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Author Topic: Actual Fucking Monsters  (Read 4442 times)

GRIM

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« Reply #30 on: May 27, 2019, 02:41:27 PM »
PoD is only via Lulu at the moment, but should hypothetically be on Amazon eventually.

Uh, what do you want to hear?

It's a game where you play irredeemable Monsters who don't try and stay human and whine all the time, but act like what they are and get hunted down (inevitably) for it, by ever more dangerous enemies.

Think of it in some ways as a 'what happens next' after the end of Nightbreed.
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GRIM

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« Reply #31 on: May 27, 2019, 02:41:59 PM »
Yeah, but fuck it. Why not?
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GRIM

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« Reply #32 on: May 27, 2019, 02:43:35 PM »
The idea is that monsters sort of have to stick together to survive, even if they're all horrible 'people'. Nightbreed/Cabal is the main touchstone.
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GRIM

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« Reply #33 on: May 27, 2019, 02:45:36 PM »
Quote from: Spinachcat;1088926
Somebody poke Grim!

I just learned Fate of Cthulhu by Evil Hat had a SENSITIVITY CONSULTANT for their book. :eek: LOL. What fucknuts.

I gotta know Grim, was Actual Fucking Monsters approved by a Sensitivity Consultant before you published it?

I gotta know, is it safe to read??? :D


Oops, haven't been quote replying. Never mind.

Yes, I talked with a sensitivity consultant and every problem they raised I doubled down on.
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GRIM

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« Reply #34 on: May 27, 2019, 02:48:25 PM »
I'd not heard of 'Beast the Primordial'. You could play as Hunters, the Hunter groups are all utter bastards too. I intend to expand on that side a bit in a companion book.
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Spinachcat

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« Reply #35 on: May 27, 2019, 07:55:20 PM »
Quote from: BoxCrayonTales;1089045
The "he who fights monsters" trope gets boring after a while. It makes more sense to roll randomly to determine a given hunter's moral compass. That would be more believable than declaring all hunters are automatically scumbags.


Agreed, more variety is a good thing.  

In a "PCs as Monsters" game, I generally prefer an Evil vs. Evil setting setup, but that's just my preference.


Quote from: BoxCrayonTales;1089045
Milk for the Khorne flakes!


That's awesome!


Quote from: BoxCrayonTales;1089057
Can we go back to the part where I play as a sentient condom with teeth intent on castrating men for having premarital sex?


Sounds like a perfect PC for this game. I'd go with a shapeshifter so you have a human body for mobility (maybe even an enslaved one) and you sneak into places and then transform and enjoy snack time.

Spinachcat

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« Reply #36 on: May 27, 2019, 08:01:23 PM »
Quote from: GRIM;1089629
Yes, I talked with a sensitivity consultant and every problem they raised I doubled down on.

Amen!

Always good to hear from you Grim!


Quote from: GRIM;1089628
The idea is that monsters sort of have to stick together to survive, even if they're all horrible 'people'. Nightbreed/Cabal is the main touchstone.

Tell us more about how this works in actual play.

As the PCs do not feed together, their individual "feeding scenes" would not involve the other players at the table, aka they go on solo quest.

How do you run that at your table and keep the other player's involved?


Quote from: GRIM;1089626
PoD is only via Lulu at the moment, but should hypothetically be on Amazon eventually.

Make this happen! There's something extra fun about getting a RPG in the same box as your fresh undies and toilet paper.


Quote from: GRIM;1089626
Uh, what do you want to hear?

More about actual play.

What pitfalls should GMs be aware of?

And why not a Kickstarter? AFM doesn't sound like anything else on the market, and I could see the concept grabbing eyeballs.

GRIM

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« Reply #37 on: May 28, 2019, 07:46:45 AM »
Quote from: Spinachcat;1089654
Amen! Tell us more about how this works in actual play.

In actual play it works out that almost anything you do - as Monsters - will almost inevitably lead to you exposing yourself and attracting 'trouble'. Lone monsters can be powerful, but not so powerful that even local law enforcement or a revenge-seeking family member of a victim can't do you harm. It's pretty much a necessity to work together to maximise survival chances and cover assorted bases.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1089654
Amen! As the PCs do not feed together, their individual "feeding scenes" would not involve the other players at the table, aka they go on solo quest.


