[WW] How to use Monsters

[Arne Reuter <reuter@tse-online.de>]

Hi there!

Just another take on how to use monsters. Yes, i believe they should
be rare. But more importantly - Use them when unexpected. Use all the
narrator tricks to get people involved (I believe the Ravenloft
setting tried to explain those). Just a few that come to mind:

* All "strategically" interesting "Projects" like Zombies, Werewolves,
  magic weapons etc. would mostly be in development status (#top
  secret#). Therefore the PCs would mostly encounter those either in
  "controlled" circumstances - German scientists having a field test
  on a certain front section (tough luck ;-)) or by infiltrating the
  labs (there are many castles in Germany ;-)), possibly under a
  totally different pretext.
* Most other GIs would disqualify the PCs as madmen, if they were to
  tell stories like that - officially of course high command would deny
  any "monsters" on the Nazi side - if only for morale reasons.
* Use setting, weather, natural phenomina to support the monsters:
  - Remote locations like forests, mountains, swamps disrupt comm
    lines and logistics, therefore regenerating an isolation effect
  - Old villages, seemingly untouched by the war (again: the
    unexpected) would raise some neck hairs, whatever the reason.
  - weather phenomena always work: night, fog, rain storms, blizzards
    all reduce visibility and isolate PCs. They are especially scary,
    if not "natural". Snow in June? And what are those strange lights
    and sounds in the dark swamp?
* The unknown opponent. Drop hints instead of having the group
  confront a monster directly. Have sentries missing, with no clues
  but overlarge footprints, rustles in the bushes. Always use the full
  group (in military terms) or platoon to get the body count up. Once
  a pc draws night watch, he'll be very much alert ;-).
* The Nazis were masters of propaganda. So why shouldn't the military
  use this concept to strike fear into their enemies hearts: once the
  supernatural element is established, have the group know they are up
  agains the SS-Werewolf Division. Have them find badly mangled, half
  eaten corpses of comrades. Describe enemies they glimpse as large,
  fast, with very bushy eyebrows and hairy arms as well as oversized
  teeth (a german soldiers corpse e.g.). Do they need to _be_
  Werewolves? No ;-), just keep your players guessing.
* Finally, as in a previous post: Be careful with descriptions.
  Goblins are fine, if they are described as strangely shaped children,
  that obviously exhibit abnormal strength and agility (compared to
  children that is). A drop of black, green, blue blood does wonders
  ;-). (have a look at the movie Predator)


I am sure others will be able to add to this post, so go ahead. I have
to go back to work ;-).

Regards,

Arne Reuter

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