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

[KahlessNestor]

Also, Sherlock Hulmes is running some Ironsworn on his channel. It starts here:

 

[doghead]

Hi,

I have recently found Ironsworn and would like to throw my hat in here (also getting back into PbP after a long work induced hiatus).

Welcome TallIan.

So it looks like we have a One Two vote for Greeks or Vikings, and a One Two for Vikings or Greeks. If there is no objection, I would like to try the Mythic Greek setting. There will be a little re-skinning, mostly around linking specific 'magic' to the gods of the pantheon.

The next step is start to generate characters and rough out a starting background, and sort out bonds and vows.

I would like the characters to know each other, to have some ties between them. But it looks like you are already starting to shape that space. I will leave you too it.

thotd

 

[doghead]

Okay, here's the bare outlines. I've left off any setting flavoring, so there's no name, background bonds, or vows, but just the mechanics:
...

Character looks good. Odysseus was known for his cunning (trickery). He was also an archer, defetating all the rival suitors for Penelope's hand in an archery competition (which of course was trick in a way). The he slaughtered them all.

thotd

 

[TallIan]

EDITED

Pallas was born in Gamma. His father had gained some fame in a war and enough wealth to purchase a farm and take a foreign wife. Pallas’ mother was from Alpha and understandably the family were staunch supporters of the alliance between Alpha and Gamma, even as more and more called for an alliance with Beta.

By the time tensions had escalated to war Pallas was old enough to stand in the phalanx. Curiously he was not placed in his usual unit, but handpicked for a flanking maneuver. He was young and unproven for such a task, but Pallas accepted it.

They were led straight into an ambush. Out of site and reach of their own forces an ambush waited. As the trecherous officers and scouts fled, arrows and artillery rained down on the trapped unit and a realisation dawned – all the men in this unit were supporters of the alliance with Alpha. As this news spread through the unit one of the few veterans in the unit called out, “Should any man here escape this butchery, it is on you to avenge us!” Just then Pallas was struck a blow and fell.

Many hours later he awoke. His head ached as his helmet pressed against his skull. Looking around he could see many, many bodies and the first few scavengers routing around but no camp followers searching through the fallen for a loved one; no priests or workers tending to the dead, not even any fires to mark the site of the battle. Whoever won the battle should have cared for their dead, taken their trophies and left a marker for the loser’s priests. To leave a battle site unmarked and allow the bodies of men to be torn apart like carrion was despicable. There must be some dark motivation for such a failing of the requirements of civilization.

Pallas removed his mangled headgear, scraping his skull and drawing fresh blood. Feeling himself for injuries, he found nothing serious. A cut on his head and a slice along his thigh from an arrow and some bruises. Nothing immediately life threatening, but if it wasn’t cleaned soon it could mortify.

He stood up slowly and made his way to Alpha, it was closer and he would likely find sanctuary among his mother’s family.

Name: Pallas
Experience: 0/0
Description:

Stats

• Edge: 1
• Heart: 2
• Iron: 3
• Shadow: 1
• Wits: 2

Bonds:

• The city of Beta
• Mother's family in Alpha
• TBD

Vows

• Background vow: Bring vengeance on the subversive Gamma faction
  • Extreme:
• Immediate (inciting incident):
  • TBD

Health: 5/5
Spirit: 5/5
Supplies: 5/5

Momentum: 2
Max: 10
Rest: 2

Debilities:

Equipment:

• Spear
• Shield
• Short-sword

Assets:

• Skirmisher (if you wield a spear)
  • When you Face Danger by holding a foe at bay using your spear's reach, roll + iron or +edge. If you score a hit you may...
    • Iron: Strike (if you have initiative) or Clash now, add+1.
    • Edge: Take +1 Momentum
• Shield-bearer(If you wield a shield)
  • When you Face Danger using your shield as cover, add +1. When you Clash in close quarters, take +1 momentum on a strong hit.
• Loyalist
  • When you Aid Your Ally, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit. This is in addition to benefits taken by your ally.

 

[doghead]

Sounds like I'll have to do some reading on ancient Greece.

