Category: The Dungeon World Tavern: Custom Moves

The Best Friend Forever Non-Player Character System.

AKA the BFF NPCs

AKA Surviving in a one-on-one RPG

I posted this a while ago and said I wanted to make it into a proper rules supplement. I’ve made it now, and although I’m not sure about “proper” I’d like to get everyone’s feedback on it.

Let me know if you think it works, if you like what I’m saying, and if there’s anything you think I should change =)

Thanks!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4vb0xdecx7vnp8g/BFF%20NPC%20Rules_Edited%20Layout%20V1.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4vb0xdecx7vnp8g/BFF%20NPC%20Rules_Edited%20Layout%20V1.pdf?dl=0

Hey DW People. I want to talk about 2 player games. (meaning one GM and one player). Hopefully we can have a discussion about the potential pitfalls of one-on-one DW =)

A recent conversation has (at least for me) gone on a bit of a tangent, so I thought I’d share that tangent separately for discussion.

DW is meant to be played with larger groups of about 4 players and one GM. It’s structured to have an interplay between those players and each of their weaknesses can be buttressed by the others strengths (ideally).

So when you play with just one player and one GM you really have to watch what you do. The player is alone and has no other moves to help her. There’s no one to “aid or interfere” her, and hirelings are only so helpful as written in the rules.

So to help out with this, I’ve overcome these problems by adding a BFF system in a previous game. As me player explored the world she met characters that were obviously important to her, so I made these NPCs into buffed up hirelings. They each had GM moves associated with them, like a monster, and they each had an actual, mechanical move that the player could leverage. Each time she embarked on an adventure she could bring 2 BFFs with her to help her along.

The BFF GM moves were triggered when she rolled a 10+ while in a sticky situation. Sort of like a reverse-hard move. So when she succeeded her whole little party succeeded.

I’ve linked the document I created for that adventure. And I’d love to hear what everyone thinks about this mechanic, how it might be improved, and also what other people’s experiences have been like when running one-on-one games.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xuuj599j8wzimkt/BFF%20NPCs.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xuuj599j8wzimkt/BFF%20NPCs.pdf?dl=0

Hi DW people =)

I’m running a game for my wife right now, and I am trying to create a custom move-set for her spellcasting.

As far as the fiction goes, this is a world where magic is just being re-discovered after a long Dark-Age. So since a lot of the spells have been lost, wizards are trying to re-discover the magic. So on top of the standard Wizard move-Cast a Spell, I’ve added two more moves that she can do. The first one is based on the Mage’s Cast a Spell.

I’d love to know what you think, and know how you might improve these moves.

Thanks!

Improvise a Spell (INT)

When you weave a spell to help solve a problem, describe it and roll +INT.

On a 10+, the spell certainly helps, but choose one. On a 7-9, the spell takes effect, but the choose two. Either way the casting saps your energy. You take -1 ongoing to INT until you have a moment to clear your head.

Your spell won’t last long – you’ll need to hurry to take advantage of it.

Your spell affects either much more or much less than you wanted it to.

Your spell has unforeseen side effects, and might draw unwanted attention.

Your spell required wild somatic components and you have put yourself in a spot.

On a miss, something’s gone horribly wrong. Your spell may well have worked, but you

will regret casting it.

Scribe a New Spell (INT)

When you have successfully improvised a spell with a 7+ and have some quiet time to yourself you may attempt to formalize then spell in your spell book. Describe the spell and set a level then roll +INT.

On a 10+ you scribe the spell in your book, no problem. On a 7-9 choose one. On a miss both.

The spell was more difficult than you thought, add one to the level you set.

The spell’s magic was angry and volatile, it consumed an adjacent spell in your book. Remove one spell of the same level.