Author: Carl Gerriets

All right then: I have some concerns about the Mage playbook (linked below). I like the basic idea, but I have a couple of problems with it. If I’m wrong about this, I’d like to know. If I’m right, I assume others will want to know.

I like the idea of a spellcaster who’s not tied to a spell list. And the basic “cast a spell” move is quite good, I think. My trouble is twofold: with the basic black magic (damaging magic) move, and with the Battle Mage and War Mage advanced moves.

First problem: When a mage uses the “Cast a Spell” move, there’s a price to be paid even on a 10+. This is a key part of the how the class is designed, it seems: you gain a lot of versatility, but casting a spell always brings complications. However, when you do Black Magic, to do damage with your spell (1d8 damage, no less), a 10+ carries no limit, and the 7-9 limits are a little less interesting than the full list on “cast a spell.”

This means that it is EASIER to use damaging magic than regular magic. It also means that there’s basically no situation where a Mage would use a melee weapon instead of a spell. 

Second problem: Black Magic gets even more overpowering with the Battle Mage and War Mage advanced moves. In general these give you devastating attack magic that can fit most any situation, and I think that’s still problematic. But worse is that each includes a variation of the Messy tag that increases damage. (For a War Mage, choosing this tag gives you a base damage of 2d8.) Again, there’s little to no restriction on using this magic, so there’s no reason ever not to use it. 

Which means a level 6 Mage has attack power well out of proportion with any other class, as far as I can see–and super-versatile attack power, at that. And generally speaking, DW doesn’t really level up your damage that way. (Sure, some Wizard spells do more damage, but they have more inherent limits built in.)

So I’m worried that these flaws make the class unbalanced. Again, if I’m wrong, or if people have figured out good solutions to this, I’d like to hear it. If I’m right, maybe the creator will want to address these concerns.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?i5has0rh422pgaz

I’ve realized that I have some concerns about one of the more popular fan-made playbooks out there. But I don’t know if sharing them is considered useful or tacky. I don’t want to discourage anybody from doing their fan-made stuff, and certainly other people might think this playbook is fine as is.

I guess I’m asking whether people think that constructively intended but still critical feedback on fan-made stuff is useful to this community.

I did something I’m kind of proud of with questions.

See, I like at least the possibility of romance plots. But that really needs player buy-in, and a lot of players don’t initiate romantic situations.

So when exploring the new city, I asked the Bard “Who develops a crush on you? Is the attraction reciprocated?”

This gives the player control of the direction, but accurately reflects one of the advantages/drawbacks of being the Bard (and having high Charisma). And whether the attraction is reciprocated or not, it’ll make life interesting.

So someone, somewhere, is indexing all the great stuff people are building for DW, right? Someone’s building a wiki or something with links to all the great moves and monsters and items and classes and races that people are posting on the web, yes?

My new monster is a construct cobbled together from bits of petrified wood. Here’s description I gave in-game:

“The thing turns awkwardly and rises. It’s half again as tall as you, naked under its cloak. This is clearly no natural thing, nor any elf-magic. It has not been grown, but somehow cobbled-together, different chunks and bits of wood assembled into a roughly human form, but all the wood strange in color, grays and blacks. 

It makes no verbal answer, but it moves toward you, its over-long legs rapidly eating up the distance. Garro hisses at its approach. As it draws quickly nearer, its spindly hands reach toward you, its talons outstretched.”

Now it just needs a better name than “Petrified Tree Person.” Any help?

Has anybody had a ranger’s “forgetful” animal companion cause trouble they can tell about? Not a big deal–but I’m trying to bring everything on the character sheets in, eventually, and it being “frightening” certainly caused a dust-up when taking it into the overcrowded city. But a companion that does what the ranger wants and (so far) has never been away from the ranger’s side doesn’t seem to have much to forget.

So I wanted to hear people’s stories and ideas.

First try at making a compendium class:

Stormsinger

When you successfully sing with the wild storm spirits, the next time you level up you may take this move:

Sing Up a Storm

You can sing to summon the storm spirits and set the storm loose. When you do, roll+CHA. On a success, you are unharmed. On 10+, you can decide, generally, what is or isn’t damaged in the area.

If you have taken Sing Up a Storm, these moves are available to you when you level up:

Voice of Thunder

When you confront someone with your booming voice, roll+CON. On 7-9, you take 1d4 damage and they are briefly stunned. On 10+, choose one:

• They are knocked down, too

• You don’t take damage

Ride the Wild Wind

While a storm you summoned is raging, you can ride the winds! Where you go is mostly up to the whims of the storm spirits, though.

Fear the Storm

When you parley using the threat of destruction, you get +1. However, if they don’t do what you ask, the storm will be set loose on them whether you want it to or not.

Lightning Lance

When a storm is raging, you can call down lightning. The lightning does 2d6 damage and ignores metal armor. Roll+CON. On a hit, the lightning hits who you choose. On a 10+, it hits only who you choose.

Let’s just assume I’m an idiot and can’t find the “record of active jobs available in the city of Dis” on the internet (as promised in Planarch Codex.”

Let’s assume I’d be grateful if someone pointed the way.

Finally some DW love gets to Minnesota! All in flawless condition. Thanks!

And I just now realized how awesome those little booklets will be for tucking into a pocket and being able to flip through when I have a few minutes to kill.