This will be a fairly loose analogue of Ancient Greece. If you have seen Troy and the Clash of the Titan movies, you would have enough to get by.

I will put a little Setting Info shortly. Most of it is cribbed directly from Sean K Reynolds's The New Argonauts, in particular Chapter 4: Culture. You can get it for free at DriveThruRPG: The New Argonauts.

So this is kind of what I'm thinking.

NAME was part of a unit sent to defend something/attack something (could be another faction or a beast/horror) but the unit was wiped out. NAME is likely the only survivor and has sworn a vow to avenge the deaths (could be to retrieve a standard)

Here is an option: a story of three polis.

Alpha - A polis whose power and influence have been on the decline. Current home of the characters.
Beta - A rival polis whose fortunes have been on the rise. Militarily aggressive.
Gamma - a traditional ally of Alpha with many close family ties. Now an ally of Beta.
Delta - a small polis sharing boarders with Alpha and Beta. Nominally an ally of Alpha.

Alpha and Gamma recently lost a war against Beta (and her allies). There was a betrayal (on the battlefield? an ally that turns? back at Gamma? both?) Gamma supporters of alliance with Alpha were slaughtered leaving Gamma supporters of alliance with Beta free to seize power. Gamma allied with Beta. The families of the those loyal to Alpha were disposed (in suitable horrible ways, killed, sold to slavery, disappeared)

A few warriors from Gamma loyal to Alpha survived. Most now reside in Alpha.

Spoiler: Brief: The City State (polis)

During the Archaic Age there were over 1,500 city-states of various sizes all over the peninsula and on the shores of the Aegean. City-states have a simple democratic government led by a member of the aristocracy (usually a king) who is the face of the empowered citizens rather than an autocrat with full control. They have a strong military presence whose main purpose is protecting the state from attack by foreigners and rival city-states. People from other city-states are tolerated if allies and attacked if enemies. Alliances can change quickly and old grudges tend to linger. Travel for citizens is open and mercenaries are not uncommon. Each city-state tends to honor one god above the others, but all gods are to be respected lest they become angry.

NAME could originally be from Gamma, a member of a family that supported alliance with Alpha, part of the phalanx that was slaughtered. His Background vow could be something alone the lines of restore his family to power in Gamma? discover what happened to his family? Get revenge of those who betrayed his family?

Feel free to mess around with the ideas if you want, elaborate, adapt. You don't have to use the scenario for your character.

I will probably set up a conflict along these lines for the game.

Assets:

• Skirmisher (if you wield a spear)
  • When you Face Danger by holding a foe at bay using your spear's reach, roll + iron or +edge. If you score a hit you may...
    • Iron: Strike (if you have initiative) or Clash now, add+1.
    • Edge: Take +1 Momentum
• Shield-bearer(If you wield a shield)
  • When you Face Danger using yout shield as cover, add +1. When you Clash in close quarters, take +1 momentum on a strong hit.
• Loyalist
  • When you Aid Your Ally, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit. This is in addition to benifits taken by your ally.

Spear and Shield. Classic Hoplite.

thotd

 

[doghead]

Also, Sherlock Hulmes is running some Ironsworn on his channel. It starts here: ...

Thanks for the video link. There are three videos in the series:

1. Generating a World
2. Generating a Character
3. Solo Play: Session 1

I just skimmed the first two. The third video is probably the most interesting. I don't agree with the way he handled everything. But it is interesting to see the game mechanics at work. Some questions it raised for me:

1. Managing multiple vows, especially with multiple characters.
2. Managing Perilous Journeys, especially the incorporation of Way Points.

thotd

 

[TallIan]

Some questions it raised for me:

1. Managing multiple vows, especially with multiple characters.
2. Managing Perilous Journeys, especially the incorporation of Way Points.

thotd

There is a pod cast called “Ask the Oracle” which is the game designer and another guy playing the game. That might shed some light on it for you.

EDIT: a link
Multiple vows is just several tracks for the character to keep track of. I believe they can intersect and overlap. i.e, completing one vow may be a milestone for another vow. PCs don’t have to have the same vows either.

