Oh that's right, I forgot you were going out of town.
That actually lines up nicely with our pursuit of finding more people, so we can hit "pause" on this in the meantime while you're away and we gather some fresh blood for Jin to paint the walls with.
Sparkle with you, @Jin?
Sparkle sparkle!
I'm back!
WB!
Great! I'll send you both PMs today about recruiting.
Welcome to Sbodd and Bolgrond!
Hello, and a pleasure to join you all! I'll try to get character details posted this evening (that's evening Mountain time). How do I set about getting a "current stats" line like you all have? Yorick, is there anywhere in particular you'd like to have a sheet hosted?
When you edit your alias you can create a profile for it. The stuff under "gender" and "levels" will display below your name. There's then a large textarea down below for entering in your complete sheet - though if you'd rather do it on Google Docs or something I don't much mind, as long as it's linked there so that I can easily get to it.
Hi guys, thanks for the welcome. I can't wait to get to started.
I'm still getting used to the format of these forums, so I'll do up my profile and alias today, along with finalizing the details of my character sheet.
I'll have to work with you Yorick to come up with a suitable race move as well!
(Edit: I think I have just gotten the hang of the alias thing at least)
Welcome guys.
Okay, finally found the "Edit Profile" button (I kept looking under "My Account", since that's where you create the alias, but I don't think you can get to the profile from there. Sheet is in my profile, let me know if you see anything that needs fixing.
If it's OK, I'd like to spend some of my starting gold to pick up some bandages and some rations.
How do you want to handle introductions?
It took me a while too Marcan.... >_>
Bolgrond's character sheet is complete. With the exception of my racial move, but I'm feeling that the answer to that might come from the intro questions - particularly if we get into what Bugbears are like in the setting.
Don't let that hold us up however.
Sheet is in my profile, let me know if you see anything that needs fixing.
If it's OK, I'd like to spend some of my starting gold to pick up some bandages and some rations.
Looks good! Can you add a link to the class playbook in there just for my own reference?
The only thing I think I would tweak is the text for your background move: It's not that you add "What here is useful or valuable to me?" to the list of questions for Discern Realities, because that's always an option - it's that you can always ask that: even on a miss.
You can definitely spend your starting gold on that, since you live here, it's reasonable that you'd have those things.
Bolgrond's character sheet is complete. With the exception of my racial move, but I'm feeling that the answer to that might come from the intro questions - particularly if we get into what Bugbears are like in the setting.
If Bugbears in this are still intended to be lumbering brutish monsters, I could see the Human one working. "Once per battle, you may reroll a single damage roll, either yours or someone else’s."
Or something like "When you are attacked by an enemy, you deal +1 damage forward against them."
Or, since you're going for more of a protector thing, maybe something like "When you take the damage meant for someone else, you get +1 armour"
I'm pretty flexible if you want to choose one of those or pose something else!
How do you want to handle introductions?
Things haven't kicked off just yet, so either a) you can throw in a post now of at least a few sentences of what you're doing with the fair in town, or b) I can introduce you when things go to hell in probably the most after my next one. Let me know which you'd both prefer! In either case, I'll start getting some questions together for you guys to elaborate a bit on the world.
Okay, couple of questions for you both:
Marcan
Bolgrond
Are Bugbear's going to be a common race? Like elves, humans, bugbears, etc.
@Yorick, I think I'll wait for things to go to hell in your next post if that's all right.
For the race move, let's go with "When you are attacked by an enemy, you deal +1 damage forward against them." While Bolg seeks to protect others, I think that's more of an alignment shtick than a race move - and I see bugbears as fundamentally violent.
Your signature weapon mentions that it glows in the presence of Goblin-kind - and that it had glowed around you but no longer does. Presumably it still glows around other Bugbears?
That's right. The sword recognizes Bolgrond as its new bearer, and responds to the change within him. Other Goblinkind, such as his Bugbear brethren have not been 'awakened' to a higher calling like Bolgrond has, and the sword glows red in their presence.
Bolg isn't entirely sure whether the glow responds to the Goblinkind races, or their particular variety of evil intent.
