I am going to try to run a play by post DW game here. I have never done this so there will probably be problems and we may have to change the rules mid way. Hopefully we will have some fun and if nothing else learn how to do it better next time. The current rules are geared towards avoiding arguments and keeping things organized and moving. It will also help if everyone is familiar with the basic moves, character classes and rule set. If not just describe what you want to happen and the DM will try to interpret it in DW terms.
Rule 1:
The DM (me and possibly a few others I nominate) is the final arbiter of all choices and outcomes. If you don’t agree with something you can make a suggestion but that’s it. All dice roles are handled by the DM if necessary. We will discuss character advancement if and when it happens.
Rule 2:
The characters belong to everyone. When a character is asked for action or dialog, “Barbarian: what do you do about the slowly lowering roof?” anyone can post a response. Please use the +1 button to recommend an outcome. The DM will eventually choose one (not necessarily the most popular but hopefully the most interesting) and the story will move on. After a little while the other responses will be deleted so that other people can read through the story. Also, if you are discerning realities or some other action that might end with you having some number of choices, go ahead and list your choices in order of which you most want.
Ex:
Frofar: I look around the cave. is there anything valuable here? is there anything here not what it seems? what happened here recently
DM: You find a catch of gems worth 30 gp. while searching for more you find a loose stone hiding an alcove with a web covered lever.
Rule 3:
do not volunteer character action, wait for the DM to ask a character a question. If you think its time for the thief to take action and no one can come up with a good response for the barbarian, make an out of character suggestion.
Rule 4:
posts should identify their point of view. These include (DM, Character Name, OOC).
Ex:
DM: Grobar, the orc presses this knife against your throat. You smell rotting meat on his breath. What are you going to do?
Grobar: Slam the back of my head into his face
Grobar: Stomp his foot and grab for the knife.
OOC: Does Grobar still have the cerberus coin?
DM: yes, he has the coin
Grobar: I yell out “wait! Only I know where the treasure is burred.”
DM: The orc howls in pain and yanks its foot away. Both of you fall to the ground in a grapple. Brogar, this is your chance to save your brother but the is tangled up with the orc, you can swing at them and possibly hit your him or leap into the grapple and possibly get knifed.
It should go without saying that only DMs should use the DM point of view. Also any unidentified posts will be assumed to be out of character unless their point of view is obvious.
Rule 5:
Your suggestions can and will affect the fiction. If you say “Drothar pulls out his lucky boot knife and flings it at the kobold” and the DM chooses your response. It is assumed the Drothar had a lucky boot knife. The next question might be why is it lucky. If your standing on one side of a canyon and say “Crofar leaps and grabs an overhanging branch to swing across.” Then there was a branch and the other side was close enough to swing across. Sometimes misunderstandings may arise in which case the DM will inform you that you are in a desert, there is no tree and the distance is too far to leap through normal means. But if you sell the idea of heroically swinging the Story can always adapt. Attempts to pull a bazooka out of a hat will be ignored.
Obviously there will be some delay between DM posts and I will wait a minimum of an hour to pick a response. I suspect most will take 4 or 5 especially during working hours. But if a lot of good suggestions pop up immediately we will move on.
In the spirit of DW this adventure is not completely mapped out but exists in a world with a few landmarks and some named characters.
The starting party will consist of:
Fafinir Foesmasher,
Race/class: Male? Dwarven Barbarian from the blasted north
Drive: Teach someone the ways of your people
Starting moves: unencumbered unharmed, Herculean appetites (Conquest, Pure destruction), the upper hand, muscle-bound, what are you waiting for?
Equipment: Rations(5), dagger, Troll tooth necklace, Axe, adventuring gear(5)
Mouse
Race/class: female Halfling thief
Drive: Avoid detection or infiltrate a location
Starting moves: Trap expert, tricks of the trade, backstab, flexible morals, poisoner (oil of tagit)
Gear: oli of tagit (3), rations(5), leather armor, 10 coin, dagger and short sword, throwing daggers(3), healing potion
Halwry
Race/class: male? Elf mage
Drive: Discover something about a magical mystery
Starting moves: arcane learning. Cast a spell, spell focus(The storm), black magic
Starting gear: Rations (5), arcane treasure (glass pendent containing a thunderstorm), bag of books (5), staff, antitoxin(1)
Look: purple skin
Story begins:
DM: Your characters find themselves in a room at the Dripping Barrel tavern and inn. Located in the middle of Whickinton a small settlement on the outskirts of the mysterious Wax Forest. The people of this town make there living gathering the unusual flora and fauna of this forest as well as the waxy substance that seems to spread over all of it and for several meters around its boarder. While the edges are fairly safe, you have heard that it is incredibly dangerous to travel deeper into the forest and no one has ever reached its center and returned. While most people shun the forest as unnatural, many wizards and institutes of higher learning value the forest life for its strange properties.
DM: The door to your room suddenly shatters inward. Mouse, you are on watch while your friends slept. What did you notice about the townsfolk that set you on your guard and what are you going to do about the three men rushing into your room?
I’ll give this a go since I play so little Dungeon world.
Mouse: While I’m used to villages being rude to travelers, the ones in this village seemed to be especially so. Quite a few people avoiding eye contact with me as well.
So when I took watch I strung a length of strong wire across the floor, about six inches high and about 2 feet from the door. Anybody rushing into the dark room will get a surprise.
Also daggers, to the face.
I’ll give this a go since I play so little Dungeon world.
Mouse: While I’m used to villages being rude to travelers, the ones in this village seemed to be especially so. Quite a few people avoiding eye contact with me as well.
So when I took watch I strung a length of strong wire across the floor, about six inches high and about 2 feet from the door. Anybody rushing into the dark room will get a surprise.
Also daggers, to the face.
DM: The lead man, who you recognize as the innkeeper by his spotless white apron, goes down with a heavy thud. he does not cry out or moan with pain. just as silently the other two men step over him without any sign of concern.
DM: Halwry, you awake to the sounds of wood being smashed and yelling down the hall. Two shadows loom over you blocking the light from the open doorway. one moves as if to cover your face with something. What is your go-to spell that you always have ready for situations like this? (it does not have to match your focus, storm, but it probably should)
DM: The lead man, who you recognize as the innkeeper by his spotless white apron, goes down with a heavy thud. he does not cry out or moan with pain. just as silently the other two men step over him without any sign of concern.
DM: Halwry, you awake to the sounds of wood being smashed and yelling down the hall. Two shadows loom over you blocking the light from the open doorway. one moves as if to cover your face with something. What is your go-to spell that you always have ready for situations like this? (it does not have to match your focus, storm, but it probably should)