Young and Unafraid
Young and Unafraid
o n d
Y A Hack for Monsterhearts 2
Beta 1.01
The * is s?
Young and Unafraid is a themed hack for Monsterhearts inspired by Beautiful
Glitch’s Monster Prom and Monster Camp games- focused on bringing a more
comedic take on a school full of literal monsters, but by no means is it necessarily
a sanitized version of the former project. Young and Unafraid encourages you to
continue to be your worst self- but in the name of shenanigans, adolescent
emotions, and scoring a date for prom when it’s three weeks away.
Included is a set of revamped playbooks and altered basic moves, meant to be used
in concert with Monsterhearts 2. If you’ve played any PBTA games (or even just
Monsterhearts specifically), you probably already know what you’re in for. To the
newcomers just coming off a session of Monster Prom and suffering your third
rejection from Vera in a row and wanting more than just two silly scenarios whose
stat attribution is unsure- welcome. Grab a chair and buckle in.
Wha’ hd, at’ t
Setting storytellers know how to balance comedy with the much needed
moment of serious introspection.
Young and Unafraid still sticks with the base concept of young
adult monsters living a “normal” life- though the monstrous side of Mechanics
things is more normalized. the threat of drama shouldn’t come
from a player’s identity being outed- sure we’re monsters, but To better get some of the feel of the source inspirations, young and
we’re not monsters. the drama should come from how human your unafraid borrows from both monsterhearts and masks- replicating
monster can be- underneath the fur, scales, tentacles, or what the changing stats and states of your character. Maybe you change
have you. yourself to become the type of person perfectly fitted to woo your
boo- or being true to yourself proves to be the secret to earning
The main change is tonal- where monsterhearts focuses on the love all along. Whichever way you go, the systems support the fluid
messy fallout of teenage heartbreak and the complicated social process of forming an identity in the tumultuous years of our
lives of the young and the restless, characters in young and youth.
unafraid should be exactly that- pursuing who they are with
reckless abandon. of course it won’t be all goofs and expelling
bees from your mouth in a pocket reality game show- the best
The ek Uti Pm
The Arc Example Arcs and Goals
Keeping true to the core idea, a game of Young and unafraid should
focus on an end-goal event- a prom at a monstrous high school, a Prom- To ask out your crush, to win prom
fireworks festival at the end of summer, a destination at the end of royalty, to plan the best prom after-party
a road trip. your characters have a finish line in sight- closer than known to history
they’d like, but just far enough to make their plans work.
Summer camp- find summer romance, get all
the goals of the player don’t, and honestly shouldn’t, always be the badges, stop the camp from being
romance. some folks just aren’t comfortable roleplaying such destroyed by capitalism
things, or just aren’t interested in the concept to begin with. the
core of a character’s goal should be to make sure they have fun- Road Trip- Make it to look out point in time for
that they make a memory of this event they can cherish looking the meteor shower, get in touch with an ex
back on. who moved away, make sure everyone keeps in
touch once college starts
Wha s o Spi
cHARM Creative
Being charming is all about using language to get stuff done- Being creative is the lateral cousin to being smart- you think
whether that be verbal, sign, or body language. outside the box, and you apply what you know to practical effect.
it’s about knowing yourself more than knowing the square root of
Smart pi.
Being smart is having the facts and using those little grey cells.
you pay attention- both in class and to your surroundings. Strings
Strings represent the social ties that bind people together- people
bold you have strings on owe you something in the social hierarchy. it
Being bold is the blunt metal baseball bat of personality traits- can sound menacing, but being the guy that pulls people out of
you draw attention and act without regard to the consequences. lockers generates strings too.
Fun conditions
Being fun lets you be the kind of person other people want to hang When shit hits the fan- when all your plans go to hell and all your
with- you know how to chill out and have yourself a grand old time. dreams are stomped on, it can sometimes put a person into a funk.
These are represented by conditions- malleable tags that
represent the core issue behind your funk. Clearing them is
important, and takes some work.
experience/advancement
as you play, you will fail. sorry bud- those are just the facts of life.
but the good news is that we learn from our failures- and
eventually, can turn these experiences to our advantage as we grow
and change.
this is all just a very tongue in cheek way to explain that this game
has experience points, usually generated by rolling a 6 or lower on
a die roll, or a few other specific examples. once you gain five
experience points, you gain an advancement- listed on your
playbook.
