Frost and Frozen Iron, a Dungeon World story

Game Master SecSeibzehn

In the Iron Mountains, one range grows wider and taller than the rest. In the ancient tongue it is known as dar'ragar, but to men, it is the Ironheart, wild and unclaimed.


Lantern Lodge

Setting:

The Ironheart
The Ironheart is a massive cluster of mountains, rivers, lakes and valleys, known for being the mythic "heart" of the Iron Mountain range. Claimed, conquered, reclaimed, ran off, returned, the Ironheart and its settlements has changed hands many, many times. Cities and towns once dotted its landscape, but now, the long-lost denizens of frost and darkness have taken back their homelands. Only three settlements remain among the mountains:

Urbaz-Durak
Urbaz-Durak is a dwarven trading outpost in the Ironheart, located nestled inside of a mountain. Two huge hammers, carved from the mountainside itself, flank the enormous entrance to their halls.

Caer Rhynnu
Caer Rhynnu is an elven ranger's lodge that sits on the edge of the Crystalline Lake in the Valley of Summer.

Last Bastion
Last Bastion is a fortress that sits across a mountaintop in the Ironhearts. Once a true fortress, its original military occupants have fled, leaving behind a hodgepodge of gangs, guilds and merchant companies from the nine realms to run the infrastructure of the government.

Threats:

These three settlements are threatened by:

The Frost Giants
Enormous men and women with ice-blue skin and freezing breath, they live in massive longhouses far up the mountain and come to the valleys in raiding parties. Those they take with them are never seen again. Townsteads disappear in the night, with the only hint to their fate being the heavy footprints leading up the mountainside.

The Fey
In the frozen forests and glens of the Ironheart, there is but one ruler: the fey. They have been peaceful for many years, but just recently something has raised their ire greatly. Now, they steal children, kill livestock, ensorcell men and women and cause havoc in the forests.

The Cult of Ormyr
Madness is a disease to some, but ambrosia to others. Those who worship the eternal winter and freezing wind pay homage to the great dragon Ormyr, a massive beast that is rarely, if ever sighted. This secret, dark cult meets in hidden lairs and temples, and never reveal their true faith. The mark of the dragon is painted on doors and walls in blood, and the time of the dragon draws near.

Lantern Lodge

This would be a good place to introduce characters, discuss bonds, and do a bit of Q&A in the setting to help flesh it out.

One thing I'd really like to ask is what are you interested in? What I have up right now isn't the bible, but my first draft ready to be honed down, so tell me what you want to see.

Another thing is, How did your characters all meet?, How well do you know eachother and Are you from around here? If not, where, and if yes, which settlement?

A final question: Cronar, the god of the hunt, honor and mankind is definitely worshipped here. But I feel like there should be more gods-- I have a few in mind, but what do you think?


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

I am just posting here to mark this thread for now. I have to go to work, but I'll make a post when I get home tonight with questions and other stuffs.


Stats:
HP 16/16; AC xx, Flat Footed xx, Touch xx; CMD xx (xxBer); Fort +x, Ref +x, Will +x; Perception +4; Initiative +x

Profile updated, and scoring the thread as well. Settled on Vladimir Kulich for a visual reference, for obvious reasons.

As I mentioned in the Recruitment thread, I've got a viking itch that needs a'scratchin'. I can carve up an utterly shattered and mostly lifeless (but not always so) northern frontier where the mountains kiss the frozen sea. Presumably, the encroaching ice age has made surviving there impossible for those not born of the winter (such as frost giants and the like). Thorgrim claims to hail from there originally though I will say little else for the time being (in the interest of not stifling part of the Barbarian's session-beginning tales).

What am I interested in? "Scattering my enemies like snow before the gale. Crushing those who think themselves beyond the reach of my blade. Feeding well the Crow-Mother, that she might grow fat on my deeds."

How did your characters all meet? "The shadow of my legend encompasses many. The wise huddle in my darkness. The brave lend their shadows to my own. The foolish stand before the din of our steel."

Thorgrim's warpath has made quite a name for himself. He is getting on in years, but his thirst for battle is far from quenched. He does not spend much time in the remaining settlements, though his face is known and respected (or feared) by many.

How well do you know each other? "One's worth is made plain on the blood soaked fields. What use is fellowship if you can not depend on those at your back?"

I'll refrain from speaking for everyone or specifically about everyone. Even given a likely gulf between Thorgrim and Erland's motives/morales, he would have a great respect for Erland's prowess as a warrior. Perhaps Thorgrim has shared the field of battle with he and others on numerous occasions.

Are you from around here? If not, where? "I am from the dead still beyond the reach of men, and the stillness of death is all I have left to offer."

From the aforementioned "true" Northlands that are no longer capable of sustaining natural life.

My initial thoughts in terms of another God(dess)—though Thorgrim does not pray nor beseech her for aid—is an entity called the Crow-Mother, She Who Feasts on the Dead; Goddess of Demise, Fate, Prophecy. Her domain is a grimmer spin on the concept of Valhalla - The Eternal Battle (instead of sharing in drink and battle with one's worthy forebears, they are instead thrust into perpetual bloodbath where they know no rest). It is said that the Crow-Mother knows the hour and nature of every creature's demise. There are many who seek her favor in order to conquer their own death, though such boons are rarely granted—often times fulfilling the very demise the petitioners sought to avoid. Some claim that those who feed well the Crow-Mother are granted a place of honor on her battlefield as great champions or generals.

Lantern Lodge

Thorgrim Sigurdson wrote:
Great stuff

Very cool. I'll wait until everyone has had time to answer to comment more in-depth, but the Crow-Mother looks like a good addition to the pantheon and I like the Norse ties.

One thing I danced around but never truly said that I feel is pretty important: Do you have any questions for me about the setting? Now's a time to ask them.


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

What are you interested in?

As a player I like games with a strong and clear goal. Erland is interested in making sure that humanity survives and prospers.

How did your characters all meet?

I can't speak for the others yet, but Thorgrim is my mother's older brother.

How well do you know each other?

When Erland gave up his family name to become Cronarson, he left the family holdings in the north and traveled the world doing the work of Cronar. He lost contact with Throgrim when he left home, and has only recently come back into acquaintance with his uncle, as the habitable land has shrunk down to the Ironheart.

Are you from around here?

My home is buried under ice and snow. I live here now.

I feel like there should be more gods-- I have a few in mind, but what do you think?

Cronar is but one of the gods. We cannot forget Lheki, his tricky little brother who can take the form of any man or beast. Leave not Krom from the list, for who could farm, hunt or wage war without the gifts of the Iron Lord? The Norn too cannot be ignored, for past, present and future weave the thread of even a god's life. And wicked Ymir, lord of the Frost Giants. Kostitche god of rage, murder and revenge.

Do you have any questions for me about the setting?

Is Last Bastion the only human settlement? Are the mountains farmable at all, or how do the people there survive? Is there any sort of governance, or is it total anarchy? Can we come up with a better name than last bastion? Perhaps Mannerheim or something? We have dwarves, elves, humans, giants and fey. Are there any other common races?


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

I changed my name to Erland Cronarson. I think all priests or paladins or Cronar must be human, and they give up their family names to take his as part of their initiation rights.

Lantern Lodge

Erland Cronarson wrote:


Do you have any questions for me about the setting?

Is Last Bastion the only human settlement?

It's the largest. There are others that are small, townships and villages, maybe four or five buildings, and they're not quite all known by everyone.

Quote:
Are the mountains farmable at all, or how do the people there survive?

The Ironheart also encompasses the lowlands and valleys in the mountain's range, which are farmable-- part of why the encroach of this strange winter is notable is because if it continues, it's likely to cause a famine, eradicating crops and killing livestock.

Quote:
Is there any sort of governance, or is it total anarchy?

The elves rule the elves; the dwarves rule the dwarves. In Last Bastion, the gangs run the "government." Everything else is, well, it's the wilderness frontier. The only laws you're beholden to are the ones you can enforce or the ones enforced on you.

Quote:
Can we come up with a better name than last bastion?

