A thing I’ve kinda noticed in AW, between the playbooks, is that some of the playbooks are suited more for proactive or reactive playstyles. now, for the record, it is my opinion that AW functions best when everyone has goals, and is proactive about them, but some playbooks moves seem geared towards action or reaction.
so, without further ado, I give you, my theoretical Apocalypse World sliding scale of reactive to proactive. From the reactive side:
The Hardholder and the Waterbearer: Both of these Playbooks come with a lot of extrinsic motivation, you have a place, and you need to defend it. and keep your people in line. both of these playbooks seem to have a lot of moves devoted towards keeping stuff, and controlling things.
The Gunlugger and Angel: These two specialize in handling a sitch, either bullets are flying, and you want a baddass to have your back, or bullets have flown, and now you need someone to stitch you back together.
The Child-Thing: This character is running. You’re new to this world, possibly alone, with the maelstrom hot on your trail. you don’t have time for plans and schemes, you have to stay one step ahead of the wolves!
The Chopper: another Playbook with a lot of extrinsic motivation, you have a bit more freedom (especially if you’re nomadic), but ultimately, your moves are all about controlling your violent, scary gang.
The Hocus: on the edge of reactive, the Hocus can be scary when she tries to get what she wants. with a few moves that let you manipulate crowds. but ultimately, you are bound to your cult/family/whatever.
The driver/Quarantine/the Faceless: these are kinda “Keep on living” Playbooks, so they can go either way. so that’s fun…
The Battle-babe: Okay, ill preface this with the fact that I’ve never really understood the battle-babe. but I think I’ve got enough of a bead on it to place it on the scale. The battle-babe actually seems pretty well suited to getting what he wants, with a high ht, and great cool (which he uses for Go Aggro), and so, in a Bond-esque fashion (because I think James bond when I think battle babe) “This will either be a very good night for you, or a very bad night. either way, it will be memorable”.
The Savvyhead: With the amount of freedom the Savvyhead has, they do themselves a disservice by not taking the initiative, and building insane, great things.
The maestro-d: while you are bound to your establishment, the maestro-d has a high hot, and a few moves that allow manipulation, these guys can pull the strings and witch the puppets dance.
The Brainer: Or you could put the strings there yourself. mind-reading, mind-control, wearing something called a violation glove, you own people, body and soul.
The News: A demagogue, a kingmaker, your words can raise up mountains, and level cities (if you roll well). this playbook will feel really boring if you aren’t actively pursuing an agenda.
The Skinner: Hot as hell (Two L’s, alix) with four or five powerfully manipulative moves, this playbook is best when you’re on the offense (well, pursuing your own goal, combat might not be the best choice.) if you try for it, The skinner can have the whole world wrapped around their little finger.
The Child-Thing also has The Mother’s Heartbeat to return to; not all of the maelstrom had them on the run.
Fair enough, but that move is still a reactive move, he said, to meg baker, it looks to me like it is a “Run and hide” move, not one that is used to further your agenda (beyond keeping you alive to pursue it.)
The question is, are you hiding from the maelstrom or within the maelstrom? Maybe both? As needed?
sub
Well, that will vary, from game to game. ask them, or maybe ask the hocus (Incidentally, I want to do a game where the Hocus thinks the Child-thing is the new messiah) or the brainer.
My personal take on it is that the child-thing is adapted for the maelstrom. what happens when a population sits in a psychic storm for so long (Que Patrick Stewart VO about mutation). so they can use the maelstrom in ways that not even brainers or hoci can. and then the maelstrom (a at least quasi-sentient thing) got wise to what was going on, and adapted back, and the wolves are like antibodies.
Neat!