I’ve got 2 questions:

I’ve got 2 questions:

I’ve got 2 questions:

1. How do you guys handle a Barbarian’s “Herculean Appetites?” I’m having a hard time figuring out what it means in terms of mechanics.

2. How do you guys handle a Druid’s “Shapeshifter” and “Shed”moves? What’s to prevent someone from using Shed ad infinitum?

I’m new to GMing, so any and all pieces of advice are very much appreciated. Thanks!

18 thoughts on “I’ve got 2 questions:”

  3. For the Shapeshifter+Shed issue, if they abuse the combo I hit them with things they can’t shed out of. If you are impaled to a wall, sheding will heal the damage, but you are still impaled, for example.

  4. What’s to stop them is GM creativity. Make them have to choose between saving themselves or using their last hold to save a friend or their gold or something.

  7. Chris Stone-Bush The description goes: “while pursuing one of your appetites if you would roll for a move, instead of rolling 2d6 you roll 1d6+1d8. If the d6 is the higher die of the pair, the GM will also introduce a complication or danger that comes about due to your heedless pursuits.”

    How would you guys play out rolling 6-, 7-9, and 10+? Does one mark XP for pursuing an appetite regardless of a success? Thanks!

  8. You never mark XP for success, only failures. The rolls and results would be the same as a normal move, except the GM gets to add a complication.

    Seriously, what’s your issue?

  9. Ok. Gotcha. Herculean Appetites replaces one of the dice rolled for another move under certain conditions. So any 10+ or 7-9 effects depend on what move Herculean Appetites was modifying.

    So if the Barbarian attacks a foe in melee combat while pursuing one of their appetites, they still make the Hack & Slash move. Just one of their dice becomes a d8.

  10. So for example, say the Barbarian has a Herculean Appetite for Pure Destruction, and they use it to justify using d6+d8 when attacking the infamous ogre highwayman with their two-handed sword. They roll d6+d8+STR and get 6 and 5 respectively. They got a total well over 10, so they succeed on the hack and slash move.

    However, their d6 is larger than the d8, so the GM needs to introduce a complication that comes about due to his heedless pursuit of pure destruction… this is basically a Golden Opportunity, so look at your list of GM moves.

    “Show signs of an approaching threat” – the Barbarian was so focused on charging the ogre that he didn’t notice the archers in the trees, arrows incoming.

    “Deal damage” – the overhead blow also cuts a branch off the adjacent tree, which topples on to you both.

    “Use up their resources” – the blow has decapitated the ogre, and his head sails into the precipice… the head with the hefty bounty on it back in town.

    “Separate them” – The barbarian charged the ogre right through the midst all his stunned brigands, but they’ve now come to their senses and closed ranks, surrounding them and cutting off the rest of the party.

    “Reveal an unwelcome truth” – “Marlow, Korrin’s blow was so wild and wide that the backswing is coming right for you, what do you do?”

  11. Chris Stone-Bush That makes more sense. Sorry, one last question: Am I correct in thinking that the appetites are more like things that add to the story or character? I don’t see situations where my player would actively pursue them except for shits and giggles

  13. Appetites help define and motivate the character. What does it mean if they’ve chosen “Pure Destruction”? How do they go about fulfilling that Appetite?

    Honestly, if your player wouldn’t actively pursue their Appetites “except for shits and giggles” then they should play as something else.

  14. Almost everything in DW is there to “add to the story or character”. It’s a fiction-first game.

    But yeah, like Chris Stone-Bush said – if you player doesn’t want to pursue their appetites, they should choose different appetites, or play a different class.

    However, the appetites are mechanically incentiviezed: you get to roll a bigger die, when pursuing them and have a much better chance of success.

  15. I don’t like Herculean Appetites as written, and I’ve been waffling around with the idea that tasks they perform while the subject of the appetite is present require a separate 2d6 roll (WIS?) with the result listed being 7-9… or something. Like I said, waffling with the idea.

  18. Chris Stone-Bush well, there’s always -wis when you haven’t indulged instead. I think I”m going to write a blog post to clarify.

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