I’m starting a new DW game with my wife and a couple of friends next week, so I’m working on a dungeon for them. I’ve got a move for the steep and winding stairs leading to the Archive (a mystical place where all writing is recorded), and I’m using Jason Cordova’s excellent Labyrinth move for the maze in front of the Archive, and I have a list of riddles that the Guardian of the Archive requires before permitting entry. I’m at a loss, though, as to how to set up the Archive itself. Is it a vast and infinite place filled with floor upon floor of bookshelves, or is it a quaint little library that magically has the book you’re looking for at hand? What kind of custom moves should the Archive have? I’m thinking something that the user would roll on to see if they can find the work they’re looking for. Any thoughts?
I’m starting a new DW game with my wife and a couple of friends next week, so I’m working on a dungeon for them.
I’m starting a new DW game with my wife and a couple of friends next week, so I’m working on a dungeon for them.
Here is a move I wrote but have never had a chance to use:
When you navigate the Archive in search of a text, roll plus Wis. On a 10+ choose 2, on a 7-9 choose 1.
-You find the text you are looking for.
-You are able to ignore the whispering requests from other texts and not read them.
-You do not attract the attention of the Librarians.
Here is a move I wrote but have never had a chance to use:
When you navigate the Archive in search of a text, roll plus Wis. On a 10+ choose 2, on a 7-9 choose 1.
-You find the text you are looking for.
-You are able to ignore the whispering requests from other texts and not read them.
-You do not attract the attention of the Librarians.
Dave Rezak, I like it.
Dave Rezak, I like it.
alternatively, you could extend the labyrinth move to have more hold requirement. Say it has 7 hold to complete, then when they are at 4 or 5 hold you could fictionally narrate them moving into the library.
alternatively, you could extend the labyrinth move to have more hold requirement. Say it has 7 hold to complete, then when they are at 4 or 5 hold you could fictionally narrate them moving into the library.
David LaFreniere That’s very interesting…
David LaFreniere That’s very interesting…
David LaFreniere That’s interesting. So, no matter what, once they hit 4 hold, they fictionally move into the archive?
David LaFreniere That’s interesting. So, no matter what, once they hit 4 hold, they fictionally move into the archive?
Sure or if they drop below 4 for some reason you could have them teleported out by magic or something. It’s fictional position so you could play it either way
Sure or if they drop below 4 for some reason you could have them teleported out by magic or something. It’s fictional position so you could play it either way
I like to think of the Archive as a sentient thing, maybe not able to speak, but a giant floating mass of what seems like scroll parchment twisting and writhing like a nest of worms. Extending from its core are thousands of long thin pieces of parchment that lay flat on tables for a few feet before entering a seemingly endless spool. On the tables something writes on the parchment tirelessly (Magical quills, scribe golems, scholarly octopuses?). As they write, the parchment unwinds from the spool and is drawn into the Archive.
Infinite Knowledge
When you ask the Archive a question about something that has happened, roll+CHA. On a 10+ the Archive magically creates a book or scroll that holds the information you seek on a nearby pedestal. On a 7-9 the same, but choose 1:
• The information will take you somewhere dangerous.
• The information also holds a terrible secret from the past of you or one of your allies.
• The information also includes information of a new Grim Portent. The GM will describe it.
• A guardian of the Archive insists that you leave.
I like to think of the Archive as a sentient thing, maybe not able to speak, but a giant floating mass of what seems like scroll parchment twisting and writhing like a nest of worms. Extending from its core are thousands of long thin pieces of parchment that lay flat on tables for a few feet before entering a seemingly endless spool. On the tables something writes on the parchment tirelessly (Magical quills, scribe golems, scholarly octopuses?). As they write, the parchment unwinds from the spool and is drawn into the Archive.
Infinite Knowledge
When you ask the Archive a question about something that has happened, roll+CHA. On a 10+ the Archive magically creates a book or scroll that holds the information you seek on a nearby pedestal. On a 7-9 the same, but choose 1:
• The information will take you somewhere dangerous.
• The information also holds a terrible secret from the past of you or one of your allies.
• The information also includes information of a new Grim Portent. The GM will describe it.
• A guardian of the Archive insists that you leave.
Scott Selvidge I like this a lot. I may make a modification or two, but I will probably rip this off entirely.
Scott Selvidge I like this a lot. I may make a modification or two, but I will probably rip this off entirely.
Edward Hickcox Thanks!
Edward Hickcox Thanks!