As for journeys, I read somewhere that you can work backwards and think about what waypoints you envision and use that as a way to inform the difficulty. So if you can only think of 2 or 3 waypoints then the journey should be troublesome; 5 or 6 - dangerous, etc. If you can’t picture at least 2 waypoints then the journey should just be narrated. I’ll have to look about to try and find where I read that.

 

[TallIan]

This will be a fairly loose analogue of Ancient Greece. If you have seen Troy and the Clash of the Titan movies, you would have enough to get by.

I use "some reading" loosely. Just something to set my frame of mind.

I will put a little Setting Info shortly. Most of it is cribbed directly from Sean K Reynolds's The New Argonauts, in particular Chapter 4: Culture. You can get it for free at DriveThruRPG: The New Argonauts.

Like this, or even Wikipedia

NAME could originally be from Gamma, a member of a family that supported alliance with Alpha, part of the phalanx that was slaughtered. His Background vow could be something alone the lines of restore his family to power in Gamma? discover what happened to his family? Get revenge of those who betrayed his family?

Feel free to mess around with the ideas if you want, elaborate, adapt. You don't have to use the scenario for your character.

I will probably set up a conflict along these lines for the game.[/QUOTE]

I quite like this. I will wait to see a little more detail on the setting. I am leaning towards revenge as I don't see NAME as the sort of person who would be interested in the political intrigue that goes with reasserting ones family.

He's very combat focus at the moment, so if that isn't where you see this game going, let me know. It won't take a huge shift in character concept or mechanics (probably just one asset) to make him more social or a traveler.

Spear and Shield. Classic Hoplite.

View attachment 117391

thotd

Just what I was aiming for. I like how the second option of Skirmisher seems to synergise with Shield bearer.

 

[doghead]

There is a pod cast called “Ask the Oracle” which is the game designer and another guy playing the game. That might shed some light on it for you. ...

Cheers. The good thing about the podcast is that it seems to have several sessions of play. The other examples of play I have seen get to where things get more complicated, then stop.

Multiple vows is just several tracks for the character to keep track of. I believe they can intersect and overlap. i.e, completing one vow may be a milestone for another vow. PCs don’t have to have the same vows either.

Thats what I understand. The devil, I get the feeling, is in the details. But we will work it out.

As for journeys, I read somewhere that you can work backwards and think about what waypoints you envision and use that as a way to inform the difficulty. So if you can only think of 2 or 3 waypoints then the journey should be troublesome; 5 or 6 - dangerous, etc. If you can’t picture at least 2 waypoints then the journey should just be narrated. I’ll have to look about to try and find where I read that.

In the little mini game above, I released that you need to plan for waypoints before starting. But I wasn't sure how many. I suspect that there will be a Perilous Journey in the podcast. Hopefully Shawn gives some insight into how he deals with it.

thotd

 

[doghead]

I use "some reading" loosely. Just something to set my frame of mind.

I do a lot of roaming through wikipedia and other websites for the same reason. And to cherrypick ideas.

[NAME] is very combat focus at the moment, so if that isn't where you see this game going, let me know. It won't take a huge shift in character concept or mechanics (probably just one asset) to make him more social or a traveler.

I don't see an issue.

On this - as this is something of a play test for everyone, I am not adverse to changing characters as we play. If something is not working of you, we can discuss changing it.

Just what I was aiming for. I like how the second option of Skirmisher seems to synergise with Shield bearer.

I was quite surprised at the number of nice little synergies between the assets whilst I was playing around with character generation. Earlier I calculated that there are around 14k asset combinations, and even if 90% are suboptimal, that still leaves 1400 good combinations.

thotd

 

[doghead]

I will wait to see a little more detail on the setting.

Hummm ...

There isn't a great deal more detail at this time.

I was thinking of asking you to select one or two of the Ironsworn Worldbuilding "Truths" that you liked for this game. But looking through them, they didn't really translate.

But I would like to get some input from you about the setting. Ideas create ideas I find.

