[RPG]: Proverbial Monsters, reviewed by Darren MacLennan (2/2)

[GrimGent]

Originally Posted by chromeharlequin

The one that was any use was the mirae, a creature that emerges from broken mirrors. I used that in a Changeling the Lost game to fill in an inspiration gap, and it was OK... not stand out (like some of the hobgoblins and the like in Autumn nightmares, Dancers in the Dusk, and Goblin Markets).

And of course, Changeling already includes another creature which can be summoned by and travels through broken mirrors: the urban legend Skin and Bones from Grim Fears.

You know, that description of Autumne might well fit a True Fae who takes it for granted that everyone else too follows the same peculiar code of conduct that he does and then punishes those who fail to do so...

[Darren MacLennan]

Originally Posted by The One Phil

In absolute fairness to the supplement, two responders to this review have mentioned that it seems to sound good for Changeling or Innocents.

The intro to the product itself states directly that thematically it works best with these two products and Hunter (which with its world spanning conspiracies doesn''t have to be as localised as the average Vampire or Werewolf game), so there's an argument that the author found the mark that she's aiming for.

I wish that I could agree, but the monsters are too silly or odd for either one of those systems. Forcing characters from those games to observe childish superstitions doesn't fit the mood or tone of either game. ("Good thing that I had my fingers crossed behind my back and I was thinking of a swear, or otherwise that vampire's Dominate would have had me!")

-Darren MacLennan

[JDCorley]

I felt like the superstitions were not meant to be panaceas like that, or even triggers for the monsters appearance, but instead sudden shocks of recognition of the unfairness of the WoD. I mean, by the time you come to one of the scenarios, a dude is about to jump off a building because he was tormented by something that targetted him because he walked under a ladder. It's not "oh don't walk under a ladder, or the GM will get you with this monster", it's "hm, what supernatural thing is going on here, ooh, scary, wow, that's scary, and...WHAT?! it all happened because he walked under a frickin' ladder?!?!" I guess I am more forgiving of the premise than you are.

[Darren MacLennan]

Originally Posted by JDCorley

I felt like the superstitions were not meant to be panaceas like that, or even triggers for the monsters appearance, but instead sudden shocks of recognition of the unfairness of the WoD. I mean, by the time you come to one of the scenarios, a dude is about to jump off a building because he was tormented by something that targetted him because he walked under a ladder. It's not "oh don't walk under a ladder, or the GM will get you with this monster", it's "hm, what supernatural thing is going on here, ooh, scary, wow, that's scary, and...WHAT?! it all happened because he walked under a frickin' ladder?!?!" I guess I am more forgiving of the premise than you are.

But people walk underneath ladders all the time. People break mirrors all the time. People step on cracks all the time. If you handle a mysterious occult artifact mailed to you wrapped in blood-soaked black crepe, then yeah, but it's not explained why ten million people can do something and the ten millionth and one picks up a spirit.

Don't walk under this ladder, or you'll find yourself in the Angled World. Don't break this mirror or you'll fracture yourself into multiple people, each with a different agenda. Don't step on this crack or you'll kill somebody. That's more in line with the spirit of the nWoD.

-Darren MacLennan

[JDCorley]

I think the lack of explanation for "why this ladder? why this mirror?" is a feature, not a bug. It shows that the world is fundamentally unfair. If it was a special ladder or a special mirror or whatever, big deal, it's their own fault for messing with it. In these, it's not their fault - they're victims, pure and simple, and that gives impetus to help them with their situation.