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 lead to a climactic battle or a clever banishment. The tone is yours to decide, ranging from gritty to campy, cozy to creepy. Our Game Masters customise mysteries to suit your preferred vibes, locations, and content limits, ensuring every table experiences the right kind of spooky.

It’s easy to pick up and works well with 2 to 5 players, making it perfect for birthdays or team outings. Newcomers can jump in quickly, lapsed gamers will feel right at home, and veterans will enjoy rich character hooks. You can play in person or online. If you love 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.

Common 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 wins, allowing the story to progress without complex calculations. Character creation is quick, or you can opt for pregenerated options if you prefer. If someone is familiar with the game, that's fantastic, but it's not essential. 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 shines with 2 to 5 players. A complete, single-case session fits into 3 to 4 hours. For campaign nights, plan for 3.5 to 4 hours to allow for character moments and aftermath. Shorter slots can work for quick cases, and a skilled GM will tailor clue density and threat load to your time. Smaller tables feel especially punchy and personal, which suits the show-style rhythm of the game.

Is it frightening, and is it suitable for kids?

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 to fit. For family groups, they avoid gore and focus on teamwork, humour, and creative problem solving. Teens and mixed-age groups work well too. To explore tone options and safety approaches, see GM playstyles.

How is MotW different from D&D?

It focuses on contemporary monster hunting rather than dungeon exploration. You follow clues, protect bystanders, and confront a single main threat for 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 backfire, leaning more towards TV-style occult themes than traditional spell lists. Sessions are designed to resemble an episodic arc.

Which edition are we playing?

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

Can we play online, and what 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 enjoy rolling at home. See common setups on online platforms.

Booking Form


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Genres you can play in Monster of the Week

  • Mystery

    Follow the clues, build timelines, and catch the culprit. Think Knives Out, but you are the detective, piecing together alibis and secrets…

    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 twilight paths, reminiscent of The Witcher…

    View genre: Folklore
  • Rural

    Comfortable fields, muddy boots, neighbour drama, and harvest festivals. Imagine Stardew Valley with mysteries at the hedgerow, family…

    View genre: Rural

What players are saying

  • Tom was fantastic! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The kids asked the next day when we could do this again.

    Danny

  • 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 fantastic job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot 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. Cheers, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varied experience levels, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed for 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 fantastic 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. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was incredibly engaging. I organised a session as a gift for my boyfriend, who is really passionate about it, and he was very 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

  • Baptiste was a fantastic GM who adapted seamlessly to our group and helped us make great progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided; they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were quite rough. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a 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 let the players immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A great first experience with D&D. Amber was excellent at explaining and guiding the game, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating on attack strategies with my colleagues was a fun activity that provided valuable insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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