How about this - add something new to what we know about any of the four polis, or the region they are found in. It can be anything, it doesn't have to relate to the events described above.

thotd

 

[doghead]

There is a pod cast called “Ask the Oracle” which is the game designer and another guy playing the game. That might shed some light on it for you.

Listened to the podcast while working on posts. Skimmed the World Generation again. Sort of skimmed the Character Generation post until about the last 20 minutes (Envision the Inciting Incident). Shawn Tomkin is good. The way he narrates the scene and his character's actions ...

Thanks for the link.

thotd

 

[TallIan]

Ive added some to my character above.

Hummm ...

There isn't a great deal more detail at this time.

That's cool, "detail on setting" should probably have said "detail on style". Ironsworn doesn't seem to pigeon hole you too much, no matter how much you specialise, which is nice, but there is nothing worse than building a character for things that don't happen a lot in the game.

I was thinking of asking you to select one or two of the Ironsworn Worldbuilding "Truths" that you liked for this game. But looking through them, they didn't really translate.

But I would like to get some input from you about the setting. Ideas create ideas I find.

How about this - add something new to what we know about any of the four polis, or the region they are found in. It can be anything, it doesn't have to relate to the events described above.

I was thinking the inscrutable metal pillars truth could be adapted. Probably not iron though (bronze, copper?) that temples are built up around.

 

[doghead]

Pallas was born in Gamma. His father, a career soldier for Gamma, was not particularly wealthy, but he could afford to take a foreign wife. Pallas’ mother was from Alpha and understandably the family were staunch supporters of the alliance between Alpha and Gamma, even as more and more called for an alliance with Beta.

By the time tensions had escalated to war Pallas was old enough to stand in the phalanx. Curiously he was not placed in his usual unit, but handpicked for a flanking manoeuvre. He was young and unproven for such a task, but Pallas accepted it.

A corps of young officers lead them along dead ground, on a circuitous route that would have flanking the main Beta force. But they were met by a larger force of Beta soldiers, that were well prepared for the ambush. Penning the Gamma soldiers in they rained arrows and artillery on the trapped soldiers before setting to the grim task of annihilating the men.

As their numbers dwindled Pallas realised that the officers were not trapped with them, they had fled – or been allowed to flee. A second realisation dawned – all the men in this unit were supporters of the alliance with Alpha. As this news spread through the unit one of the few veterans in the unit called out, “Should any man here escape this butchery, it is on you to avenge us!” Just then Pallas was struck a blow and fell.

Many hours later he awoke. His head ached as his helmet pressed against his skull and he could feel a wound along his leg. Looking around he could see many, many bodies and the first few scavengers routing around but no camp followers searching through the fallen for a loved one; no priests or workers tending to the dead, not even any fires to mark the site of the battle. Whoever won the battle should have cared for their dead, taken their trophies and left a marker for the loser’s priests. To leave a battle site unmarked and allow the bodies of men to be torn apart like carrion was despicable. There must be some dark motivation for such a failing of the requirements of civilization.

Pallas removed his headgear, scraping the dented portion along his skull and drawing fresh blood. Feeling himself for injuries, he found nothing serious. A cut on his head and a slice along his thigh from an arrow. Nothing immediately life threatening, but if it wasn’t cleaned soon it could mortify.

He stood up slowly and made his way to Alpha, it was closer and he would likely find sanctuary in among his mother’s family.

Nice. One suggestion. With the exception of Sparta, Greeks didn't really have career soldiers. All citizens were soldiers. Something along the lines of a town or palace guard could be more appropriate.

Vows

• Background vow: Restore family honour in Beta
  • Extreme:
• Immediate (inciting incident): Kill the officers who led unit into ambush
  • Dangerous:

I want to leave the inciting Incident until we have the characters sorted.

That said, "restore the family honour in Beta" and "kill the officers who lead the ambush" could be combined in a Background vow.

Something like: "Destroy the Beta faction in Gamma" or "Kill all those who orchestrated the betrayal of Alpha" or "Restore the alliance between Gamma and Alpha".