A bit odd to ask that but I kind of like it, so I don't think so.

Quote:
We have dwarves, elves, humans, giants and fey. Are there any other common races?

Halflings, gnomes, half-orcs, bugbears, goblins, trolls, the works. A common fear for many are the werewolf clans. These lycanthropes dwell in the Rimewood, an enormous frozen forest that sits between Caer Rhynnu and Last Bastion.


Female Human Thief

What are you interested in?
As a player, I adore interesting character interactions and defined quests with different ways to approach it.

Catharina, however, is invested in defending her homeland and, preferably, staying alive.
How did your characters all meet? How well do you know each other?
I can't speak for anyone, but Catharina has lived her life in Last Bastion - venturing out only occasionally. I'd love to collaborate with people on it. Personally, I'm thinking that she's stolen something from someone or is worried about what the approaching threats mean for Last Bastion. I'm open to anything though!

Are you from around here? If not, where, and if yes, which settlement?
Catharina has spent her entire life in Last Bastion. She often thinks that she would travel farther if it wasn't for her mother.

A final question: Cronar, the god of the hunt, honor and mankind is definitely worshipped here. But I feel like there should be more gods-- I have a few in mind, but what do you think?
Personally, I've always been intrigued by Hel. So I wanted to go with that flavor. (Sorry if I'm stepping on anyone's toes!)

You cannot forget Hedda - our Dark Mother. Possessing the gift of prophecy, she can see all truths through her left eye. She covers her children in shadows and blankets us with the starry night. It's said that those whom die, but not in battle, are sent to Hedda and she quietly lays the weary to rest and the wicked are provided as carrion for the crows. It's said that you can come to Hedda seeking a soul that she possesses and she may pose a challenge to you. However, the consequences are grave should you fail - for, then, your life is forfeit.

Obviously that can use a lot of work, but I wanted to put it out there.


Appearance 1/Appearance 2
Thorgrim wrote:
My initial thoughts in terms of another God(dess)—though Thorgrim does not pray nor beseech her for aid—is an entity called the Crow-Mother, She Who Feasts on the Dead; Goddess of Demise, Fate, Prophecy. Her domain is a grimmer spin on the concept of Valhalla - The Eternal Battle (instead of sharing in drink and battle with one's worthy forebears, they are instead thrust into perpetual bloodbath where they know no rest). It is said that the Crow-Mother knows the hour and nature of every creature's demise. There are many who seek her favor in order to conquer their own death, though such boons are rarely granted—often times fulfilling the very demise the petitioners sought to avoid. Some claim that those who feed well the Crow-Mother are granted a place of honor on her battlefield as great champions or generals.
Catharina wrote:
You cannot forget Hedda - our Dark Mother. Possessing the gift of prophecy, she can see all truths through her left eye. She covers her children in shadows and blankets us with the starry night. It's said that those whom die, but not in battle, are sent to Hedda and she quietly lays the weary to rest and the wicked are provided as carrion for the crows. It's said that you can come to Hedda seeking a soul that she possesses and she may pose a challenge to you. However, the consequences are grave should you fail - for, then, your life is forfeit.

Seems like a good deal of overlap here. Maybe they're sisters? Or split personalities of the same being?

Edit:As for bonds, I could know something incriminating about Catharina. Would make sense for a paladin and thief.


Female Human Thief

That was my original idea after I saw the "Crow-Mother", actually. However, I didn't want to step on anyone's toes.

Edit: That sounds perfect to me!


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

I think it would be cool to have them like conjoined twins. Hedda handles those that don't die in battle, while the Crow-Mother decides the fate of dead warriors.

Lantern Lodge

I like the Crow-Mother and Hedda being aspects of the same god, faces that are revealed sort of. Maybe Hedda is the Crow-Mother's daughter, cursed to an eternity in deathless Hel at her mother's side after insulting the Norn?

A god I'll throw into the mix is: Fenris, Fang-Father, the god of change, madness, cannibalism and wolves. An enormous beast that has no mind left to lose that rampages across the universe, hunting and killing and gorging for no reason but to hunt and kill and gorge. It was he who cursed the lycanthropes with his diseased bite. Fenris is the eternal enemy of Cronar, and those who worship him disdain all that he stands for.

Bonds are a way of saying "I want to roleplay this with your character," so attack them with that in mind. What kind of incriminating thing do you know? Hashing that out can be illuminating about both characters.


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

I dunno, what crimes does she commit?


Male Human Bard

What are you interested in?
Personally, I envisioned the classic rakish bard from a noble family: an extremely gifted and handsome musician who's all-too-aware of his talents and uses them to have his way wherever he goes. However, the setting everyone seems to have decided upon is actually a great roleplaying boon to this concept, since he can be a total fish out of water. So, my adapted concept will be:

Edwyn is known and adored to everyone all across the civilized lands. His hands can flawlessly strum beautiful music out of a lute or a nubile maiden, and despite his many misadventures, he has never lost any honor he couldn't reclaim at the point of his dueling sword.

But what about the lands we know nothing about?

The question, of course, came from his rival -- Fenthon Blackerly. Tired of having second pick of performance venues, wealthy friends and patrons, and especially women, Fenthon had planned this ambush well in advance. And that night, at the gala for Lady Arianna Vance's fourteenth consecutive twenty-ninth birthday celebration, the trap was sprung.

You keep singing the same songs. Fearsome dragons, cunning trolls, gracious damsels. How boring! Who here hasn't heard these a thousand times before?

Edwyn tried to ignore this and finish his anecdote to his gathered crowd of admirers, stroking the hair of the woman seated to either side of him, but the party had fallen to a hush already and all heads were turned.

Seems to me, any minstrel worth his catgut would be out seeking new lands to write songs about -- and to spread our songs to!

To keep his reputation intact, Edwyn knew he must rise to the challenge, and things just got worse from there...

How did your characters all meet? How well do you know each other?
This is a good question, and one I'm very open to working with everyone to answer. Edwyn could certainly just have arrived in these lands, constantly griping about the cold and the bizarre customs as he gets a feel for things. Or, if it's easier for everyone else, he can have been here for months, just starting to make a name for himself and carve a niche. Either way, he'd naturally gravitate to adventurer types who are fertile ground for planting seeds for ballads.

Are you from around here? If not, where, and if yes, which settlement?
I think I covered this. I'd rather not detail the lands he actually comes from too much, since the focus on world-building should be here. But suffice it to say it's essentially somewhere between Medieval and Renaissance Europe.

A final question: Cronar, the god of the hunt, honor and mankind is definitely worshipped here. But I feel like there should be more gods-- I have a few in mind, but what do you think?
Well, he probably isn't a very religious man unless it's dire straits, and he doubtful brought much from the gods of his homeland up north with him, but that isn't to say he can't discover some local god of art or song.


Male Human Bard

Perhaps an analog of Brage, son of Odin and Norse god of poetry and music?


Female Human Thief

Catharina is mainly a pickpocket. Perhaps you saw me pickpocket someone? Or I just happened to have an item exactly like one that someone was complaining of missing? With all that said, though, what would keep you from reporting me to the guards? Very interesting....

Also, I really like the idea of Hedda and the Crow-Mother being conjoined twins. Of course, Hedda being the daughter works as well.

Edwyn, I really like your character.

Lantern Lodge

Edwyn Doyle wrote:
And that night, at the gala for Lady Arianna Vance's fourteenth consecutive twenty-ninth birthday celebration, the trap was sprung.

I laughed out loud.

Quote:
But suffice it to say it's essentially somewhere between Medieval and Renaissance Europe.

Renieval, home of the Meuropeans? :D

Conjoined twins can work for Hedda and the Crow-Mother, if that's what everyone likes. I think that's a bit more terrifying, which is perfect.

Keep doing bonds! Friendly reminder that I'd like to be starting a gameplay thread by the weekend.


Male Human Bard

I sang stories of Erland Cronarson long before I ever met him in person.

