I wanted to share this with the community. I came up with it to try and help someone on the Dungeon World Tavern, but I thought it might help someone out if they miss it there. Of course, if anyone has any ideas on how to improve the move, your feedback is welcome.
Giant Monster Combat
When your group takes a course of action against a monster far larger than reason, tell the GM what your party’s plan is. If the GM agrees your plan could work, then you may roll+STAT and describe what you do to make that plan happen. On a 10+, choose 2. On a 7-9, choose 1:
– You hinder the monster in some way, temporarily disable one of its moves, slow it down, distract it, etc.
– You set a piece of the plan into motion to bring the creature down, gain 1 hold.
– You avoid causing any collateral damage.
– You are not severely injured in your attempt.
On a 6- lose one hold in addition to whatever the GM says. Hold that you gain is communal. Anytime another player gains hold they are combined together. You can spend spend 1 hold at any time to injure one of its body parts, preventing it from using that body part to perform any of its moves, as well as anything else it would be prevented from doing by the fiction. You can use 3 hold at any time to cause your grand plan to come to a close, bringing about your initial desired outcome.
Very interesting abstraction of fighting a kaiju-like monster. I like it. When my players are ready to face something like that I may have to try this.
Very interesting abstraction of fighting a kaiju-like monster. I like it. When my players are ready to face something like that I may have to try this.
Also great for all the Ninjago my son is watching! We are gonna use World of Dungeons (and the Brickmasters version of Searchers of the Unknown) to play a PBTA version of Lego Ninja Kai’s adventures this weekend.
Also great for all the Ninjago my son is watching! We are gonna use World of Dungeons (and the Brickmasters version of Searchers of the Unknown) to play a PBTA version of Lego Ninja Kai’s adventures this weekend.
Another possible approach that comes to mind is hacking the Gambit mechanic from the Battlemaster playbook in Grim World. That mechanic allows the Battlemaster to accumulate a “battle currency” called gambits and cash them in to purchase a +1 to a roll or dealing your damage, all the way up to springing some ambush, trap, ploy to gain a big advantage. That may be more work than what you want to do, but since I’m playing the Sprawl right now, gaining “gambits” could be some kind of gameplay in which the characters are gaining intel and legwork on how to defeat some giant monster. I dunno… just thinking out loud about something multi-step narrative that’s in between a single custom move roll and a trad game approach of standing toe-to-toe and swapping damage.
Another possible approach that comes to mind is hacking the Gambit mechanic from the Battlemaster playbook in Grim World. That mechanic allows the Battlemaster to accumulate a “battle currency” called gambits and cash them in to purchase a +1 to a roll or dealing your damage, all the way up to springing some ambush, trap, ploy to gain a big advantage. That may be more work than what you want to do, but since I’m playing the Sprawl right now, gaining “gambits” could be some kind of gameplay in which the characters are gaining intel and legwork on how to defeat some giant monster. I dunno… just thinking out loud about something multi-step narrative that’s in between a single custom move roll and a trad game approach of standing toe-to-toe and swapping damage.
Ohh, I really like this. Go hard as fuck and make a 1-3 result instant Last Breath.
Ohh, I really like this. Go hard as fuck and make a 1-3 result instant Last Breath.
Jason Cordova I would leave it at the GM’s discretion, but yeah that would be cool. It’d be something I’d tell my players beforehand for sure. And obviously a monster like this would be the end of campaign boss anyways, so if a few people die no biggie right? lol
Jason Cordova I would leave it at the GM’s discretion, but yeah that would be cool. It’d be something I’d tell my players beforehand for sure. And obviously a monster like this would be the end of campaign boss anyways, so if a few people die no biggie right? lol
Jason Cordova Oh, I like that. That IS hard as fuck.
Jason Cordova Oh, I like that. That IS hard as fuck.
(Actually, I would do Last Breath on the 6-, lol)
(Actually, I would do Last Breath on the 6-, lol)
Damn, that’s harsh lol
Damn, that’s harsh lol