The first two probably reflect the "revenge first" mentality of Pallas. The last one probably seems more political. However, in Pallas's mind, it the principle mechanism could be seen as "Kill everyone". But the advantage with the latter is that it allows a degree of flexibility/evolution in approach. It is also a bit more concrete. What exactly constitutes "restoring the honour of the family"?

thotd

 

[KahlessNestor]

Let me know if this works, or if it needs work:

Name: Penelope Demetriea
Experience: 0/0
Description:

Long, dark hair and green eyes, olive skin, beautiful.

Stats

• Edge: 1
• Heart: 3
• Iron: 1
• Shadow: 2
• Wits: 2

Bonds:

• Alpha: Home city (Bond: 1)
• Alexandros: Alpha orator, philosopher, and spymaster (Bond: 1)
• Apollonis: Priest of Apollo and mentor (Bond: 1)

Vows

• Background: Work for peace between the four cities (Extreme)
• Inciting Incident: Determine Gamma’s motives and next move after their betrayal of Alpha. (Formidable)

Health: 5/5
Spirit: 5/5
Supplies: 5/5

Momentum: 2
Max: 10
Rest: 2

Debilities:

Equipment:

• Bow
• Shortsword
• Dagger
• Lyre
• Rope

Assets:

• Archer
  • When you Secure an Advantage +wits by taking a moment to aim, envision where you intend to land your shot. Then, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit.
• Herbalist
  • When you attempt to Heal using herbal remedies, and you have at least +1 supply, you may choose one (decide before rolling).
    • • Add +2.
    • • On a hit, take or give an additional +1 health.
• Trickster
  • When you Face Danger, Secure an Advantage, or Compel by lying, bluffing, stealing, or cheating, add +1.

Background

Penelope was given over to the priests of the Temple of Apollo in Alpha at a young age. Her family was poor, and it was better than exposure that happened to most unwanted baby girls. She was trained in music and the healing arts of the god.

Penelope grew into a great beauty, and caught the eye of Alexandros, an important man in Alpha. He was the spymaster for the city, and determined that her beauty and charms could be useful to the city.

After the city’s betrayal by Gamma, Alpha is scrambling to figure out what is going on, to find out their enemies’ next moves, and secure a firmer alliance with Delta to save their city.

 

[TallIan]

Nice. One suggestion. With the exception of Sparta, Greeks didn't really have career soldiers. All citizens were soldiers. Something along the lines of a town or palace guard could be more appropriate.

“Career soldier” is probably not a very good descriptor. Essentially he’s good at fighting and wants to make a name for himself with it.

I should be able to get the final draft up later today.

 

[doghead]

After listening to a few of the Ironsworn podcasts, I am considering the following:

Add +1 to any two attributes to a maximum of +3.

Advantage: This should make successes more likely, and so increase the rate at which events progress.
Disadvantage: It may make the game feel easier and thus less rewarding.

Let me know: Yes or No?

thotd

 

[doghead]

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.

Bonds:

• Alpha: Home city (Bond: 1)
• Alexandros: Alpha orator, philosopher, and spymaster (Bond: 1)
• Apollonis: Priest of Apollo and mentor (Bond: 1)

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.

Vows

• Background: Work for peace between the four cities (Extreme)
• Inciting Incident: Determine Gamma’s motives and next move after their betrayal of Alpha. (Formidable)

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.

Assets:

• Archer
  • When you Secure an Advantage +wits by taking a moment to aim, envision where you intend to land your shot. Then, add +1 and take +1 momentum on a hit.
• Herbalist
  • When you attempt to Healusing herbal remedies, and you have at least +1 supply, you may choose one (decide before rolling).
    • Add +2.
    • On a hit, take or give an additional +1 health.
• Trickster
  • When you Face Danger, Secure an Advantage, or Compel by lying, bluffing, stealing, or cheating, add +1.

Nice.

Background

Penelope was given over to the priests of the Temple of Apollo in Alpha at a young age. Her family was poor, and it was better than exposure that happened to most unwanted baby girls. She was trained in music and the healing arts of the god.

Penelope grew into a great beauty, and caught the eye of Alexandros, an important man in Alpha. He was the spymaster for the city, and determined that her beauty and charms could be useful to the city.

