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1 year agoI always like developing interesting relationships between the player characters (PCs) so they can roleplay without any GM influence so I like questions like “What is it about [other PC] that you find so strange/fascinating?” or “Cleric, how are you trying to convert [other PC]?”
Stonetop - a Dungeon World style game that’s focused around 1 specific village so that you develop deeper connections to one part of the world and the NPCs that live there. I’m just waiting for it to get fully released. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1735046512/stonetop/
In their own words: Stonetop is a “hearth fantasy” tabletop RPG set in an Iron Age that never was. The players portray the heroes of an isolated village near the edge of the known world. Their adventures focus on dealing with threats to the village and seizing opportunities. These aren’t rootless mercenaries seeking fortune and glory; they’re exceptional people, taking risks on behalf of their friends, family, and neighbors.
Like most tabletop RPGs, Stonetop plays out as a conversation between the game master (GM) and the players, with dice being rolled at key moments to determine which direction the story goes. The game can be played in short runs of 2-4 sessions (each about 3-4 hours long), but is best experienced over a dozen or more sessions.
Stonetop is “Powered by the Apocalypse,” using a system and framework similar to games like Apocalypse World, Monster of the Week, or Masks: a New Generation. It started as a setting guide for Dungeon World, but over 5 years of development and playtesting, it’s become a standalone game. Knowledge of Dungeon World may ease your entry into the game, but it’s not a prerequisite for play.
Features of the system include:
A rich and well-realized world of gritty Iron Age fantasy adventure, providing enough detail to ground play immediately while leaving plenty of room for the players and GM to make the setting their own. 9 distinct types of player-character (see below), each with their own reasons to look out for their community and seek adventure beyond its walls. Rules for governing and improving the village itself across the seasons and over the course of years. Rules for overland travel that capture the excitement of setting out into the unknown and the relief of returning home after a long time away. Hand-drawn maps depicting the village of Stonetop itself, its immediate surroundings, and the extent of the known world. An extensive setting almanac covering important regions, points of interest, neighboring settlements, creatures of the wild, and eerie remnants of past civilizations. A collection of unique magic items, each with special rules for unlocking its mysteries, powers, and dangers. Guidelines and advice for the GM, including step-by-step processes for collaborative customization of the village, adventure creation, and shaping a developing campaign. “I had a chance to play this with a small group, including one person who usually didn’t enjoy RPGs. We only played one session, and he still talks to me about how special it was to him. I would play it again in a heartbeat.” —William H., Vox Arcana Podcast