Monster Hearts: The Diary of a Ghost

You used to have a future. Growing up was a painful tumult at times, but at least you were growing. Now you only have a past - unfinished business to take care of before you can leave this world behind.

Life is precious. You understand that, now that you've lost yours. You just want to help. You just want to be seen. But sometimes even the simplest desires feel so difficult to grasp.

Ghosty ghost, you're dead.

Lonely, wounded, caring, and creepy. The Ghost has experienced intense trauma, and now seeks validation and intimacy. They have the potential to provide care and healing for others, but also tend to ignore personal and physical boundaries.

The two stat choices for the Ghost let you steer toward being either icy and distant (Cold 2 & Dark 1), or scary and moody (Dark 2 & Volatile 1). Your ghost might end up crying out for help, pushing away the very people they care about, or burning themself out trying to take care of others.

At the start of the game, the Ghost's low Hot stat means that they aren't good at Turning Someone On. This plays into their core dilemma - without social power, how does the Ghost get the attention and emotional support that they need? Maybe they're endlessly giving, hoping for reciprocation. Helpful Spirit and Transference both point in that direction. Maybe they're mean and spiteful, assuming from the outset that they aren't worthy of affection. Unresolved Trauma and Projected Blame provide a different dynamic, suggesting a mean and spiteful Ghost who lashes out at those who remind them of what they've lost. Creep and Limitless add a voyeuristic element, encouraging the Ghost to ignore others' boundaries. Lots of other possibilities exist in the interactions between these moves, too.