giving a monstrous move as “starting advancement”, so that the character doesn’t lack one of the main playbook moves because they’ve switched it with a monster move… Or do you think it could work, taking a monstrous move instead of a playbook move, and not “dilute” the intended playbook ?
Also, since you’re here, can I abuse your goodwill and ask what you think of using MotW for more general urban fantasy stories and not always the “solving mystery and finding out weaknesses” structure ? some playbooks feel like they have moves hardcoded for that so I fear I may be on the wrong path, but I’m not positive.
Amaury Fourtet that more general urban fantasy story is definitely pushing the system beyond its design a bit. the mystery-centred game underlies the basic moves and a lot of the character abilities.
have you seen the draft of the “weird phenomena” rules? they allow for non-monster centered mysteries which might help a bit for what you want, although it’s still about a mystery there: genericgames.co.nz – genericgames.co.nz/files/MotW_more_weirdness.pdf (the finished version will be in the upcoming More Weirdness book)
You might also want to check out Blood and Water, which is basically the Being Human rpg, about supernatural housemates. That’s more about day to day drama, if that’s what you’re after: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/186708/Blood–Water (I haven’t played or got a copy yet, but I’ve heard great things about it).
Ah yes I’ve seen the draft earlier but i’ve only read the alternative Weird moves. Which I think are a brilliant idea and can actually help towards the “monsters as people” we’re discussing ! i’m also very interested in the final version, because of the suggestions to play with a very reduced number of players (we’re playing monsterhearts solo with my girlfriend, and all of this is to reverse the GM’s role and have me GM her something).
I didn’t know about blood and water as far as day to day drama with monsters is concerned : only monsterhearts. It sounds great !
And, to be honest, my reticence with the monster of the week formula may just come from the fact I haven’t put it into practice yet. So i’m not giving up on MotW yet !