"First come, first served !" That'd make a great war cry.

This is a PBP of Dungeon World, straight out of the book. We'll build the setting as we go along. By the time it becomes important, you'll have killed a LOT of orcs and a good number of their nefarious allies. Or you'll be fleeing from your lives having failed to accomplish that. Every so often a dungeon crawl just goes wrong.

Instead of the usual background paragraphs about the setting and situation, let's talk about the rules. You'll find an HTML copy here:

http://book.dwgazetteer.com/playing_the_game.html

That's the main chapter on the mechanics. In the menus at the top of the page you'll find what you'll need under Playing and Classes. You should be familiar with the chapter on Moves, but I'll prompt you if you miss a trigger. See the section on character creation, and put one in.

http://book.dwgazetteer.com/moves_discussion.html

Note that Wisdom as a dump stat in this system should be a deliberate choice, it's your perception ability and very important in wilderness travel.

Making characters

1. Classes are in fact first come, first served. I will entertain discussion if someone really, really, really wants to bring a duplicate.
2. You do not, repeat not need to limit your name and look choices to the list.

Once you've picked your class, go through the options, make your picks for name, alignment, gear, etc and throw in some backstory and character motivation. We'll fill in Bonds as characters come into play.
I would like to see a text formatted character sheet, I'll provide an example in the second post. Calling dibs on a class should have some supporting details with it, alignment and race at a minimum, to hold your place until you finish a sheet.

Everyone posting a character also answer 2-4 of these questions. This is a good place to start sneaking in setting elements you want to see developed.

• What is the most most trouble you were ever in ?
• What do you believe in?
• What would you retire after accomplishing ?
• Who do you love?
• Who have you lost?
• What do you hate?
• Where are you from ?
• What god do you follow ?
• What was your proudest moment?
• Have you ever staked your life for another ?
• What's something you've had to give up?

Playing the game.

In the IC thread I will be posting to describe what's going on, you'll post any questions in italics, and then your action. I will highlight character names in bold to make them easier to pick out of a busy post. Your replies should look something like this post from another PBP I am running.

QuoteFilbimur
HP: 17/17, Armor: 1, Damage: D6, Load: 5/11, Level: 1, XP: 6

Filbimur nodded and grinned with satisfaction. It looked like he'd read the motivations of this band well enough.

"Then we're settled! Treasure awaits us, so I'll get the wagon ready. I've already managed to procure us some more supplies on the cheap from the tavern's owner, so we should be good for a while yet. Finish up your breakfast and we'll set out as soon as you're all ready."

Seems like we're done at the tavern. Let's get started on that Perilous Journey!

Quartermaster: 2d6+2 = 12

When you make an action that obviously triggers a move, go ahead and roll it on a die rolling service; I'm partial to orokos.com myself. If it's not obvious that a move was triggered, just ask. Notice the IC to OOC change indicated by italics. The HP, Armor, etc. line is really handy for everyone, and I'd like to see that on just about every IC post.


Let's get started !

Here's what's going on: you and the rest of the party are already stuck in with the orcs. You're underground, for a good reason. I don't need to map what you've already explored, because there's a good reason you can't go back:

Since this is first come, first served, the first posted character gets to choose one of these:

• Way too many orcs and things to fight.
• A collapse.
• Fire, that's always bad.
• A greater threat than orcs.
• You're under a time limit and have to press on, if you do end up retracing your route, I'll whip up a custom move.

You're also down here for a good reason, and after something important, but survival comes first.

The first character submitted also gets to start playing right away. That's a departure for most games, but let's get under way as soon as possible. I'll post a more intricate description in the IC thread, but here's the gist of the situation the first character faces:

You're in a 20x30 foot room. You entered from a door in one of the short ends. There is a foul smelling cookfire on the right side, and a few scattered candles and smoky lamps for additional light. You could read in here, but expect a headache. There are two tables pushed up against the left hand wall and sticking out into the room about 8-10 feet, they're just boards and nails, but thick boards. An assortment of crude stools and chairs are scattered about.

