Ask Questions and use the answers!

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noofy

  • 777
Ask Questions and use the answers!
« on: December 06, 2011, 03:32:26 PM »
I struggled with the principle of asking provacative questions when I first starting playing AW. I found that I developed this skill the more I played, but intially found it very helpful to have a list of questions to turn to when I got 'tongue-tied'. The folks over at Barf Forth helped enormously, and I collated all of their advice into a handy sheet to refer to during play.

I recently drafted a DW version of these question sets (much more generalised than the dungeon starters) and thought I'd share. Please feel free to add more questions if you have them!

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noofy

  • 777
Re: Ask Questions and use the answers!
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2011, 03:36:35 PM »
Provocative  QuestionsAnother good tactic, I think, is to ask for details about their stuff

When Adventurers Return•How did you get your (whatever item)?
•Where/Who do you get your basic supplies from?
•Where/Who do you get your specialist items?
•Who's your favourite race / monster? How do you get along with Xena then, when she hates them? What do you do when people want you to agree to their prejudice?
•Where do you live? Draw it on the map. Here. Really? How do you stand the smell / location / view? Why do so many people think your neighbours are crazy / untrustworthy / aloof? Why don't you move into a different place, there's bound to be one around here somewhere?
•Are you single or attached? Anybody on the side? Why is that? So last time Thorgrim was hitting on you, what did you do? Did anybody see? So why's the barmaid always giving you that look, or is it something else?
•Where did you get your clothes? Did you buy/loot/find/make them yourself? Are they new or worn out? How many people have tried to kill you for that fancy suit of armour of yours? The Innkeeper said Dumbledoor has the exact same Wizard Robes as you, what do you think of that?
•What do you do for fun, usually? Do a lot of people do that or you on your own? What happened the last time somebody tried to stop you, and who was it? You think that'll happen again? What happened when you were doing whatever it is you do for fun that you don't tell anybody about?

Grim Portents
•Bring up any setting element they name drop and ask about it over and over. Get different players' opinions on the same area or person or monster.
•You'll find the kinds of details you want when your questions ask about or imply bits of the world, or personalities.
•If you want them to fill in the world more, pick a place on the map, and just ask about their experiences there.
•What do they (monsters)have that you want?
•What do you have that they want?
•Where is the most treacherous / adventurous / frightening / reknown place that you know?
•O.K. so you're hungry / thirsty / horny / sleepy / wounded.... What do you do?
•The MacGuffin is all broken. Where can you find replacement(s) or repairs? Why is that such a bad idea?

Antagonism
•Have you two (players) ever gotten in a fight? Elucidate
•Who would you turn to in fix?
•Where do you see yourself in five levels?
•I don't know if you've ever fought / stolen / ensorcelled / negotiaed  anything from these guys, but if you had to pick, who's the most obvious option?
•What was the last thing they did to piss you off?
•They hurt you. How? Why?
•Hey, you know why. Tell us the reason they are coming for you, teeth bared.
•Its not safe at town anymore. Where do you go?
•Out of the bunch of them, one gives you a strong gut feeling. What is that feeling? Who does it pertain to?

Drive
•Everyone knows you’re [choose stat]. What do you do about that?
•What Move are you really drawn to? (another player) What does that say about them?
•What secret are you protecting?
•We all know you’re the [playbook]. What makes you so special?

Re: Ask Questions and use the answers!
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2011, 07:25:49 PM »
This will be really helpful for when I get around to playing another round with my group.

Re: Ask Questions and use the answers!
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2012, 06:56:15 AM »
I'm mining for good questions at the moment and these are pure gold!

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Scrape

  • 378
Re: Ask Questions and use the answers!
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2012, 11:47:21 AM »
This is an excellent tutorial for new players and a great jumping-off point. Kudos!

Re: Ask Questions and use the answers!
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2012, 03:58:16 PM »
Awesome.  Last time I ran I floundered a bit over some of my fishing questions when I wasn't getting answers, having a batch of basic ones to start with printed out in front of me is going to help me a lot.  Thanks!