innerdude
Legend
I can speak to the two systems I've tried.
Dungeon World was . . . okay. Not great, but okay. The biggest problem it has is that it doesn't give you enough real, solid examples of how to really handle the way it's supposed to work. I also found the D&D trappings to distract from the intent of the system, rather than aid it.
Ironsworn, on the other hand, is AMAZING. Some of the most fun I've had in RPG play in the past six or seven years. Whatever faults Dungeon World has in explaining how PbtA is supposed to work, Ironsworn solves them. It's a brilliant introduction to "fiction first" / PbtA gaming.
The way the mechanics interact and tune to the story, characters, and setting are nothing short of brilliant.
For me, Ironsworn is a good litmus test to see if PbtA is for you. Try running a short 2 hour solo session of Ironsworn and see how you like it. If you "grok" it, it's a good bet you'll find PbtA to your taste (though as others have said, quality of implementation across the PbtA spectrum varies wildly).
Dungeon World was . . . okay. Not great, but okay. The biggest problem it has is that it doesn't give you enough real, solid examples of how to really handle the way it's supposed to work. I also found the D&D trappings to distract from the intent of the system, rather than aid it.
Ironsworn, on the other hand, is AMAZING. Some of the most fun I've had in RPG play in the past six or seven years. Whatever faults Dungeon World has in explaining how PbtA is supposed to work, Ironsworn solves them. It's a brilliant introduction to "fiction first" / PbtA gaming.
The way the mechanics interact and tune to the story, characters, and setting are nothing short of brilliant.
For me, Ironsworn is a good litmus test to see if PbtA is for you. Try running a short 2 hour solo session of Ironsworn and see how you like it. If you "grok" it, it's a good bet you'll find PbtA to your taste (though as others have said, quality of implementation across the PbtA spectrum varies wildly).