Well, actually, I didn't. You caught me -- never heard of the guy. But have these Cronarsons back South. We call them Cromwells, after their supposed mythic ancestor who slew the warring tribes, chased the dragons from the air, bedded the fey maidens of the forest, and generally shot [primal force of lightning, fire, etc.] out of his [name of tender orifice]. Yes, they're totally the life of the party in my lands, too. Maybe this supposed holy warrior is different? He bears watching, and maybe he can help us ensure the other slash-happy idiot doesn't cause too much carnage...

I am writing a ballad about the adventures of Thorgrim.

Or at least I'd like him to think I am. I'm betting good times and better stories follow this brute around like crows stalking a battlefield -- reference intended. I may be many things, but a mighty warrior I am not. So chronicling his "mighty deeds" may be my only bet at keeping in his company.

Catharina trusted me with a secret. (Analogous to the thief's "_____ and I have a con running.")

I'm sure she figured out right quick that where there's killing, there's spoils. She and I keep Thorgrim pointed in the right direction: cask-deep in wine, and hilt-deep in monsters and women, and the rest sorts itself out. Well, hopefully...


HP 16/18, Hold NA

One thing I'd really like to ask is what are you interested in? What I have up right now isn't the bible, but my first draft ready to be honed down, so tell me what you want to see. *Shrugs* The experience, perhaps? This will be the rules-lightest game I've ever played.

Another thing is, How did your characters all meet?, How well do you know each other and Are you from around here? If not, where, and if yes, which settlement? Uqalik the Angakkuq (shaman) comes from a tribe to the northeast (?). A vision told him to find Thorgrim Sigurdson and warn him of danger. It was not until two moons had passed that the halfling wanderlust buried deep within him had roused enough that he started out to find him. Uqalik's traveling companions left him at the border of their tribe's land, his sled was destroyed, his dogs lost, but still he pressed on. He came across Erland Cronarson in his wanderings, fought alongside him, swore a blood oath. He remains with the group both because of that oath, and because he suspects Edwyn Doyle of having something to do with the approaching danger

A final question: Cronar, the god of the hunt, honor and mankind is definitely worshiped here. But I feel like there should be more gods-- I have a few in mind, but what do you think? The religion of Uqalik's tribe is mostly animistic - propitiating the spirits of things you killed or things that could kill you, which covers practically everything in the harsh environment.

Bonds (if no one objects)
The spirits spoke to me of a great danger that follows Thorgrim Sigurdson.
Edwyn Doyle smells more like prey than a hunter.
Erland Cronarson has tasted my blood and I his. We are bound by it.


Female Human Thief

Erland Cronarson knows incriminating details about me.
But he's not a bad guy when you really get down to it. He's kept it to himself and, as long as that keeps up, we'll be just fine.

Edwyn Doyle and I have a con running.
Thorgrim needs some guidance and we provide it. If that's really a con or not, I'm not sure. It doesn't matter though. It brings in the gold. Edwyn scratches my back and I scratch his. His hand goes lower than that and I cut it off.

I stole something from Thorgrim Sigurdson.
And he must never find out. If he does, I'm pretty certain he just might kill me.

If anyone has a problem and/or wants to make changes, let me know!


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Male Human Bard

Uqalik does not trust me, and for good reason.

He's got eyes, right?
But seriously, it's odd... I'm sure he
definitely can't have heard of me, so it must be this barbarian business (but then, what isn't up here?) If I didn't know better, I'd think the thigh-high actually means the brute well, for whatever frozen walruscicle spiritual claptrap reasons he may have in that tiny head of his. Maybe I should reinforce my alibi by insisting that whenever I do something, it's because the ghost of a smelly dead fish told me it was prophesied.


HP 16/18, Hold NA

We should probably agree on how much (if any) PvP is allowable. It sounds like some intraparty scheming is going to be going on - should we try to avoid physical violence between PCs?


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

Catharina’s misguided behavior endangers her very soul!

I know that Catherina is a thief, a most dishonorable career choice. I also caught her stealing money from Thorgrim (my own kin). Erland has kept this to himself out of a strong romantic attraction to Catherina and a desire to see her correct her life's path. (His interest remains unexpressed, but he does keep particularly protective eye on her, from a distance).

Uqalik has stood by me in battle and can be trusted completely.

Though he is a godless primitive, the shaman has stood by Erland's side. They are blood brothers and Erland would do anything for him.

I respect the beliefs of Edwyn but hope he will someday see the true way.

Erland hopes that one day Edwyn will see that a man without gods is like a ship without rudder. Edwyn is a child of Cronar, but his people have forgotten their great father. Erland hopes that by being an honorable and steadfast example of what it is to be a man, he can correct Edwyn's foolish agnosticism.

Thorgrim is a brave soul, I have much to learn from him.

Erland's uncle, though sometimes wicked is a great warrior. He has seen many more winters than Erland, and though he doesn't always agree with him, Erland has great respect for Thorgrim.
________________________________________________

So if I'm the paladin, how powerful are we relative to everyone else? In Pathfinder terms are we the equivalent of 1st level characters? 10th? 15th? 20th!?! I'm just trying to get a feel for the system more.


Male Human Bard

Um, no scheming or PvP on my end. The bonds are just internal monologue flavor, really. They don't exactly dictate my actions.


Female Human Thief

Uqalik has my back when things go wrong.

Or at least, he hasn't stabbed me in it yet. Truthfully, I think it's all due to Thorgrim. Not that I'm completely sure Thorgrim doesn't want to kill me.
Oh well! At least I'm not Edwyn...for...multiple....reasons. Not the least being Uqalik's barely contained ferocity towards him. I know that look. But, you know, he's kind of adorable and cuddly, Uqalik not Edwyn, - not that I would ever try, of course. I like my ribs just as they are. There's no need to see what sharp objects can fit between them.

Lantern Lodge

I'm loving everyone's bonds so far, especially the internal monologue and explanation along with it.

Erland Cronarson wrote:


So if I'm the paladin, how powerful are we relative to everyone else? In Pathfinder terms are we the equivalent of 1st level characters? 10th? 15th? 20th!?! I'm just trying to get a feel for the system more.

Imagine that right now, at 1st level, you are the equivalent to the protagonist at the start of an epic journey. You're Tony Jaa leaving the monastery to find his elephant. You're Indiana Jones, delving into the jungle to get to the temple holding the Chachapoyan fertility idol. You're Captain America right after he got thawed out. Things have happened, but all of the small stuff is behind you. Even if you're humble about it, almost no one else in the world is as good as you are at what you do, and that's a fact. To put it to fact-- There are no other human beings in the world who can pray to Cronar for aid and have it granted every time. Sometimes, they may be granted, and mostly ignored, but you have your god's direct attention and authority with moves like Quest, Lay on Hands and I Am The Law. Others may have similar, others may be skilled like you, and others may be called holy warriors, but everyone else comes up short in one way or another compared to The Paladin.

(And if you meet someone who has his god's direct power, who overshadows you and is just as courageous and strong as you? He's probably The Cleric... or, The Anti-Paladin. Food for thought.)

By Pathfinder terms, imagine yourself as roughly 10th level, but CR 1/3 foes are still threatening and CR 20 foes are only -just- insurmountable. The world is much more believable-- you're The Paladin, but you're still a man, and the world is in your grasp as you're in its. There is no "I am too high level to be challenged by a mere dog" in this game, and there is no "I am too low level to challenge the king's champion" as well.

Quote:
should we try to avoid physical violence between PCs?

I'd appreciate avoidance, but if it's necessary to your character arc, agreement before throwing gauntlets would be great.