While I would not skimp too much on the feeding/transgressing scenes, whittling them down to a dice roll as White Wolf sometimes does, I think the nature of the game encourages other players 'voyeurism' and it shouldn't take too long, plus everyone will get a turn in the spotlight and as you're all in a broadly similar location and rely on each other there should be some interest. In longer-term games this might become repetitive, but in normal circumstances less so I think.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1089654
Amen! How do you run that at your table and keep the other player's involved?

By it being gross, and by them being invested in you not bringing hunters down on all of them :) The consequences effect everyone.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1089654
Amen! Make this happen! There's something extra fun about getting a RPG in the same box as your fresh undies and toilet paper.

I've approved the print proof, but a lot depends on whether Amazon and other resellers will allow a book with 'Fucking' in the title.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1089654
Amen! More about actual play.

There's been a few requests for this, so I thought I might write out - or record - a proper session. I have trouble with motivation and confidence when it comes to recording games though.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1089654
Amen! What pitfalls should GMs be aware of?

Moreso than in other games I think this may attract a degree of edgelordery that can go TOO far, even though that's explicitly part of the point of the game you don't necessarily want to indulge someone's paedophillic fantasies - for example. I think, like all RPGs, this is solved by maturity and unwritten social contracting around the table and is better served that way than by something dumb like 'X Cards', but perhaps an essay explicating that with some examples would help.

I also think many GMs have learned NOT to be ruthless with players and to treat player death with kid gloves, that 'programming' can be hard to overcome (and it's not something I personally enjoy in a lot of games) but it's thematically necessary in AFM.

These aren't really pitfalls of the rules, but in playing style and conventions. Harder to 'fix'.

Plus, y'know, people are entitled to play your games any way they want.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1089654
Amen! And why not a Kickstarter? AFM doesn't sound like anything else on the market, and I could see the concept grabbing eyeballs.

Because I am a grumpy old curmudgeon.

Here's the cliff notes version as to why:

1. If a project doesn't NEED crowdfunding, I don't like to ask for crowdfunding. I think it should be reserved for projects that need it and hate how it has become pre-ordering.
2. Crowdfunding is a huge stress and pain in the arse.
3. I didn't want to crowdfund when I have another crowdfunding project on the near horizon.
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The Witch-King of Tsámra

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« Reply #38 on: May 28, 2019, 01:12:35 PM »
How would AFM work for one on one play?
Playing: Nothing sadly
Running: Tales of Gor, FKR Star Wars, Vampire 4th edition

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« Reply #39 on: May 28, 2019, 08:42:39 PM »
Quote from: GRIM;1089677
By it being gross, and by them being invested in you not bringing hunters down on all of them :) The consequences effect everyone.

In your playtests, did players wander off in various directions to hunt or did they ambush groups to get their feed on?


Quote from: GRIM;1089677
I've approved the print proof, but a lot depends on whether Amazon and other resellers will allow a book with 'Fucking' in the title.

I searched Amazon.com for fucking and I got...1-48 of over 20,000 results for "fucking"

Venger Satanis has two "Fucking" titled RPG books Here and Here!


Quote from: GRIM;1089677
There's been a few requests for this, so I thought I might write out - or record - a proper session. I have trouble with motivation and confidence when it comes to recording games though.

Maybe you could find a horror RPG livestream group and trade them a box of free copies for recording a short play session. They would already have the YT video gear setup and the XP invested in their livestreaming skills.


Quote from: GRIM;1089677
Moreso than in other games I think this may attract a degree of edgelordery that can go TOO far, even though that's explicitly part of the point of the game you don't necessarily want to indulge someone's paedophillic fantasies - for example. I think, like all RPGs, this is solved by maturity and unwritten social contracting around the table and is better served that way than by something dumb like 'X Cards', but perhaps an essay explicating that with some examples would help.


AFM should totally use X-cards! Except here they mean the player or GM isn't going FAR enough into creepy zone!! Dude, you've been X-carded, add more evisceration and flying entrails! :)

But definitely GMs and players need a pre-game discussion of expectations and boundaries.


Quote from: GRIM;1089677
I also think many GMs have learned NOT to be ruthless with players and to treat player death with kid gloves, that 'programming' can be hard to overcome (and it's not something I personally enjoy in a lot of games) but it's thematically necessary in AFM.

