So I’m sure many of you have seen the Charlatan playbook that’s floating around, but I feel it has some issues. Mostly the large number of +1 bonuses, and an odd focus on combat. It kind of feels like a Pathfinder/3.5 class ported to Dungeon World, without making some needed tweaks to work in the new system. That said, I really like the concept, and a lot of the moves had some potential. I think there’s space for an explicitly non-magical Bard-type class, that compensates with audacity, deception, and a bit of theatrical prop-making.
So without further ado, an update that I hope brings some cool stuff to the playbook, while cutting out most or all of the +1 moves. A brief rundown of the changes:
•Tweaked the alignment moves to be a bit more specific.
• New racial moves, that I think still capture the ideas of the original playbook without being strict +1 modifiers.
• Focused all the moves that used a stat to use either Int or Cha only.
• New Bag of Tricks move that is based on the Artificer’s Charge mechanic, allowing you to spend Props for a variety of items, with more added from level advances.
• Removed a number of the combat focused moves for a more socially-focused theme, with some get-out-of-Dodge moves to help stay out of danger.
• Added an array of bluffing and deception moves, hopefully none of which overlap so that they’re all still usable.
• Dropped damage die to a d6 instead of d8 to match the Bard’s.
• Increased Bond slots to five, leaving the Bard still the king with six, but making the Charlatan more of a social butterfly.
• Added some party-assisting moves like Know-It-All and Behind You!
• Get a patsy to throw under the bus when your schemes start to crumble!
Please give any feedback, and if you know how to contact the original author, or are the original author, let me know.
The original Charlatan playbook is credited to Sears Poncho, with changes made by myself.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0gXpyetqmSOckZqa0FPdV9GME0/view?usp=drivesdk
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One of my favorite playbook concepts when I first started playing DW.
Although thinking about it a bit more, I hate the Troupe move as written. Why shouldn’t you be able to disguise someone else by just taking Master of Disguise? I think I’ll change it to something like, “When you rehearse a role with your disguised allies, you give them some tips to better fit their disguise. While they are diguised, their mannerisms and attitude will not draw suspicion.” You know, give them some pointers so that they blend in a bit better. Keep the GM from saying, “Sure, the skinny wizard is dressed like a barbarian, but he sure isn’t acting like one.”