After the city’s betrayal by Gamma, Alpha is scrambling to figure out what is going on, to find out their enemies’ next moves, and secure a firmer alliance with Delta to save their city.

Cool.

thotd

 

[doghead]

List of Gods and Titans (from TNA)

Spoiler: List of Gods and Titans

The Anemoi: The four winds, sons of Eos, some also representing a season—Boreas (North Wind, winter), Notus the (South Wind, autumn), Zephyr (West Wind), and Eurus (East Wind). Sometimes they took the form of horses and pulled Zeus’ chariot, and many of their offspring are immortal horses.

Aphrodite: Goddess of love, marriage, sex, and fertility. She was born of a mixture of sea-foam and Uranos’ castrated genitals, arising spontaneously and arriving on the isle of Cyprus. Zeus feared that the gods would fight over her so he quickly gave her as a bride to Hephaestus. Unhappy with her ugly club-footed husband, she had many affairs—particularly with Ares (she is the mother of Ares’ children Phobos and Deimos)—and many children. Of mercurial temperament, she had a habit of cursing or destroying any mortals who compared their beauty to her own.

Apollo: God of archery, prophecy, music, and healing, he is an excellent bowman and the brother of Artemis. He is sometimes worshipped as the sun god, and his arrows are as piercing as the rays of the sun. A lusty god, he chased nymphs, mortal women, and even a few beautiful young men.

Ares: God of war, battle, and frenzy. Handsome and cruel, he had an affair with Aphrodite and married her after Hephaestus divorced her. His sons Phobos (god of panic) and Deimos (god of fear) attended him in war (as did Eris) and elsewhere. Though a war god, he had a habit of running to Zeus for help whenever he was wounded.

Artemis: Virgin goddess of the hunt, childbirth, and protection of children. She is the twin sister of Apollo. Her arrows are as soft as moonbeams and bring painless death. Artemis is often depicted hunting deer, and is usually accompanied by a group of nymphs. She can be vengeful when the mood takes her, and has killed mortals for slighting her mother Leto or for viewing her bathing.

Athena: Virgin goddess of wisdom, battle-skill, heroism, and the defense of cities. She is patron deity of Athens (after winning a contest with Poseidon). The daughter of Zeus and Metis, she sprung forth fully grown from Zeus’s head. She wears Medusa’s head on her shield, the Aegis.

Atlas: The titan of daring thought, he fought against Zeus in the titan-god war and holds the vault of the sky on his shoulders as a punishment. In some tales he was pardoned and now guards the great pillars that hold up the sky.

Coeus: Titan of questioning intellect. Husband of Phoebe, together they form the foundation of knowledge and discovery. Father of Leto, and thus grandfather of Apollo and Artemis.

Crios: Titan of lordship and mastery who gained power over the air, water, earth, and underworld. His granddaughter Hecate inherited these powers.

Cronus: Titan of time’s effect on human lives, Cronus defeated his father Uranos and became ruler of the universe, only to be deposed by his own son Zeus. As well as fathering six of the great gods, he is father of Chiron, the wise centaur who taught Jason, Asclepius, and Achilles.

Demeter: Goddess of the harvest, agriculture, and law. She is a sister of Zeus and mother of Persephone (bride of Hades). Persephone must spend six months out of the year in Hades’ realm, and Demeter’s sorrow over her absent daughter causes winter in the mortal world.

Dionysus: God of wine, revels, theater, and festivals. He was a very popular god in the late Greek classical age. Half-mortal himself, he often helps mortals but likewise can drive them to drunkenness and madness if they offend him.

Eos: Goddess of the dawn, mother of the four winds, daughter of Hyperion and Thia. Her mortal husband Tithonus shrank into a grasshopper as he aged because Eos only asked Zeus to grant him eternal youth, but neglected to ask for eternal life.

Eris: Goddess of strife and hatred. She is a sinister and mean creature who loves enticing others into trouble. Her golden apple of discord destroys friendships and causes wars. She is the mother of evil minor godlings of murder, grievances, lies, hardship, famine, and pain.

