Thoughts on using Beyond the Wall in Dungeon World.
After listening to episode 66 of The Gauntlet, I picked up “Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures” to check out how the game approached the local (as in non-travel based) adventures. I am not an OSR player, but I do use a lot of stuff from OSR games in Dungeon World. And this game has loads of great stuff that I can use in DW. I was so impressed that I picked up the supplements.
First is the character generation. It is a lifepath system that generates standard D&D attributes. It is a quick take on lifepaths with only few tables to roll on after you choose your “playbook” which is a general description of what you did before the character started adventuring (things like self taught mage, or a new town guard) I am definitely planning on tweaking it to use in DW.
The character generation feeds world building, as the players are building their home village/town as their are building their characters. In roughly every other step of char gen, you add a location or an NPC to the town. This makes the base town feel much more alive and close to the characters.
Then you have the scenario packs, that take from the narrative created earlier (PCs, NPCs, locations and items) and generate a simple plot. Then it adds some random tables for events that can take place during the adventure.
All together it makes for a great zero-prep game that plays a little differently than your traditional adventuring party, going from place to place.
If you want to add some OSR to your Dungeon World, you should definitely check Beyond the Wall. I am actually so impressed that I am thinking of making a “local adventures” supplement for DW with lifepaths and hometown generator.
I think the life path stuff could be used in DW which could then make it super easy to use a scenario pack converted to dungeon world style
I think the life path stuff could be used in DW which could then make it super easy to use a scenario pack converted to dungeon world style
I think so. Especially that what the lifepaths generate are stats (with some skills, that could be skipped or incorporated the same way as World of Dungeons does it).
I might roll few characters this way and see how it works.
I think so. Especially that what the lifepaths generate are stats (with some skills, that could be skipped or incorporated the same way as World of Dungeons does it).
I might roll few characters this way and see how it works.
Starting next Friday Aug 19, Pocket-sized Play start a 10-ish episode campaign using Beyond the Wall, so everyone will get a taste of AP of the system.
Starting next Friday Aug 19, Pocket-sized Play start a 10-ish episode campaign using Beyond the Wall, so everyone will get a taste of AP of the system.
Fred Bednarski I’m glad to hear you liked the episode! I was super stoked to try out BtW. I agree that the lifepath gen is the most portable component to DW, as mechanics like saving throw just won’t work in PbtA. And those scenario packs are FULL of grim portents and the like!
Fred Bednarski I’m glad to hear you liked the episode! I was super stoked to try out BtW. I agree that the lifepath gen is the most portable component to DW, as mechanics like saving throw just won’t work in PbtA. And those scenario packs are FULL of grim portents and the like!
That is awesome Tim B, I will definitely tune in for that. I really hope that you will include the character/village generation in the podcast, for me this is the selling point. And I think the game will have more impact when listeners will know the town and its inhabitants like the players do.
That is awesome Tim B, I will definitely tune in for that. I really hope that you will include the character/village generation in the podcast, for me this is the selling point. And I think the game will have more impact when listeners will know the town and its inhabitants like the players do.
Thanks, Fred Bednarski! There’s a chance that ‘extra’ content from the show may be available to Patreon supporters down the road, so more on that as it happens. I’ve geared PSP toward product over process so chargen and worldbuilding is a tricky fit for this style of AP, though I hope listeners will get to know the characters and world even better as their story just unfolds over play. 🙂
Thanks, Fred Bednarski! There’s a chance that ‘extra’ content from the show may be available to Patreon supporters down the road, so more on that as it happens. I’ve geared PSP toward product over process so chargen and worldbuilding is a tricky fit for this style of AP, though I hope listeners will get to know the characters and world even better as their story just unfolds over play. 🙂