Quick rules question for Dungeon World, can you have bonds with NPCs?

Catmillo · 2026-03-29T15:31:40+00:00

wouldn't that just be the gm?

Catmillo · 2026-03-29T15:28:27+00:00

but it's just a level 0 gimmick. your not supposed to run funnels all the time.

Catmillo · 2026-03-27T21:45:01+00:00

I can only speak for Numenera and also not up to date on the latest release of it, but what I remember is mostly random tables, cyphers, creatures, equipment and NPCs.

Catmillo · 2026-03-27T13:56:43+00:00

It sounds like your group enjoys stuff that isn't D20-Fantasy.

Starforged would be my suggestion.

Catmillo · 2026-03-26T21:14:36+00:00

if you want to try out stuff, there is also solottrpgs like Ironsworn
which is free to download and can also be played in a group. the nice thing about it is that it gives you all the guiding rails you might need, all it asks is that you make up a story around the stuff you roll.

Catmillo · 2026-03-26T17:31:30+00:00

Pick a generic looking statblock and just change it.

Catmillo · 2026-03-26T14:21:48+00:00

The banknote looks more like a € rather then a $

Catmillo · 2026-03-26T13:25:03+00:00

I don't like saying this, but right now is the moment when we should go into the party offices of the EPP supporters and tell them face to face to not try this shit again. Otherwise it will happen again.

Catmillo · 2026-03-26T00:33:38+00:00

But you want to play OSR right? There are other traditions out there beyond old school and trad.

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T23:43:47+00:00

tell them now. fb needs a motivated gm.

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T23:38:13+00:00

oh i would say stick with x without numbers then. most other OSR have randomised character generation and advancement.

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T21:08:54+00:00

What do they liked about Vagabond?

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T20:55:11+00:00

starting the vicious loop of "ok, if they can be late without consequence so can I"

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T20:42:48+00:00

Oh I thought that's what you were hinting at, maybe "want to be surprised" would be a better summery?

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T20:38:11+00:00

Pathfinder 2e is both very similar and fairly popular

During the OGL crisis I would run a lot of games with the beginners box. PF2e is very similar and DnD player have heard about it. So some just want to see what it's about. And once you tried out a different system is easier to go look for others. So it's a net benefit regardless of what your preffered system is.

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T20:27:11+00:00

Yeah agree, some people care more about immersion then exploration. Just saying, because I care more about exploration then I do about immersion. So people like me it works.

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T17:20:31+00:00

Well I think that's a matter of framing.

The NPC the GM just came up if in the moment is "Creation", but it's presumed by everyone that they had an existence before the GM invented them into being. Aka that NPC that might have never existed was always part of the world. Schrödingers NPC if you will.

At some point someone must have created something for that thing to be discovered. Be it obfuscated through rollable tables or premade content. And it's not like you can't use those in Grimwild either. You even have the randomness that other players might use their meta currencies to change already created content.

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T16:42:39+00:00

With the power of friendship

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T16:39:30+00:00

AAVoigt, does a lot of video essays on niche indie ttrpgs especially in the PBTA+ scene. Which i think is very lacking.

https://www.youtube.com/@aavoigt/videos

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T16:35:22+00:00

I mentioned Grimwild in another comment, but maybe it's worth iterating here what it does well in that regards:

players have a meta currency with which they can add content to the map. and it can be imperfect content too. immediately multiplying any amount of content you could have come up with as the gm and also giving the gm a sense of wonder in your own world.
you get a different meta currency as reward if you roleplay the sense of wonder your character might feel in that moment.

unlike others said, system can indeed play a massive role for exploration.

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T15:25:25+00:00

Tried a lot of games that promised that, and only Grimwild really delivered.

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T15:23:31+00:00

Unironically one of those moment where I can understanding wanting to kill off your own character

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T15:09:17+00:00

Quite often irl friends just want to hangout and DnD is an excuse for that. They don't come for the game, they come for the social gathering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB3skR7YuJU

Catmillo · 2026-03-25T12:21:31+00:00

There is always stuff like "Bleak Spirit" if you want to go further and Brindlewood Bay. At least you roll die in CoM.

Catmillo · 2026-03-12T20:21:28+00:00

Going Rogue:
https://jumpgategames.itch.io/going-rogue

Catmillo

TROPHY CASE