Eros: God of love, usually depicted with wings and a bow with arrows that cause creatures to fall in love. Son of Ares and Aphrodite, he married a beautiful princess named Psyche (“soul”) despite his mother’s ire about the mortal girl’s beauty.

Epimetheus: Titan of afterthought and the father of excuses, he created the beasts of the earth. After Prometheus stole fire from the heavens, Zeus punished mankind by giving Pandora to Epimetheus as a wife.

Hades: God of the underworld and wealth, he keeps mostly to himself in his realm with his wife Persephone. The Greeks felt that speaking his name would draw his attention (and hasten the speaker’s death), so they called him “the Unseen” or “the Host of Many.”

Hecate: Goddess of witchcraft, with magical powers over the earth, sea, and heavens. She is sometimes seen as a dark and mysterious aspect of Artemis, representing mysteries of femininity and the moon. In some tales Hecate is the mother of the mortal sorceresses Circle and Medea.

Helios: God of the sun and sight (and to a lesser extent the measurement of time by the sun). He steers the sun-chariot across the sky with four fiery wild horses. He is so bright that only the gods can look at him directly in his true glory.

Hephaestus: The forge and fire god, born lame in one foot (or crippled when thrown from Olympus to the earth by jealous Zeus or angry Hera). A master craftsman, he and his cyclopes forged Zeus’ thunderbolts and many of the metal monsters of Greek stories. He was married to Aphrodite, but divorced her because of her many affairs.

Hera: Goddess of marriage and women, queen of the gods, wife of Zeus. Jealous of all of his infidelity (many myths revolve around Zeus’ attempts to evade her wrath), she managed to conceive two sons (one of them Hephaestus) by herself. Zeus is the father of her children Ares, Eileithyia (goddess of childbirth), and Hebe (goddess of youth). She aided some heroes (such as Jason, leader of the original Argonauts) and sided with the Greeks in the Trojan War.

Hermes: God of messengers, guides, travel, herds, and invention. He helped many Greek heroes in their tasks. Hermes created the first lyre, and it is said his spirit watches over travelers from the small cairns of stones placed at crossroads.

Hestia: Virgin goddess of the sacred hearth and sacrificial flame. A gentle goddess, she is the oldest sister of Zeus. She gave up her seat in Olympus for Dionysus, so she was made the goddess of the sacrificial fire, and a portion of every sacrifice to the gods goes to her.

Hyperion: The titan of watching and observation, and father to Eos, Helios, and Selene.

Iris: Goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. Dressed in a gown of iridescent drops, she carries news to and from Olympus and the mortal world.

Japet: The titan of spoken words and thoughts, husband of Clymene (titan of fame and infamy, daughter of titan Oceanus). He was Cronus’ general in the god-titan war.

Leto: Titan of unnoticed and hidden things (gifts she bestowed on the living things of the earth) as well as motherhood. She is the mother of Apollo and Artemis, and said to be the gentlest of all the Olympians.

Metis: Daughter of Oceanus, she is the titan of good counsel and prudence. Prophecy said that if she bore a son to Zeus, he would overthrow his father, so Zeus tricked her into changing into a fly and swallowed her so that he might always have her advice. Her unborn daughter Athena grew within Zeus’ skull and sprung forth from his head fully grown.

Mnemosyne: Titan of memory and inventor of words. She was one of the first goddesses of music and her nine daughters the Muses (fathered by Zeus) carry on that role.

Muses: Minor goddesses of music, arts, literature, and performance. Their names and domains are Calliope (eloquence and epic poetry, she is the mother of Orpheus), Clio (historical writing), Erato (mimicry and erotic poetry), Euterpe (lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragic performance), Polyhymnia (hymns), Terpsichore (dance and choral song), Thalia (idyllic poetry and comedic performance), and Urania (astronomical writing). Calliope is the mother of Orpheus, the greatest mortal musician in the world.

Nike: Goddess of victory. She has great feathered wings. Though born of obscure titans, she was welcomed to Olympus by Zeus and aided Athena in her tasks. Her brothers Kratos and Zelos represent strength and rivalry, and her sister Bia represents force.