Mak Mov
All actions are governed by moves- most are basic, some are tied Use your wiles is pretty much the equivalent of monsterhearts’
specifically to your playbook and give you a bit more to do, and some turn someone on- though a little more broad. sure, usually
you can only unlock later on through serious personal growth. charming someone’s pants off tends to imply flirtation- though
using your wiles can just as easily be talking circles around
The basic moves are Use Your wiles, do Magic, Make A Scene, Kick someone, legitimizing (or creating) a piece of blackmail, or straight
Back, and Look For A Solution. up lying.
Chilling out, maxing, and relaxing all cool is the best way to take
control of your life as a young adult- we all need a little “me” time.
When you fail this roll, you still get to pick one- at the expense of
not being there for someone. The GM Decides what that means,
whether it be represented through strings or other consequences.
Look For A Solution
When facing a problem, Look For A Solution and roll +CreativE. On a
10 up, Ask the GM 1 question about the situation and gain +1 Forward
acting on the information. On a 7-9, Come up with a Bone-headed
SCheme, and The GM will tell you how your plan Will screw you over,
and either go for it or back down.
Shenanigans can get out of hand. It’s obvious, but needs to be stated
anyways. Look For A Solution very neatly mimics the Keep Your Cool
move from Monsterhearts in both effect and purpose. When
something would prevent you from success and your plan involves
more mundane plans of action, then you should Look For A Solution
as opposed to Do Magic.
Pulling Strings
Shifting Stats is an option reserved for interactions with other
When You have a string on someone, you can spend it to choose one
players, as GM characters do not roll. Spending a string here can
of the following:
just as easily represent a well meaning (if maybe misguided) pep
-Tempt them to do what you want.
talk as it could represent a shut down.
-Give them a condition.
-Add 1 to your roll against them.
-Shift one of their stats up, and one of them down.
Your Worst Self represents the monstrous part of your nature- the
Beast will want to run rampant until tuckered out, the hunter will
double down on their duty, the outsider will fall back onto their
@Soleildid primordial habits- and usually a good group of friends will be
dle
willing to work together to bring their pal back down. Even when
you are your worst self, you still have friends to rely on- whether
you realize it or not.
Be True To Yourself
When one of your stats would be shifted up or down against your
will, decide if you will be true to yourself. If so, roll +Conditions
marked. On a 6 down, you resist their influence- by default,
authority figures have strings on you to spend, but peers may find
themselves suddenly on equal footing once again. on a 7-9, choose
one:
-CLear a Condition or mark experience by immediately acting to
prove them wrong.
-Shift one stat up and one stat down, your choice.
On a 10 up, you fail to reject their influence. Adjust your labels
accordingly, and mark a condition.
THe drawback is that cliques have their own agendas- and their own
demands of you. Only the Queen takes charge of their clique, and
even then they have their own responsibilities- your clique may
have some strict requirements before your allies become your
enemies.
Now ’s Wa I Cl w
After taking five advances, characters will unlock advanced moves.
These represent massive personal growth- each sheet has options
to pick two advanced moves at a time.
Be Convincing
When you speak from experience to be convincing, roll +Charm. For
NPCs, on a 10 up your words ring true. on a 7-9, they’ll need some
proof to assure them.
For a PC, on a 7-9 they can mark experience or shift their labels if Being Convincing is more than just choosing the prettiest words-
they listen. ON a 10+, you gain a string on them as well. you have to believe in what you’re saying yourself. It represents a
level of self Confidence not founded upon power or any fake
foundations- it’s an inner strength.
Get A Read
When you try to get a read on someone, roll +smart. On a 10 up, hold
3 to ask questions from the list, one for one. on a 7-9, hold one:
-What do you intend to do?
-What are you really up to?
-What do you want from me?
-How could I get you to ______?
-What’s your damage?
In either case, gain +1 forward acting on the information gained. .
End of Session
At the end of a session, reflect over the events and each player can
decide if one of the following feels true to their character:
-You grew closer to your friends. Explain who made you feel
welcome; give them a string on you, and either clear a condition or
mark experience
-You grew into your own image of yourself. Explain how you see
yourself and why; shift one stat up and another down.
-You grew away from your friends. Explain why you feel detached;
take a string away from another character.
