deadbeat
Monster dad
players: create monster children
1 Choose a Monster for your mom. It can be any monster,
e.g.: Dragon, Fairy, Goblin, Shark, Slime, or Vampire.
You are half of that monster and half human.
2 here. Your monster, culture, and attitude will help
Choose an Attitude for your child: Childish, Doting,
Fearful, Studious, Tough, Vengeful, Weird, or Wild.
3
Choose the Culture that raised your child: Aristocrats,
Beasts, Craftsmen, Farmers, Knights, Merchants, Mom,
4
Priests, The Streets, The Wilds, Thieves, or Wizards.
Choose your number, from 2-5. A high number is better
with CULTURE (diplomacy; practicing your trade; skill and
precision; calm, careful action). A low number is better with
MONSTER (intimidation; using your monster powers; charging
5
in; power and glory; wild, passionate action).
Give your character a simple name, like Graves or Tooth.
You are a human-shaped monster, roughly the size or
build of a standard human but clearly monstrous. You may be
big or small or have different shaped parts, but you're
basically still human in all the ways that matter. You were
raised by your single mom or by the humans she left you with.
Player goal: Find the deadbeat who left your monster mom.
Character goal: Why do you want to find dad? Choose: Bring
him home, Break him, Collect child support, Finally meet him,
Find closure, Kill him, Make Mom happy, Pay his debts,
Prove your worth, Scold him, or Show off.
You have a mysterious power, given to you by either your
culture or your heritage. Write it now. You can use this power
to protect you from harm, or to add to a roll it actively helps
you with. You can use this power as often as it is relevant.
gm: complicate matters
players: roll the dice
When you do something risky, roll 1d6 to find out
how it goes. Roll +1d6 if you are prepared, and +1d6
if you are capable, and +1d6 if your power applies
you determine if you are prepared or capable.
Roll your dice and compare each die result to
your number.
If you're using CULTURE (thought, precision,
human), you want to roll under your number.
If you're using MONSTER (passion, power,
feral), you want to roll over your number.
0
If none of your dice succeed, it goes wrong.
The GM says how things get worse somehow.
1
If one die succeeds, you accomplish your task,
but you must suffer harm or pay a cost to do it.
2
If two dice succeed, you do it. Good job!
The GM will tell you what happens now.
3
If three or more dice succeed, you conquer.
Tell us how you went beyond expectations.
The GM has no power over your success.
? If you roll your number exactly, you get to ask
the GM a question, in addition to getting a
success on your roll. You can ask about anything you
can see, or about a memory of your dad.
! Helping: If you help someone, tell us how, and
roll 1d6. If you succeed, add it to their check.
If you fail, you must pay a cost or suffer harm.
Dad's been on the run for a long time. When the players find
someone who might be dad, roll or choose from this table:
this man is…
licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/
License: http:// creativecommons.org/
This game is licensed under a CC BY-NA-SA 3.0
D MD is written by Jacob Randolph.
Lasers & Feelings by John Harper.
Deadbeat Monster Dad is a hack of
1. A bandit. 4. Your grandpa.
2. A tradesman. 5. Your uncle.
3. Your dad's friend. 6. Your dad.
his nature is…
1. Cruel and bitter. 4. Overprotective.
2. Jerk w/a good heart. 5. Carefree soul.
3. Tired and grumpy. 6. Kind and gentle.
he wants to…
1. Get out of here. 4. Meet your mom.
2. Live his life. 5. Meet you.
3. Get rich quick. 6. Care for you.
gm: portray a comedy of errors
Play to find out who they are and what they want. Introduce
danger or hijinks one at a time, giving them room to breathe
as long as they keep on top of it. Build things up. Tear things
down. Before anything happens to a character, show signs of
what will happen next, then ask "what do you do?"
Call for a roll when the situation is uncertain. Don't pre-plan
outcomes - let the chips fall where they may. Use failures to
push the action forward. Every roll must change the situation,
for better or for worse.
Humans are weak and disposable. They are also easily scared
and quick to anger. The players are much stronger than them,
and humans only pose a threat as a group. Unfortunately,
most of the world is human, so the players have to play by
their rules or risk their wrath.
Monsters are strong and important. Every monster they meet
should have a solid personality, a defined outlook on life, and
be an important pillar of society. They are strong role models
and should be respected helpers on the players' journey.