Category: The Dungeon World Tavern: Actual Play

AP report from last night’s Island of the Damned (Session 3)

AP report from last night’s Island of the Damned (Session 3)

AP report from last night’s Island of the Damned (Session 3)

-This was a DnD basic game that we ran as a one shot, with my friend as DM. I liked it so much that I offered to DM the rest of the game using DW.

This was the first campaign that I made a front for, and it worked out awesome! We introduced a female elf commander who was in the shipwreck of this dark island. We had already established that the thief (my character, now NPC) had stolen a sword from the wreckage…and now the owner wants it back! We beat off the zombies that roamed the beach, but we never discovered why the dead were rising in the first place. During the battle, the elf and Richard (the thief) got into a battle over the sword, but the thief was able to sprint away carrying the elven blade. Having 17 Dex is awesome! The chase ended at the site of a ruined temple (that was already on the map), and the robber was disarmed. The paladin managed to hold him back with a solid grapple (thankfully, this isn’t DnD 3.5…so we just resolved it using STR and, in my case, DEX). Richard slipped out and threw a tiny demonic statue from the temple towards the elven fighter. His poor throw (Even 4+2 only gets me a 6) causes it to fly off target and crack on the ground. Afterwards, a secret staircase opens up to a underground temple. The temple room cuts off into a curved cliff that opens out into a pool of lava. In the middle of the lava pool rests a demonic statue. While we battled the demonic cultists, the Paladin’s god (who is played by the former DM), descends to assist us. The elf is not impressed, but Richard freaks out since he was mostly an atheist until the paladin converted him.

We examine the statue and discover (through some of the best Spout Lore I have heard yet…this all came from my players) that this was a Demonic God who was known for such hatred that it even destroyed its own mother and enslaved an entire tribe of elves. The God of Stone and Strength (who was with us, named Stongarr) pointed out that without any followers, the dark god would not be able to grow in power. Richard grows nervous, knowing that if the God is released it will spell doom for his family back home. So now our party searches the island for more cultists, but what they end  up finding is an abandoned dark castle full of the elves that survived. These elves, however, are corrupted by spite and anger…they are dark elves! (the castle idea was their brilliant suggestion for next session).

I really enjoy playing dungeon world since I can just plan a framework (my Front included the Zombies, Cultists, and a looming dark force) and my players can expand on it wildly.

Zahara (Eladrin Wizard), Taran (Human Thief) and Akra (Dragonborn Fighter) began the session hiding in the basement…

Zahara (Eladrin Wizard), Taran (Human Thief) and Akra (Dragonborn Fighter) began the session hiding in the basement…

Zahara (Eladrin Wizard), Taran (Human Thief) and Akra (Dragonborn Fighter) began the session hiding in the basement of a safe house in a town (and kingdom) overrun and controlled by an undead army. The living citizens are essentially slaves, forced to utilize their talents to manufacture supplies for the undead forces. Ghouls feed at will, unimpeded.

Making matters worse, the water supply to the town is somehow poisonous, causing drinkers to be subdued, almost submissive. The heroes have abstained from drinking the water during their time there, but their own water skins are now dry and water seems as precious as platinum.

The party decides to venture into the nearby forest to find the source of the poison, firstly by taking the town sewers underground to safety, as the party is well known in the region and even the citizens would report them because they fear for their own families if they aid them.

They sneak out at dark, making for the nearest sewer drain grate, avoiding patrolling skeletons as they go. Reaching the grate, Akra starts to remove it when Taran decides he should check for traps first (getting a 6-). As he checks the grate for traps, a ghoul down below (in the sewer) leaps up, clawing his hand. The noise of the ghoul alerts nearby skeletons who, with scimitars drawn, race toward the source.

Zahara launches a fireball through the grate, severely injuring the ghoul and causing it to retreat into the shadows. Akra begins to remove the grate using a cloak as a buffer ( originally for sound but now certainly for heat as well). The first skeleton arrives and sinks its scimitar into Taran’s shoulder/collarbone, pulling back and stabbing in to Taran’s stomach. Taran avoids the second attack by jumping backwards over the sewer hole (7-9 Defy Danger), but losing his balance on the other side. No matter, as Akra (grate now removed) chops the skeleton in half and it falls to pieces.

Akra starts down the ladder, knowing there is an injured ghoul in the shadows, meanwhile a second skeleton closes in on the surface. The ghoul erupts from the shadows, targeting Akra’s legs as he descends. Taran fires an arrow at the ghoul (7-9, taking what he can get (1d8 damage – 1d6). This actually results in a -1 (no damage) which we joke heals the ghoul 1 HP. However, 7-9 is technically a success, so the ghoul is not harmed because the arrow strikes already-charred flesh, but the force of the arrow knocks the ghoul off of Akra. This allows Akra to drop, turn, and put a gauntleted fist through its head.

Zahara, meanwhile, casts Magic Missile and dispatches the second skeleton before it can harm anyone. With that, the party enters the sewers, closing the grate behind them. To the East, where they are headed, lay only darkness and the sound of running water.

(The second half of the session later, if anyone is interested). At this point I shall note that Alex Cox played Taran and it was his first session of DW ever. The dice were not his friends , but he made such a spectacular move in the second half of the session that his newness to the game bears mention!

