Summerwood (Monsterhearts 2)

Game Master neonblues

Is anyone unfamiliar with the system, by the way? I can fill y'all in as needed.

I'll get cracking on Hayden, but is there any info outside the Playbook questionnaire that would be helpful, GM?

Also, when you get a chance, it'd be great if you could open the Gameplay thread for dotting :)

(Avatar is pending a more thorough perusal btw)

I've looked at the rule system but never actually played before.

I think it would be useful if we figured out some sort of common area where all the PCs would be together on a regular basis. Maybe you all live on the same floor of a co-ed dorm (some of you might even be roommates). Or maybe there’s a class you would all share (and maybe even form a study group).

I think it’d also be useful to include a few details about your PC’s personality in your profile, just so people can get a sense of how their character might react to you.
No other essential info that I can think of at the moment (I might ask questions here as the game moves along).

Hayden's disposition is generally sunny and outgoing, but when she's exhausted or in a bad mood, she needs to leave the crowd behind to recharge.

And when she's quiet that's when people get the sense there's something a bit off about her. She's very prone to staring directly at people while she's lost in thought, and she never looks at anything, whether stapler or cat, as though she's totally certain that what it is is what it will stay.

***

Study group sounds good to establish a specific group of 5 or so, but some of us being dormies or roomies is also good for potential shenanigans.

***

Oh and re: strings. Since Hayden wears her heart on her sleeve, everyone gets a string over her, but I've captured someone's fancy and get two strings over them - volunteers?

Ashton lack subtlety and thus everyone also has a string on him. He also has been watching someone from a distance and has two strings on them.

As for a shared class, maybe there's something mandatory that freshmen have to take, like a writing class?

As the Mortal, Deirdre declares her backstory last. I'm to choose one person to be my Lover. They get three Strings on me, and I take one on them.

Hayden, I think it makes sense for you to have captured my fancy. Do you wanna be my Lover? :)

Sure thing! The Mortal playbook says that you don't necessarily begin the game in a romantic relationship with your Lover; what are you thinking there?

I think Deirdre would be infatuated with Hayden and start the game trying to pursue a relationship with her. I like the idea of RPing the awkward first interactions. :)

That's my preference too :)

Ashton is, unsurprisingly, gruff. He masks his thoughts and emotions is a layer of sardonicism and standoffishness. It's not that he doesn't care, it's more that he doesn't want to show it. Mostly he comes off like he's lost in thought, which is pretty true.

I notice that of the five of us, Ashton, Hayden and Jess are all aware of the supernatural somewhat. Of those three, Jess and Hayden seem like they'd be the most likely to have guessed at other supernatural creature's existence, depending on what Hayden witnessed in the Fae realm and what Jess has read in her grimoire. Taking that into account, I think Ashton might have been watching one of them--that could be his first glimpse into the supernatural beyond himself.

My general thought is that while Hayden might have encountered (or dream-met) other beasties like werewolves and vampires and the like, they were Faerie Realm analogues. So even the ones that were 'real' have given her a pretty inaccurate set of assumptions about what they'd be like in this world.

I can definitely see Ashton getting a whiff of something supernatural and that driving him to stalk someone from a distance though.

I've played Monster of the Week but not this system.

Can't find a good picture in the board's selections. (Had this problem in my last modern game, too.)

JJ is the perfect victim for an Infernal setup, he's very disempowered and longing for those things he sees as out of his reach. He's not exactly a social reject, he's not innately cruel or greedy, just tends to be a pessimist and a downer, which can drive others away. His Dark Power seems to be giving him just enough seemingly-random beneficial occurrences to keep him up without him looking closely for a too-good-to-be-true situation. The breakpoint when he realizes that he's actually getting these things by magic pact could go downhill very fast, though. Depends on how stable the rest of his life is by that point.

JJ has two strings he can spread around (a third was already given to his Dark Power, but that interaction is fairly fresh).

He would probably be a bit taken with Ashton just by demeanor, regardless of whether he knew his orientation or availability. Ashton can take a String. Two, if you're up for them being roommates.

Otherwise, if someone else wants to be a common classmate (lab class partners, or otherwise another class in common in addition to the group's shared class), there's a String for that.

Edit: Also, from my backstory: Someone thinks they can save you. Gain a String on them. If someone wants to know about the pact, offer it up. Otherwise this could go to an NPC.

Yeah, I purposely kept Hayden's physical description vague until I could go through the avatars - can't wait until they (finally) do the mass Starfinder upload. That should have some good modern stuff mixed in too.

I was definitely picturing Hayden as a theatre kid, don't know if that would line up with JJ's extracurriculars.

I can be your lab partner, JJ. Deirdre's clueless about supernatural matters, though, so she wouldn't know about your pact.

I'm fine with Ashton and JJ being roommates.

Personally on the Paizo boards (and especially for modern games) my preference is to find a picture on tumblr and link it in the character byline.

