My first time reading while caught up and in time for the poll. This was super exciting. Vahid's moment with the lighting was vivid and especially satisfying since he had to sit out the prison break. The choices made regarding death of side characters made me understand how I want to deal with that in my own upcoming games.
I'm not a huge fan of storylines involving someone making choices that lead them down a dark path if that's all there is to it. But I think there's also a lot of nuance with Anwen and that making more choices motivated by less-than-righteous anger or vengeance will lead to some great interactions with Vahid and Padrig since they both mentor her in different ways. So I'll be voting for Payback.
Thanks for reading! Excited to have you along for the ride, and really pleased to hear that Anwen's developing as a nuanced character for you -- I'm always concerned that, as the young, aspiring hero, she could become one-note.
Good note re: Payback. I'm trying to keep the heroes heroic, on balance, but that doesn't mean they can't act from anger. Let's see where it leads Anwen!
Glad to have you along for the ride! I'm in the same boat with the payback.i would like it to lead to some hard character choices and questions. Not just to make her a bloody thirsty character.
Anwen seems to struggle with knowing herself and as she is coming into her own an obstacle that isn't a tangible one like struggling to find her own answer to how she feels about her anger her rage how she chooses to utilize it and what it means about who she is. That I think would make for something far deeper.
I vote payback. I feel like it builds on what's already happening with her. But I also think we can push it further than the base layer of oh she is doing damage.
Payback, Vengeance. These can be ugly things and can lead down a dark path. I feel like the loss of a friend, her lack of strength especially if she won't be able to train. I feel like her grief will turn to anger and rage rather quickly as a way to cope. Which I think could be interesting fodder for story she passes but her anger gets in the way and as such she is shunned and/or sent to the priest in order to better harness said anger.
I was considering armoured, since it would have been and interesting external display of how she's changed, but, man, you've swayed me with your view on Payback!
Never fear, if Payback carries the day, we'll look at Armored for Anwen's level 4 advancement, assuming it's still a relevant and interesting choice (which I suspect it will be!)
I think the nice thing about PbtA generally, and Stonetop specifically, is that the well-written moves tend to GIVE you ideas on how, as a GM, to incorporate them in a variety of story-rich ways, compared to, ahem, other systems that give +1 to hit or an extra iterative attack when you level.
"Vahid has also seen some signs of what might have driven the drake towards the village — this has only deepened his curiosity about the Standing Stone, and he will be eager to speak to someone with some spirit-wisdom to better understand what he heard."
Also it's going to be _really_ hard to convince people he's not a wizard now. Like... come on dude ⚡⚡🧙🏿♂️
Really? REALLLLYYYYY? Who's going to say she's not plenty initiated after literally almost dying to protect the village? If someone argues that no one directly _challenged_ her to fight the beast, I'd argue Tor did. FFS give her a break lol. Why does my girl have Immigrant-Parent-Tier expectations from Stonetop's folk at every turn 😅
This is a reasonable question, and we should definitely address it in the fiction -- some within the village might not see the point of having Anwen undergo the formal ritual, but I think the prevailing opinion would be that, given her strength and bravery, it should be easy for her to breeze through the challenge, so it's a formality, but a necessary one.
That's an opinion that Owain can exploit, by trying to create a situation where she loses. That said, if she were to lose a ritual challenge due to his machinations, there's a lot of room for her to create ambiguity and loss of face for Owain by appealing to public opinion. Lots to stir in the pot!
I definitely considered it, but a) It didn't seem likely that Shadow could actually protect Anwen from a creature that size, and b) Shadow is on Anwen's character sheet, which grants him a modicum of protection from this sort of fate. To cross something off the character sheet, you really want to offer the player a hard choice, and have them opt-in to the sacrifice -- I find that makes things feel both more fair and more gut-wrenching.
In contrast, the Marshal's crew are a little more vulnerable to the dice -- "the crew" has a space on the character sheet, but each individual in it does not, so part of playing as the Marshal is protecting (or using!) your crew as a resource.
I voted for Armored. The extra damage is nice, but I think the armor is a much more _interesting_ choice for our heroine. What does it look like? How does she get it (it doesn't say in the move she gets armor at this point but let's go with it 😄). The other options don't feel as impactful or as much of a memorialization as this one does.
Yeah, it does say you only get the armor if you take the move at the start of the game, but it seems like there's an opportunity to be a fan of Anwen with the fictional situation as it is -- if she were more alienated from the village or on her own, I think we'd have the move stand as-is, but as you point out, that would make it a lot less interesting.
I think armor is nice from a hey you're pretty weak and small as easy but you have the warriors soul and Toes thunder In your veins. This should give your body time to catch up with your thunder.