So Saturday evening my campaign resumes after months of hiatus. Is it sad I’m losing sleep with anticipation?

So Saturday evening my campaign resumes after months of hiatus. Is it sad I’m losing sleep with anticipation?

So Saturday evening my campaign resumes after months of hiatus. Is it sad I’m losing sleep with anticipation?

I don’t think I’ve seen this posted to G+ yet:

I don’t think I’ve seen this posted to G+ yet:

I don’t think I’ve seen this posted to G+ yet:

The podcast James D’Amato’s One Shot is an RPG AP podcast, and they’re currently doing a few sessions of DW! This has quickly become my favorite AP podcast.

http://peachesandhotsauce.com/category/podcasts/one-shot/feed

Yesterday, my Five Shores game was cut short due to lack of player attendance, and so I had the great pleasure of…

Yesterday, my Five Shores game was cut short due to lack of player attendance, and so I had the great pleasure of…

Originally shared by Stephanie Bryant

Yesterday, my Five Shores game was cut short due to lack of player attendance, and so I had the great pleasure of joining The Jessa Channel‘s all-female Dungeon World one-shot (which may be turning into more of a campaign). I was the most experienced…

http://www.mortaine.com/blog/2014/03/10/dungeon-world-ladies-night/

My 2nd time running Dungeon World was a test run of Gamma World using this engine.

My 2nd time running Dungeon World was a test run of Gamma World using this engine.

My 2nd time running Dungeon World was a test run of Gamma World using this engine. My players love the freeform combat and simple rolls way more than playing a d20 game.

Some Highlights I wanted to share:

-A road warrior who uses a metal boomerang, a great way to use a “Returning Weapon” tag. Though the consequences come when it lands way off or he has to catch it in midair.

-A Cyborg who has an awesome custom-move laser beam attack. It does very low of damage if it doesn’t hit exactly, plus it needs to recharge for a few hours.

-A mad scientist who rolled snake-eyes trying to use a freeze ray. It pretty much exploded in his face and froze him in a block of ice.

-A group of psionic Archivists (Who basically worship machines) convinces the cyborg to ride with them after combusting the nearby bandits into ash.

I’m having a bit of a problem figuring out how I want Radiation to play out (besides just using Defy Danger, which I could), any suggestions?

Six Players, One Gm, All Women and DUNGEON WORLD. Here’s what happened!

Six Players, One Gm, All Women and DUNGEON WORLD. Here’s what happened!

Six Players, One Gm, All Women and DUNGEON WORLD. Here’s what happened!

This is the story we created using Kasper Brohus Allerslev ‘s Story Starter:

You are at the entrance to The Keep of Uther in the Blackmarsh, which is located in/on/by The Darksea, the vast underground ocean. You have journeyed here to retrieve the Blue Luminescent Dragon’s Egg on behalf of The Realm. Your luck has turned sour though, because there is a bitter Civil War, and that’s a real problem because you’ll be hung for a War Criminal if you do not bring back the Egg. To make matters worse, you have just seen signs of Blackmarsh Dragon Cultists approaching from the shore. You can’t turn back since the Darksea is riddled with Giant Piranha Fish, so you must push on. Looking at the entrance, you get a feeling this won’t turn out well for all of you. What do you do?

Here are some fun snippets from chat:

“I want to cast a spell. I cast magic missile” “but theres nothing to attack” ” I attack the darkness”

Testing to the Whisper to GM feature a player typed: *HELLO

DIRTY WORDS*

I think that I get Scale Armor

what kind of scales? That could be so cool!

*[to the captain] Stay calm! The healing energy should surge through you in a moment.

Oh gods, the Captain!

Akatosh, do not abandon me now!

Is being sneaky while everyone is busy with the battle to search the cabins*

Let’s just say that Thistle’s back story involves owing a lot of money.

Gods! Did someone get eaten by theose creatures again!?

Reyes plants her sword into the deck of the ship, using it as an anchor to brace herself and the fallen captain against the wind.

Breyar Tarlenne knocks over barrels and baskets in search of food and groans

After three characters fall into giant piranha infested waters: Osona walks over to the rope bridge and notices things aren’t going too well.

when we have to sing in a moment to save our asses from giant phiranas this is what is up: http://www.sailorsongs.com/yo_ho_ho_and_a_bottle_of_rum.html

And finally, our little hafling thief dealt with the piranha with grace and aplomb: Snikt stands up on the Pihrana surfing

And THAT fellow roleplayers is how a game with a bunch of super awesome creative women goes down!!

We will be recording next session to put up on my Youtube channel! Yeah for Dungeon World!

http://www.sailorsongs.com/yo_ho_ho_and_a_bottle_of_rum.html

I’m having a session now and we have just taken break but I wanted to share with you what’s happened so far;

I’m having a session now and we have just taken break but I wanted to share with you what’s happened so far;

I’m having a session now and we have just taken break but I wanted to share with you what’s happened so far;

A wizard and a warden-esque character are sneaking around the town, spotting a group of tieflings and a construct. They make some noise, causing the Tieflings to come check it out. The Warden has decided to turn into a tree, and the wizard is using some powers to disguise himself as a statue. They both rolled so well the Tieflings are confused because “I didn’t see those when we came in..”

They took the phrase “Act natural” too literally.