Tangentially related, what's the relationship like between Bugbears and Goblins?
Goblins look up in awe at Bugbears, and Bugbears pay little heed to the whims of Goblins except when it suits them. For example, a goblin pack might be a useful distraction to hold down an adventurer while a Bugbear tears his family apart.
There is definitely a pecking order that Goblinkind adheres to. Hobgoblins are above Goblins, but Bugbears stand apart; respected and feared by other Goblinkind. Bugbears tend to live solitary lives, or in small groups. They don't muster hordes of underlings or go to war, and they would rarely issue a command to another Goblin as Bugbears are fiercely independent - relying on their own strength and brutality.
Bolgrond however, grows increasingly protective toward his diminutive counterparts, and ascribes their twisted instinctive cruelty as the mischief of children who don't know better. Once they know the light and strength of the Man-Gods, they'll change their ways. Or so Bolg believes.
How long has it been since you left with the children?
Bolgrond returned the children to Sandpoint about a month ago, their families were ready to put him to the sword if not for the testimony of the children. Bolg is down to the last of his stolen supplies, and is wondering when the next Bugbear or Goblin raid will be, and what retribution he might face from his peers.
Goblinkind are no strangers to infighting. But Bolg doesn't know whether his kin will react to his awakening with indifference, enthusiasm, or with violence.
Assuming rescuing them bought you enough leeway to not just be, you know, murdered, what has happened since your arrival in Sandpoint? Were you arrested? If not, what have you been up to?
In the month that has passed, many of the town have come to know him and his story. First as an oddity, then as a moral talking point, but slowly people are becoming accustomed to him as a regular of Sandpoint. Suffice to say that it is practically unheard of for a Bugbear or any Goblinkind to have a change of heart.
He was kept under lock and key for a week while being questioned by guards who eventually took a shine to him, and finally by Father Zantus who has taken Bolg under his wing in instructing him about the Gods and morality.
Now that he is free, he senses a greater purpose to his awakening and a certain timeliness with the festival soon at hand. Bolg has been busy setting up, hauling goods, putting up decorations in hard to reach places, and reflecting on the life of savagery he once lived.
Are Bugbear's going to be a common race? Like elves, humans, bugbears, etc.
They're definitely a monstrous race, not a common one. Perhaps there have been stories and sightings of the occasional Goblin, Hobgoblin, or Bugbear adventurer but they don't join in Common Society.
That all sounds great!
@Marcan - what's your wife's name?
That all sounds great!
@Marcan - what's your wife's name?
Serina.
Made an IC post - I'm not 100% clear where everyone was, but I figured there's probably somewhere that I could spot both Jin atop a wagon and Bolgrond. If anything's problematic, let me know.
Was that a reasonable amount to do in one post? I realized when I was done that it was basically 3 actions - get out of the crowd, volley, move toward Bolgrond. Let me know if that's too much.
Just wanted to drop a quick note to say ooc that, despite my IC suspicions, I'm explicitly not looking to pick a fight with Bolgrond!
You have to do what your character would do. :)
With a group consisting of a Bugbear, a thief, a cultist, and a trickster mage... I'd actually be surprised if we didn't have a bit of friendly fire now and then.
I actually chose a Good aligned character because I thought it would lead to some funny situations between us all. So no hard feelings OOC.
Actually, thinking about it we still need to figure out Bonds for each other (well, I do in any case)
@Yorick, would you prefer us to just fill them out now based on what our characters would think of each other, or after we've all met and interacted?
Considering that the only PC I've interacted with has left the campaign, I'd request that we wait on bonds. ;)
You have to do what your character would do. :)
With a group consisting of a Bugbear, a thief, a cultist, and a trickster mage... I'd actually be surprised if we didn't have a bit of friendly fire now and then.
I actually chose a Good aligned character because I thought it would lead to some funny situations between us all. So no hard feelings OOC.
Sure, gotta play the character, but I also have to make the character someone who works in the party :-) And, while I also expect some..."interesting"...interactions given who the PCs are, I figured a little OOC expectation-setting isn't a bad plan.