I'm an old school adversarial DM so its natural for me to have "PCs vs. NPC foes" referee mindset, but I imagine many GMs will need a primer on "its not you vs. the players, it's PC monsters vs. NPCs monster-hunters" and encouraging the GM and players to discuss the adversarial dynamic and WHY its crucial to AFM and how it adds to the experience.  


Quote from: GRIM;1089677
2. Crowdfunding is a huge stress and pain in the arse.

Agreed, but I hope you find marketing outlets and promotion opportunities for AFM.

Hopefully it will trigger and offend somebody with a large Twitter following!!!

GRIM

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« Reply #40 on: May 29, 2019, 04:06:52 AM »
Quote from: arcanuum;1089698
How would AFM work for one on one play?

It could work quite well, I think you'd have to up the seriousness and down the splatterpunk vibe a little, and would also have to tone down and reduce the frequency of 'Consequences' for their actions, but that could be intense and enjoyable.
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GRIM

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« Reply #41 on: May 29, 2019, 04:11:00 AM »
Quote from: Spinachcat;1089718
In your playtests, did players wander off in various directions to hunt or did they ambush groups to get their feed on?
I searched Amazon.com for fucking and I got...1-48 of over 20,000 results for "fucking"
Venger Satanis has two "Fucking" titled RPG books Here and Here!
Maybe you could find a horror RPG livestream group and trade them a box of free copies for recording a short play session. They would already have the YT video gear setup and the XP invested in their livestreaming skills.
AFM should totally use X-cards! Except here they mean the player or GM isn't going FAR enough into creepy zone!! Dude, you've been X-carded, add more evisceration and flying entrails! :)
But definitely GMs and players need a pre-game discussion of expectations and boundaries.
I'm an old school adversarial DM so its natural for me to have "PCs vs. NPC foes" referee mindset, but I imagine many GMs will need a primer on "its not you vs. the players, it's PC monsters vs. NPCs monster-hunters" and encouraging the GM and players to discuss the adversarial dynamic and WHY its crucial to AFM and how it adds to the experience.  
Agreed, but I hope you find marketing outlets and promotion opportunities for AFM.
Hopefully it will trigger and offend somebody with a large Twitter following!!!

You can find titles if you explicitly search for them, but there are various shenanigans that reduce visibility of horror (and erotica) and naughty words. It's a grim calculus of artistic integrity and site visibility.
I'm kinda persona-non-grata with the larger streaming groups which all seem to be infuriatingly woke, but worth a shot.
Could always make M-Cards an explicit part of the game ;)
Yeah, I think an essay would be a good idea. I tend to prefer to be a bit hands-off when it comes to trying to force people to play a particular way, but AFM can use the additional direction.

Thanks for the enthusiasm :)
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remial

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« Reply #42 on: May 30, 2019, 03:10:19 AM »
gonna be honest here...

I backed Beast the Primordial on kickstarter.  This was before I knew it was a shitshow.

AFM is the game I wanted Beast to be, and if Onyx Path had any balls it would be.

Grim, I have bought a bunch of your games, largely because TBP tells me not to, and I like to think me giving you money pisses them off.

This is your best one yet IMO.  

Keep up the good work.

Snowman0147

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« Reply #43 on: May 30, 2019, 06:09:59 PM »
How bad was Beast?   You should answer that in another thread.

remial

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« Reply #44 on: May 31, 2019, 01:16:49 AM »
Quote from: Snowman0147;1089939
How bad was Beast?   You should answer that in another thread.

Beast reads like your character is a pedophile, and all your victims are those that you groom to be victimized further.  That you feed off of them to 'teach them a lesson and what you do is 'for the good of your victims and for society as a whole'. All Beasts have a default power that makes all the other supernatural splats in the new World of Darkness like them and see them as family, so they don't attack them.  Some of the example heroes (those that fight various Beasts, aka the bad guys) in the supplements include child psychologists, concerned teachers, and 'overly protective soccer moms.  A group of scientists in Philadelphia, that look like a set of certain sit com characters, are hunting beasts to make magic Viagra so a certain politician in the white house can get it up to have sex with his daughter.  Gamergate was created by a Beast so that she could feed off of the rage from angry men online.

if you really want more, read the Fatal and friends review of the game and the followup books. They do a far better job of covering it than I can.

(Oh yeah, and the dev for it, BlackHat Matt, may or may not have had forced sex with an underage girl, which got him booted frum rpg.net and Chill 3rd ed canceled)