So I ran my first session of World Wide Wrestling RPG. A great time was had by all, but the players did bring something to my attention. One the players was playing Heel who was the announcer for a match between an Anti-Hero Babyface and a Monster Heel. The whole time he was announcing he was building up the other Heel. Then at a point he asked me through a private message (we were playing on Discord) “Can I make a run-in?” to which I responded “I don’t see why not.”
So he did the run-in rolled great a 10+, but there was one problem. He didn’t have a choice on the run-in move that represented what he wanted to do. He wanted to pull a screw-job so the other Heel would win. The problem is the only option on the list that changes the booking of the match. Is one where the person who gets attacked wins by disqualification. We went with it that way for now. But I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how to house-rule run-ins so Heels could pull screw-jobs. I remember someone posting something here about house-ruling run-ins but I’ve yet to find it again. Any help would be appreciated.
So in this situation, he runs-in. DOESN’T swerve the booking, either being booked in a match with the other wrestler (I’m assuming face), or they come after him.
Then at that point it’s up to the heel in the ring to use the heel move to capitalize on it if they weren’t already booked to win.
That’s how I’d understand it at least.
Paul Myers Oh I see so the Heel already in the ring would’ve had to spend 2 Momentum or Broken Kayfabe in order to pull a Screwjob? (It would’ve been Breaking Kayfabe because he only had 1 momentum and couldn’t have performed the Heel Move). I’ll keep that in mind for the next time somebody attempts a run in.
RUN-IN: When you interrupt a match in-progress, roll +Heat with the character you’re coming after (establish Heat at +1 if necessary).
✶ On a 10+ it’s a hot angle, you both gain +1 Heat with each other and you pick one from the 7-9 list.
✶ On a 7-9 it has potential, you gain 1 Momentum and your target picks one:
» you attack them in the ring, resulting in their opponent getting DQed; they win the match (this overrides Creative’s booking)
» your interference doesn’t change the result of the match, but Creative books the two of you in a match later in this Episode
» your interference doesn’t change the result of the match, but their opponent comes after you for interfering in their business
2-6 of course is a botch
As for the Heel move:
HEEL: When you do something underhanded to get what you want, spend 2 Momentum and pick 1 of the following:
» gain +1 Heat with your opponent
» win a match (this overrides Creative’s booking)
» leave someone helplessly lying on the floor
» get out of a match you’ve been booked in
Disclaimer: these are from the reference sheet on Nathan’s website.
I house ruled the 10+ long ago to “to book the finish of the match” (this overrides creative’s booking)
That way you can do Nathan Paoletta s favorite classic distraction roll up pin
Phillip Ribbink I don’t intend to speak for Nathan, but I would say that the rules are intended to help and guide you, not box you in. Personally the way I would have handled this situation is: outside heel says he wants to screwjob the face, I would say that counts as “doing something underhanded to get what you want” and roll on the Heel Move (assuming he had 2 momentum to spend). If he didn’t have the momentum, I would say he could do a run in but he’s not going to be able to screwjob the Face unless he’s willing to Break Kayfabe
I think y’all have outlined the various ways to cover it! How I’d handle it at my table is as reinreed says, the Heel who’s running in would actually be making the Heel Move, and the run-in is the narration of how they do their underhanded thing.
In the moment, I’ve had a player announce their run-in, look at the Move, and then say that the result they want isn’t on there, and we ret-con it to the Role Move instead. Especially when it’s the first time a Run-In has been done, it’s worth being flexible on that.
But also, you can choose one of the results that doesn’t change the booking of the match but you’re setting it up narratively for the other Heel to do so (as Paul Myers says), with the Heel move or Break Kayfabe or whatever else.
Here’s a sneaky third option – the PLAYERS collude, since one of them is the Announcer – they say OOC that they want the in-ring Heel to Break Kayfabe to win the match, and then use their Put Over power to ensure that it happens. It’s meta but it would work!