We just finished the 1st session of Jason Cordova’s Dungeon World Sunday – Children of the Eight-Legged She. Oh my word was it ever fun. It’s been a while since I’ve posted about how much I’ve enjoyed sessions with The Gauntlet and the players here, as well as anything about a character I’ve played. Thought I’d do that again now as I’ve still got that “great session high” thing going on.
Gerrit Reininghaus David LaFreniere and steven watkins play a Psion, a Mage, and a Fighter, respectively. And it as if we have been playing for some time even on the first session. Jason does an amazing job preparing an overall concept tethered to a mission. At the same time a lot of it is left up to the players to define and we have a ton of creative license with it, encouraged by Jason’s questions posed to us. It’s sooo dang fun and satisfying.
I’m playing Weary, a thief. I have practically no background knowledge of fantasy and DnD which, I thought would be quite challenging but it hasn’t really ever hampered me. I’m drawing on things like Assassin’s Creed and Dan Brown novels to make an ongoing conspiracy regarding a Shadow Court. This institution is a sort of inverse of the nebulous “good” institutions we haven’t fleshed out all that much.
Instead I’ve been focusing on the idea of the influence over someone’s persona and mind through the use of indoctrination emphasizing this notion that emotion is bad and that Weary is best served alone and emotionless, cold and distant. Which nicely counters Gerrit’s Psion, Arcon, continually probing and learning more about the characters. When he’s delved into Weary’s mind I’ve been able to make up some really cool ideas I’m into, his training in the Shadow Court and the idea of mental barriers and what they might look like.
Weary is also hunted by special sort of inquisitors or templars from the church as we saw in the last series, it was terrifying haha. Jason does a fantastic job picking up what all the players drop in a session and interweaving them into the sessions to come while also always moving forward to a super satisfying conclusion to a series.
I’m having an amazing time playing on Sunday mornings with everyone and look forward to more of everyone’s characters. David’s Mage is the most unique and cool magical character I’ve encountered. The psion is always contextualizing emotion and exploring deeper themes while being intense as fuck, and Steve’s new Fighter character has a very interesting set of ideas. As they are a halfling leaning into these conceptions of overcoming people’s perception of their ability to do certain things and be competent, strong, etc. I think leaning into that will make for some very cool fiction.
Just look at these evocative images from the google board we have going for these sessions, so freaking cool. Thanks everyone!! And hopefully no one minds me posting the board, as well. If so, just let me know and I can remove it, of course!
“I’m playing Weary, a thief. I have practically no background knowledge of fantasy and DnD which, I thought would be quite challenging but it hasn’t really ever hampered me.”
As far as actual gameplay goes, D&D/AD&D are very far removed from DW. The similarities are only superficial, in the form of classes, Vancian spell system, races, etc. Otherwise, they play completely different. You won’t have any problem there.
“I’m playing Weary, a thief. I have practically no background knowledge of fantasy and DnD which, I thought would be quite challenging but it hasn’t really ever hampered me.”
As far as actual gameplay goes, D&D/AD&D are very far removed from DW. The similarities are only superficial, in the form of classes, Vancian spell system, races, etc. Otherwise, they play completely different. You won’t have any problem there.
I like Weary a lot. He is telling so much about himself everytime he is into hiding or deceiving his environment.
I like Weary a lot. He is telling so much about himself everytime he is into hiding or deceiving his environment.
I’m glad you had fun! It was a very enjoyable session for me, too.
I’m glad you had fun! It was a very enjoyable session for me, too.
Yeah, I think I was conflating DW and DnD just because of the themes and just my own apprehension at fantasy, in general. I am after all, the cyberpunk guy haha!
Yeah, I think I was conflating DW and DnD just because of the themes and just my own apprehension at fantasy, in general. I am after all, the cyberpunk guy haha!
Is David LaFreniere playing the Mage from the Alternative Playbooks?
Is David LaFreniere playing the Mage from the Alternative Playbooks?
Yochai Gal Yes, he is. ALSO: The villain from this session was Lord Caspian Gal, Keeper of the Crying Mirrors!
Yochai Gal Yes, he is. ALSO: The villain from this session was Lord Caspian Gal, Keeper of the Crying Mirrors!
Hey, we share a last name! Jason Cordova, I love that playbook but do you find it a bit OP? I find myself having to consciously reign it in when we play.
Hey, we share a last name! Jason Cordova, I love that playbook but do you find it a bit OP? I find myself having to consciously reign it in when we play.
I am loving how David uses it. I think it’s much better at fleshing out really cool magical things than Wizard moves. It has way more interesting choices, I prefer it after having played a Wizard to level 9 or so.
I am loving how David uses it. I think it’s much better at fleshing out really cool magical things than Wizard moves. It has way more interesting choices, I prefer it after having played a Wizard to level 9 or so.
Pedro Pereira as someone without D&D lore I would carefully disagree that D&D doesn’t affect the gameplay much.
The stats and what they represent (Wisdom for example) I still don’t completely get, my interpretation of what a Psion is took the others a whole session to get over some confusion. The gear items speak some unwritten language, what halfling stands for (normally), the concept of hirelings, that is all so loaded.
Sure, your Dungeon World setting you create at the table will eventually deviate from that but D&D is from my perspective a heavily charged starting point.
Pedro Pereira as someone without D&D lore I would carefully disagree that D&D doesn’t affect the gameplay much.
The stats and what they represent (Wisdom for example) I still don’t completely get, my interpretation of what a Psion is took the others a whole session to get over some confusion. The gear items speak some unwritten language, what halfling stands for (normally), the concept of hirelings, that is all so loaded.
Sure, your Dungeon World setting you create at the table will eventually deviate from that but D&D is from my perspective a heavily charged starting point.
Gerrit Reininghaus I’m not sure I’m interpreting what you mean correctly, Gerrit. Knowing D&D tropes only helps in the sense that the stats, the classes, the races, the hirelings, and the memorisation-based spell system will be familiar. But otherwise, the gameplay will be quite different. Expecting D&D to play like DW or vice versa would only lead to frustration (as has happened quite frequently). I think it’s actually better to come at DW without any expectations based on D&D play experience.
Gerrit Reininghaus I’m not sure I’m interpreting what you mean correctly, Gerrit. Knowing D&D tropes only helps in the sense that the stats, the classes, the races, the hirelings, and the memorisation-based spell system will be familiar. But otherwise, the gameplay will be quite different. Expecting D&D to play like DW or vice versa would only lead to frustration (as has happened quite frequently). I think it’s actually better to come at DW without any expectations based on D&D play experience.
Yochai Gal I had no idea you were a Gauntleteer! Your Syllabus is fantastic.
Yochai Gal I had no idea you were a Gauntleteer! Your Syllabus is fantastic.
Well, of course I am Will P – DR & +1 Forward are what got me into Dungeon World in the first place! And Codex is my monthly treat.
Also, thanks – the Syllabus is mostly other people’s work, I just stuck it all in one place, mostly for my benefit.
Well, of course I am Will P – DR & +1 Forward are what got me into Dungeon World in the first place! And Codex is my monthly treat.
Also, thanks – the Syllabus is mostly other people’s work, I just stuck it all in one place, mostly for my benefit.
Haha I love Arcon’s pink hood! Very stylish
Haha I love Arcon’s pink hood! Very stylish
Michael X. Heiligenstein that was 20 gold pieces! Made by a local fashion designer.
Michael X. Heiligenstein that was 20 gold pieces! Made by a local fashion designer.