Monster of the Week (2012)

Overview

Monster of the Week (MOTW) is an urban fantasy-horror tabletop role-playing game developed by Michael Sands. It was first published in 2012, and a revised edition was published by Evil Hat Productions in 2015. The entire theme of the game is heavily inspired by TV shows like Buffy, Supernatural, X-Files, Fringe and many others. The system it directly evolved from is
Apocalypse World (2010)
Description Players in the MOTW system take on the role of monster hunters. Capable of dealing with most creatures that might get in their way. Using skills to solve mysteries, track monsters and eventually defeat them.  System Overview & Key Features
Powered by the Apocalypse Engine (2d6) Players roll two six-sided dice (2d6) when performing actions, adding relevant character modifiers to the result. Rolling a 10 or higher is considered a success. 7-9 is a partial success, which will also carry some added consequences. Getting a 6 or lower means failure - you have not succeeded in whatever you attempted and dire consequences are soon to follow.
Basic and Playbook Moves Game mechanics are categorized into discrete actions called "Moves." Basic Moves are universally available to all characters and cover common actions such as "Investigate a Mystery," "Kick Some Ass," or "Act Under Pressure." Playbook Moves are exclusive, specialized abilities granted by a character's chosen Playbook, allowing them to manipulate the narrative or game mechanics in unique ways.
Finite Luck Points Each character possesses a limited track of Luck points. A player may permanently expend a point of Luck to retroactively alter a dice roll to a 12 (a complete success) or to entirely negate a single instance of sustained damage. Luck is a resource the players have to keep an eye on. Using too much can get you out of trouble, but if you don't have it when you need it most - trouble awaits.
Harm and Exploiting Weaknesses Physical trauma is tracked using a short monitor called "Harm." Player characters and adversaries possess low thresholds for sustaining Harm, making direct combat inherently dangerous. To successfully defeat a primary antagonist, players are mechanically required to investigate and utilize the creature's specific weakness, as standard physical attacks are often insufficient to achieve a permanent victory.
The Mystery Countdown To structure a gameplay session, the Keeper utilizes a tool called the Countdown. This is a chronological timeline detailing the sequence of events that will occur if the player characters fail to intervene. The Countdown is divided into escalating phases, ending with a catastrophic event. It serves to govern the pacing of the investigation and provide a sense of urgency.
Additional links evilhat.com https://evilhat.com - Official Evil Hat Productions website genericgames.co.nz https://genericgames.co.nz - Official home of Michael Sands and the original game files

Active games and players

MotW
Monster of the Week
Online
Campaign
Assorted TTRPG Games
Players
4/7
GM
1/1
Monster of the Week
en English

Assorted TTRPG Games

We're a group of 30+ players who rotate RPG Games between refs. Currently playing MotW. Next up Cyberpunk possibly. Monday Night 8-10pm Looking for 1 or 2 more players.

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en English
Homebrew
Homebrew
BitD
Blades in the Dark
...
Online
Michelle
TTRPG Table Fit Profile I am looking for a cooperative, consent-based, story-focused TTRPG table with about 50% roleplay, 30% combat, and 20% exploration. I enjoy character-driven storytelling, party relationships, meaningful combat, exploration, mystery, downtime, and emotional moments that feel earned rather than forced. I like games that are sincere without being too serious, and funny without becoming constant jokes or bits. Consent and boundaries are important to me. Heavy themes, major trauma themes, intense character conflict, PvP, romance/flirting, sexual content, or anything that could strongly affect another player’s character should be discussed first. Lines and veils should be respected. I fit best with people who want to tell an awesome story together, share spotlight, cooperate, listen to each other, and make sure everyone’s character matters. I am not a good fit for bigotry, discriminatory humor, main character syndrome, edgelord behavior, disruptive rules-lawyering, non-cooperative play, PvP/romance/sexual content without consent, trauma dumping, or using RPGs as therapy. As a player, I appreciate clear, fair, cooperative DMs who respect boundaries and care about character arcs. As a DM, I value respectful players who compromise, share spotlight, and care about the party and shared story.
de German
CoC
Call of Cthulhu
PbtA
Powered By The Apocalypse
...
Online
CSI Arkham
Hi, mein Name ist CSI Arkham – du kannst mich einfach CSI oder Arkham nennen. Ich spiele seit vielen Jahren Call of Cthulhu. Über KULT bin ich schließlich bei PbtA-Systemen wie Dungeon World und Monster of the Week gelandet. Zuletzt lag mein Schwerpunkt bei The One Ring, aber nun möchte ich meinen Horizont wieder erweitern und mich in Pathfinder Zweite Edition sowie Starfinder Zweite Edition einarbeiten. Mein SL Profiel aus WE20: https://wyrm.li/csi Hi, my name is CSI Arkham — you can just call me CSI or Arkham. I’ve been playing Call of Cthulhu for many years. Through KULT, I eventually found my way into PbtA systems like Dungeon World and Monster of the Week. Most recently, The One Ring has been my main focus, but now I’m looking to broaden my horizons again and dive into Pathfinder Second Edition and Starfinder Second Edition.
en English es Spanish
DND5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5E
DND5.5E
Dungeons & Dragons 5.5E (2024)
...
Online
Damic
Hello! I'm Dami, a 35 y/o Argentinian who loves storytelling and doodling. I've been playing TTRPGs for over a decade now but mostly as a DM and now I'm really looking forward to be a player. A year or so ago my group of friends kinda disbanded 'cause we are all adults with lifes and finding a time where all of us are available is been tricky. If I had to describe myself as a player I would say that I like the 60% roleplaying and 40% combat distribution. I love to get to know the different characters and NPCs and dig into the lore of the world and I also enjoy puzzles.  Whenever I'm playing I lean more towards support / enabler characters or healers, but I always try to come to a middle point between what I envission and what the party needs. I'm currently looking to join a game on Sundays with a friend!