More in-depth explanation of PvP...:
PvP in Dungeon World is a weird mix: You alternate between Hack and Slash with a narrated attack from the aggressor, an interference with a narrated action from the defender, checking success, dealing damage and then, depending on rolls, a narrated response from the defender. PvP can be a bit complex and expects a narrative agreement between two parties with the GM kind of 'refereeing' the PCs actions. It might look like:

A: "I lunge to my feet and draw my sword. 'You've insulted me for the last time!' and I strike at your heart. My hack and slash is a 10."
B: "I knock the blade aside with my forearm at the last minute-- my interference is a 7, so it gives you the -2 making that an 8. You still get me, so the blade plunges into my shoulder instead of my heart?"
A: "Sure, sounds good. I cut into your shoulder for 6 damage (before armor) then."
B: "That's pretty ouch. We sure that's how it's supposed to go?"
DM: You can deal when you hack and slash back-- since he rolled, he gets to deal damage.
B: "Okay. As you cut into me, I shove you back onto the ground, disarming you and stabbing you with my dagger for 8."
DM: That might be a bit much. Not exactly soft. Try to make a softer move in response until one of you fails a roll, then feel free to make a hard one. And of course, if you roll hack and slash, deal damage.
B: "Well, then... I still shove him back onto the ground and disarm him... but I draw his sword from my shoulder, then. As my hack and slash, I'm going to take your sword and skewer you with it-- I got an 11."
A: "I'm going to hope this 2d6 to interfere comes up 7 or higher, then... !"

Lantern Lodge

Once we see Thorgrim's bonds, I can kick the door in and start the gameplay thread, I think. Sooner than expected, but still, good!


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

Even though I have the rules I haven't really read them beyond character creation. So I'm gonna need to be told what to roll when.

Lantern Lodge

Erland Cronarson wrote:
Even though I have the rules I haven't really read them beyond character creation. So I'm gonna need to be told what to roll when.

You're going to want to read the basic moves list that's in the character playbook pile. They're the first 2 pages.

That's all the rules you really need to know about. You'll be writing up your actions, rolling the d6s, getting totals and choosing things off of lists or simply dealing damage. I'll likely be calling for Defy Danger as it goes, and if I don't and you figure it's dangerous you'll be rolling it yourself.

For example, attacking a creature is Hack and Slash, helping someone lift a rock is Aid, dodging a giant's club is Defy Danger with Dex, trying to get a perception of things is Discern Realities... it's a bit, but simple once you look at it.


Stats:
HP 16/16; AC xx, Flat Footed xx, Touch xx; CMD xx (xxBer); Fort +x, Ref +x, Will +x; Perception +4; Initiative +x

I'll try and get bonds pinned down at some point today or tonight.


Stats:
HP 16/16; AC xx, Flat Footed xx, Touch xx; CMD xx (xxBer); Fort +x, Ref +x, Will +x; Perception +4; Initiative +x

Bondy goodness.

Uqalik the Angakkuq is puny and foolish, but amusing to me.

Danger follows me? My name brings danger as swiftly as my sword arm. The road behind me is choked with the dead and the eaters of the dead. No, little shaman. Danger does not follow me; I bring danger to any foolish enough to stand before me.

Edwyn Doyle's ways are strange and confusing.

He is not like the skalds of my lands. He is not like the people of my lands. What will your music avail you when winter itself comes to collect its due? None will sing of your passing on the snow covered Ironheart.

Catharina "Sparrow" Falk is always getting into trouble—I must protect them from themselves.

How she has kept her fingers this long is unknown to me. I see how my nephew looks at her, though... I will keep her safe for his sake.

Erland Cronarson shares my hunger for glory, the earth will tremble at our passing!

He is my kin, and is strong. He gives too much credit to Cronar for deeds solely of Erland's making. A legacy of servitude does not endure the ages. Better to trust in your own strength.

Lantern Lodge

Thorgrim Sigurdson wrote:
Bondy goodness.

And with bondy goodness so signals the drop of the flag and the start of the game. I've posted the opening over in the Gameplay thread, with some open-ended questions meant to guide the first "session" of our game.

If you feel like you wouldn't be there or some other thing is bugging you about the intro, the best way to answer the question would be "I wouldn't be there, except for..." or "I wouldn't be there, but..." or so it goes.

Okay. Toss dice at it until it dies and hopefully you all survive to round 2.

Lantern Lodge

Immunity to claws isn't immunity to elbows, and it's forceful tag still applies. Get 'em, troll! You have Erland on the ropes now that he's taken two damage! Rope a dope!

For the record I think he's taken a good 9. Hopefully I get a golden opportunity to regenerate soon.


Stats:
HP 16/16; AC xx, Flat Footed xx, Touch xx; CMD xx (xxBer); Fort +x, Ref +x, Will +x; Perception +4; Initiative +x

Everyone keep in mind to keep track somewhere of every roll you fail (6 or lower after modifiers). Failures get you XP—unless DM Titan is doing an alternative take on giving out experience points, in which case I apologize for confusing any one.

Lantern Lodge

Thorgrim Sigurdson wrote:

Everyone keep in mind to keep track somewhere of every roll you fail (6 or lower after modifiers). Failures get you XP—unless DM Titan is doing an alternative take on giving out experience points, in which case I apologize for confusing any one.

Oh, absolutely. Sparrow is getting those sweet, sweet experience points right now.

One thing I wanted to mention also was that I was on the Dungeon World forums and saw that a good change to the Barbarian's d8-higher-than-d6 complication was to swap it to d6-higher-than-d8. If you don't mind I think I'll be making that change, as it's a bit difficult to think of things to complicate your successes with without directly puppeting your character. If you wanted to shoulder some of it, it'd make me a bit happier.

And of course, the huge, dangerous as hell target is mercilessly smacked around and left at 2 hit points. Live, troll, live!

Lantern Lodge

Speaking of XP, right now Sparrow had 3 and Edwyn has 1. Everyone else? Zip. I'll be asking you your Outsider racial question soon Thorgrim, and we'll be moving to climates where the locals speak Common, Barbspeak, Druidic, you know-- languages-- so you guys can get your social on as I am thinking some of you are sure to want to do after getting mercilessly beat on by trolls.

Lantern Lodge

Forgot to change the "Position" tab on the last post of mine... darn.

Ignore it!


M Disciple of Brimley 20

Been a busy couple of days. I'll try to make a worthwhile contribution to the Gameplay thread tonight; if not, tomorrow is wide open for me, so I'll do so then.

Lantern Lodge

Same here. I'll give the thread some attention when I return this evening-- mulling over where I want to go from here, but I'm certain I have a good idea I can shape up by midnight.


Fellow adventurers, I'll try and post tomorrow. It's been a trying couple of days and I'm just trying to keep up with everything.


Yay! WE HAVE POWER AGAIN! Great thing about living here...all the tall trees are just waiting for a good wind and hail storm to take the power lines down. Anyway...I'm going to get some coffee and post. Sorry!


HP 16/18, Hold NA

We probably should pick one of the three places to visit and stick with it rather than trying to do all three simultaneously.


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

Why? I love flex time for PBP. It makes things go so much faster. The time line can be assembled from the pieces afterwards. Just label each thing for each segment.

Lantern Lodge

Erland Cronarson wrote:
Why? I love flex time for PBP. It makes things go so much faster. The time line can be assembled from the pieces afterwards. Just label each thing for each segment.

Agreed. I like doing it in three pieces because if we wanted to, for instance, explore out the artist's terrace that could be days before we get to the library days before we get to the baths. Now we can do all three at once and it's fairly simple to just separate them out.

I wouldn't do this if the six men were a huge threat, but their unarmed 1d4 strikes and armed 1d6 strikes won't have a big impact, especially with their 3 hp. Unless you guys are cursed with bad luck.

Speaking of bad luck, I had a player in my Apocalypse World game this last monday get trashed by a common street ganger because he couldn't roll above 3 on 2d6. It was meant to be the gangers bringing up his old past and then getting intimidated out, but the player could not roll and so the gangers beat the tar out of him and stuffed him in a trunk.

The moral of this story is: don't get stuffed in a trunk.


Male Human Bard

Damn! Getting stuffed in a trunk was totally part of Edwyn's five year plan. And by that, I mean "stuff he drunkenly scrawled on the back of a bar rag in a child's wax pencil to impress a tavern wench."

New plan.


Appearance 1/Appearance 2

Not sure what happened to this game, but seems like no one's posted in about two weeks+. I'm going to withdraw from this in an ongoing effort to keep myself committed only to games that move forward at a good pace. Thanks for the chance to try the system, it's interesting. Good luck if this ever picks back up.

Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Play-by-Post Discussion / [Discussion] Frost and Frozen Iron, a DW story All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Lantern Lodge

I recently got into Dungeon World and just noticed there aren't PbPs for it on the Paizo forums. Is anyone interested in playing it here? I'd DM it.

For those not in the know, Dungeon World is a hack of Apocalypse World, a straight-forward and simplistic roleplaying game. Dungeon World is extremely player-centric. The player's answers to questions formulate the game world as the GM asks them and the players can even start making up lore about the world any time they think it's plausible and possible. The GM doesn't even roll dice, instead only prompting rolls when failure would be interesting and fictionalizing off of that.

This doesn't mean that the players run the game all by themselves, but it does mean that the players are pushing the story and game forward with their actions. The GM does the usual GM description, scene setting and dressing, roleplaying NPCs, monsters, minions, all of the burdens of GMing, but he relies on your rolls to dictate the flow of the game. It's really very interesting when it starts to snowball. The game feels very natural, and very old school.

As for mechanics? Almost everything can be resolved by rolling 2d6 and checking the stat. A 10+ is a success without complication, a 7-9 is a success with complication and a 6- isn't even failure-- it just means that things might get interesting. Moves you take aren't dictated by your mechanical role but by your fictional actions, and the game fully supports this. Choice is a big part of the game-- you may have to choose between drawing attention or exhausting yourself, and depending on if you're fighting a dragon or a town drunk, you may take one or the other. The game is very much fluff-over-crunch.

It's almost entirely free-form. Rolls are made when the fiction calls for it-- you don't charge mechanically and rotely because you need the extra squares of movement, but you charge because that's what your character would do right now, lunging up and smashing the ogre over the head with your warhammer to distract him from chewing on the halfling's head for a minute. And of course, he's got a friend, so when this one goes off shouting with a bleeding, regenerating, ugly head wound, his pal comes darting out of the brush straight towards you. What do you do? Dodge? Well, defy danger with Dex, and if you succeed, you won't have to choose between leaving your weapon or leaving the halfling behind.

And that's the game, pretty much. It runs almost exactly like what I just wrote.

Character classes are all varied, useful, referential and fun. The Bard's Charming and Open allow them to just ask the NPC they're speaking "What do you most desire?" and the DM has to answer truthfully; the Thief's Flexible Morals lets him tell you whatever alignment he wants if anyone detects his alignment; Moves names include "Blot out the Sun", "Smaug's Belly," "Exterminatus," "Shoot First," and "It Goes to Eleven." Making a character is simple and easy and I've literally sprung it on people who aren't roleplayers and they were up and about within an hour, kicking in doors and chasing people down. But there's a richness you can tap there if you're looking for it, and it's in the free-form way the game is handled.

(And if you wanted to make a character? The rules are in the playbooks below, right on the stat line-- assign 16, 15, 13, 12, 9, 8 to your stats, choose a look, choose a name, choose a race and alignment and until we have the entire party you are good to go, level one character.)

All of the classes and mechanics can be found here for free, and all of the playbooks-- character sheets-- can be found here for free as well. I've got the up-to-date PDF version of the game to run with, of course, if interest is piqued, and if people are interested in playing, I have a few bonus playbooks like the Barbarian and Mage I'd share.

So, anyone interested?


Absolutely yes!

I'll be brand new to this, but I'm a 20 year tabletop and LARP veteran . Quite frankly, based on your description and the game itself (and the amazing copy written therein), I'm actually very excited at the prospect. How elegant in its simplicity, yet it accounts for so much! Just enough crunch to get by, and yet also fluff (entirely and easily adaptable fluff) for miles and miles.

Let me know what you need from me to make this awesome thing happen.

Lantern Lodge

DrakeSomerset wrote:

Absolutely yes!

I'll be brand new to this, but I'm a 20 year tabletop and LARP veteran . Quite frankly, based on your description and the game itself (and the amazing copy written therein), I'm actually very excited at the prospect. How elegant in its simplicity, yet it accounts for so much! Just enough crunch to get by, and yet also fluff (entirely and easily adaptable fluff) for miles and miles.

Let me know what you need from me to make this awesome thing happen.

I'd just go and peruse the classes and try to find the one that you think is your favorite. One thing about Dungeon World is that by being the class, you are THE class. The bard isn't one of many bards and there are higher level bards. In Dungeon World, you are THE bard-- the rest of them are just storytellers and songwriters. This also means that you can't have more than one class at a table, so, keep that in mind.

As far as making this awesome thing happen, I think I'd go ahead with as little as three players, but up to five would be nice to keep the post rate going along smoothly. Posting doesn't need to be overly long or complex, and there should almost always be a "What do you do?" to get into as a player. The game would be a little slower on weekend nights and Mondays, but I'd still be able to post a bit if I strive for it.


This is very, very intriguing. I need to check this out... It sounds absolutely brilliant from your description.

Sovereign Court

Dotting for interest.

Lantern Lodge

I'm glad this has gotten some attention!

I'm formulating what I'd put down as a first session here, and I think it'd really come down to the players input on what they'd like to see in the campaign.

... Isn't that a bit odd? "GM looking to run a campaign for players, what do you guys want to play?" I should take a note from other PbPs and languorously hash out my setting and such, shouldn't I? Well, for Dungeon World, the first session is used as an improv springboard for the rest of the game, so honestly, I don't know what might come up or be important and it's kind of advised I don't even try to figure it out until it's passed.

Still, a bit on the weird side, huh?


Currently playing (and loving) a Dungeon World game. What sort of posting times/frequency would we be looking at?


DM Titan wrote:
... Isn't that a bit odd? "GM looking to run a campaign for players, what do you guys want to play?"

You aren't the only GM I've seen do that. Usually it's more "which AP should I run?", though.

I'd suggest doing something other than the usual 'wander pseudo-medieval Europe killing things in caves and ruins' game. 'Wander a pseudo-medieval European city killing things', perhaps. Or set things entirely underground. Or draw on a different time or culture - Roman? Aztec? Chinese? Arabian? Sumeria? Polynesian?

Lantern Lodge

Kagehiro wrote:
Currently playing (and loving) a Dungeon World game. What sort of posting times/frequency would we be looking at?

I'm at the mighty UTC -7:00 of Arizona, so between 5:00PM-7:00AM GMT.

Frequency? At least once a day, though I'll be trying to keep up in the thread as much as I can.

It'd be nice if the players were willing to tell me their action and intent before rolling so that I can come through with the "You do get onto the giant's back, but..." complications that makes Dungeon World fun to play. "What do you do?"s will be pretty open, so that multiple people can respond, and I'll just zigzag around that. Of course, if you don't bite within 24 hours then I'll have to NPC you a little to keep you in the action for when you come back.

Bearded Ben wrote:
I'd suggest doing something other than the usual 'wander pseudo-medieval Europe killing things in caves and ruins' game. 'Wander a pseudo-medieval European city killing things', perhaps. Or set things entirely underground. Or draw on a different time or culture - Roman? Aztec? Chinese? Arabian? Sumeria? Polynesian?

I do like city games. Right now the mental images and ideas I'm tossing around include mountains, snow, tundra, frozen forests, that kind of thing... Anybody have an opinion?


Seens interesting, I likr cities but also like any kind of dynamic terrain, absolutely hate the typical forest and cavern =D. Have to take a better look at the rules thogh


I'm torn, as always, between Wizard and Bard. But honestly, I'll gladly play anything and relish the opportunity. I'm really liking the idea of a character who keeps a journal of his exploits, and posting entries for it regularly. Not only would it help everyone recap the game's events, but it'd present great roleplaying and character development opportunities using the good old internal monologue.

Lantern Lodge

DrakeSomerset wrote:
I'm torn, as always, between Wizard and Bard. But honestly, I'll gladly play anything and relish the opportunity.

I really like the Bard, and the Wizard is cool too. I like the social aspects of Charming and Open a lot, and the roleplaying opportunities from Bardic Lore, Any Port in a Storm and race/alignment options are all cool. For Wizard, Ritual is one of the coolest abilities that any class gets in my opinion.