Yorick - are you OK with defining convenient realities like I just did (e.g. I happen to be pretty close to the weapons stall), or should I have asked about that first? (Again, this is my first DW game - so I'm still feeling out how things work.)
As long as you leave me room to muck it all up for you (which you totally did) then I'm definitely good with it!
And yeah as far as Bonds, it probably(?) makes more sense to do them once you've actually met, but like I've said, you can see how the other characters are playing, if you have a Bond in mind already to help define the parameters of how it goes to meet them, I'm totally fine with that, too.
Bonds in DW aren't meant to be resolved super fast, so I'm fine with waiting a bit to really kick them off.
Bump?
How is everyone feeling about the game so far? These two Runelords games are the first times that I've GM'd for Dungeon World, so I'm definitely interested in feedback. Feel free to send me a PM if you're more comfortable with that rather than posting.
I'm enjoying it so far, looking forward to the chance to do some real RP, so we can fight together as a unit. Despite my trickster persona I'm really a very cooperative kind of halfling.
Also enjoying it. Looking forward to discovering how the heck we become a semi coherent group :-)
I'm enjoying things too. Really looking forward to getting the group together.
Also eager to get the campaign going, have us make some choices as a group, and get to some dungeoning!
Glad you guys are enjoying it. :) I'm definitely excited to be getting to a place where everyone is nearly together!
Also, I forget if I've mentioned this, but I'm going to be playing "End of Session" by ear for roughly how long it is (as far as end of session XP.) Bonds can probably be more free-form as far as when they start and end, without having to necessarily wait for a "story chapter" to end. The first will be coming up shortly, so you'll be getting some more XP (especially Mae, who just cannot seem to win with Haster.)
Finally made a roll, guys. I might just make it yet.
Quick bump - are we waiting on anything in particular?
Just me, I'll have a post up shortly.
I'm trying to twist my illusion skills into something useful for this situation. I want to give Bolgrond a massive buff to his next Strength check, so that he can sever the tentacle blocking the street with his weapon. GM, you can rule on how this works or if it works at all. My thoughts were that I could convince Bolgrond's character that he could try with more of his strength than he ordinarily thinks is possible, thus making it possible. It would take the form of a massive strength buff now, with maybe a penalty to his strength later on as a penalty for over-exerting himself? I hope my idea makes sense to you all!
I spent the weekend thinking about this idea and I think I have to veto it. I really like the creativity, but I'm a bit uncomfortable with the precedent that it sets. It would be a pretty small step from here to "I make the bad guy look like he's bleeding and he thinks that his health is way lower than it is so it becomes easier to kill him."
I hear ya. I'll think of some other way to fix this problem. :)
I hear ya. I'll think of some other way to fix this problem. :)
A month later and I'm wondering if Jin's illusion spell on Bolgrond would most probably qualify for the Aid or Interfere move.
When you help or hinder someone , roll +BOND with them
I was on a 3 day weekend vacation yesterday. I'm trying to get caught up, but I've been struggling at work lately and it's killing my creative energy a little bit. Will post asap.
Hey all. Since you're all so patient with me (and I do very much appreciate that), I've made a decision.
Rather than half-ass this break and come back today, before I feel fully ready to, I'm taking the rest of the week off.
Updates will resume in full next Monday. I promise, I'll be fully 100% again by then, and my posts will continue as normal. Just need a bit of a break week to let my brain relax and re-gather some creative inspiration.
I'll be spending the free time this week reading, mostly, and collecting ideas that I can use in characterization, plot, and setting.
Thanks for your patience everyone.
That's totally reasonable! I'ma try to move things forward a bit tonight.
And FWIW I'll be away from the 2nd until the 9th as I'll be at GenCon.
Hey all, just letting everyone know that I feel very refreshed and revitalized after taking a week away from the forums entirely. I've got a lot to catch up on, but I've begun working on just that, and I hope to have updated every campaign I'm part of by early afternoon. Thanks for your patience once again.
I will also be at GenCon...the 4th through the 7th.
Are we on hiatus?