Plak Oev
The Queen The Firestarter
Perhaps the Boss or CEO if you’re feeling slightly less dramatic. THe Troublemaker, bully, or simply someone who desires to stand out
queen has a clique they run and are the mastermind behind the from the crowd- the firestarter will be the center of attention,
scenes- with a bit of a temper to back up their rule. unless you want to piss them off.
The Deadbeat
They might be dead, but they’re still kickin’. Deadbeats are either
the chillest to hang with, or the wildest at parties, and hanging in
the middle isn’t much of an option.
The Experiment
The progeny of mad science of any sort- the experiment is new to
this whole thing and definitely the playbook for some explicit
Neurodivergency and identity feels.
_______________ Mov [ ]Ice queen: When someone tries to start a beef or
take advantage of you, roll +charm. on a 10 up, you
You get the basic moves, plus three Queen moves. can choose to shut that shit down immediately- no
The Queen
need for strings. on a 7-9, you’ll need to get one of
Respect. Admiration. Devotion. Obsession. All this and
You get this one: your flunkies to take care of it- that flunky takes a
more is yours to demand. It’s a chaotic world out
[ ]Flunkies: You’re the head of one of the most string on you.
there, and you’re the only one with the guts to make it
powerful cliques around- in addition to the normal
bend the knee.
benefits of a clique, choose one: [ ]suits and earpieces: when you’re surrounded by
-They’re Armed (With Guns and real dangerous stuff) your flunkies, subtract 1 from any rolls against you.
[ ] Cha -They’re COnnected (With money, substances, and
people) [ ]Excommunicado: When Someone betrays you, take a
[ ] Smas -They’re Talented (Feel free to decide at what) string on them. When you spend a string to get even,
-They’re Unwavering (And Will gladly lay down their
[ ] Bol lives)
add the following options to the list of Pulling
strings:
[ ] Fun And then Pick two:
-They fuck something up at a crucial moment
-A secret they’d rather keep is revealed
[ ] Cree [ ]Screw your morals, I have money: You can give a side -You gain +2 to your roll in an act of vengeance
character a string on you in order to get them to do
your bidding. THe GM will decide what sort of bribe, [ ]Dragon’s hoard: when someone you have a string on
Exene threat, or coaxing it will take to get that character’s is in peril, you can spend that string to be there,
immediate compliance. ready to defend what is yours.
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
Lok Your Worst Self Inic Me
-Demeanor: Ambitious, cruel, commanding, _____________ When you share a moment of intimacy with someone,
-Outfit: fashionable, business, formal, _____________ The rush of it goes to your head. You’re not just the free of the posturing of your position, You both get to
-Origin: Gorgon, Mermaid, Dragon, _____________ queen- you are the iron fisted tyrant, the caligula ask a question of one another. this can be done in
burning down rome just because it pleases you. Every character, or player to player.
dissent is a personal knife in your back you seek to
Bact pay back ten fold. Someone either has to knock down a
Some of your flunkies are more memorable than peg, or you must harm something precious to you in
Adact
others. name three officers, and take a string on each your path of conquest. [ ] Add +1 to A stat’s baseline
[ ] Take Another QUeen Move
One student refuses to bend the knee. Take a string on [ ] Take Another Queen Move
each other. Conon [ ] Take a Move From Another Playbook
[ ] Take a Move From Another Playbook
Stig [ ] Rearrange your stats as you see fit
[ ] Create another clique through your Flunkies move
After you take five advancements, you can choose
from the following as well:
[ ] Take 2 Advanced Moves
[ ] Bol violence.
Mov
[ ] Fun You get the basic moves, plus three fIRESTARTER moves.
[ ] MCR Had A Point: When you charge into a situation
without making a plan or thinking ahead, Shift your
[ ] Cree You get this one:
+Bold up and any stat of your choice down.
Cha+1 Smas+2 Bol-1 Fun+1 Cree 0 [ ] Lock one stat, and add +1 to one of your choice
[ ] Graduate into adulthood, or drop out
[ ] Smas And then Pick two: [ ] No-Sell: In spite of your appearances, you really
[ ]Under Pressure: When someone has three or more are quite physically powerful. When someone tries to
[ ] Bol strings on you, add 1 to any rolls to do what they ask instigate violence on you, take a string on them for
[ ] Fun of you. how ineffectual they are.