Quote:
I'm really liking the idea of a character who keeps a journal of his exploits, and posting entries for it regularly.

Always very cool to have someone who wants to recap around! :)


I wouldn't mind trying out the Barbarian, myself. I've been itching to Get My Viking On for a while, and it sounds like you were leaning towards a northern feel for the initial setting.

Lantern Lodge

Kagehiro wrote:
I wouldn't mind trying out the Barbarian, myself. I've been itching to Get My Viking On for a while, and it sounds like you were leaning towards a northern feel for the initial setting.

Speaking of barbarians:

Here's the Barbarian, for perusal by forum-goers...

and

The Artificer and The Mage for further perusal.

I know that there are a ton of custom classes for DW, so the Barbarian might be somewhere else as well-- if you're thinking of a different barbarian, not the one that was written by the DW team as a kickstarter goal, then that's probably fine too. : )


This sounds a lot like a system I've played a couple times and enjoyed and I'm always looking to try out new rules light systems. I'll read over the rules you linked to and get back to you.

Definitely want to try it though.


also interested. Would like to play some kinda weird shapeshifer, so maybe a version of the druid?
As for themes/setting, the frozen forest and tundra and mountains and snow seems very "winter is coming" to me...maybe some in the midst of some kind of apocalyptic ice age?


Titan -- my PbP plate is groaning from the load right now (on another forum) but I just want to say "Excellent choice" and I hope this comes together.

For others, DW is an incredible game, it blends a lot of the "old school" (things like player agency, not compulsive die-result tables that link to other sub-tables that link to other sub-sub-tables) with the attitudes and mechanics of the new Story Game crowd.


Ahem:

1) Choose Your Class: Bard!
2) Choose Your Race: Human
3) Choose Your Name: Edwyn
4) Choose Your Look: Knowing Eyes, Stylish Cap, Traveling Clothes, Well-fed Body
5) Choose Your Stats:
Charisma 16 (+2)
Dexterity 15 (+1)
Intelligence 13 (+1)
Constitution 12 (0)
Wisdom 9 (0)
Strength 8 (-1)
6) Determine Modifiers (done above)
7) Determine Max HP: 6+12 Con = 18 HP
8) Choose Starting Moves: Bardic Lore (A Bestiary of Creatures Unusual)
9) Choose Alignment: Neutral
10) Choose Gear: My father's mandolin, repaired; Leather armor; Dueling rapier; Adventuring gear
I'll save the introduction and choosing bonds for later, if that's okay.


From my initial reading of the rules, paladin stuck out at me. I'm not really a paladin guy in Pathfinder, but I'd like to try it here. Are there set deities in this world?


Waiwode wrote:
For others, DW is an incredible game, it blends a lot of the "old school" (things like player agency, not compulsive die-result tables that link to other sub-tables that link to other sub-sub-tables) with the attitudes and mechanics of the new Story Game crowd.

And here I thought "old school" meant killing PCs with intricate deathtraps, GM vs player thinking, etc. :)

DM Jelani wrote:
From my initial reading of the rules, paladin stuck out at me. I'm not really a paladin guy in Pathfinder, but I'd like to try it here. Are there set deities in this world?

I'd say no. From the Cleric: "You serve and worship some deity or power which grants you spells. Give your god a name (maybe Helferth, Sucellus, Zorica or Krugon the Bleak) and choose your deity’s domain." I question if there's even a world to discuss, since we haven't really begun building it.


DM Jelani wrote:
From my initial reading of the rules, paladin stuck out at me. I'm not really a paladin guy in Pathfinder, but I'd like to try it here. Are there set deities in this world?

Speaking from personal experience and by no means trying to steal Titan's thunder, I think the system itself for DW encourages you to create your own deity to follow. Then again, Titan may have some preconceived pantheon.

Also, on a completely different note: /wave Rasso!

*Or: what Ben said.


Here's my guy.

1) Choose Your Class: Paladin!
2) Choose Your Race: Human
3) Choose Your Name: Lucius Augustus Luxor
4) Choose Your Look: Fiery Eyes, Bald, Worn Holy Symbol, Thin Body
5) Choose Your Stats:
Charisma 16 (+2)
Strength 15 (+1)
Constitution 13 (+1)
Intelligence 12 (0)
Dexterity 9 (0)
Wisdom 8 (-1)
6) Determine Modifiers (done above)
7) Determine Max HP: 10+13 Con = 23 HP
8) Choose Starting Moves: What Evil is Here?, Lay On Hands, Armored
9) Choose Alignment: Lawful
10) Choose Gear: (Load 28), dungeon rations, scale armor, longsword and shield, symbol of faith (to be decided), adventuring gear

Need to know the other players and more about the setting to finish.

Possible Inspiration #1

Possible Inspiration #2

Edit: Guess I'll start thinking about a deity then.


Wanted to go with a more viking theme than what was presented (as far as the Naming went).

Name: Thorgrim Bonebreaker
Look: Tormented eyes; Mighty Thews; Unmarred by decoration; Scraps
Str: 15 (+1)
Dex: 12 (+0)
Con: 16 (+2)
Int: 9 (+0)
Wis: 8 (-1)
Cha: 13 (+1)

Damage: d10
Armor: 1
HP: 24
Alignment: Chaotic
Race: Human

Starting Moves:
Unencumbered, Unharmed: So long as you are below your Load and neither wear armor nor carry a shield, take +1 armor.
Herculean Appetites: Conquest; Fame and glory
The Upper Hand: take +1 ongoing to last breath rolls...
Musclebound: While you wield a weapon it gains the forceful and messy tags.
What Are You Waiting For?: When you cry out a challenge to your enemies, roll+CON...

Gear: Load is 23.

  • Dungeon Rations: 10 (2 weight)
  • Dagger (1 weight)
  • Beardknot of Ingvar the Gruesome (slayer of Thorgrim's father)
  • Two-handed Sword (close; +1 damage; 2 weight)
  • Adventuring Gear (1 weight)


  • 1 person marked this as a favorite.

    Something I might add to the general post and in regards to the gameplay: you don't earn XP in this game by killing a certain CR of enemy. You gain XP by failing at rolls (6 or fewer on the dice results) and adhering to stipulations as presented on your character sheet (fulfilling Bonds with other creatures, following your alignment guidelines, discovering more about the world, finding rare items of importance, etc.)

    That does bring me to a question, however, in regards to the usual end-of-session breakdown where XP is doled out - are we going to do allotted time installments to handle that (like, maybe once every week we consider that a "session") or did you have something else in mind?


    Hey Kage! (didn't say hi back before >>*)

    Why do we all have different amounts of starting moves? Did I miss something?


    Nah, the classes are very different and thematic (in a very generic fantasy sense, in most cases; which is fine!). It's a very narrative-driven game, though I will admit that the Barbarian has a large amount of things available to them, apparently.


    So basically I can kick ass, and heal?

    Lantern Lodge

    Nice! Super excited to see the thread blow up a little. Give me time to get home and check it out-- I'm at one of my face-to-face games right now and can't give it the read it deserves.

    We might even be able to kick in and start pretty soon, but let me wait to see if more interest rolls up.


    Additional possible character inspiration art.

    Lantern Lodge

    Kagehiro wrote:
    Are we going to do allotted time installments to handle that (like, maybe once every week we consider that a "session") or did you have something else in mind?

    I was going to consider scene collections as sessions-- say the group crosses over a small desert, fights some bandits and then finds an oasis. I might consider that a scene collection and hand out XP then. Maybe the group looks for clues to the whereabouts of a thieves' guild and meets a bunch of colorful locals in the process before getting jumped in an alley-- that might be a scene collection. Not a week in real-life, but when enough time's passed in-game that I think I should ask the End of Session questions and reasonably have all three answered.

    Quote:
    Are there set deities in this world?

    That's a good question. I figure there's a couple, and once you have yours I'll outline the others to fill in a small pantheon of three or four for our game. What god do you think your character might follow?

