One shot thing is very interesting. My guys have been drowning in “plot” due to the session start moves. 4 players and we only play for 2.5 hours so I’ve slowed it down to session starts every 2nd session. Still haven’t got to the gate they discovered was important 4 sessions ago! As the moves/events snowball there never seems time for a break. The idea of handling some of that off-screen between sessions is good but players may feel cheated. Play to find out, not play to have the MC tell you how it goes down, right? Plus I have not mastered the one-shot.
Totally agree about the mortal reactions too, I’m ignoring it as they have enough complications already. I saw the draft NYC book has a mortal front where the US army/govt locks the city down if it gets too hot with supernatural activity.