Wanted to make a place of power, they don’t get used enough.
Alluring Light
While basking in the colorful light emitted by this tall monolith, your ability to cast spells is increased.
When you cast a spell while in the light take +1 forward to the roll. Mark off a box (each person has their own set of boxes to mark) ◻◻◻◻◻
Each time you mark a box after using the Alluring Lights power, you begin to become fixated on it. You find yourself desiring it’s beauty. The more you use its power, the stronger this urge.
When you mark all the boxes, you must stay in the light of the monolith otherwise you become Weakened and Stunned.
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Version 1.2
The light emitted from this monolith is so alluring and addictive, that those who spend too much time around and use its energy become trapped at this place by their addiction. Cults of many differing cultures are found living around this monolith, worshipping it and frequently basking in its light. If you try to talk with any of the folk who live in this area, the subject will always turn back to the monolith.
When you bask in the light of the monolith and cast a spell or ritual, you gain a +1 forward to that roll for each Grim Portent marked. If you fail the roll, mark a grim portent.
Place of power: Alluring Light
Doom: Complete Addiction
Grim Portents:
◻ You have become addicted to the light.
◻ You feel a strong desire to return to the light frequently. Even during time sensitive quests. Defy Danger +WIS each morning.
◻ When you sleep, Defy Danger+WIS. 10+, you dream of the tower but it’s cool. 7-9, you sleep fitfully and wake often, dreaming of the light. Take -1 forward. On a miss, you get no rest as the light burns behind your eyes; take -1 forward and regain no hit points.
◻ You are Weakened if you spend more than a day without basking in the Light
◻ You have become dependent on the light so much that you can’t travel far from the monolith. You reside amongst the cultists.
#DungeonWorldDanger
That would make a great Danger. 🙂
Compels are really hard to do like this, though. It’s easy to end up with the players feeling like they don’t have a choice. I like the model “the GM tells you to do X. If you do, mark XP.” At least that gives them a choice and a reward for doing the bad thing.
Hmm, I like that idea. I’ve seen a few magical items like that.
I agree with Chris Stone-Bush that making this a Danger (with grim portents) is a solid format.
The problem I see with how you’ve got it written is that “each time you mark a box… you become more fixated on it” is super vague and hand-wavy. What does it mean, exactly, that I become more fixated? How does that affect my behavior or my experience in-play? And how do I balance that nebulous cost against the risk of using the power? And finally, at the very end, the last consequence is so grim and final that I don’t think you’d ever see a player use it.
If you set it up as a set of grim portents, with specific escalations, then each time they use the power it’s a real decision. Is it worth this consequence?
Even better… make each use have a chance of triggering a grim portent. That’s going to add a level of gambling and risk to whole the process that makes players more likely to actually give it a go.
I made a change, version 1.2
Love this idea, agree with everything Jeremy said
Thank-you!
◻ You feel a strong desire to return to the light frequently. Even during time sensitive quests. Defy Danger +WIS each morning.
What danger am I defying? It’s hard to see how I’d adjudicate a 7-9 or a miss on that one.
Maybe instead, have them roll +WIS (or CON?) each time they sleep for a few hours. 10+, they dream of the tower but it’s cool. 7-9, their sleep fitfully and wake often, dreaming of the light. Take -1 forward. On a miss, they get no rest as the light burns behind their eyes; take -1 forward and regain no hit points.
Like always, words of gold, Jeremy.
My worry was making it to ridged and not allowing for leeway in the Fiction, “Distance of 5ft vs Reach” kinda deal. However, I do prefer your method over what I already have.