    Quote:
    So basically I can kick ass, and heal?

    The paladin is very good at that. Really good-- and so is the bard. The party right now is "Kick ass and (be) heal(ed)."

    I looked through and everything seems groovy. If you guys don't mind, I'd appreciate a breakdown of your characters in a Paizo alias so we can get things moving along. I'm thinking that we should be starting Q&A about the setting by Sunday and moving along into the game sometime around the middle of the week or before the weekend next week. During the Q&A, we'll determine Bonds and introduce characters as well. I won't have a lot of time until Sunday night to really sit down and post, however.

    Right now as far as concepts, I definitely think that going with the "apocalyptic ice age" theme, maybe the place you're in right now is suffering over some sort of unnatural chill weather. I'm thinking frost giants, a big underground dwarven city, thieves' guilds and nobility, frozen forests... it's definitely evolving. I know that Kagehiro would probably love for me to run with the viking theme, so I think I'm going to run with that a bit-- but I also don't want to make you in your element, as part of being a barbarian is being an outsider...

    Well, food for thought.

    Lantern Lodge

    Quote:
    Beardknot of Ingvar the Gruesome (slayer of Thorgrim's father)

    Awesome. Who was Ingvar, why was he gruesome, how did you kill him and why did he kill your father? Raises good questions-- stuff we'll ask once I hammer out my setting this weekend.

    Quote:
    Lucius Augustus Luxor

    Liking that a lot. Raises the question-- where exactly are you from? Is it anywhere near here? How did you get out to the place you're in? More questions for this weekend.

    Quote:
    Bardic Lore (A Bestiary of Creatures Unusual)

    Tons of opportunity there for fictionalizing.


    The idea for Uqalik is that he's a shaman of a people who are roughly equivalent to the Inuit. I've stated him up as both a druid and a ranger - I'd prefer to play him as a druid (who wouldn't want at-will shape-shifting?), but shrodingerscat called it first, so I'll defer to him if need be.

    Uqalik, Druid:

    Druid
    Halfling
    Uqalik the Angakkuq
    Wise Eyes, Furry Hood, Practical Leathers
    Wisdom 16 (+2)
    Strength 15 (+1)
    Constitution 13 (+1)
    Intelligence 12 (0)
    Dexterity 9 (0)
    Charisma 8 (-1)
    HP: 6+12=18
    d6
    Born of the Soil (The Frozen North, tell: colored splotch in hair, whichever of black or white is most contrasting)
    By Nature Sustained
    Spirit Tongue
    Shapeshifter
    Studied Essence
    Good (Help something or someone grow.)
    Load: 6+15=21
    Token ("Nanuq" Bear figurine carved from walrus ivory)
    Hide armor (1 armor, 1 weight)
    Spear (close, thrown, near, 1 weight)
    Adventuring gear (1 weight)
    The spirits spoke to me of a great danger that follows ______________.
    I have showed ________________ a secret rite of the Land.

    Uqalik, Ranger:

    Ranger
    Elf
    Uqalik the Angakkuq
    Animal Eyes, Hooded Head, Traveling Clothes, Wild Body
    Dexterity 16 (+2)
    Wisdom 15 (+1)
    Intelligence 13 (+1)
    Constitution 12 (0)
    Strength 9 (0)
    Charisma 8 (-1)
    HP: 8+12=20
    d8
    Hunt and Track
    Called Shot
    Animal Companion (dog, Ferocity +1, Cunning +2, 1 Armor, Instinct +1, tireless, hunt, labor, stubborn)
    Neutral (Help an animal or spirit of the wild.)
    Load: 11+9=20
    dungeon rations (5 uses, 1 weight), leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight), and a bundle of arrows (3 ammo, 1 weight); Hunter’s bow (near, far, 1 weight) and spear (reach, 1 weight); Adventuring gear (1 weight) and dungeon rations (1 weight)
    _______________ is a friend of nature, so I will be their friend as well.
    _______________ has no respect for nature, so I have no respect for them.
    _______________ does not understand life in the wild, so I will teach them.

    Xotoq is sort of the backup plan if Uqalik doesn't fit with the group or setting. There are so many ridiculous things fighters can do in this game with fists and I'd love to do them all. (Glowing, ornate, serrated fists. Fists with reach. Fists with vision-giving spirits. Forging magic into your fists.) It's like building an anime character.

    Xotoq, Fighter:

    Fighter
    Dwarf
    Xotoq
    Hard Eyes, Battered Helm, Calloused Skin, Built Body
    Strength 16 (+2)
    Constitution 15 (+1)
    Dexterity 13 (+1)
    Intelligence 12 (0)
    Wisdom 9 (0)
    Charisma 8 (-1)
    HP: 10+15=25
    d10
    Bend Bars, Lift Gates
    Armored
    Signature Weapon (Fists, 2 weight, Hand, Huge, Versatile (Close), Sinister)
    Neutral (Defeat a worthy opponent.)
    Load: 12+16=28
    dungeon rations (5 uses, 1 weight)
    Scale armor (2 armor, 3 weight)
    22 coins
    _______________ owes me their life, whether they admit it or not.
    I have sworn to protect _______________.
    _______________ is soft, but I will make them hard like me.


    This looks very interesting, but I'm finding that the first link (to the rules) is broken. Or the site is down. is it hosted anywhere else?

    It looks like the group currently consists of a Bard, Paladin, and Barbarian (I think)? If there's still room I'd love to join as a Druid. I'm probably unclear on a few rules, but I'll post my submission after this post.

    Edit: Nevermind, it seems like two people have already laid dibs on Druid. That's a bummer, but my backup is a Wizard.


    Here's my Wizard. I chose a new name instead of one from the list. I hope that's alright.

    Dolan, the Wizard:

    Name: Dolan Ambrose
    Look: Sharp Eyes, Wild Hair, Strange Robes, Thin Body

    Alignment: Good
    Race: Elf
    Bonds: To be determined

    Strength 8 (-1)
    Dexterity 15 (+1)
    Constitution 13 (+1)
    Intelligence 16 (+2)
    Wisdom 9 (0)
    Charisma 12 (0)

    Gear: Bag of Books and 3 Healing Potions, Staff, 3 Antitoxins

    Spells
    Cantrips: All, plus Detect Magic
    1: Contact Spirits
    1: Charm Person
    1: Magic Missile

    I only touched on the areas that required choice.


    Actually, I've had a slight rethink:

    Name: Erland Abel
    Look: Fiery eyes; Styled Hair; Worn holy Symbol; Fit Body

    Appearance 1

    Appearance 2

    Stats:
    Str: 16 (+2)
    Dex: 12 (+0)
    Con: 15 (+1)
    Int: 9 (+0)
    Wis: 8 (-1)
    Cha: 13 (+1)

    Damage: d10+1
    Armor: 3
    HP: 25

    Alignment: Good (Endanger yourself to protect someone weaker than you)
    Race: Human (When you pray for guidance, even for a moment, and ask,
    “What here is evil?” the GM will tell you, honestly.)

    Starting Moves:
    Lay on Hands - When you touch someone, skin to skin, and pray for their well-being, roll+CHA. On a 10+ you heal 1d8 damage or remove one disease. On a 7–9, they are healed, but the damage or disease is transferred to you.

    Armored - You ignore the clumsy tag on armor you wear.

    I am the Law - When you give an NPC an order based on your divine
    authority, roll+Cha. On a 7+, they choose one:

    • Do what you say
    • Back away cautiously, then flee
    • Attack you
    On a 10+, you also take +1 forward against them. On a miss, they do as they please and you take -1 forward against them.

    Quest:
    When you dedicate yourself to a mission through prayer
    and ritual cleansing, state what you set out to do:

    • Slay _______, a great blight on the land

    • Defend _______ from the iniquities that beset them

    • Discover the truth of _______

    Then choose up to two boons:

    • An unwavering sense of direction to _______.

