"Truth be told, I’m a little trepidatious about this storyline — it feels like a bit of a plot cul-de-sac. Defeating Odo might be fun and interesting, but it doesn’t build towards the rest of the storyline as effectively as I would otherwise want."
I don't feel that way - it feels like things are progressing naturally, and that the branch of the multiverse we're exploring is one that follows a logical chain of events, not one that's forced or scripted. Sometimes things take a little more (Odo) or less (gathering the gangland banners) time than you'd imagine, for good reasons. Perfect narrative timing - like any other tool - smack of the author's hand if overused.
I agree, Machi. Roleplaying isn't 100% storytelling and sometimes both players and GM have to let the events in play dictate the direction. When solo roleplaying it can be a tightrope for the player/GM to balance a satisfying story while letting twists and random events play out naturally.
Yes, I think at this point everyone has enough to level. But they won't have time to level before they delve into Odo's -- it'll have to be as they prep for the attack on the Delve. The Level Up move requires a week or so of downtime, IIRC.
It's only a plot cul de sac if you let it be, right? I'd start looking for ways to have the events here play into the success or failure or texture of whatever comes next.
Maybe Mutra dies in the assault on Odo's lair, or her group takes heavy casualties. That'll make the Delve's defense against Cyril weaker.
Maybe the bloodshed awakens the Howling Curse in some of Mutra's people, giving them an edge in the upcoming fight with Cyril and his Hillfolk, but only if they lean into it.
Maybe things go poorly in the assault, and Vahid once again bargains with the Howler, offering it even more bloodshed and slaughter if they join forces against the Hillfolk.
Maybe Odo has acquired some sort of weapon or arcanum that could be useful, but it lies unused in Odo's stash. Not sure he'd have time to master it, but I can totally see Vahid getting using the Fear of the Flame minor arcanum.
Or maybe Odo's stash contains something relevant to the Barrow of the Thrice-Betrayer? Like a key to one of the traps?
These are all great ideas, of course. Certainly them paying a heavy cost would tie the event to the plot plenty tightly -- I didn't really think about that, but it's true! And good notion about the arcana -- maybe Dawa brought something with her from the Whitefangs from the Rime Lord's caches, too. Or maybe some sign that Stormcatcher had been up there!
"Pad gives ground, dodging beneath the alpha’s sweeping strikes to run through his wounded underling. Pad’s longsword pierces the creature’s rags and leathery skin, and as it dies on his blade, he turns and throws it bodily at its leader, using the moment bought to withdraw out of reach of the thing’s long, strong arms and catching claws."
This is better than the bear fight, and as good if not better choreography than the fight with Owain! You're getting even better at these action scenes!
It was a fun one, for sure! It'll be an interesting challenge keeping the fights moving when we get down into Odo's lair and fight a larger number of the fully-cursed creatures -- they are quite beefy!
"Spending 1 readiness “halves the effectiveness” of an attack, so I let people spend 2 to negate it entirely — I don’t know if that is orthodox Dungeon World/Stonetop, but it’s fun!"
"Truth be told, I’m a little trepidatious about this storyline — it feels like a bit of a plot cul-de-sac. Defeating Odo might be fun and interesting, but it doesn’t build towards the rest of the storyline as effectively as I would otherwise want."
I don't feel that way - it feels like things are progressing naturally, and that the branch of the multiverse we're exploring is one that follows a logical chain of events, not one that's forced or scripted. Sometimes things take a little more (Odo) or less (gathering the gangland banners) time than you'd imagine, for good reasons. Perfect narrative timing - like any other tool - smack of the author's hand if overused.
I agree, Machi. Roleplaying isn't 100% storytelling and sometimes both players and GM have to let the events in play dictate the direction. When solo roleplaying it can be a tightrope for the player/GM to balance a satisfying story while letting twists and random events play out naturally.
End of a session, and Vahid picked up some XP - can anyone level up? It would certainly help in the fights to come.
Yes, I think at this point everyone has enough to level. But they won't have time to level before they delve into Odo's -- it'll have to be as they prep for the attack on the Delve. The Level Up move requires a week or so of downtime, IIRC.
It's only a plot cul de sac if you let it be, right? I'd start looking for ways to have the events here play into the success or failure or texture of whatever comes next.
Maybe Mutra dies in the assault on Odo's lair, or her group takes heavy casualties. That'll make the Delve's defense against Cyril weaker.
Maybe the bloodshed awakens the Howling Curse in some of Mutra's people, giving them an edge in the upcoming fight with Cyril and his Hillfolk, but only if they lean into it.
Maybe things go poorly in the assault, and Vahid once again bargains with the Howler, offering it even more bloodshed and slaughter if they join forces against the Hillfolk.
Maybe Odo has acquired some sort of weapon or arcanum that could be useful, but it lies unused in Odo's stash. Not sure he'd have time to master it, but I can totally see Vahid getting using the Fear of the Flame minor arcanum.
Or maybe Odo's stash contains something relevant to the Barrow of the Thrice-Betrayer? Like a key to one of the traps?
These are all great ideas, of course. Certainly them paying a heavy cost would tie the event to the plot plenty tightly -- I didn't really think about that, but it's true! And good notion about the arcana -- maybe Dawa brought something with her from the Whitefangs from the Rime Lord's caches, too. Or maybe some sign that Stormcatcher had been up there!
"Pad gives ground, dodging beneath the alpha’s sweeping strikes to run through his wounded underling. Pad’s longsword pierces the creature’s rags and leathery skin, and as it dies on his blade, he turns and throws it bodily at its leader, using the moment bought to withdraw out of reach of the thing’s long, strong arms and catching claws."
This is better than the bear fight, and as good if not better choreography than the fight with Owain! You're getting even better at these action scenes!
It was a fun one, for sure! It'll be an interesting challenge keeping the fights moving when we get down into Odo's lair and fight a larger number of the fully-cursed creatures -- they are quite beefy!
"Spending 1 readiness “halves the effectiveness” of an attack, so I let people spend 2 to negate it entirely — I don’t know if that is orthodox Dungeon World/Stonetop, but it’s fun!"
Stealing this 😉
> For a bit of fun, Anwen triggers Persuade on Vahid here...He has misgivings, but he did promise to follow Anwen’s lead, and here she is, leading.
Love that bit. Would feel great at the table, too.