I came up with this move a while ago to kick off a oneshot.

I came up with this move a while ago to kick off a oneshot.

I came up with this move a while ago to kick off a oneshot. It’s designed to facilitate a game where the player characters are all united to defeat some threat to the world. It gives each player a hand in defining the threat, with the intention being to get all the players invested from the start.

I imagine it being used in an opening scene or prologue where the PCs are all gathered around a campfire or in a tavern sharing their information or stories. Each player rolls the move in turn and builds on the details established by the previous players, optionally starting with a GM prompt (like “an evil noble”, or “a wild beast”).

Here’s the move:

When you share your experience regarding the Threat, describe your previous encounter with the Threat and roll. If it was…

…through battle or contest, +Str

…through stealth or escape, +Dex

…through affliction or defeat, +Con

…through research or prophecy, +Int

…through divination or oracle, +Wis

…through rumour or trickery, +Cha

On a 10+, you come with insight into how to gain an advantage. Describe one weakness or limitation of the Threat.

On a 7–9, you know of the danger the Threat poses – and knowledge is power. Describe one quality that makes the Threat dangerous.

On a 6-, Mark XP. You possess only vague and unsubstantiated information. As 7-9, but prepare yourself – the Threat may be even more dangerous than you imagined.

7 thoughts on “I came up with this move a while ago to kick off a oneshot.”

  1. This is beautiful! I really like the idea, and will likely steal this!

    My only nitpick is that “prophecy” leading to + INT would be quite similar to “divination or oracle” leading to + WIS. Perhaps the approach leading to INT should be “research or cunning” or something similar, to avoid confusion.

    Otherwise, i really like how the move is structured to let the player narratively describe a scene with the threat, and then contribute to the threat mechanically, as well.

  2. Andrew Fish I noticed that too. “prophecy” was supposed to evoke an image of a Wizard poring over a dusty tome, looking for old legends pertaining to the threat, whereas “oracle” is a Cleric or Druid getting prophetic imagery from their deity or the spirits, for example.

    Ultimately the only difference is which one the player wants to roll.

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