[Recruiting 2/4] PbtA Ironsworn - PbP in Ancient Greece


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TallIan

Explorer
I've made another (hopefully final) update to Pallas. Apart from an inciting incident and possibly another bond (if something presents itself) I think he's good to go.
 



doghead

thotd
Both characters are looking pretty near compete.

Their Background Vows both share a focus on the polis in the region. But they have distinct differences, which is good. Certain courses of action will serve to advance both, but others may only serve to advance on or the other. Which could be challenging for the PC's to navigate.

I think that we are getting close to determining the inciting incident and kicking things off.

An inciting incident is the problem which arrives at the beginning of a story, propelling the protagonist into action. Everything up to that point is backstory—the normal world to which your character has become accustomed.

Key points from the game are:
1. Make it personal. It should be important to both characters.
2. Make it imminent. Its not going to go away on it own, and its not going to wait.
3. Limit the scope. Its a problem that can be dealt with now, and reasonably quickly.

If you are playing with allies, only one of you will make the Swear an Iron Vow move. Other players can make the Aid your Ally move (page 76) as a way of representing their own commitment to this vow. If you share this quest with your allies, each of you write the vow and any progress is marked by all players.

Which raises the following questions:
  1. Do they know each other? How do they know each other? How well? What do they think about each other?
  2. How long has it been since the battle and betrayal?
  3. Where are they? Why are they together at this point (if they are?)
I think that we should kick of In Media Res, or in the middle of things. But sort of feeling my way a bit here, so jump in with your thoughts or ideas.

thotd
 

TallIan

Explorer
Which raises the following questions:
  1. Do they know each other? How do they know each other? How well? What do they think about each other?
  2. How long has it been since the battle and betrayal?
  3. Where are they? Why are they together at this point (if they are?)
I think that we should kick of In Media Res, or in the middle of things. But sort of feeling my way a bit here, so jump in with your thoughts or ideas.

thotd

1. I think an easy option would be that they met at the temple (or field hospital) when Pallas went for healing after the battle which would mean...
2. Not very long - Just long enough to heal.
3. Perhaps at camp immediately after the battle. This gives gives a better chance to have an "incident". Perhaps Beta and Gamma are pressing their victory and attacking again before Alpha can regroup.
 

KahlessNestor

Adventurer
Ok. Thoughts. As always, feel free to amend, challenge or reject.

And, as previously mentioned, I am considering everything to be pencilled in. If its not working, we can change it.

My initial response was: "Spymaster! Thats so 20th century!"
Then I calmed down and remembered my promise to myself: "Say Yes or Roll the dice." As I couldn't think of a relevant dice roll, I should say Yes.
Then the little voice of dmfuckery in the back of my head started whispering "... of course, the goal of the spymaster of Alpha may not be be "Establish peace between the the four polis." Hell yes!

Apollo aligns with the Archery and Healing aspects. But he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Athene sprang fully formed from the head of Zeus. Thats cool. Phoebe is the goddess of knowledge and discovery.

Just throwing out ideas. I will post up a list of gods below. Just in case.

I like the Background with one caveat. I suggest amending to "Establish peace between the four polis." "Working towards" is what to do in order to "establish" something. So, it theory, you could achieve the former by simply standing up in the central square of each polis and announcing "Vote ! Peace between the four polis!". Job done. The latter is not achieved until peace exists.

As above, I am going to hold off on the inciting incident for the moment. We should play that one out a bit once the characters are done. They may end up similar, but maybe not.


Nice.



Cool.

thotd

Well, with spymaster I was thinking more along the lines of Game of Thrones "Master of Whispers". That is not 20th century at all LOL Basically in charge of the polis' intelligence operations.

Athena is my favorite goddess :) But it just seemed with the archery and herbalism, Apollo fit better. And I figured I could pick up Divination or something like that later.

I changed the background vow, as you suggested. And the inciting incident vow can totally be changed once we know how things will be going.
 

KahlessNestor

Adventurer
1. I think an easy option would be that they met at the temple (or field hospital) when Pallas went for healing after the battle which would mean...
2. Not very long - Just long enough to heal.
3. Perhaps at camp immediately after the battle. This gives gives a better chance to have an "incident". Perhaps Beta and Gamma are pressing their victory and attacking again before Alpha can regroup.

That works for me.
 

doghead

thotd
Cool. I will get a RG thread started so we have a place for characters.

At this point I think I am going to throw it over to you to rough out the Inciting Incident. Remember, important, imminent, and simple-ish.

For example, a slight reworking of TI's concept. The idea behind this was to throw the PC's straight into the thick of it making the problem quite imminent (if you don't do something, you will be caught and killed), and the vow fairly simple in scope (get back to the Army and report has happened, for example). Use it, abuse it, discard it. Its up to you.

Word has reached Alpha that Beta has secured an alliance with a barbarian (foreign) force. If this is so, they must come through a small pass. A group from Gamma of has been tasked with securing and holding that pass. Should the foreign force be seen, the group is to send runners to the main army, and delay the passage of the foreign force through the pass. Both Pallas and Penelope are part of that group (How well do they know each other?)

The group is attacked at night, caught unawares due to the betrayal by the Beta faction members with the group (they drug the food, kill the sentries, distribute strong liquor? something). Pallas and Penelope survive (how do they meet up?) and escape the slaughter. For a moment, they find safetyin the woods/hills overlooking the camp. But they are not alone. Enemy skirmishers spread out through the surrounding areas, searching for survivors and securing the pass. Pallas and Penelope have no time to spare, they must move if they are to survive, and get word to the rest of the Alpha army.


Over to you.

thotd
 

TallIan

Explorer
That works with some minor tweaks to Pallas' story.

If I can presume a little geography as well.

Beta is closest to the pass, so they are expected to hold it, but the other pollis are all sending reinforcements as fast as possible (ie a unit of younger soldier who can move faster) while they muster a larger allied army. Gamma is the next closest (so Pallas arrives with the first group of reinforcements). With the politics, this fast unit comprises almost entirely of Alpha alliance supporters, with a few well placed Beta Alliance conspirators. The Gamma unit is placed forward as a guard but betrayed when the attack comes as Beta attacks the retreating Gamma unit in the rear. Because they have orders to send a runner, this gives Pallas a reason to run from the battle without shame.

Wounded, he runs into the front group from Alpha but is too delirious to pass on the message. He wakes up in the field hospital with Penelope tending his wounds and can hear screaming from outside the tent. Which is a determined attack by Beta and Gamma to destroy the Alpha unit before anyone escapes.

Opening up Pallas' first vow to warn Alpha of the impending treachery.
 
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