Monster of the Week

MotW · Monster of the Week TTRPG · Monster of the Week Revised

Monster of the Week

Monster of the Week places you in the role of modern-day hunters pursuing creatures, cults, and urban legends. Sessions resemble a TV episode, featuring cold opens, clue-chasing, and tense confrontations that culminate in a climactic battle or a clever banishment. The tone is entirely up to you, ranging from gritty to campy, cosy to creepy. Our Game Masters customise mysteries to suit your preferred themes, locations, and content boundaries, ensuring every table experiences the right kind of spooky.

It is straightforward to learn and works best with 2 to 5 players, making it ideal for birthdays or team outings. Newcomers can quickly get involved, lapsed gamers will feel right at home, and veterans will find rich character hooks. You can play in person or online. If you enjoy the atmosphere of Monster Hunting, with a hint of urban fantasy or occult intrigue, a professional Game Master will bring it to life for your group.

How to play Monster of the Week

Monster of the Week uses a Powered by the Apocalypse style. You roll two six-sided dice and add a rating. On a 10 or more, you succeed cleanly. On a 7 to 9, you succeed but with a twist. On a 6 or less, the Game Master makes a move that complicates things. You trigger moves like Investigate a Mystery, Act Under Pressure, Kick Some Ass, Protect Someone, or Use Magic by describing what your hunter does.

Each player picks a Playbook such as the Professional, the Spooky, or the Chosen, then selects a few moves, ratings, and gear. Bring your imagination and a readiness to chase clues; that is it. Our Game Masters supply the mystery, suspects, maps, safety tools, and pacing. In person, they handle handouts and props. Online, they set up shared sheets, video, and dice on platforms like those listed here.

For a one-shot, the group tackles a complete case in 3 to 4 hours with quick-start relationships and optional pre-generated characters. For a campaign, mysteries connect, you earn experience to take new moves, and threads build toward a looming Big Bad. The tone and difficulty can adjust from kid-friendly monster fun to grittier stakes for adults.

Large group playing Dungeons & Dragons at home with miniatures and a dungeon master screen
Large group playing Dungeons & Dragons at home with miniatures and a dungeon master screen
Team-building session during a corporate event with a tabletop RPG, players immersed in a D&D-style campaign.
Team-building session during a corporate event with a tabletop RPG, players immersed in a D&D-style campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to know any rules to get started?

No. A professional Game Master guides you as you play. You describe what your hunter does, and the rules respond accordingly. It uses two six-sided dice, with results that lead to twists or straightforward successes, allowing the story to progress without complex calculations. Character creation is quick, or you can opt for pre-generated options if you prefer. If someone is familiar with the game, that's excellent, but it's not necessary. The goal is to start hunting quickly and learn the few mechanics through experience.

What group size and session length are most effective?

Monster of the Week is best enjoyed with 2 to 5 players. A complete, single-case session typically lasts between 3 to 4 hours. For campaign evenings, aim for 3.5 to 4 hours to accommodate character interactions and aftermath. Shorter sessions can work for quick cases, and an experienced GM will adjust clue density and threat levels to fit your available time. Smaller groups tend to feel particularly impactful and intimate, which aligns well with the show's rhythm.

Is it frightening, and is it suitable for children?

You set the tone. It can be spooky yet gentle, or tense and gritty for adults. Before play, your GM checks boundaries and preferred themes, then adjusts descriptions, stakes, and monster design accordingly. For family groups, they avoid gore and focus on teamwork, humour, and creative problem solving. Teen and mixed-age groups work well too. To explore tone options and safety approaches, see GM playstyles.

How does MotW differ from D&D?

It focuses on contemporary monster hunting rather than dungeon exploration. You follow clues, protect bystanders, and confront a single main threat in each case. The rules are more streamlined, with moves activated by your actions, resulting in minimal grid tactics or gear management. Combat is quick and perilous, making planning, research, and clever positioning essential. Magic is adaptable and can have unintended consequences, leaning more towards TV-style occult themes than traditional spell lists. Sessions are designed to resemble an episodic narrative.

Which edition are we playing?

Most Game Masters use the Revised Edition from 2015. It refines playbooks, clarifies moves, and smooths out any rough edges. If your group prefers the 2012 first edition, please mention it when you book, and the GM can accommodate. The differences in gameplay are modest, so players with different printings can typically sit together without any issues. The GM will highlight any minor move or wording changes before you begin.

Can we play online, and which tools do you use?

Yes, it works brilliantly online. Your GM provides video chat, shared character sheets, and dice rollers so you can concentrate on the mystery. Many groups use a virtual tabletop like Roll20 or Foundry, while others keep it simple with shared documents and a dice bot. You only need a microphone, a stable connection, and some d6s if you prefer rolling at home. See common setups on online platforms.

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Genres you can play in Monster of the Week

  • Mystery

    Follow the clues, construct timelines, and apprehend the culprit. Think Knives Out, but you are the detective, assembling alibis and…

    View genre: Mystery
  • Occult

    Candlelit rituals, cryptic symbols, and whispered conspiracies. Imagine The X-Files as you pursue clues through secret lodges and concealed…

    View genre: Occult
  • Conspiracy

    Unravel layers of deception as you pursue leads through dimly lit rooms, encrypted files, and betrayals. Paranoia escalates with each clue…

    View genre: Conspiracy
  • Folklore

    Fireside stories brought to life, featuring village gossip, fey deals, river spirits, and ancient paths at twilight, reminiscent of The…

    View genre: Folklore
  • Rural

    Charming fields, muddy boots, neighbourly drama, and harvest festivals. Imagine Stardew Valley infused with mysteries at the hedgerow…

    View genre: Rural

What players think

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did a really good job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot and yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His attitude was fantastic, and he made the game enjoyable for all. I particularly appreciated how he could clearly explain what was required from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a wonderful time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided an excellent experience. Thank you!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was incredibly engaging. I arranged a session as a gift for my boyfriend, who is very enthusiastic about it, and he was thoroughly pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • A very good GM, Baptiste adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. One issue was with the character sheets provided, which were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells (no healing spell) even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left their game saying it was the most fun they'd ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another game with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach enabled the players to fully immerse themselves in the game by allowing them to control how they wanted their actions to be carried out. I would certainly work with her again.

    John

  • A pleasant and straightforward introduction to D&D. Amber was adept at explaining and guiding the game, allowing us as players to quickly get into the rhythm and concentrate on the narrative. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack strategies was an enjoyable experience and provided valuable insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a highly enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

  • Pim is truly brilliant as a DM! Cheerful, adaptable, and exceptionally experienced. With a group of novice players, he managed to create an amazing experience in just a few hours. He maintained control in an enjoyable manner and engaged every player in the story, regardless of whether they were vocal or reserved. If you embark on an adventure with him, it will certainly be unforgettable!

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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