In a few weeks, I’ll be getting together with 3 friends for our annual long-weekend get-together, continuing a modified Keep on the Borderlands campaign. As the GM, this year I am making the switch to Dungeon World. Part of my modification to the theme of KotB is the introduction of Lovecraftian horror. To that end I’ve developed a custom move that I would love the Tavern’s feedback on.
THE SETUP
First of all, I wanted to create something tactile that loomed over the players – a meta-game prop. We only play once a year so I wanted it memorable and aligned with the general spirit. Inspired by Dread, I’m setting up a Jenga tower and essentially asking them to pull bricks as a Soft/Hard Move (?).
In game, a Mind Flayer is ripping stars from the heavens to fuel a ritual that will open a rift to the Outer Dark, allowing the return of an Old One. The stars are actual characters that the PCs can attempt to save.
THE MOVE(S)
When a significant event has occurred (the GM will tell you), the most recently active player must roll+LUC (from Perilous Wilds). On a hit, you choose another player at the table to be active; on a 7-9, they must attempt to remove one brick from the Tower of Doom; on a 10+, they must attempt two bricks. On a miss, mark XP and attempt to remove two bricks yourself.
When you pull a brick and the Tower of Doom falls, a star is torn from the heavens to crash upon the earth. You experience a vision showing the impact of the celestial body; tremors ripple across the earth and through your mind as the fates give you a sidelong glance. Prevent two of the consequences below; suffer one:
* The actual location of the fallen star is unknown to you; your view of the impact was obscured.
* Burn 1 Luck; your personal fate has been twisted.
* Each member of the party suffers 1d6 damage; a destructive natural event occurs.
I don’t quite like them. A move has to start and finish with the fiction and yours doesn’t. You pull some bricks and, if the tower doesn’t fall, nothing happens.
Also, you will probably need to trigger the move about 20 times for the tower to fall (at least my group can keep the tower upright for about 40 pulls). If you want to make then feel the pressure you will need more pulls or a smaller than usual tower.
A revision spurred by the on point comment from David Lamas.
STARFALL AND THE TOWER OF DOOM
When a star is torn from the sky by Manzaehoon the Illithid, the very earth rolls with its impact and your consciousness is tossed into the swirling ether of The Void. Every member of the party may now pull up to four bricks from the Tower of Doom. For each successful pull hold 1; hold gained this way may be spent 1-for-1 to prevent the consequences listed below. When every player has finished their turn, suffer any remaining consequences. If the Tower of Doom falls, Manzaehoon has captured the star for use in his ritual and the heavens shudder. If the Tower of Doom remains standing, Manzaehoon has not yet captured the star and its location is known to the party.
* Suffer 1d8 damage from the cataclysmic event
* Suffer a Wisdom debility (insanity) as your mind cracks from exposure to the Outer Dark
* Suffer -1 ongoing until you can rest sufficiently, as images of non-Euclidian landscapes play out behind your eyelids.
* Your mind and your very essence are laid bare to the psychic eye of Mazaehoon.
I think it would be better if the pull came from the result of a “what do you do” action? Is there a way you can make the player to pull a brick rather than having it be an enforced outcome of another action; i.e. is there something in the fiction that means they must do it?
Maybe there’s an obstacle that can only be overcome by pulling bricks, or the player must remove bricks in the fictional tower in order to find the Mind Flayer, but every brick can also push them closer to madness.