Geee, here I am to ask for your help again, a few hours ago I ran a DW game for my Saturday group and I made a hard move on them as a consequence of their attack to a dragon in human form. 2 characters died as a result, but the point is that when the monster spew I forgot to ask them to roll for defy danger. It was a big unjustice (right?) and I want to mend it. What’d the best approach to do this without hurting the fiction of the game? Thanks again.
Geee, here I am to ask for your help again, a few hours ago I ran a DW game for my Saturday group and I made a hard…
Geee, here I am to ask for your help again, a few hours ago I ran a DW game for my Saturday group and I made a hard…
I think whether it’s fair or an injustice depends on the context. Did they know it was a dragon in human form? In my mind, if the character rolled a 6- while attacking, it’s fine to hit them with the dragon breath without allowing a Defy Danger roll. It’s even OK to hit other party members as a result of the attacker’s bad roll, although I might allow them a Defy Danger check if they weren’t directly involved in the failed attack itself.
If you’re just looking to make amends, there’s a few things you could do. You could have them automatically pass their Death move, although it might be more interesting for Death to offer them a deal. If they’re already bringing in new characters, maybe give them a level or two to start with? Or perhaps, give them a one-shot amulet that allows them to do something like reroll a failed roll, or automatically roll a 12 on one check, and then it vanishes.
But do you think I must tell them I was unfair unporpusefully or just let it slip and be forgotten? Thanks for your imput.
Do the players think it was unfair? I can’t make that call without knowing exactly how it happened.
If they are OK with it, but you’re worried you were unfair, don’t worry about it. Just keep playing and keep it in mind for next time.
If the players feel resentful, then discuss the situation openly and come to a compromise that makes everyone feel better.
My opinion: Take-it-backs are never very satisfactory. Death in DW is not such a big deal. My suggestion is to just let it go and mark GM XP. If they complain, apologise and buy snacks for the next session…
As Craig Judd says above: “In my mind, if the character rolled a 6- while attacking, it’s fine to hit them with the dragon breath without allowing a Defy Danger roll.”
A Defy Danger, in my mind, is more for times when the characters have some threat coming at them when they aren’t really acting. From what you’re describing, they attacked an NPC who wasn’t really acting? Or, at least, the NPC didn’t make the first move, otherwise you could have asked them if they wanted to Defy Danger.
So yeah, it’s fine in my mind from the information presented.
I completely agree with Craig Judd here; did the players think the event was unfair? (and if you don’t know, ask them rather than guessIng.)
If the players do feel it was unfair, then ask them how they want to proceed. But if the players aren’t complaining, then just mark GM XP as Wynand Louw says and move on.
What’s done is done, mark GM XP and move on – unless the players feel especially aggrieved, in which case you have an adventure to get them back from the Land of the Dead.
One effect of insta-killing characters (assuming that’s what happened, rather than just finishing off a weakened character at the end of a larger battle) is that it makes life cheap and character arcs short in your game.
– If that’s how they like it: great, move on, have fun.
– However, if they’re the sort of players who prefer longer character arcs, then you might need to make it clear that insta-kills aren’t going to be the norm from here on.
Either way, it sounds like a discussion at the start of your next session is in order, covering how they feel about what happened and how they want things to go in the longer term.
One was getting acquainted with a girl while the magic dragon-locator orb indicated there was a dragon in the room with them. The party was watching this when the necromancer freaked-out and sent his undead freak show to attack the girl. Instantly the girl just filled the room with her fire breath engulfing everyone (because dragon breath is a big thing).
They blame the necromancer player. He and the Tinkerer died (his omni tool was not active or anything so he took 14 damage).
The dragon spitting was the move that resulted from the necromancer action to attack.
I think it makes perfect fictional sense, especially if the dragon girl did not provoke the attack.
Some things should just kill you.
(Reminds me of early DnD: “You didn’t check for traps so you fall 100 meters onto a bunch of wooden spikes. Now roll 3d6 six times and tell me your new character’s name…”)
Anyway, the guy is a necromancer. So why not bring him back as a zombie with minimal memories and an inexplicable urge to meet dragon girls?
(Edit: Having said that I would propably have started with a soft move: “The girl inhales deeply and a wisp of smoke curls from her nose. What do you do?” Of course, if the Necromancer was out of line it can be seen as a golden oppurtunity to do a hard move.)
Alright! ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ
I feel like the Necromancer earned it. For the Tinker, grab a Warforged character sheet as his multitool rebuilds him as a cyborg? Anyway I agree that a discussion is called for with the players. Ask how they feel about things and then let them know what you are thinking. Seems like it will depend how brutal your game is supposed to be, but feels right to me.
So, you warned them that a dragon was in their presence, and then they started combat (with a bad roll?)
Your current situation is a party who has lost important members, a mutual desire for vengeance between them and the dragon, and a harsh lesson in how dangerous she is, This sounds like a good place to move forward from!
I’d ask if they felt cheated, but I don’t think it’s super important that you do so. If you lose a player over this they’re probably too sensitive to games that allow character death without clearly defined rigid multilayered mechanics.