I have always been a firm believer that Stakes are the most important concept to nail in regards to DW prep. Stuck on writing good stakes? Sophie gives us the low down on how to prep the best campaign questions you are interested in answering through play.
When Sophie talks about scenes, just imagine framing them as a way to answer your stake questions. They need not be in any order (though they may be tied to a specific Front’s danger or Impending doom.)
This article, although written about FATE, applies equally well to DW. Be inspired!
Originally shared by Sophie Lagace
As I tidy up the last few items for the War of Ashes RPG for Evil Hat Productions, I go step-by-step through the creation of an adventure.
#warofashesrpg
http://mechanteanemone.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/war-of-ashes-rpg-adventures/
It looks very railroady at first glance… DW is a bit averse to railroads.
The scenes seem high level enough to use as inspiration as Fronts or Stakes, or at least conceive as a backdrop to a starting point in the world for a starting session. As PCs “enter these scenes” they can impact fronts and stakes, and a GM can use those moments to tease the party, not necessarily railroad them. But Taken literally, I do see the rails, which seems to defeat DW tenets.
Yeah, its more about the questions that start the adventure off, I find a lot of folks get stumped when they come up with cool fronts and associated dangers, but can’t really muster any immediate questions to ask of the situation.
That’s what I was trying to elude: that in your prep you should be asking questions of the situation that you want to see answered in play, and that requires some good ideas on your NPCs motivations and needs. Sophie has designed a fairly linear adventure, but look at the questions she asks in the first part of the article – these are great examples of stake questions.
My experience with fronts has always been troublesome, and stakes have always been the worst part of that. Maybe my inability to write good stakes has been the major part of my failing on this aspect of the game.
Exactly Mike! You are not alone 🙂
That’s why the advice in the first few paragraphs is so helpful, and shows you the thought process into the GM’s head as she asks these stake questions about her situation.