Not a bad game.
Originally shared by Nathan V
(A summary of my first time running Dungeon World.)
The halfling thief, Tetikus Kecil, and her elven companions, Dambrath, and Elijas the Glorious arrive in Cormire.
Settling in a booth at the Bold Hawk Inn, Tetikus buys her friends a round of drinks with her ill-gotten gains. Tetikus asked the barmaid, Thelissa, about a Tannidl Vineseeker, an exotic fruit dealer attached to some treasure that she keeps secret.
Thelissa got nervous, and lets out that that’s not a name that strangers would be expected to ask for. She explained that he’s a recluse, in the north end of town, before quickly excusing herself to tend to the other tables.
Elijas suggested heading north, to find Tannidl’s home, when Dambrath notices a man in all black, with a green collar, and a black animal, with a gem at its collar, at his feet. Tetikus recognized the clothes as that of a merchant of a land not far from her own. Tannidl! Dambrath also managed to catch a glimpse of Thelissa, in the back room, getting yelled at by a superior.
At Dambrath’s suggestion, the trio finished their drinks and waited outside in hiding, to track Tannidl to his home. However, when he finally left the Bold Hawk, the plan fell through; Tetikus noticed that the black creature was a panther, and decided to ask if she could ride the large cat. He agreed, but asked a favor, first: travel east of the river to deliver a message. To help their travel, Tannidl allowed Tetikus and Elijas horses to ride. Dambrath would ride on his bear companion, Yogi.
At this, we drew the session to an end.
The names… so much word salad, I could start a diet.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Samuel Bogumill isn’t that pretty standard for high fantasy, though? At least since Frodo joined Legolas, Gimlee, and Aragon, anyway.
What sound does lightning make when it strikes a dark elf? Drizzt!
Tetikus Kecil, by the way, means “small mouse” in Malay.
Nathan V Too much or too many words I have to overthink the pronunciation is something of a pet peeve to me.
I understand High Fantasy loves to make names normal people will struggle to read let alone pronounce, but there is a point where it just makes my tongue quit it’s job and walk away. I try to enforce conventions such as not too many names starting with the same letter, too many names with 3+ syllables, or letters that “blend” too close when together.
I like the name Tetikus, but the names just started to wisp right over me. I’d sooner call “Rjarendintellar High Uphilate of Keis`hjyek” elf with stupid name than even make an attempt to connect to him.
I’m ranting too much, use your silly names if everyone enjoys it.
Did dice hit the table? Or was this mostly riffing of of each other? Sounds like a good start though.
Samuel Bogumill when I write up sessions I just use class names to help the reader. It’s much easier to read “mage tries to sneak past the ogre” and know that this could go horribly wrong. If it’s “Barlithius tries to sneak past the ogre” then you might think that’s the thief and lose track of the fiction.
Storn Cook it was mostly just riffing off each other, but dice did indeed hit the table! Actually, we’re just getting used to the moves. It’s still hard to remember just when a move is triggered, and just what that move does. I’m sure we’ll get to that point, though, with practice.
My first session, dice came out, but not a ton. I had two brand new players to DW and one who had played 3 times.
My 2nd session, just this last Tuesday, dice hit the table a lot! Perhaps starting sessions don’t gravitate towards a lot of dice rolling because the premises and pressures are just being realized.
I look forward to hearing more and seeing how the growing pains with DW come along. I am a GM of 3 decades and I feel like I don’t have a handle on all the moves either (must remember to print out the basic moves to have, so I don’t have to keep looking it up in the book during play). But I also think, it is really hard to mess up in DW. Sure, you can get something wrong mechanically, but as long as the outcome was the fiction was fun and cool and the table had fun, who cares if the rule was applied wrong. Next time, when it is applied right, fun and fiction-pushing will still happen.
Good session. Always is when everyone has fun. Don’t pay any attention to the people that have a problem with the names. That’s their problem, not yours. The names are fine. And it’s always a plus if you can work in a little extra meaning behind them as with Tetikus Kecil. Being creative and having fun is what it’s all about. I hope you continue to enjoy Dungeon World. It has become my group’s main, go-to system for fantasy.
Update: real life has put this game on indefinite hiatus, and only one of the three players will remain. When things do pick back up again, though, we should have some new players.
Krynos Pentegarn I don’t think it’s particularly valuable to tell someone “don’t pay attention to X”. All advice here is offered with good intentions. I maintain that if you want to make your session writeups as easily digestible as possible for the internet, then you’ll do better by omitting names. If you have a different goal, then include the names. There is no right answer, but there is nothing to be gained by silencing opinions on the subject.
Mike Schmitz All advice here is offered with good intentions.
I imagine that includes Krynos Pentegarn’s advice, as well. I appreciate the intentions behind the advice, but as you said, I don’t need to follow it.