I'm still trying to catch up, but I am absolutely loving this! A month ago I wrapped up a 30 session campaign for Stonetop. My players were: A Would-be Hero, A Seeker, A Heavy (with some Marshal moves), and A Fox. Our opening adventure had to do with a Crinwin attack and a kidnapped little girl. So A LOT of similarities with this this group. Reading this story feels like coming home <3
I realized how invested I am when I shouted "Oh No!!" out loud while reading of Anwen's trouble with the Thunder Drake.
I do wish I included a Fox in the party -- there's nobody who's eager to be sneaky and break the rules and that's a bit of a missing piece, but every once in a while Anwen steps up. :) Your party sounds like a good bunch.
Happy to hear that you're enjoying it! I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of what's coming for the gang, and I'm so glad to give you a chance to revisit this awesome setting.
Pad and Anwen both seemed to have exonerated themselves this time around.
Not only loss of a man but being heard by the community when Owain could not. I feel is evidence that deep down the people of Stonetop feel secure under Padrig. Also there is the argument to be made that while we have laws amongst ourselves not to commit crimes or lie. Our village is only but one of many. We are small in comparison. It behooves those who want long term prosperity to consider the necessity of men like Padrig and his lot . There are men who need to be willing to go further than you village folk to protect the village.
For Anwen if they really try to claim she isn't initiated I'd be upset. I'm with Machi Tor himself challenged her. She saw the priest and then immediately happens upon a thunder drake?! Nah not an accident.
She gets the first hit on it, takes the first hit from it is the last to slay it. Yeah it was her fight firstly.
"Padrig invokes his Stentorian move, allowing his orders to be heard where Owain’s cannot. He triggers the Homefront move Muster, and scores a Strong Hit increasing the Village’s Defenses by 1, which will come into play if the militia must stand against the beast without a PC leading them."
Yo I'm big hyped right now, so I know I'm being a little breathless, but I _love_ when good mechanical decisions have great story impact like this. Thanks for being a fan of the characters and setting ol' Pad up for a shot at greatness.
Yeah! It seemed like a great way to give Padrig an opportunity to use his move. That's one of the reasons why I like the big, chunky abilities that PbtA gives players -- it's easier to keep in one's head and try to give those lay-up opportunities. Compare that to trying to remember the spellbooks of 2-3 spellcasters at a D&D game or everybody's Aspects and Skills in Fate.
SGH: The man who puts die into die rolling
My first time reading while caught up and in time for the poll. This was super exciting. Vahid's moment with the lighting was vivid and especially satisfying since he had to sit out the prison break. The choices made regarding death of side characters made me understand how I want to deal with that in my own upcoming games.
I'm not a huge fan of storylines involving someone making choices that lead them down a dark path if that's all there is to it. But I think there's also a lot of nuance with Anwen and that making more choices motivated by less-than-righteous anger or vengeance will lead to some great interactions with Vahid and Padrig since they both mentor her in different ways. So I'll be voting for Payback.
Thanks for reading! Excited to have you along for the ride, and really pleased to hear that Anwen's developing as a nuanced character for you -- I'm always concerned that, as the young, aspiring hero, she could become one-note.
Good note re: Payback. I'm trying to keep the heroes heroic, on balance, but that doesn't mean they can't act from anger. Let's see where it leads Anwen!
Glad to have you along for the ride! I'm in the same boat with the payback.i would like it to lead to some hard character choices and questions. Not just to make her a bloody thirsty character.
Anwen seems to struggle with knowing herself and as she is coming into her own an obstacle that isn't a tangible one like struggling to find her own answer to how she feels about her anger her rage how she chooses to utilize it and what it means about who she is. That I think would make for something far deeper.
I vote payback. I feel like it builds on what's already happening with her. But I also think we can push it further than the base layer of oh she is doing damage.
Payback, Vengeance. These can be ugly things and can lead down a dark path. I feel like the loss of a friend, her lack of strength especially if she won't be able to train. I feel like her grief will turn to anger and rage rather quickly as a way to cope. Which I think could be interesting fodder for story she passes but her anger gets in the way and as such she is shunned and/or sent to the priest in order to better harness said anger.
I was considering armoured, since it would have been and interesting external display of how she's changed, but, man, you've swayed me with your view on Payback!
Never fear, if Payback carries the day, we'll look at Armored for Anwen's level 4 advancement, assuming it's still a relevant and interesting choice (which I suspect it will be!)
Guessing you already have ideas for each one don't you?
I think the nice thing about PbtA generally, and Stonetop specifically, is that the well-written moves tend to GIVE you ideas on how, as a GM, to incorporate them in a variety of story-rich ways, compared to, ahem, other systems that give +1 to hit or an extra iterative attack when you level.
"Vahid has also seen some signs of what might have driven the drake towards the village — this has only deepened his curiosity about the Standing Stone, and he will be eager to speak to someone with some spirit-wisdom to better understand what he heard."
