Thanks to Gabe Tanenhaus Matt Smith and Michael Pearce for a killer first time GMing DW live. As difficult as I thought it might be, it turned out to be the most fun experience I’ve had GMing an RPG. I came in with zero planning and Matt Smith and Gabe Tanenhaus developed some sort of story involving swamp creatures and a mysterious tome with a side excursion involving Gabe Tanenhaus and his swamp-monster-baby-mama. Michael Pearce jumped in a little bit later just in time for the dungeon and ultimately we got through three hours with only a single monster kill to their credit, but many many more evaded. The incredible amount of potential paths is something to behold when you GM DW. Much respect to the hireling Delvin the Expendable who somehow managed to make it through the dungeon unscathed and still smoking his cigarettes.
DW is the greatest.
The only hiccup I ran into as the GM was when Matt Smith cast the spell Visions Through Time which required that I give him information regarding a current Grim Portent. As I hadn’t planned any Front/Grim Portents/Etc, it took me a moment to figure out how to apply this. I think this might be the only rule that applies directly to the concept of Grim Portents.
Sounds like an awesome first session!
Pete French it’s the only player-facing rule about Grim Portents. The Fronts chapter relies on them to exist!
Thanks for an awesome run, Pete French !
Regarding higher level play. We ultimately didn’t use TOO many Advanced Moves, but there were distinctly fewer fails. XP at this level would likely taper off very quickly. Consider that at level 6 you could have +3 in both your primary and secondary stat. Further a few Advanced Moves can situationally bump that up to +4. Matt Smith ‘s Wizard was constantly Spouting Lore at +4 due to Fount of Knowledge.
Adam Koebel Right, I didn’t know that there were any player-facing rules that directly referenced Grim Portents. Because I had let the players basically create the Adventure Front themselves, the Grim Portents were sort of developed on-the-fly.
Another interesting fact. We did the Take Watch move twice, but didn’t Discern Realities once.
Who needs to discern realities when the wizard spouts lore at + 4 ? Are there any dangers about?
Wizard: I will tell you exactly what dangers to worry about!
Fun stuff. I did only mark XP twice. My guess is gaining XP at this level is all about playing to bonds and your weaknesses rather than your strengths.
Glad to hear it went well, sounds like an awesome session and I wish I could have made it.