Monsterhearts

[roll to seduce]

Since the mention of Bluebeard's Bride I've been on a bit of a PbtA binge. There's a lot of fun ideas there, but I came across one focused on teenage monster drama.

Has anyone heard about this? Would anyone be interested in playing a vampire, ghost, or werewolf as they tackle highschool?

[WritesNaughtyStories]

I've both run and played Monsterhearts at other play by post sites, but I don't know second edition. I'd be interested in playing, as I can't imagine there's a big difference between editions.

[IsabellaRose]

It's a really fun game, and works well as play by post.

[WickedCadrach]

I haven't played, but I've only heard good things. I would be interested to try it if someone wants to get a game going. 

[WritesNaughtyStories]

I am going to make an early request for The Hollow - the built by someone else, Frankenstein's creature feel is one I adore. I also think it makes them exceptionally well suited to being nonbinary, genderfluid and/or gender transgressive which is space I'm especially curious about.

[roll to seduce]

Dibs on playing the MC

[Chiyako]

Monsterhearts is super fun. A lot of different ones to choose from too.

[WickedCadrach]

Is it lame if I kind of want to play The Mortal?

I've always had a soft spot for characters who are underprepared and in over their heads. 

[roll to seduce]

I think all the skins are cool. That one does require you to cooperate with someone else in character creation

[WickedCadrach]

  On 4/3/2025 at 6:57 PM, roll to seduce said:

That one does require you to cooperate with someone else in character creation

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Not a problem from my end. I've been told I'm friendly

[roll to seduce]

Do we steal a small town from the example or do we go through the effort to make our own?

[WritesNaughtyStories]

I can copy and paste a town from supplemental stuff I got in a bundle somewhere along the way.

@WickedCadrach, The Hollow might be a good choice to work with - they're a vessel looking for content - it's the kind of disastrous codependency MH thrives on.

[WickedCadrach]

  On 4/3/2025 at 9:31 PM, WritesNaughtyStories said:

I can copy and paste a town from supplemental stuff I got in a bundle somewhere along the way.

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I'm happy to go along with this, or if our MC has a town they want to put forward. I think too much town prep might bog us down, but there's no reason we can't tweak something premade if people have ideas (I assume? Hi, I'm new to this game)

 

  On 4/3/2025 at 9:31 PM, WritesNaughtyStories said:

The Hollow might be a good choice to work with - they're a vessel looking for content - it's the kind of disastrous codependency MH thrives on.

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That makes a ton of sense. I would be down, either having a relationship established at the start or obsessing over the Hollow from a distance. 

[Chiyako]

Depending on what can count as Fae, I am considering that. Or Vampire. Or Witch.

[DreamsnThings]

ooooh new game!

without knowing anything about the rules im immediately thinking of playing a vampire teacher (if that is even remotely an option) if not I can do the vampire equivalent of a goth, IE play a little miss sunshine

[roll to seduce]

I have the list of premade towns so we can use one of those. I think I like the last option, the little island the most. I'll do a thourough rear through all of them.

  On 4/4/2025 at 1:59 AM, DreamsnThings said:

ooooh new game!

without knowing anything about the rules im immediately thinking of playing a vampire teacher (if that is even remotely an option) if not I can do the vampire equivalent of a goth, IE play a little miss sunshine

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Playing an adult is not an option. I think that would be a dynamic that is difficult to manage.

Playing the vampire is all about being cold, manipulative and attractive. When you're pushed to your darkest self you stop seeing people as people and rather as playthings you can use for your own desires.

[Chiyako]

Are we intending to use Monsterhearts 1 or 2? Also if 2 are we allowed to use the extra ones described within the book (second skins)? Or the Chosen or Serpentine?

[roll to seduce]

2e. Because that's the one I read through. Let's stay with the basic ones until I get a better feel for the game. And we can leave those for later seasons.

[Chiyako]

I think I'm leaning Witch or Ghoul.

[roll to seduce]

Okay, we'll do the summer folk setting. We'll modify it to fit your characters, but feel free to borrow the suggested skins from the book. 

Potter's neck is popular vacation spot, with beaches, nice hiking trails, and a massive funfair. Though it was only succesful during summer, come autumn and the bustle instantly stopped. Though summer day, the season just stopped changing. It has been summer now for ages, and no one seems to notice. People still talk about returning to school in the autumn, or heading home after their vacation, but it never happens.

The fun fair, playland is the central gathering spot for youth. So each of you need a cannection to it.

[WickedCadrach]

Sounds fun

I didn't see anything in ToS, but how do we feel about my posting a GoogleDoc link to the MonsterHearts 2 pdf? (Definitely support the game dev if you can, but for people poking their head in and getting a feel for the game?)

[roll to seduce]

You have my permission to post your copy of the rules. Not sure if that's allowed by the site. It's a good idea for people to read through it before they decide to join

[WickedCadrach]

  On 4/4/2025 at 11:20 AM, roll to seduce said:

You have my permission to post your copy of the rules. Not sure if that's allowed by the site. It's a good idea for people to read through it before they decide to join

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EDIT: putting out publisher's free links instead.

Edited Friday at 11:50 AM by WickedCadrach
retraction

[IsabellaRose]

To play it safe, maybe just post a link to the freely available playbooks so people can read through?

If they're available free from the creator, you can post a link.

Here's the skins

https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/monsterhearts-reference-sheets.pdf

and here's the player rules reference, both free from the creator website

https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/monsterhearts-reference-sheets.pdf

[roll to seduce]

For someone wanting to play I'd look through the skins and moves first of all. It's really all you need to know to wrap your head around how the game is supposed to work.

Other than that the game is supposed to work like a conversation. So I'm not sure if we want to mix narration and conversation, because you're encourage to ask eachother questions and collaborate on actually making the story.

We'll see. We can at least do the setup here. Which consists of creating characters, figure out how you relate to eachother and the rest of Potter's Neck.

I'll see if I can find the link to the small town's document, but the initial details of the town is written there if you need inspiration.