How Vaesen Does Monsters Differently

Plus Shenuque's Guide to Understanding Story Structure

Apr 09, 2024

A Monster Masterclass

P. 150-151, *Vaesen* from Free League Press

Vaesen is one of the first non-5e games that I took to the table, and the one that truly changed how I think about monsters in TTRPGs.

The Nordic horror game, in which players seek out mysterious monsters called Vaesen, all starts with Johan Egerkrans’s incredible illustrations and creature design. The art of Vaesen is so evocative and specific, that to transport players to this mythical version of 18th-century Scandinavia is as simple as spinning your book around.

But what got this to the table for me is just how much juice there is to squeeze out of each Vaesen monster spread.

A Mystery, Not a Stat Block

The smallest pieces of this monster’s design are also the most mechanical. Coming face-to-face in combat with a Vaesen is possible, but not inevitable. You are much more likely to make use of the magical powers section, sowing small seeds of intrigue into a situation. The mystery in this game is first about figuring out which creature is behind the strange happenings in an area and this page is full of breadcrumbs to drop for your players.

Share this newsletter with your TTRPG table to hype them up for all the monstrous fun!

Rituals, Not HP

Vaesen can rarely be killed outright. Instead, each has a complex ritual required in order to banish them. The second stage of any mystery in Vaesen is to figure out the necessary steps of this ritual and carry them out before any more harm can be caused. For example, the revenant’s key is to solve the mystery of who they were in life so that you may find their remains for the ritual.

When the horror can’t be attacked into banishment, the players must be clever to avoid the creature long enough to complete the ritual, leading to high-stakes moments of tension that simply aren’t possible in other monster hunting and investigating RPGs.

A Story, Not a Monster

Each Vaesen is not just a monster to be overtaken and defeated, but a story that has been told and retold for generations. The “secret” box of each Vaesen is the missing piece of that story. It might give an advantage, offer unique protection, or hint at the creature’s ability to return. With that one box, the text is revealing to you the depth of mystery around these creatures. A mystery that you and your players might only uncover a small piece of in your encounters with one of the Vaesen within these pages.

In Vaesen, you do not face monsters with HP and a detailed stat block. You instead uncover mysteries, perform complex rituals, and add your chapter to a story that may never be told in full.

— Elliot

Do you have a game recommendation that changed your outlook on TTRPGs? We want to hear about it!

Understanding Story Structure as an AP Performer

The Most Important Skill You Can Have

In the TTRPG Twitter space people were recently sharing their thoughts on how to become a better Actual Play performer. The specific question was put forward by the talented @annethegnome.

I was traveling to Brian and Abby’s wedding when I put in my two cents on Twitter, but wanted to expand on those thoughts here.

For me, being an AP performer is a different skill set than just learning the rules of comedy and acting. Yes, you can enhance your skills as an AP performer by studying Meisner or understanding Harold, but putting all your eggs in the acting and comedy basket won’t necessarily make you a better performer.

The best thing you can do for yourself if you’re an AP performer is to find ways to understand story structure—what makes a story or plot move forward? How does that story find depth and drive? What are the players doing to actively develop the story in an interesting way? A good story balances highly dramatic moments with softer, quieter ones, and comedic bits with sadder, more serious interactions. A truly excellent AP performer recognizes when each is needed and is able to step up (or step back) and deliver in those moments.

Why is story structure so important? Because telling a story in one 90-minute episode is very different from telling a story across twenty 90-minute episodes. Just like telling a story with one designated lead is different from telling a story with an ensemble cast. The best way to ruin a story is if the two storytellers can’t agree on how to tell it. It the entire cast of an AP understands the story and how they want to tell it, then you’re cooking.

As I say in the Twitter thread, the best AP performers aren’t the best actors or comedians—the best AP performers understand how to tell a good story. After all, you and your fellow players are actually helping craft the story as it goes along. Sure, the GM may have an overarching structure or big points they want to hit, but otherwise you are working to fill in all those in-between moments. Being an AP performer is like writing a show while simultaneously acting in it with no editing (depending on your production).

So, how can you find ways to better understand story structure? Some people do that through pilot writing for television or even taking a screenwriting class. But you could do it through taking a literature class, reading books, reading scripts, or even just watching APs and paying attention to how players make choices to advance stories. There are so many ways to learn how to tell a story; this isn’t the definitive list! Once you start paying attention to how the plots of your favorite APs, TV shows, movies, or books, you’ll start to see what it means to have good story structure.

— Shenuque