The door swings shut behind you. A door at the far end of the room opens and 3 orcs enter, one of them has a bow, the other two carry cleavers and shields painted with rude and foul symbols. What do you do ?

This is from a DW Dark Sun game. If anyone wants to play a monk, the playbook can be found here. http://www.latorra.org/2012/07/10/the-battlemind/

Chanyo, Human Battlemind

The sorcerer-kings and their Templars are vile oppressors. As long as they rule, the races of Athas will be crushed under their heels. On the outskirts of one city state a small community isolated itself to become a force for change, freedom and the regrowth of Athas. This ended exactly as well as you'd expect. Their well has been Defiled and their bones picked clean by scavengers. Now young Chanyo walks Athas seeking to better himself. His quiet, introspective manner makes him a stranger to most people he meets, but hope once again walks the sands under the Dark Sun.


Look: Lightly built, bald, sad eyes, gentle smile, desert robes, fists of fury
Alignment: Good

Strength: 9 (+0)
Dexterity: 13 (+1)
Constitution: 15 (+1)
Intelligence: 11 (+0)
Wisdom: 17 (+2)
Charisma: 8 (-1)

HP: 23
Base damage: d8

Moves:

Oneness
When you have time and tranquility to center your mind and body lose any Focus you had and gain 3 Focus. You cannot have more than 3 Focus at any time.

Stance
When you set your mind and body to combat choose a stance available to you and roll+Wis. Choose three of these stances to be available to you to start with:
Serpent's Coil: While in this stance you use Focus to Hack and Slash.
Dragon's Foresight: While in this stance you use Focus to Defy Danger.
Dragon Turtle's Shell: While in this stance your Armor is equal to your Focus.

On a hit you assume your chosen stance until your concentration lapses. On a 7-9 you must also choose: spend one Focus or be put in some danger (the GM will describe it).

Battlebody
While you wear no armor, have Focus remaining, and carry less than your Load, you have 2 armor. I'm okay with this Move only granting 1 armor, it came up in the comments on the original post and makes sense.

Fists of Power
Your body itself is a weapon with Hand range.


Gear: Adventuring/Survival Gear, 5 rations, clay begging bowl
Load: 2/14 (5+Strength, it's supposed to be low)

Bonds:

I'll bite.

[Placeholder here while I'm ginning up a neutral-aligned elven Fighter]

Okay, here we go! I didn't write out backstory proper, but tried to put good detail into my answers for those character questions.

Llanas, Elven Fighter

Look: Flinty Eyes, Close-cropped Hair, Tattooed Skin, Sinewy Body

Alignment: Neutral (defeat a worthy opponent)

STR  9 (+0)
DEX 16 (+2)
CON 15 (+1)
INT  8 (-1)
WIS 13 (+1)
CHA 12 (+0)

Elf trait: Choose a weapon type to always treat as if it had the "precise" tag (Sword)

HP: 25
Armor: 2
Damage: d10
Level: 1
XP: 0

Moves:

Bend Bars, Lift Gates
When you use pure strength to destroy an inanimate obstacle, roll+Str. ✴On a 10+, choose 3. ✴On a 7-9 choose 2.

• It doesn’t take a very long time
• Nothing of value is damaged
• It doesn’t make an inordinate amount of noise
• You can fix the thing again without a lot of effort

Armored
Ignore clumsy tag on armor I wear.

Signature Weapon
Silvery, angular longsword with delicate scrollwork along the blade, & cutlass-style guard of ironwood that seems to have death's heads peering from its whorls -- a little like this, not the obvious skulls though (2 weight, +1 damage)
Close range
Sharp (+2 piercing)
Well-crafted (-1 weight)
Ornate look

Gear:
Chainmail (1 Arm, 1 wt.)
Shield (+1 Arm, 2 wt.)
Adv. gear (5 uses, 1 wt.)
Antitoxin (0 wt.)
Dungeon rations (5 uses, 1 wt.)
Poultices & herbs (2 uses, 1 wt.)
Longsword (1 wt.)