Also it's going to be _really_ hard to convince people he's not a wizard now. Like... come on dude ⚡⚡🧙🏿♂️
Lol 😂 facts if he isn't considered a wizard now they'll probably just start calling him overly humble
"train for her initiation challenge"
Really? REALLLLYYYYY? Who's going to say she's not plenty initiated after literally almost dying to protect the village? If someone argues that no one directly _challenged_ her to fight the beast, I'd argue Tor did. FFS give her a break lol. Why does my girl have Immigrant-Parent-Tier expectations from Stonetop's folk at every turn 😅
This is a reasonable question, and we should definitely address it in the fiction -- some within the village might not see the point of having Anwen undergo the formal ritual, but I think the prevailing opinion would be that, given her strength and bravery, it should be easy for her to breeze through the challenge, so it's a formality, but a necessary one.
That's an opinion that Owain can exploit, by trying to create a situation where she loses. That said, if she were to lose a ritual challenge due to his machinations, there's a lot of room for her to create ambiguity and loss of face for Owain by appealing to public opinion. Lots to stir in the pot!
“If that is the elders’ decision, then you can pay us when the danger has passed, and we’ll be on our way,” Padrig replies, dead-level.
WHAT A G! lol Padrig is going to star in the next Power spinoff 🤣
For a moment there, I thought you were going to have the drake take out Shadow!
I voted Payback. It just seems so perfectly in character for her. And I fear she’ll have plenty more opportunities to exercise it.
I definitely considered it, but a) It didn't seem likely that Shadow could actually protect Anwen from a creature that size, and b) Shadow is on Anwen's character sheet, which grants him a modicum of protection from this sort of fate. To cross something off the character sheet, you really want to offer the player a hard choice, and have them opt-in to the sacrifice -- I find that makes things feel both more fair and more gut-wrenching.
In contrast, the Marshal's crew are a little more vulnerable to the dice -- "the crew" has a space on the character sheet, but each individual in it does not, so part of playing as the Marshal is protecting (or using!) your crew as a resource.
I voted for Armored. The extra damage is nice, but I think the armor is a much more _interesting_ choice for our heroine. What does it look like? How does she get it (it doesn't say in the move she gets armor at this point but let's go with it 😄). The other options don't feel as impactful or as much of a memorialization as this one does.
Yeah, it does say you only get the armor if you take the move at the start of the game, but it seems like there's an opportunity to be a fan of Anwen with the fictional situation as it is -- if she were more alienated from the village or on her own, I think we'd have the move stand as-is, but as you point out, that would make it a lot less interesting.
I think armor is nice from a hey you're pretty weak and small as easy but you have the warriors soul and Toes thunder In your veins. This should give your body time to catch up with your thunder.
Great scenes. Very exciting to read.
I'm still trying to catch up, but I am absolutely loving this! A month ago I wrapped up a 30 session campaign for Stonetop. My players were: A Would-be Hero, A Seeker, A Heavy (with some Marshal moves), and A Fox. Our opening adventure had to do with a Crinwin attack and a kidnapped little girl. So A LOT of similarities with this this group. Reading this story feels like coming home <3
I realized how invested I am when I shouted "Oh No!!" out loud while reading of Anwen's trouble with the Thunder Drake.
I do wish I included a Fox in the party -- there's nobody who's eager to be sneaky and break the rules and that's a bit of a missing piece, but every once in a while Anwen steps up. :) Your party sounds like a good bunch.
Happy to hear that you're enjoying it! I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of what's coming for the gang, and I'm so glad to give you a chance to revisit this awesome setting.
Pad and Anwen both seemed to have exonerated themselves this time around.
Not only loss of a man but being heard by the community when Owain could not. I feel is evidence that deep down the people of Stonetop feel secure under Padrig. Also there is the argument to be made that while we have laws amongst ourselves not to commit crimes or lie. Our village is only but one of many. We are small in comparison. It behooves those who want long term prosperity to consider the necessity of men like Padrig and his lot . There are men who need to be willing to go further than you village folk to protect the village.
For Anwen if they really try to claim she isn't initiated I'd be upset. I'm with Machi Tor himself challenged her. She saw the priest and then immediately happens upon a thunder drake?! Nah not an accident.
She gets the first hit on it, takes the first hit from it is the last to slay it. Yeah it was her fight firstly.
"Padrig invokes his Stentorian move, allowing his orders to be heard where Owain’s cannot. He triggers the Homefront move Muster, and scores a Strong Hit increasing the Village’s Defenses by 1, which will come into play if the militia must stand against the beast without a PC leading them."
Yo I'm big hyped right now, so I know I'm being a little breathless, but I _love_ when good mechanical decisions have great story impact like this. Thanks for being a fan of the characters and setting ol' Pad up for a shot at greatness.
Yeah! It seemed like a great way to give Padrig an opportunity to use his move. That's one of the reasons why I like the big, chunky abilities that PbtA gives players -- it's easier to keep in one's head and try to give those lay-up opportunities. Compare that to trying to remember the spellbooks of 2-3 spellcasters at a D&D game or everybody's Aspects and Skills in Fate.