Ooh, cool. The we-clueless-(supposed)-mundanes thing works for this. Let's go with Deirdre as a lab partner (take a String), and Ashton as dorm roommate (take a String).

Maybe we can hold the string I get for whoever, aside from myself, discovers the pact first? GM, call?

Hayden, since you are my Lover, I give you 3 Strings and I take 1 String on you.

Let me make sure I have all of my Strings straight so far.

Strings on Others:
Ashton--1
Hayden--2
JJ--1

Strings on Me:
Ashton--0
Hayden--5
JJ--0

@GM, can you post more information about tempting someone and Conditions? I've played Apocalypse World and some of its hacks, but not this specific one.

I'm thinking it might make sense for Hayden to already have some sense of JJ's dark pact (since, as a Fae, she'd be more in tune with contracts and promises), so maybe JJ could gain the "someone thinks they can save you" string on her (if that works for you, Hayden)?

So, the main mechanics that are new in Monsterhearts (that aren't already explained in that reference PDF) are Strings and Conditions.
You can spend a String you have on someone to do one of the following:

Tempt them to do what you want (they'll gain an experience point if they do what you ask),
Give them a Condition,
Add 1 to your roll against them, or
Add 1 to the harm you deal them.

Conditions represent social weaknesses, things that might influence a PC's reputation (typically spread through gossip and the like). You don't necessarily have to be with the person to give them a condition if you're spreading rumors or doing something to influence the way that others will see them. If a character's condition is relevant to the roll you're making against them, you can get a +1.

For instance, someone could gossip about Person X being promiscuous to give them the "Easy Lay" condition. Later, if someone makes a Shut Someone Down roll against Person X by mocking their reputation, they could get a +1 on it by taking advantage of that condition.

Conditions can be removed when a character takes an appropriate action to eliminate it or when the condition is no longer relevant. Person X's "Easy Lay" condition might just go away after a while, or they could publicly reject the advances of another character to help dispel the rumors.

Couple other things: PCs also gain an experience point each time they fail a roll (by getting a 6 or lower).

Normally in this game you would describe what you're doing first and the GM would let you know when a roll action (like Turn Someone On, Shut Someone Down, etc.) is necessary. Since this is PbP and gameplay tends to move slowly, you can be a bit more proactive; I'll largely let you decide when a roll is relevant and only intervene when I need to.

Thanks for the info! I'm excited to begin the game, :)

I could definitely see Hayden thinking JJ could be saved if she knew about his contract (if only because she plans to escape contracts of her own). Do you have any thoughts about how she might have gotten a sense of what's going on, JJ?

Not really sure. Since JJ's not even aware of it, as I've described it thus far, it's been "unrelated circumstances" that happen shortly after he describes issues to his Dark Power contact via text messages. (Malphas may have described himself as an upper-echelon influencer at the school, which JJ may have interpreted as a member of the school board or upper faculty.)

So far it's only vague class/housing-related issues, like an un-cooperative class advisor who gets reassigned/fired, or maybe he had a different original roommate who turned out to be a jerk (maybe even homophobic?) and had a "mysterious family crisis" come up and had to leave before Ashton showed up. Nothing super personal or close, but random happenstance that bends in his favor, in seemingly-unconnected ways.

So for Hayden, if she has any senses for the supernatural that might tip her off (An unexpected whiff of brimstone that nobody else catches when he describes these events?).

Maybe that's part of the power, his infernal bargain manifests when he expresses those desires, which formerly happened in the texts to Malphas, but could also happen just when he describes a firmly-held desire?

Since Ashton and JJ are roommates, could I ask a few questions about JJ?

What does JJ look like? What is his demeanor/personality? Is he out in general, and would he have mentioned it to Ashton?

I think Hayden would be less likely to just sense infernal stuff, but noticing good fortune, and suspecting some kind of bargain seems up her alley.

We haven’t heard from Jess yet; hopefully we will sometime this week, but if not I’m okay going forward with just four. I’m hoping to begin gameplay sometime mid-week.

Well, brimstone is just sulphur, so she could mistake it for passed gas a few times... Heh.

JJ is just over six foot, thin framed, with very pale, almost-sallow skin, like he never gets enough sun. Reddish-brown, wavy hair in an overgrown mop that hides a large forehead, with thick eyebrows, and a bit of scruff around his chin and lips. His eyes are dark brown, fairly deep-set and large, with a bit of dark bag around and underneath. Nose is on the larger side, broad-bridged and large at the end. Overall, his face and jaw have a narrow shape, but with a strong, pointed chin. (He's trying to grow a beard, but it's still fairly fresh, he's only been going about a week, and he's still fairly young-faced...)

Demeanor wise, he's fairly closed, slow to offer information or speak up, even around folks he's used to. Almost broody. When you can get an opinion out of him, he's fairly pessimistic, doubtful of positive outcomes, but also fairly direct and honest when it's needed. Not very social, he doesn't go looking to hang out, but he's willing to be dragged out without a major fight. (He wants to get out more, he's just very self-protective.)