Load: 7/12

Bonds:
I have sworn to protect Arsilasral.
Arsilasral owes me their life, whether they admit it or not.

Where are you from?
A forest's edge, where the borderlands of elves rub up against those of their most war-like enemies.

What god do you follow?
One of the ancient gods of elfkind, seen as primitive by others of my people, from a time when we wrote our words not on calf-vellum or treebark but on living elfskin.

What's something you've had to give up?
Easy company among my fellow elves. I am too hard, too pragmatic, and too impatient for the majority of my people. And yet, I find easy company among companions such as these.

Where would you retire after accomplishing?
An unexplored land (or least untouched), remote but not distant, verdant but not wholly free of danger, to tame and make my own.

Why going backward isn't an option down here:
Threats worse than orcs, and/or fire. Both are great.

And we're live,

http://www.therpgsite.com/showthread.php?p=675834


And just to be sure, you have all of the class moves in the Fighter playbook. Good job on the questions, very solid start to defining a character.

Edit: you're begging me to find a way to use Dex for Hack & Slash, aren't you ?

Quote from: mllaneza;675835Edit: you're begging me to find a way to use Dex for Hack & Slash, aren't you ?

Well, there is this weapon tag:

"Precise: It rewards careful strikes. You use DEX to hack and slash with this weapon, not STR."

Name:  Arsilasral
Class:  Elven Ranger
Look:  Sharp Eyes, Hooded Head, Traveling Clothes, Sharp Body
Alignment:  Neutral (Help an animal or spirit of the wild.)

===  Ability Scores  ===

STR:  12 (+0)
DEX:  16 (+2)
CON:  15 (+1)
INT:  09 (+0)
WIS:  13 (+1)
CHA:  08 (-1)

===  Statistics  ===

Level:  1
Max Hit Points:  23
Damage Die:  1d8
Armor:  1
Max Load:  11
Current Load:  8
XP Gained:  0

===  Moves  ===

Elf:  When you undertake a perilous journey through wilderness whatever job you take you succeed as if you rolled a 10+.

Hunt and Track (Wis):  When you follow a trail of clues left behind by passing creatures, roll+WIS. ✴On a 7+, you follow the creature’s trail until there’s a significant change in its direction or mode of travel. ✴On a 10+, you also choose 1:

• Gain a useful bit of information about your quarry, the GM will tell you what
• Determine what caused the trail to end

Called Shot:  When you attack a defenseless or surprised enemy at range, you can choose to deal your damage or name your target and roll+DEX.

• Head ✴10+: As 7–9, plus your damage ✴7-9: They do nothing but stand and drool for a few moments.
• Arms ✴10+: As 7-9, plus your damage ✴7-9: They drop anything they’re holding.
• Legs ✴10+: As 7-9, plus your damage ✴7-9: They’re hobbled and slow moving.

Animal Companion:  You have a supernatural connection with a loyal animal. You can’t talk to it per se but it always acts as you wish it to.

• Name:  Ruiltherin (Cougar, female)
  
• Base:  Ferocity +3, Cunning +1, 1 Armor, Instinct +2
  
• Strengths:  Intimidating, Keen Senses, Stealthy
  
• Trainings:  Fight Monsters
  
• Weaknesses:  Flighty, Stubborn
  

Command:  When you work with your animal companion on something it’s trained in…

• …and you attack the same target, add its ferocity to your damage
• …and you track, add its cunning to your roll
• …and you take damage, add its armor to your armor
• …and you discern realities, add its cunning to your roll
• …and you parley, add its cunning to your roll
• …and someone interferes with you, add its instinct to their roll

===  Gear  ===

• Hunter’s bow (near, far, 1 weight)
• Spear (reach, 1 weight)
• Bundle of arrows (5 ammo, 2 weight)
• Leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight)
• Dungeon rations (5 uses, 1 weight)
• Adventuring gear (1 weight)

===  Bonds  ===

Llanas is a friend of nature, so I will be his friend as well.

===  Character Questions  ===

What is the most most trouble you were ever in?
As a teenager Arsilasral nearly got himself killed when he tried to befriend a pair of bear cubs and the cubs' mother discovered him playing with them in a meadow.

