Okay. It’s getting near time for our first DW session. I’m thinking about starting the game something like this…
“The creature’s crude scimitar narrowly misses you, impacts with the dungeon floor and send shards of stone chips flying in every direction.
What do you do?”
My question is this. What monster(s) do you recommend for starting characters and players?
I second the notion of letting the players pick. Have you run DW before? If not, this would be good practice for making up monsters on the fly, which is a good skill to have. I’d also ask them how they got there and why the creature is angry at them. Preferably giving one question to each player; it’ll give everyone a chance for input and give some context about what’s going on, as well as some time to breathe and think about what to do with the information.
(And time for you to write up your monster, which is nice.)
I like Trogolytes because their moves are just super fun to use:
“Raid and retreat
Use scavenged weapons or magic”
James Etheridge This will be our first game. And with friends that have played the good old war board games, but are totally new to the RPG scene.
I like putting two groups of monsters in at once to start. Give them more than one thing to worry about. A group of goblins and their pet manticore that just got loose, with their guide to these caves bleeding out from an arrow wound. Or a group of bandits attacking, which sets off the mad wizard who was enjoying a drink, and also the fire they just set, spreading through the inn you’re in.
It throws hard choices and gives them lots to do right from the start.
http://ravenoo.deviantart.com/art/Marilith-20143051
That’s a great start! And there are so many ways you can go with it!
I’d let the players pick, totally. Probably go with something like …..
Creature X (Solitary? Large! Maybe magically enbiggened) 8 hp, 1 armor
Crude Scimitar (d10)
Large, but not in charge. Magically bound to The Sky Gazer. Guards the sole bridge to the Pillar of Eternity.
Instincts : To serve. To kill.
The Sky Gazer (Solitary) 5 hp
Magic Lightning [b(2d6)]
Ceremonial Dagger (d4)
Standing at the far end of the bridge, arms open wide to the heavens, Gazing through the hole in the dungeon ceiling and chanting. The stars are almost right!
Instincts : To ascend to godhood
To enslave
To cackle and brag
Excellent start!
For some reason, i find myself really wanting to know what the characters smell in this moment. The responses could reveal so much about the environment, the attacker(s), or the characters themselves.
Sean Fager I’m thinking Cthulhu might be a little bit too much…
Warren Shultzaberger “Embrace the Fhtagntastic”
You can go with any monster, but as this is your first DW you also get to “model behaviour” for the other folk playing and show them how DW might be different from other games they might have played.
The ‘Say it to do it’ and and how that relates to moves, and ‘ask questions, use answers’ are the big points of difference for me.
So, pick your baddie, and draw up a list of questions to help you and the players drive the story. Example:
1. You face Frulgor Mongrel-kin, the Bandit King: some say his mother was an Orc and his father was an ogre; some that he’s half giant. What do you think he is? What about him is unusual that makes you think that?
2. His bandits stole something more valuable than their normal loot. What or who was it? Who is paying you to get it back? Who has offered double to make sure it stays lost?
3. You can also ask questions about the regional map and get them to put the locations on.
Where is the House of the Green Moon where you learnt your combat skills?
Lastwinter Barrow is here on the map. You been there before – what were you looking for?
My best was: after a long desperate run you finally reach the glade in the dark forest. In front of you the ruins that you were looking for, behind you your chasers emerge from the wood and attack. Who are they? What did you do to have them want to kill you?
I started my campaign by asking everyone top roll 2d6 and whoever rolled lowest i turned toward saying
“the fire elemental blasts you in the chest with a molten arm or solid flame. you are hurtling over the edge of a cliff. the abyss dropping away beanith you. what do you do”
everyone in that first fight died… exept the guy who was thrown off the cliff. was great!
my answer is any monster is good, they dont need to be able to beat it. it just need to knock the players violently into the Dungeon world somehow