He's out publicly, part of his own attempts to open up, but also just as much to keep his cards open-face on the table so-to-speak, rather than dealing with the 'surprise' of someone finding out and reacting badly. (He knows there's systems in place to help minorities, prevent gay-bashing, that sort of thing, but they don't do any good if you're not known to be gay in the first place.)

Sorry, I've been sick for a few days. I am here, and will have her profile up soon. :D

Hayden's about a half-foot shorter than JJ; she's slender framed through her torso and limbs, but with a bit of flare to her hips. Her skin is perpetually tanned to a tawny gold, and when she's out of her school uniform, her outfits usually help her drink up the sun to keep it that way. In the fall she's less likely to keep her legs clean-shaven, though her hair is a light enough blonde, that it's not obvious until she's let it grow for a while.

Deirdre is 5'3" with a well-proportioned figure. She is bi-racial: her mother is black and her father is white. She has light brown skin and dark brown hair, and her eyes are a light shade of green. She dresses in a casual style.

Jess is about 5'7" and willowy. She has short, wavy brown-almost-black hair and deep brown eyes. She usually wears dark makeup, but not always in a gothy way. Her skin is tanned and her eyes are sort of smirky, like she's constantly about to reveal a joke she's been playing.

Someone begins with a string on her: One of the others caught you
rummaging through their friend’s stuff, but hasn’t said anything.
They get a String on you. I see this as being due to her looking for things which could be used as sympathetic tokens.

Additionally, she begins play with two sympathetic tokens. I will say that one of them belongs to an NPC, Jaime, a girl she's seen at the library that was flirting with her. One night, while they were studying near each other, Jaime was biting her nails, and when she got up to go to the restroom, Jess took some of the nail bitings.

The other belongs to Deirdre. Sitting behind her in an orientation event one day, she took a hair from the back of Deirdre's shirt that still had the root attached.

Strings on others: Hayden - 1, Deirdre - 1, Jaime - 1, Ashton -1
Strings on me: Someone - 1

Any takers for someone to have a string on Jess? I think that's the only string unaccounted for?

JJ could take Jess's open string. (He's also the only one you don't have strings on.)

Who's stuff were you digging through? Ashton's?

Would it be better for Ashton to take strings on Hayden or Jess? I never specifically picked between the two of them.

Either can have the string, and I will have been looking through the other one's things. :)

How about JJ takes the string on Jess for seeing her look through Ashton’s things, and Ashton takes two strings for watching Hayden (since I don’t think the two of you have much connection otherwise)? Any objections?

I feel like Hayden would have said something to someone, so my vote's that Ashton's been watching Hayden, and also caught Jess looking through his (or someone else's) stuff.

Suggests he's the watchful type too ;)

EDIT

Or that!

I'm fine with Ashton having been watching Hayden.

Would JJ have told Ashton if he saw someone looking through Ashton's things?

With regards to physical appearance: Ashton is tall (6'4'') and athletically built (unsurprising given he is in fact an athlete). He's a redhead and stereotypically pale, freckled and blue-eyed. He dresses really casually, usually not bothering with anything more complicated than gym shorts and a t-shirt.

I'm thinking JJ would've kept it to himself.

All right, I think we’re all good to get started soon. Everyone make sure you’ve made note of your strings (preferably somewhere in your profile). I’ll have the first gameplay post up on Wednesday or Thursday.

My strings should be accurate in my header line now. Ready to start!

First gameplay post is up!

This slightly falls under asking for forgiveness instead of permission, but something I was thinking about is that Hayden might have a few souvenirs from her time Elsewhere.

Mainly sort of knick-knacky things, like a knife that's tired of human sacrifice and the taste of blood, and only wants to cut soft things like cloth, for example ;)

Sure, I think that's fine. You could use that sort of thing to flavor your moves wherever it fits.

Okay, I set up that Cal's a sort of friend of Hayden's who has big dogs, who are as friendly as Hayden's descriptions are trustworthy.

This feels like we've entered GM Complication territory :)

I guess we should figure out backstory strings for the new people. Fahed, you get 1 string on everyone for being a sexy vampire, and someone else is supposed to get 2 strings on you for having saved your unlife. Any takers for someone to have some history with Fahed? I imagine it would be Hayden, Jess, or Ashton.

Fahed (and Eve) will get a string on me and Ashton from our open ways as well.

Dotting and in the process of creating a profile.... Changing name to Eva. This is because Eva will present as a girl from iceland. Her creators hope that any strange mannerisms etc. will be passed off as being because of her origin rather than rouse suspicion. Obviously the profile pic is not exactly how she looks, but is an approximation (she's not so obviously a gynoid).

We'll need to work out Eva's strings as well:

You’ve been taking your social cues from someone, and doing so has taught you a lot about them. Gain 2 Strings on them.

Someone’s seen through your invented past, and realized it’s all lies. They gain 2 Strings on you.

Any volunteers?

Is Eva self-aware and aware of her creators, or does she believe herself to be human?