Oceanus: The titan personification of the great river that surrounded the world, as well as titan of all fresh water. He is father to the spirits of rivers, seas, clouds, and rains of the Greek world with his wife Tethys.

Pan: The god of flocks and shepherds. A nature god, Pan is the son of Hermes and has goat’s legs, pointed ears, and shaggy hair all over his body. He is the protector of hunters, shepherds, and flocks. He enjoys music and wine, and the satyrs serve him.

Phoebe: Titan of answering intellect and the wife of fellow titan Coeus; together they form the core of all knowledge and discovery in the world. She is the mother of Leto, and thus grandmother of Apollo and Artemis. Phoebe is the original owner of the oracle at Delphi, which she gifted to her grandson Apollo.

Poseidon: God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. He created horses as a gift to Demeter after several failed experiments such as the hippo, camel, and giraffe. He is a moody and violent god, prone to lash out with waves or earthquakes. He is the father of many godlings and water-spirits and a few mortal heroes as well.

Prometheus: The titan of forethought, he created the second race of humans after the first race was wiped out by the battles of the gods. Stole firefrom the heavens to give to mankind, chained to a mountain as punishment where the Kaukasian eagle would tear out his immortal liver each day. Eventually Heracles freed him.

Rhea: Titan of female fertility, queen of the titans, primary wife of Cronus, and mother to the six first Olympian gods.

Selene: Goddess of the moon, she lights the world at night while her brother Helios rests. Her husband Endymion was granted eternal sleep at her request so he may stay forever young, and he fathered her fifty daughters (the Menai, who represent the fifty lunar months between each Olympiad).

Tethys: The titan of nursing and of water flowing underground, she is the wife of Oceanus. As mother to thousands of river-spirits and other minor godlings of nature, she is normally accompanied by Eileithyia, a minor goddess of childbirth.

Themis: Titan of customs and order. An oracular goddess, she is the mother of the three goddesses of destiny as well as the goddesses of seasons and divination.

Thia: Titan of sight, and the one responsible for imbuing precious metal and gems with their sparkle and value. The Greeks believe that sight worked by a kind of ray emitted by the eyes, so it follows that she is the mother to the sun and moon, whose lights illuminate the world.

Zeus: Leader of the Olympians, god of thunder, sky, kingship, and justice. He fathered many gods and mortal heroes on many different women (some immortal, some not), much to the annoyance of his queen Hera. His weapon is the thunderbolt.

 

[TallIan]

After listening to a few of the Ironsworn podcasts, I am considering the following:

Add +1 to any two attributes to a maximum of +3.

Advantage: This should make successes more likely, and so increase the rate at which events progress.
Disadvantage: It may make the game feel easier and thus less rewarding.

Let me know: Yes or No?

thotd

Some thoughts in this.

I think you only need a +2 to a roll to have a probable (>50%) chance to score a weak hit. I can't remember the chance for a strong hit, but it was surprisingly low. Even a weak hit usually makes progress, just with the cost of a complication. A really useful tool for GM-less play, but I can see that being a bit annoying as the GM - you can plan your own complications. When playing with allies, it looks really easy to achieve that extra +1 to get even your low stats to d6+2.

I'll see if I can find the post where Shawn shares this info.

Considering the options
1. Stats of 2 2 2 2 3 - your character has no weak attributes. The game already leaves things pretty wide open to choosing which ability to use, so this option makes it so that it's really hard to catch a character in a situation where creativity over stats is important.
2. Stats of 1 1 3 3 3 - You are exceptional at most things, but truly crap at others. IMX this leads to a very boring character as you can pretty much guarantee the results of most die rolls (success or failure).
3. Stats of 1 2 2 3 3 - Not much to say on this one, just a flat power boost, so probably going to be exactly as you say.

If I wanted to speed up the progress I would probably increase the Momentum reward for some of the moves, that way it feels more like you've done something to achieve the success. Your character is using a resource they built up to overcome their own deficiencies.

For example: Face Danger. Change on a strong hit to take +2 momentum (instead of +1)