Character Creation: Moonlight on Roseville Beach

Here, queer, etc.

The Game: Moonlight on Roseville Beach
The Publisher: R. Rook Studio
Degree of Familiarity: None
Books Required: Just the one 

It's not Carved from Brindlewood, but the game feels like Brindlewood Bay in a lot of ways. You're playing people living in or visiting the titular beach, which in 1979 is a safe haven for queer folks (inasmuch as they are the norm here and can be out and visible without harassment, as long as they don't do something silly like "call the police"). Unlike Brindlewood games, Moonlight etc has the GM create a mystery to solve and give the PCs a reason to solve it. Often it's because something wonky is happening in town and you or someone you love is affected, and as mentioned even if the authorities would investigate, they are likely to blame you because you're one o' them queers.

The vibe of the game is right there on the cover - it's queer pulp mystery horror. System-wise, it reminds me of Rebels of the Outlaw Wastes, in that you roll a bunch of dice and allocate those dice to results on tables, so more dice is better because you have more chances to roll 6s (there's another game that does this and now I can't remember for the life of me what it is, that's gonna bug me). Anyway, chargen looks fun, nice balance between PbtA and a kind of lifepath or Shadow of the Demon Lord kind of thing (that is, pick the background elements and then build a character around them, which I guess is what lifepaths do, too), so let's get into it!

First thing we pick is an Origin Story (there are a bunch to pick from; they're not quite playbooks but that's the basic idea). I kinda like the Stranger (an otherworldly being that is pretending to be human), so I think I'll indulge my inner "video for Chappel Roan's "Casual"" today. I get to pick a home, one of the choices is "beneath the seas", and that sounds good to me. Let's call him Nai Kits (almost certainly a name he picked randomly, since his real "name" isn't pronounceable). 

I get to roll my apparent age (or pick, but I'm fine rolling; it's 3d6 + 19, I roll 8, so I look 27). I have some innate sorcery; this game uses Words of Power, much like Here, There, Be Monsters, and I get to pick two off the Witch list. I'll take "Flood" and "Call," I think. I like the idea of my Stranger being able to call things up from the ocean sometimes, including, like, a lot of water. Once per session I can do some consistent magic related to my Words, as long as it doesn't physically hurt anyone. Hmm. Let's say as long as I'm outside and in view of the ocean, I can speak to anyone I know by whispering. It's not two-way communication, but I can tell them as much as I want.

I'll get two additional skills related to my Job, but we haven't gotten there yet. I get two skills from my Home, and I'll take Intimidating and Swimming. I think my Stranger isn't intimidating in the sense that he's big, muscular, or overtly scary, he just makes you feel like you're lost at sea, and sometimes the waves crash or thunder rolls at dramatic moments when he's speaking.

I have two Troubles: One person who knows or suspects what I really am, and a person who anchors me to the world of humans. For the former, let's say it's Carrie Fleur (she's described in the book as "cunning"). I think Carrie probably thinks Nai is dangerous (and who knows, maybe), and knows that he came up out of the sea one night and now sometimes floods happen. 

For my anchor, we'll say it's Orman Hellstrom (or "Orri," as he's usually called). Orri was the guy who found my character on the beach, putting on his human form. Orri helped Nai figure out how "legs" worked, and the two of them have since grown...close. My guy has no idea how Orri really feels about him, because he doesn't really understand human emotion. It hasn't been a problem yet. 

Next I get a jorb. (A what? A great JAERB. Anyway.) One of the options is Backup Dance at Fleur Manor, and I like that. Clearly my character doesn't know Carrie's onto him. I get two skills off the list, I'll take Music and Jumping.

Strange Event! The way this would normally work is all players would choose one (there's a list, again) and another character who experienced it with us. Since it's just me, I don't have to worry about that second bit. I will say, however, that Nai went and saw the Fortune Teller, who looked horrified and called him "Roseville's Doom" before shooing him out. I get to roll to see if I get another skill...I do, let's take Alluring (it's not on the list, but it fits).

Troubles, Allies, Comforts! My Troubles are handled already. I'll say my Ally is Orri, obviously. I get three Comforts: A special place, a special memento, and a special person. I'll say the special place is the stage at Fleur Manor, but only when it's empty. It reminds Nai of the beach, in a way, if the audience is the ocean. I'll say his special memento is a wooden human hand. It's from the figurehead of a ship. He doesn't remember the name of the ship, but he lives in it for a while when he was considering coming up to live amongst humans. And, finally, his special person (because I don't want to triple up on Orri) is Cathy Fleur, Carrie's sister. Nai and Cathy just kind of vibe. 

And that's pretty much it; if I were actually in a group we'd figure out the Bungalow some, but it's just me. I picture Nai as white, brown but sea-bleached hair, green eyes, a little checked out a lot of the time, but always remembers what you say to him. Never, ever forgets a slight, but also never seems angry. Also, heaven help you if you take food from him without asking. He bit a guy at a party once. 

That'll do it!