Other entries

Owlbear Rodeo
Tools & Platforms

Owlbear Rodeo

Virtual tabletop (VTT)
English
Free
Owlbear Rodeo is a "no-frills," browser-based virtual tabletop that prioritizes speed and ease of use above all else. Originally launched in 2020 as a simple image-sharing tool, it evolved into version 2.0 (and the 2024/2025 "Warp Core" engine updates), transitioning to a cloud-based subscription model while maintaining its "pick-up-and-play" spirit. It is the premier choice for GMs who prefer theater-of-the-mind play or quick tactical skirmishes without the heavy automation of larger platforms. Description Owlbear Rodeo is the digital equivalent of a dry-erase battle mat. It does not try to be a video game; instead, it provides a shared canvas where you can drop a map, throw down some tokens, and start rolling dice in under a minute. It is famous for requiring no player accounts—the GM simply creates a room and sends a link. While it has added advanced features like dynamic fog and extension support, it remains the most lightweight and mobile-friendly VTT on the market. System Overview & Key Features Zero-Friction Access Players do not need to register or sign in to join a game. By simply clicking a URL, they are instantly transported to the map with full access to their tokens. This makes it the undisputed king for one-shots, convention games, and introducing new players to the hobby. The Warp Core Engine The 2024/2026 "Warp Core" update introduced high-performance GPU rendering. This allows the browser to handle massive 144-megapixel maps and animated backgrounds with zero lag, even on older laptops or mobile devices. Modular Extension System Rather than bloating the base software with features, Owlbear uses "Plug-and-Play" extensions. You can toggle on a 5e Initiative Tracker, a Dice Roller, or a Clock tool only when you need them, keeping the interface clean and distraction-free. Pixel-Accurate Dynamic Fog The "Fog of War" tool allows GMs to hide sections of the map with incredible precision. You can use brushes to reveal specific corridors or use "Cut-out" shapes to simulate light sources, all of which syncs across every player's screen in real-time. Multi-Device Syncing Owlbear is built from the ground up for touchscreens. It is the only major VTT that feels natural on a tablet or phone, making it a popular choice for "hybrid" games where players use their devices at a physical table. Persistent Custom Rooms Paid tiers allow GMs to claim a unique, permanent URL (e.g., owlbear.rodeo/your-campaign). This room stays open 24/7, allowing players to check the map or move their tokens between sessions without the GM needing to be online. Additional links owlbear.rodeo - Official website and application blog.owlbear.rodeo - Development logs and patch notes kenku.fm - The sister app for high-quality audio streaming via Discord

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Ludonarrative Dissidents
Actual Play & Podcasts

Ludonarrative Dissidents

TTRPG
English
Game design
"Ludonarrative dissonance" is a term from game-design commentary, describing a moment when the game mechanics pull in one direction but the game story pulls in another, creating dissonance. The ‘Ludonarrative Dissidents’ are three game designers, reviewers and commentators, veterans in the field of ludic narrative, who have come together to discuss the art, science and craft of RPG design by vivisecting game systems and seeing what makes them run.  Your hosts are Ross Payton, Greg Stolze and James Wallis. Ethos Every episode of Ludonarrative Dissidents is built around four pillars: What does this game do? How does it do that? How do people play it? Why do they play it that way? (and how well does it succeed?) We examine games from all angles: mechanical, ludic, narrativist, historical, cultural, structural, whether or not it’s fun, and Greg complains about its use of the future-conditional tense. We look at its influences and pedigree, its narrative engine, its world-building, its book-design, and James reveals that he dated the designer’s sister, or something like that. In season 2 we have added episodes that look at specific aspects of RPGs, such as initiative systems, metacurrencies and diceless games. Origins The idea behind Ludonarrative Dissidents came from a Twitter discussion in early 2021. Someone was looking for RPG designers to work on a project, someone else suggested Greg and James, and after the two of them politely declined, a third person opined that a podcast with the two talking about games and game design would be quite a thing. Greg and James exchanged a virtual glance across the Atlantic, Greg mentioned the idea to Ross, the three of them filled a Google document with ideas, and the project was born. Links ludonarrativedissidents.com - Official website spotify.com - Spotify feed podcast.apple.com - Apple Podcasts feed discord.gg - Discord server ko-fi.com - Ko-Fi page

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BlackwaterDnD
Actual Play & Podcasts

BlackwaterDnD

English
Dungeons & Dragons
Actual Play
BlackwaterDnD is a group of best friends rolling dice together and playing pretend, based in Vancouver, Canada playing Dungeons & Dragons. We produce actual play TTRPG content, including our Main Campaign streamed on Twitch, mini-series, and supplementary shows all based around the joy of imagination and improvisation. We are a group of performers and storytellers who focus on stories with heart, that will have you laughing one minute and reaching for your tissues the next. We strive to foster a community that is inclusive, diverse and accessible, and brings a little something for everyone to the table - whether you're brand new to the game, or have every source book you can think of. Links youtube.com - Youtube channel twitch.tv - Twitch channel feeds.transistor.fm - Podcast feed patreon.com - Patreon page discord.gg - Discord server

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