Oh! I was gonna get on my bullshit to talk about Monsterhearts and how rules promote game verbs.
cc @memnus@octodon.social, @sev@witches.town and @cyndisision@witches.town for this thread :)
So there's a couple things about the design of Monsterhearts I find really interesting, in terms how rules can show what kind of gameplay is in-scope for a given system.
First is the distinction between the moves "Shut someone down" and "Lash out physically".
"Shut someone down" is anything you do to arrest or emotionally hurt someone. Usually this is done with harsh words, but the rules specifically state that is also includes physical attacks that aren't intended to cause major bodily harm -- the example given is shoving someone against a locker.
"Lash out physically" is for when you *are* trying to cause major injury to someone. The examples given in the text is biting someone with wolf fangs or shoving someone off a balcony.
It's a major, major escalation from "Shut someone down".
And imo, the fact that the rules for each move implicitly construct the possibility of this as escalation is really, really cool.
Simply in the definition of these moves, the game communicates that 1, serious physical violence is an option you have, but also that 2, you have to really mean it.
It also gives you the vocabulary to use lower-level physical attacks *without* attempting to cause bodily harm.
In the paragraph or so long definition of two Moves, the game has established, permitted, and contextualized an entire spectrum of physical violence.
The other really interesting place this happens in game is with the Sex Move.
All characters have a Sex Move written on your sheet. Basically, when you have sex with someone, something happens to one or both of you. It can be a good, bad, or mixed thing depending on the Skin (character class/archetype).
I think the purpose of this -- and of it being pretty visible on the character sheet -- is less because any particular move is important and more to communicate "hey, this is a game where having sex with folks is a real and encouraged thing."
It also, like the Lash Out Physically move, communicates "This is a thing you can do but the consequences may be serious and unpredictable." This builds on the game's themes.
Anyway, the rules for Monsterhearts are pretty short but do a really impressive job of guiding you towards certain modes of play.
You can get it here, and hey, it's on sale!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/212511/Monsterhearts-2
One of the options for partial success roll on Lash Out Physically is that instead of doing one (or maybe two) Harm out of a fatal four, the MC (game architect/facilitator) decides how much Harm is done.
A real possibility of a not-quite-as-intended attack is that you hurt the target far worse than intended. Again, the Lash Out Physically move is serious business.