What do you believe in?
Arsilasral believes in the natural order and the circle of life.

What would you retire after accomplishing?
Arsilasral would like to ensure that the cougar population maintain its status quo and not decline due to human encroachment.

Who do you love?
Arsilasral loves his family, his people, all animals, but especially his animal companion.

Who have you lost?
Arsilasral lost his first cougar companion, a male named Sehtaethar, three years ago due to old age.  It saddened him greatly and caused a deep depression that was allievated when one of Sehtaethar's numerous cubs became his new companion.

What do you hate?
Arsilasral hates the senseless killing of animals where the carcass is not used for anything other than a trophy.

Where are you from?
Arsilasral is from the pine forested mountains to the northwest.

What god do you follow?
Arsilasral follows Rillifane Rallathil who is the Elven god of nature.

What was your proudest moment?
Arsilasral's proudest moment came when he was accepted into a wolf pack as a teenager and lived with them for a several seasons.

Have you ever staked your life for another?
Arsilasral has staked his life numerous times to save animals in need or distress.

What's something you've had to give up?
Arsilasral gave up the chance to follow his family's tradition of becoming an elite Elven warrior in the King's Guard.

Nice, an elf friend! Er, wait. I'm an elf elves love to hate. Maybe not.

As a rules point, "Load" is calculated by taking the base number, and adding your STR mod, not the Strength score. A helpful tip: if a move or rule spells out the whole ability name (i.e., Constitution for deriving HP), use the whole ability score. If its the 3-letter abbreviation (like rolling + CON in the Defend move) you only use the ability modifier.

Quote from: _nthdegree;675953Nice, an elf friend! Er, wait. I'm an elf elves love to hate. Maybe not.

Well, he is a loner with a feisty big cat friend.

Quote from: _nthdegree;675953As a rules point, "Load" is calculated by taking the base number, and adding your STR mod, not the Strength score. A helpful tip: if a move or rule spells out the whole ability name (i.e., Constitution for deriving HP), use the whole ability score. If its the 3-letter abbreviation (like rolling + CON in the Defend move) you only use the ability modifier.

Cool, thanks!

Quote from: _nthdegree;675882Well, there is this weapon tag:

"Precise: It rewards careful strikes. You use DEX to hack and slash with this weapon, not STR."

I knew that looked familiar.

OK, I am thinking of adding this bond with Llanas:

Llanas is a friend of nature, so I will be their friend as well.

Any objection from Llanas?  Is he not a friend of nature, LOL?

Makes sense to me! On a lonely border vigil, unable to speak out to your comrades hidden in the foliage some dozen yards off, sometimes nature is all you have to keep yourself company.

My whole idea for Llanas is that he's an elven throwback, from the days when the race was beset by enemies all around them, & exploited their natural grace & long-life to become masters of war. They've gentrified a lot in the centuries/millennia since, but there are some who keep the old ways out of necessity. Nowadays you only see elves like that along the few remaining dangerous borderlands, like where Llanas grew up.

It's a little like when Vulcans talk about their own race, back before they started practicing emotional stoicism, etc. If a modern Vulcan met one of those old-timey Vulcans, I feel like it would be awkward!

I'll either reply again or update this post with a bond of my own in a bit.

Awesome! I dig it.

Here's my the bonds I'm thinking of with Arsilasral:

I have sworn to protect Arsilasral.

This is a thing Llanas has probably done silently, making a pact with his ancient elf god. He might have made oblique references to "needing to protect his brothers-in-arms," but probably hasn't brought it up directly. Owing to this oath, and because Llanas has a high opinion of himself as a trained protector of elves, I'd also like to create the bond:

Arsilasral owes me their life, whether they admit it or not.

Kind of, "now that I'm sworn to protect him, I've already saved his life--all that remains is to fulfill the moment when it comes." Again, this would mostly be an internal view that Llanas holds but doesn't express. At least not yet! (And assuming this is cool with you, Drohem.)

Heck yeah!