Investigate a Mystery – Revisited v0.3

Investigate a Mystery – Revisited v0.3

Investigate a Mystery – Revisited v0.3

Again, thanks for your interest – I really appreciate the feedback and discussion!

Now that I’ve figured out what kept getting it deleted from reddit, you can follow the discussion there in /r/monsteroftheweek as well if you like.

I’m just keeping everything current by noting that v0.3 is up now:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_qXPHlR8MfWUZ7MPVQVY2qmcVe989P16_0cZb0erJDs/edit?usp=sharing

If anyone has a chance to put this on the table, I’d be very glad to hear how it goes!

Investigate a Mystery – Revisited v0.2

Investigate a Mystery – Revisited v0.2

Investigate a Mystery – Revisited v0.2

Hey everyone – thanks for the feedback and interest! I’ve got a new revision of the move available for comment here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_qXPHlR8MfWUZ7MPVQVY2qmcVe989P16_0cZb0erJDs/edit?usp=sharing

Here’s the changelog:

* Rewrite Clues as hold to stay with the simplest thing that could possibly work

* Specify that taking hold can be selected as often as desired

* Fix keeper notes regarding information on a miss, move trigger, etc.

* Reformat to more generally resemble moves from the book

Thanks again for reading and especially trying the move out in your games!

I’ve run and played a number of MotW campaigns now – and I found myself in a position where I was starting to like…

I’ve run and played a number of MotW campaigns now – and I found myself in a position where I was starting to like…

I’ve run and played a number of MotW campaigns now – and I found myself in a position where I was starting to like the game less that I would wish to. I love the concept, I think it’s one of the great first-generation PbtA designs.

But I also think it’s starting to show its age (revised edition notwithstanding) and I had begun to sketch out the design of a complete replacement game. But that seemed daunting and I asked myself, “What’s the simplest thing that could possibly work? What could you change about MotW that would have the biggest impact on your satisfaction with the game as both a Keeper and a player?”

The answer was obvious: Investigate a Mystery. I estimated that fixing IaM would address 60% of my problems with MotW, so I decided to undertake that first.

Here’s a link to my revised IaM move: https://app.box.com/s/3v47vtjjxb9bm0f3gmzxzen8mcb07ho6

The text is, as much as possible, verbatim from the existing book. I felt that a great deal of the trouble was from interpretation by both Keepers and players, so I tried to highlight the great advice that was already there.

But I also wanted to bring what I’d learned from years of playing GUMSHOE games to the solution and make the roll more varied – I was tired of King Sharp – there are lots of ways to get information!

My goals were:

* Keep the investigation phase from bogging down

* Avoid duplicate rolls

* Give players some control of the situation when investigating

* Keep investigation consequential and exciting

Questions and constructive feedback are welcome.

Heya, hunters.

Heya, hunters.

Heya, hunters.

To Michael Sands and anyone who might get a kick out of this:

We now have a novel out there that grew out of a MotW campaign!

I do believe Michael Sands and the game are mentioned in the acknowledgements. 🙂

Spiffy, yes?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GZ5T6GL/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title#customerReviews

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GZ5T6GL/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title#customerReviews

Hey there!

Hey there!

Hey there!

I’ve stumbled across this amazing game while listening to the Adventure Zone Podcast and I’d reaaaaaally love to play it some time. I used to play D’n’D and Shadowrun ages ago – but those experiences always were awkwardly “rule based” instead of “story driven” (which could have been due to mediocre gamemasters like me as well). And while MotW – like all PbtA games, I guess – seems to be different in this regard, its setting also is way more interesting!

My “problem” with MotW though: Stuff like this tends to be less scary (and with a less fluid playing experience) if rulebook, character sheets, campaign materials etc. are not in your native language – as this comes with the risk of an additional layer of interpretation and discussion in the midsts of the game.

So before I start asking around for fellow players: Are there any plans to have this translated into German? I’d also love to see some localized campaigns, maybe with weird German folklore-inspired mysteries like the “Wolpertinger”, the Franconian “Nachtgiger” or a crazy version of “RĂĽbezahl” …

Are there others who feel like me? Is there even the slightest chance to make a fan translation for this game?

Thanks, cheers, and greetings from Germany

JĂĽrgen

Writing a Horror Scenario the Sandy Petersen Way.

Writing a Horror Scenario the Sandy Petersen Way.

Writing a Horror Scenario the Sandy Petersen Way. He mostly references Cthulhu role playing games, but there’s great advice in here for MOTW. 1 hour video, filmed at GenCon 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o9P9fYrIfo

CUSTOM MOVE:

CUSTOM MOVE:

CUSTOM MOVE:

I made custom move for my campaign that takes place in the 1920’s and involves a speakeasy that caters to the magical lot in town (magic is not widely accepted or known among the “ungifted”).

We found that there was a lot of deception/distraction stuff that people wanted to do in place of just kicking ass or trying to manipulate someone. So this is kind of a hybrid move that overlaps a bit, and to that effect I’ve incorporated the “glitch” type mechanic from Use Magic – with consequences from other moves into a sort of Frankenstein move assembled from the parts of others.

My players have used it quite a few times since I made it and it feels right in practice, so I figured I’d share it.

____________________________________________________

Hoodwink Em!: This covers trying to do something that will influence a conversation or fight by hiding, lying, or misdirecting or attempting to Protect Someone, or Kick Some Ass without involving yourself in the fray; trying to get the monsters attention when you are far away from the harm; trying to tell the security guard that your FBI ID is totally real “dude”; trying to shoot that sword out of The General’s hand before he can finish his down-swing; or telling that barkeep that you will definitely consider giving them a raise when you certainly won’t.

When you Hoodwink Em! roll +Cool or +Charm (ask the Keeper):

• On a 10+ you do what you set out to.

• On a 7-9, you succeed, but choose an “uh-oh” from below, and the Keeper will determine what effect it has:

– You draw immediate unwanted attention;

– You expose yourself to extra danger;

– You gain a 1 forward;

An ally gains 1 forward;

Something or someone breaks down;

• On a miss, things go to hell.

__________________________________________________

Hey everyone, I’m looking for players for a weekly game.

Hey everyone, I’m looking for players for a weekly game.

Hey everyone, I’m looking for players for a weekly game. I’m running it more like a Monster of the Month, where the players face off against a couple of related mysteries before the “boss fight” mystery. If anyone is interested, you should come check it out.

“There are some things that you don’t talk about in Dartford, Maine. You do not talk about the screaming coming from the graveyard. You do not talk about the thing that lurks in the sewers. And you most assuredly do not talk about the old crone who lives atop Abbey Hill, doling out cures and curses in equal measure.

But after you find yourself allying with a group of strangers, searching each other’s faces in the dark between the trees, after having meddled in something even worse, you all agree there might just be more harm than good in not getting involved.

Did you think you’d spend peak leaf-peeping months this way, squashed together in the back of a car, knees knocking, stakes and a shotgun clanking in the trunk on your way to what’s next? Hell no. But curiosity killed the cat they say and sticking together to find out what’s going bump and slash in the night in Dartford might just be your safest and only option.”

https://app.roll20.net/lfg/listing/128752/disturbances-in-dartford