How Did I Write Dungeon World?

Started by sixsideddice, 15 August 2011, 02:41:28 PM

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sixsideddice

15 August 2011, 02:41:28 PM Last Edit: 16 August 2011, 01:14:46 PM by sixsideddice
Well... I didn`t play test the rules using 10mm miniatures.  At the time, way back when I first started in on my 10mm collection, I only had a very limited number of the vast range of Pendraken minis to chose from. I knew where I wanted the Dungeon World to go as a concept, and I knew how to achieve my eventual aim at making everything gel into a nice easy to use user friendly rules package. I also knew that the Pendraken Miniatures range was highly adaptable to be used in many other game settings; from Dungeons and Dragons and similar rpg rules engines, to skirmish level table top games, full scale table top battles, and of course the old fantasy favourite - Hordes of the Things.

As I looked around the web, browsing for anything I could find on 10mm fantasy gaming, two things struck me right away. Firstly, I noticed a lot of the gamers out there were using various hybrid conversions of Games Workshops Warmaster to play out their games. Secondly I spotted that some more inventive and individualistically minded  collectors were using the old (and sometimes clunky) HOTT system. In both cases, miniatures were being mounted on trays of multiple figures so that they could move large numbers of figures around the board with ease. In effect, I spotted that gamers were not using their 10mm figures to reduce the size of their games; rather, they were expanding their collections to fill the entire 4` by 6` table as though their games were normal 28mm affairs. Hmmmm, I thought. Wonderful in one sense... for it meant you could field truly vast units of figures, highly impressive visually, and I could see the merits right away. But on the other hand, part of me continued to go “Hmmmm” and a feeling of slight disappointment filled me, at the loss of true potential these little 10mm metal guys were missing out on.

The exquisite detail on the Pendraken Miniatures ranges is truly staggering, and straight away I wanted to make some rules which allowed these `little dudes` to be appreciated on a one to one scale just like their bigger 28mm cousins. I could see no reason why (if individually based) such a plan couldn`t be realised, both on table top wargames and on a much more personal skirmish dungeon crawl level. AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PLAY MY GAMES ON THE SIZE OF A COFFEE TABLE. This last was always foremost in my mind. Though the option to play on a large table always remains a personal choice.

But as I mentioned at the start. I didn`t originally play test my rules using 10m figures. There were reasons for this. The first is, as I mentioned; I didn’t have a full range of pieces at my disposal back then. But another main and very important reason was that... I was in a fortunate position to have my rules play tested by two fairly local gaming groups, and the guys there were used to gaming in 28mm. Trying to get them to convert to 10mm would have been like trying to sell an umbrella in the desert. So I got them to play test everything using standard Dungeons and Dragons Skirmish Miniatures (which was the main craze at the time). Meanwhile I play tested the rules using my family and friends as guinea pigs, took constant notes, and listened closely to feedback from the gaming groups... often sitting in and watching the games from the side lines and observing their reactions.

The first thing I noticed about their games was, once they got over the initial shock of the unconventional four phase move in Dungeon World, they took to the rules like ducks to water: Initiative (both sides rolling a die each turn, hoping for movement and action priority), Mover`s Action Phase (pretty standard phase), Non Mover`s Shooting  Phase (where the non priority player only gets to respond to the mover`s phase with his ranged weapon and magical troops, meaning, effectively, he has to strategise every move of the game to maximise his defences in case he doesn’t win initiative priority next move ), and finally the Melee Phase (again, slightly different from normal close combat rules. Slightly like Tunnels and Trolls, in that you combine your troops attacks to arrive at an attack dice total).

AS I said, I always knew that the majority of gamers amassing 10mm figures had their own ideas about what to do with their collections. Some no doubt bought the figures to use in their weekly Dungeons and Dragons games, other just liked the `novelty` value of them. But I suspect a lot more people bought their first Pendraken miniatures, painted them all up, and suddenly realised they were going to have a heck of a problem trying to convince the rest of their gaming buddys that 10mm was the way to go.

THAT’S why I invented Dungeon World. Not only did I want a set of rules I felt adequately suited my own needs; but I also wanted people to realize the sheer scope of potential (if fully committed to this diminutive scale) and addictiveness this alternative approach to the hobby allowed them to enjoy. In all my years of gaming I`ve discovered one truism. IF a single gamer stays true to his aims, commits to his venture, takes time and dedication to bring his hobby to fruition... which means painting the pieces, finishing his armies (tut tut to piles of unpainted lead), making/assembling and painting the terrain (good terrain is the life blood of gaming, especially in this scale, where excellent game set ups can imbue the hobbyist with a sense of truly awe inspiring aesthetic delight), and most importantly, a project must be seen through from start to finish. Get these aspects right, stay committed and true to your plans... and you`ll find your friends will get caught up by your own enthusiasm and begin to `come across` to your way of thinking. Works almost every time.

