FWIW, I'm not concerned about system mastery, because I don't see DW as a game that's primarily about "balance." It's true that someone could make a less than optimal choice about character advancement compared to some ideal of getting the most power out of advancement.

But so what?

This isn't a game where you have to have the optimal build to survive, or thrive. You get XP for failing rolls. And if you're clever, you find a way to use your strongest stats and moves regardless of the situation. And most of all, you pay attention to the story and let the game ride along with you.

So if somebody takes a move called "multiclass dabbler" late in the game and then is disappointed by what it doesn't provide in terms of raw power, then I say maybe they should have thought that being a "dabbler" isn't the route to power.

I'm not much in favor of a change that means someone who's a level 8 thief can suddenly start throwing around heavy-duty spells out of nowhere. To me, that's a worse outcome than that someone with limited "system mastery" might make a sub-optimal choice based on placing a heavy value on being as powerful as possible.

Okay, I dug around and read as many examples as I could dig up. (Couldn't immediately find everything ME listed, but got several of those and some others.) And I'm no less confused:

More than once, people listed fronts with no dangers underneath them, so that fronts aren't collections of dangers, they're just dangers.

Some people listed fronts with their own impulse, impending doom, other people didn't.

WHAT IS A FRONT? I've got a group of intrepid adventurers in a dungeon, and they encountered goblin archers. Are "goblins" a front? A danger? If they're a danger, what's the front they might be in?

Of course I realize it's "do it how you want," but I'd like to understand the intent of the rules as stated for making fronts in a certain way, and to learn from people who've been doing this particular game longer than I have. And I think if I can get comfortable with the front rules, they can make my job easier and more fun.

Where do people start with creating a front? How do you decide X is a front but Z is just a danger within that front?

'cause I'm more confused than I was before.

Thanks, noofy.

Generally this lack of replies (but high number of thread reads) makes me think I'm not the only one who feels less than confident about fronts. Sage and Adam, take note!

Cleric spell Detect Alignment lists only the alignments good, evil, and neutral. Is this deliberate or an oversight / holdover? 'Cause I'd think a lawful cleric would be able to detect law or chaos, too.

Unrelated: I'm on "Hack & Slash" in the basic moves chapter, pp 48+, and there sure are a lot of Stray Capital letters, sometimes in the midDle of words. Unless reStrained means something specific to this game.

Quote from: Crookedleg on August 12, 2012, 02:59:06 AM

I may just be missing it, but on what page does it mention that your mark xp on a miss?

I think that rule went bye bye in the final version of the rules. You only mark XP when you resolve a bond, fulfill your alignment, and answer the questions in the end of session move.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Well, you have to roll to cast a rote or cantrip. (I asked about that before.) So you're taking the risks involved in rolling the dice.