[ ] Cree [ ] Non-standard Brain: You can give someone a string [ ] Weird is good: When you attempt to Use Your wiles,
on you to learn a secret about them or hear their roll with +Creative.
current thoughts. The owner of that character will
Exene reveal an honest secret of their choice. [ ] Role Models: when You let someone shift your
stats, in addition to gaining an experience point you
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] can also clear a condition.
Lok Your Worst Self Inic Me
-Demeanor: Shy, Weird, Obsessive, _____________ When you share a moment of intimacy with someone,
-Outfit: Baggy, Proper, Casual, _____________ You slip up. Your concentration on a form that other ask if they feel awkward afterwards. If no, mark
-Origin: Elder GOd, Classical Angel, Fear, _____________ people can handle is broken- letting loose tentacles, experience. If Yes, they take a string on you.
madness, or holy fire. It drives you to do what you
always do- isolate, until you can calm yourself down,
Bact or until someone can figure out the right ritual to
Adact
You’ve managed to make at least one friend in this bind you again. [ ] Add +1 to A stat’s baseline
place. They gain two strings on you, and you have one [ ] Take Another Outsider Move
string on them. [ ] Take Another Outsider Move
Conon [ ] Take a Move From Another Playbook
[ ] Smas Mov still clear the condition but you become Your Worst
Self.
You get the basic moves, plus three Deadbeat moves.
[ ] Bol [ ] The Friendly Dead: If you help someone clear a
[ ] Fun You get this one:
[ ]Undead but full of life: You are the master of hang
condition, take a string on them.
[ ] Cree outs, the host with the most. When you Roll to Kick [ ] THat’s Totally How I Died: when someone comes up
Back, choose a number of people equal to your +Fun to with a plan to Make A Scene, you can declare any
invite to your hang sesh. Everyone benefits from your aspect of that plan as how you died, whether
Exene roll to kick back and may pick as if they had rolled truthfully or not. Give that person +1 forward on the
the same result. Make A Scene roll, from your supposed expertise.
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
Lok Your Worst Self Inic Me
-Demeanor: Lethargic, Wild, Blase’ _____________ When you share a moment of intimacy with someone,
-Outfit: Ratty, Fashionable, Party, _____________ You can’t help but notice how dull everything feels- gain a string on them. If they share a moment of
-Origin: Zombie, Ghoul, Specter, _____________ an existential dread, rearing its face once more. You intimacy with someone else, lose all strings on them.
may not be alive, but you’re here- you’ve got to be, you
just need to prove it to yourself. You seek out
Bact something- anything- to make you feel alive again, in
Adact
You’ve told someone how you actually died. You gain spite of it all. [ ] Add +1 to A stat’s baseline
two strings on each other. [ ] Take Another Deadbeat Move
[ ] Take Another Deadbeat Move
Conon
Stig [ ] Take a Move From Another Playbook
[ ] Take a Move From Another Playbook
[ ] Rearrange your stats as you see fit
[ ] You Dorm at a Haunted House.
After you take five advancements, you can choose
from the following as well:
[ ] Take 2 Advanced Moves
[ ] Take 2 Advanced Moves
[ ] Fun you.
[ ] Cree [ ] CHeese it!: When you need to escape, name the route
you’ll try and roll +Smarts. On a 10 up, you make it no
sweat. On a 7-9, you can go or stay, but if you go it’s
Exene going to cost you- you can leave something behind or
something comes with you.
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
Lok Your Worst Self Inic Me
-Demeanor: Nervous, Excited, Fascinated, _____________ When you share a moment of intimacy with someone,
-Outfit: Casual, Uniform, Grunge _____________ You’re not just some fragile nobody- you’re tired of Both of you clear all conditions, thanks to your
-Origin: Human, but pick a Humanoid Monster To being coddled, of being treated like you’re made of refreshingly normal point of view.
Disguise Yourself As: _____________ glass. You’re going to prove exactly how badass you
are- unless someone manages to talk you out of it
first.
Adact
Bact [ ] Add +1 to A stat’s baseline
When sharing backstories, go last. [ ] Take Another New Kid Move
Conon [ ] Take Another New Kid Move
Someone here’s been assigned as your guide- they take [ ] Take a Move From Another Playbook
three strings on you. Someone else finds your [ ] Take a Move From Another Playbook
presence fascinating- take a string on them. [ ] Rearrange your stats as you see fit
[ ] You decide to get turned- change to a different
Stig playbook
After you take five advancements, you can choose
from the following as well:
[ ] Take 2 Advanced Moves