So, I invented Dungeon World. It’s not perfect (what system ever is? The only way to get a perfect system is to make one for yourself, that way you end up with something YOU invented and plays the way YOU want it to. But a system will rarely please everyone, thankfully, which is why the hobby is so good. There`s no one official set of rules we all have to abide by!).

I read rules, and invariably break almost every one. Even the ones I write myself. I find my old school approach to the hobby works fine for me and gives me an edge. But it isn`t always easy to convert others to new ideas and to break accepted conventions. That’s why I always stress my rules are merely guidelines, and I encourage everyone to change things they don’t like or make up alternatives of their own.

Over the next few years, I have decided to play a 10mm fantasy campaign and write everything up on a detailed online blog. Soon as I can afford it, I plan to move the blog onto a proper website, where I can share my fantasy campaign with other enthusiasts, and hopefully encourage a few people to do similar things of their own.

I plan to work closely with the Pendraken forums on this project, providing regular links and so on for all to enjoy. And the miniatures used will be Pendraken Miniatures  exclusively (with the exception of just a few elephants, creatures  and personality figures I have in my collection and which I really want to use, half of these are my own home made sculpts I should add).

Things should kick off within the next month; and my campaign will begin to breathe life. Actually, I`m really looking forward to getting things started. It`s been too long since I last played a long fantasy campaign like this... the last one we did lasted 17 years of real time. I started when I was 24 and it went on until I was 41, at which stage it finally ran out of steam. All the surviving player characters were either millionaires, owned their own Principalities and Kingdoms, or had retired to lives of domestic solitude with their perfect in game partners.

Six

Squirrel

Thanks Six, it's always interesting to know what sets people off in a direction.

I shall look forward to seeing your campaign start and grow. It's been a long time since I've been involved in one, and I probably won't have time for a while yet :( If you have the time, please share the preperation and background work before the camapign starts, as that is often a great source of inspiration.

Cheers,

Kev

sixsideddice

16 August 2011, 01:10:53 PM #2 Last Edit: 16 August 2011, 01:21:52 PM by sixsideddice
QuoteThanks Six, it's always interesting to know what sets people off in a direction.

I shall look forward to seeing your campaign start and grow. It's been a long time since I've been involved in one, and I probably won't have time for a while yet If you have the time, please share the preperation and background work before the camapign starts, as that is often a great source of inspiration.

Cheers,

Kev

What a great idea Kev.

I`d never have thought of that. Yes, if it`s not too boring hearing me dribble on and on, I`ll catalogue all the preparation, explain why and how I arrive at the decision to take certain routes, and so on and so forth. I`ll post here, and then post the campaign link to the actual blog when there`s a decent amount of material to be called a campaign. Meanwhile I`ll just natter on like a good `un as it all comes together.

Cheers Kev,

Six  :D

Squirrel

You're very welcome Six :D Hopefully you will inspire me to get off my proverbial and start something myself ;)

Cheers,

Kev

sixsideddice

QuoteYou're very welcome Six Hopefully you will inspire me to get off my proverbial and start something myself

Cheers,

Kev

I`m sure your own games are excellent Kev. And if I do manage to stir some inspirational juices in other enthusiasts, then I`ll be happy to have helped.



Six

nikharwood

Again, this is a really interesting read Six - thanks for posting  :)

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this one - and you never know, I might just try to dive over to the land-of-no-postcodes & drop in to chuck some dice with you sometime  ;) 8)

After all, it seems to me that my womenfolk are over there often enough looking for gee-gees  :D

sixsideddice

Quote

Again, this is a really interesting read Six - thanks for posting 

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this one - and you never know, I might just try to dive over to the land-of-no-postcodes & drop in to chuck some dice with you sometime 

After all, it seems to me that my womenfolk are over there often enough looking for gee-gees 

Wooohooooo, you are totally welcome Nik, it would be a pleasure having you all here. Actually, you just missed the annual Kenmare festival. I`ve never seen so many gee gees as I do each faire day. It’s interesting watching them conduct horse sales in the streets, like watching something from a bygone age.

Six  :)














nikharwood

Quote from: sixsideddice on 20 August 2011, 12:14:49 PM
Wooohooooo, you are totally welcome Nik, it would be a pleasure having you all here. Actually, you just missed the annual Kenmare festival. I`ve never seen so many gee gees as I do each faire day. It’s interesting watching them conduct horse sales in the streets, like watching something from a bygone age.

Six  :)

Excellent  8)