tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388201247937029815.post1068335336600864391..comments2024-03-28T17:49:24.311-05:00Comments on Spouting Lore: On Learning to Run Dungeon WorldJeremy Strandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12368234512580275279noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388201247937029815.post-22971765032414483122021-02-20T14:39:00.036-06:002021-02-20T14:39:00.036-06:00One of the best bits of advice I've ever read ...One of the best bits of advice I've ever read regarding asking questions was from Jason Lutes, and it basically boiled down: develop a sense of curiosity about the PCs, their backgrounds, and the world around them. Like, these characters came from somewhere. They have backstory, even if the players don't know it yet. So when the PCs encounter something on screen that we the players haven't seen before, or do something that we haven't seen before, ask the PCs questions about it. For example:<br />- Have you ever encountered something like this before?<br />- What does this place remind you of?<br />- What have you heard about these things before?<br />- When was the last time you were in a situation like this?<br />- What does it feel like when you cast a spell? What does it look like to rest of us?<br />- How do you communicate with your animal companion? How does it know what you want it to do? <br />- Where'd you get that sword? Oh, yeah? What's so special about it?<br />- Etc. <br /><br />Some good resources here:<br /> http://www.theweem.com/2013/09/dungeon-world-ask-questions-gain-improv/<br /> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f2MR7NyN41T9QxsYXUhMJCUvXWWX0VYxp1tAtYiOxWs/edit?usp=sharing<br /><br />The sort of "next level" up from there is to ask more pointed questions, things that either pass a little judgement (on a PC or NPC) or actively assert something about the PCs' past.<br />- When was the first time you murdered someone?<br />- Oh, yeah, you know Duke Asswipe. What sort of bastardry is he best known for?<br />- Why'd you have to flee this village the last time you were here?<br />- Yeah, you recognize her. She's a fellow mercenary named Minerva. What'd you do to make her dump your ass, even after all you'd been through together?<br /><br />Related, leave a lot of blanks in your prep. Especially for places you expect the PCs to travel *through* instead of stopping and exploring moment-to-moment or room-to-room. For these places, use the Paint the Scene technique to have the players help you fill in the details of the world. And as a bonus, the each-player-gives-an-answer approach feels like a montage in a film, providing that sense of passing time.<br /><br />https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/blog/paint-the-scene<br /><br />With any of these question-asking techniques, it's important to keep track of answers and then reincorporate them into play. That sends a powerful message to the players that their input *matters*, and that prompts them to take these things more seriously and really start to engage. <br /><br />There's much, much more to say about this, but ultimately, asking questions is a skill to develop. Start by working it into your prep, and see how those questions go, what works and what doesn't. Adjust, and try again. Eventually you'll find yourself internalizing this sort of Q&A approach. Jeremy Strandberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368234512580275279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388201247937029815.post-91888194371397302752021-02-20T05:56:44.620-06:002021-02-20T05:56:44.620-06:00Hi Jeremy,
So grateful I've found your blog, ...Hi Jeremy,<br /><br />So grateful I've found your blog, so much essential material is offered here! What I tend to struggle with is coming up with interesting leading questions on the fly, once we've explored the initial hook questions. Do you have any advice on how to think of questions in the middle of the adventure that invites more creative input from the players that you could build upon further? <br />I know it is rather vague and will always depend on the context, but I'm wondering if there are some general points that you keep in mind when phrasing your questions? Szabolcs Nagyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01026162728845978554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388201247937029815.post-79051291327213288082019-12-18T11:39:44.388-06:002019-12-18T11:39:44.388-06:00Spot on. The rules are written for someone who has...Spot on. The rules are written for someone who has never run a RPG before. As a result, they're making up jargon for what people have already been doing, and it's confusing. I love DW, but the rules are poorly written. Their site has another document (a companion?) that is worth your time to download.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541969102229972737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388201247937029815.post-62099569610096914762019-07-22T17:43:21.480-05:002019-07-22T17:43:21.480-05:00#WhatTheRulesShouldHaveSaid
That last paragraph i...#WhatTheRulesShouldHaveSaid<br /><br />That last paragraph is key. It is easy to be nervous about ruining the game as a GM, but players are pretty forgiving, and if at the end of the session they are eager for the next session then you've done well, cause they had fun (and hopefully you had plenty of fun yourself).Hyathinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13529304741267582474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388201247937029815.post-57286900818384593632019-03-01T13:57:03.420-06:002019-03-01T13:57:03.420-06:00Of course! (Though it's not super applicable b...Of course! (Though it's not super applicable beyond DW or other pbta games.)Jeremy Strandberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368234512580275279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388201247937029815.post-21912380914965457062019-02-28T10:59:19.285-06:002019-02-28T10:59:19.285-06:00This is fantastic. May I share it around?This is fantastic. May I share it around?Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05695011892086543280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388201247937029815.post-49839964400665217022019-02-28T08:24:39.203-06:002019-02-28T08:24:39.203-06:00Excellent advice!Excellent advice!johnmarronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637234254036305283noreply@blogger.com