After I MCing Dungeon World, Worlds in Peril, and The Sprawl(now playing), I feel keenly the importance of using Tags as fictional positioning and as an ingredient in MC moves. But sometimes, I forget to use (or don’t know how to use) them and just make a series of dull description. And I realize the story starts to go flat.
I love Tags because they fuse into the fiction seamlessly(which is the main reason why I switched my go-to system from Fate to PbtA. Sometimes, using Aspects feels artificial to me). But unlike Aspects, I find it very easy to forget to use Tags because there is no bonus or penalty to use Tags. They are only for fictional positioning.
So, how can I become proficient in using Tags as a MC? Could you share your tips?
It helps if you can get players to remind you of their tags from time to time as part of their descriptions. Like, “I pull out my discreet pistol, check to make sure it’s been reloaded, and enter the room…” Just having the terms come up kind of helps remind you to use them when it’s time to make moves.
Jason Tocci Thank you! I’ve realized I don’t need to remember all of the Tags by myself 🙂
If you use a GM screen flag them all on your screen attached to the characters name.
When I am running PbtA I insert a sheet in my screen this just all the characters names, their major tags, and also bits of story notes that are worth dragging in on a regular basis.
Riley Crowder I already use a GM screen, but yes. I need to add the major tags. Thanks!