This was probably inevitable given the success of Dungeon World doing the same for D&D, but someone is KSing an Apocalypse World hack for a setting that screams World of Darkness: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1287928832/urban-shadows-rpg.
The thing is, I think the explicit structure of Moves (both player and GM) may actually be a good thing for WoD, which always struggled with no ongoing structure to play that most fantasy and horror RPGs benefit from, despite the strong starting PC hook of "you are an X".
Which version of the WoD rules are they using? There are four distinct variations (2 for each version of the WoD).
None. It's an Apocalypse World hack for World of Darkness style games (which is generally consistent despite its editions).
Quote from: Skywalker;756386None. It's an Apocalypse World hack for World of Darkness style games (which is generally consistent despite its editions).
Oh, it's something different then I thought. Hope they meet their goal. AW isn't my thing.
Isn't that what Monsterhearts does already?
Quote from: The Butcher;756391Isn't that what Monsterhearts does already?
Monsterhearts does paranormal romance, such as Twilight. One PC is a mortal and the others their supernatural paramours. It's doesn't do supernatural politics as seen in World of Darkness or Dresden Files. They can overlap (True Blood, Underworld and Mortal Instruments) but they are different focii.
There is a greater overlap with Monster of the Week IMO, but that tends to focus more on the mortals hunting monsters like Buffy, Supernatural or Fringe. Again, there can be overlaps (Blade) but the focus differs.
ROFL, already have a version of the "what D&D promised but never delivered" meme.
Quote from: Who caresThe corruption mechanic often allows someone to get out of a bind (for instance pay 7-9 cost) by taking corruption and giving in to the power that they wield. We didn’t get to see enough of the corruption mechanic evolve but it eventually opened up new corruption moves (acting like gaining experience) which of course generated more corruption themselves. All to the end of turning your character into a monster. This is what WoD was trying to do… like forever!
Waiting for the "love letter to Vampire: The Masquerade" quote.
Although on the game itself, 4 factions? Werewolves and Vampires are both "Night". I'm guessing that's got nothing to do with the settings you create, but some OOC metagame mumbo-jumbo? A game focused on WoD like politics with 4 factions for everything just doesn't sound right, it makes no sense.
I think factions are merely broad groupings for the purposes of the mechanics. There was something of this in WoD where certain splats worked better thematically than others. In a specific setting, I imagine would still have groups like clan, tribe, court etc.
In Monsterhearts, no player is required to play the Mortal. Also, even in games with a Mortal present, none of the other PCs is required to be their paramour. Even the Mortal marking your PC as their "true love" in no way requires reciprocation. Any PC can choose to be(or not to be) any other PC/NPCs paramour. MH is also designed for a very specific subset of the paranormal romance genre -- specifically that involving teenage(or apparently teenage, as a vampire for example may technically be much older, or a hollow much younger) "monsters" in a highschool setting. Early Buffy and the Vampire Diaries are well within its purview, while something like Mortal Instruments really isn't.
Urban Shadows, on the other hand, is designed to cover a much broader range of urban fantasy. It can handle paranormal romance, but that's not the assumed/default type of game for it. Sex and romance aren't assumed to be an integral part of the Urban Shadows experience, whereas they're expected to feature heavily in every game of Monsterhearts. The way Intimacy Moves work in US reflects this -- no sex(or even romance at all) is required for them to kick in. Your character just has to have a significantly emotionally intimate moment with another PC/NPC.
I actually know the dude behind US. I've played in games with him. I'll be sure to let him know about this thread. I don't know if he's actually registered on this site, though, so no promises beyond "I'll let him know." Oh, and I'll read over the latest playtest document. I've been curious about the how and why of the factions myself.
The breadth of Urban Shadows is certainly part of its appeal, especially in comparison to the likes of Monsterhearts. The intimacy move is a good example, going from something specific to a general reward to seeking intense character interaction. In that sense, US reminded me of Dungeon World which covered all D&D style fantasy.
I also liked that the mechanics seemed a lot less jargony than some AW Hacks. The four Stats are self explanatory from their title and not that much different from traditional attributes. The moves are also broad and made a lot of sense to me on the first read.
Awesome. They can have some money.
The KS has just over 48 hours to go and it has added so many city guides as to justify a seperate supplement in print. The addition of the Vessel is also awesome as its a big supernatural archetype not covered by the existing archetypes.
Quote from: Skywalker;756377This was probably inevitable given the success of Dungeon World doing the same for D&D, but someone is KSing an Apocalypse World hack for a setting that screams World of Darkness: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1287928832/urban-shadows-rpg.
The thing is, I think the explicit structure of Moves (both player and GM) may actually be a good thing for WoD, which always struggled with no ongoing structure to play that most fantasy and horror RPGs benefit from, despite the strong starting PC hook of "you are an X".
Ok, well, at this point I have to ask, because you have already in the past created a large thread that seemed to have been used primarily to advertise and promote the kickstarter campaign of a game listed on your sig; and lo and behold, Urban Shadows is also on your sig...
So are you in any way associated with the authors of this game, either commercially or personally?
None whatsoever. My sig lists RPGs I am playing, running and planning.
Quote from: Skywalker;762538None whatsoever. My sig lists RPGs I am playing, running and planning.
... and it only seems natural that one opens threads and discusses games that one is actively using.
OTOH, Pundit opens threads on 5e, and is "commercially associated" (as a paid consultant) with the publisher...
It's fine, I just needed to hear it.
Also, there's a difference between discussing a game, which is fine, and making constant updates to try to draw attention to a kickstarter project you're directly standing to somehow profit from.
I won't "profit" from 5e's sales; I get paid whether it tanks or becomes bigger than poker.