    • Invulnerability to _______ (e.g., edged weapons, fire, enchantment, etc.)
    • A mark of divine authority

    • Senses that pierce lies

    • A voice that transcends language


    ____________________________

    Gear:
    Load=28
    Dungeon rations (5 uses, 1 weight)
    Scale armor (2 armor, 3 weight)
    Carved wooden fist on leather thong, Symbol of Cronar (0 weight)
    Long sword (close, +1 damage, 1 weight)
    Shield (+1 armor, 2 weight)
    Adventuring gear (1 weight)

    Going with a norse feel as well. Will write up some info on Cronar (my deity) shortly.


    Cronar:

    Titles: The First Man
    Adjective: Cronaran
    Alignment: Good
    Portfolio: Athleticism, Community, Honor, Hunting, Mankind, Strength
    Worshipers: Soldiers, nobles, hunters, humans
    Favored Weapon: Swords

    Cronar was the first man. When he was very very old and laying on his death bed, all his children, and their children and their children's children, down to all the generations of man prayed as one for their great father. He was born aloft into the heavens by their prayers and took his place there as a god. It became his responsibility to watch over humanity. To make sure that it was protected and that it behaved with honor.

    His followers pride themselves on their ability to fight and provide for their communities as hunters. If they live their lives with honor, and protect well what is theirs they will rise to the Heavens after they die, to sit at Lord Cronar's table and to ride with him in his never-ending hunts. The key pillars of the faith are strength, honor, and community.

    Alias


    Actually, I'm going to duck out of this game. My enthusiasm waned a LOT when I realized that I couldn't go druid and I don't think I would really be a good addition to the group at this point.

    If this ever pops up again I'd love to join in, though! I hope you guys have fun.

    Lantern Lodge

    Sean FitzSimon wrote:

    Actually, I'm going to duck out of this game. My enthusiasm waned a LOT when I realized that I couldn't go druid and I don't think I would really be a good addition to the group at this point.

    If this ever pops up again I'd love to join in, though! I hope you guys have fun.

    Sad to see you go, but such is life. Hope to see you 'round these parts again soon!

    DM Jelani wrote:
    Cronar!

    I like that a lot. The re-think has been pretty good for your character, and Ulf Gormundr is a great jumping point for appearance. I know exactly who I want to set Cronar up against in this game's pantheon-- I'll save it for now and post up my campaign setting ideas all at once sometime tomorrow or much later tonight, when I fitz up a name for the game and make this the official "recruitment" thread.

    Lantern Lodge

    Bearded Ben wrote:

    The idea for Uqalik is that he's a shaman of a people who are roughly equivalent to the Inuit. I've stated him up as both a druid and a ranger - I'd prefer to play him as a druid (who wouldn't want at-will shape-shifting?), but shrodingerscat called it first, so I'll defer to him if need be.

    Xotoq is sort of the backup plan if Uqalik doesn't fit...

    Liking both Uqalik and Xotoq, but Uqalik a lot more-- both versions. He fits in well with the theme of the group we have going on right now, and I'm glad everyone's really bought into the northern feel for the game.

    As far as other characters, I'm probably going to call it on other submissions fairly soon. I'd love to get six, but seven would be pushing it. Consider everyone who applied right now "in", per se, and we'll see what else attention we get by Monday morning when I'm finally free to sit down and hash out the game.

    Lantern Lodge

    One last thing to leave here:

    Just can't resist this soundtrack...


    I'll try and have my submission up soon!

    If it closes without me, I'll just have to keep my eye open for the next one.


    Yeah, watching History channel's new Vikings show (which is awesome) made me have to change. That and I'd much rather worship a Thor/Hercules/Erastil/Gorum/Kord ripoff than some stupid LG sun god or something.

    Lantern Lodge

    For those interested in playing, I have the discussion thread going on-- ask questions and I'll answer them, answer questions and we can discuss them, that kind of thing. Questions are pretty important, as it reminds me of things you guys think about that I don't and helps you get a better picture of what I'm thinking of.


    Name: Catharina, "Sparrow", Falk
    Class: Thief
    Look: Criminal Eyes, Messy Hair, Dark Clothes, Lithe Body
    Appearance

    Stats:
    Str: 8 (-1)
    Dex: 16 (+2)
    Con: 9 (+0)
    Int: 12 (+0)
    Wis: 15 (+1)
    Cha: 13 (+1)

    Damage: d8
    HP: 15

    Alignment: Neutral (Avoid detection or infiltrate a location)
    Race: Human (You are a professional. When you spout lore or discern realities about criminal activities, take +1.)

    Starting Moves

    Trap Expert:
    When you spend a moment to survey a dangerous area, roll + DEX.
    On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7-9, hold 1. Spend your hold as you walk through the area to ask these questions:
    - Is there a trap here and, if so, what activates it?
    - What does the trap do when activated?
    - What else is hidden here?

    Tricks of the Trade:

    When you pick locks or pockets or disable traps, roll + DEX. On a 10+, you do it, no problem. On a 7-9, you still do it, but the GM will offer you two options between suspicion, danger, or cost.

    Backstab:

    When you attack a surprised or defenseless enemy with a melee weapon, you can choose to deal your damage or roll+DEX.
    On a 10+ choose two. On a 7–9 choose one.
    - You don’t get into melee with them.
    - You deal your damage+1d6.
    - You create an advantage, +1 forward to you or an ally acting on it.
    - Reduce their armor by 1 until they repair it.

    Flexible Morals:

    When someone tries to detect your alignment you can tell them any alignment you like.

    Poisoner:

    You’ve mastered the care and use of a poison. Choose a poison from the list below; that poison is no longer dangerous for you to use. You also start with three uses of the poison you choose. Whenever you have time to gather materials and a safe place to brew you can make three uses of the poison you choose for free. Note that some poisons are applied, meaning you have to carefully apply it to the target or something they eat or drink. Touch poisons just need to touch the target, they can even be used on the blade of a weapon.
    Goldenroot (applied): The target treats the next creature they see as a trusted ally, until proved otherwise

    Load:17 max,
    Armor: 1

    Gear:

    Dungeon Rations (5 uses, 1 weight)
    Leather Armor (1 Armor, 1 weight)
    Goldenroot (3 uses)
    Dagger (hand, 1 weight)
    Short sword (close, 1 weight)
    3 throwing daggers ( 0 weight)
    Adventuring gear (1 weight)
    10 coins

    Lantern Lodge

    Nessa Oranar wrote:

    Name: Catharina, "Sparrow", Falk

    Class: Thief

    Very neat. Thief is one of my favorite classes because it can add a lot of fun to dungeon crawling just by being part of the group.

    If you don't mind moseying over to the discussion tab, it'd be good to get some Q&A and bonds written out.


    I can't remember if I expressed interest before or after you closed recruitment, Titan, could you give me a list of who's in right now, and what there characters are?

    Lantern Lodge

    shrodingerscat wrote:
    I can't remember if I expressed interest before or after you closed recruitment, Titan, could you give me a list of who's in right now, and what there characters are?

    Kagehiro's Thorgrim Sigurdson, Barbarian of the North

    Nessa Oranar's Catharina "Sparrow" Falk, Pickpocket Supreme

    Bearded Ben's Uqalik the Angakkuq, Druid of the Frozen North

    DM Jelani's Erland Cronarson, Paladin of Cronar

    Drake Somerset's Edwyn Doyle, Bard from Foreign Lands


    DM Titan wrote:
    shrodingerscat wrote:
    I can't remember if I expressed interest before or after you closed recruitment, Titan, could you give me a list of who's in right now, and what there characters are?

    Kagehiro's Thorgrim Sigurdson, Barbarian of the North

    Nessa Oranar's Catharina "Sparrow" Falk, Pickpocket Supreme

    Bearded Ben's Uqalik the Angakkuq, Druid of the Frozen North

    DM Jelani's Erland Cronarson, Paladin of Cronar

    Drake Somerset's Edwyn Doyle, Bard from Foreign Lands

    Thanks for the update. Looks like you've already got a druid. Have fun folks!

    Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Recruitment / Any interest in a Dungeon World campaign? All Messageboards

    Want to post a reply? Sign in.