Category: Powered by the Apocalypse: Discussion

Apocalypse World – session one.

Our second session of AW tonight (the first was session zero). Our group consists of –

Paul as Boo, an Angel.

Rick as Marlon, a Driver.

Bard as Emmy, a Maestro’ d.

Dave as Keeler, a Gunlugger.

John as Sundown, a Brainer. (absent this week)

Our second session starts with three of the PC’s wanting gigs. They’re low on barter already.

We all decide the Sheriff from New Jerusalem wants Jackson’s biker gang killed and agrees to pay them two barter each for it. He wants half the loot from the gang until the gunlugger goes aggro on him, which quickly changes his mind. But now he’s all like “fuck you” to Keeler. I’ve already highlighted everyone’s hard during Hx cos I’m pretty sure blood will flow tonight.

The scene in the Pig Pen (Maestro’D’s bar) allows rolls for read a sitch, read a person, manipulate someone etc., along with some playbook moves (way out of here, eye on the door and everyone eats, even that guy). This is all driven by the conversation of course. After every move I make I’m asking “what do you do?”.

There’s a scene with the driver trying to sucker someone, which he totally misses, so I turn his move back on him, and he hears a gun cock next to his ear. This is what lets him get an eye on the door.

We’ve already established the psychic maelstrom was created by a computer virus, before, or during the fall (was it because of, or the cause?). It manifests as electronic “white noise”, like an audible TV static, through bluetooth headsets, walkie talkies, radios, TV’s etc. MC note – I’ve been told “The Cell” movie, and “Dollhouse” TV shows have some good tips for this.

The aim of the party now is to find whatever is generating this virus (AI supercomputer? Underground? Military hardware, like the “Red Queen”?), and get rid of it.

I had initially envisaged a “Pig Pen” vs “New Jerusalem” scenario a la “The Stand”, but now have a radically different story arc to consider. And you know what? – I love it!

I’m rolling with what the players are putting down, and between us we’re creating a pretty good story.

Two of my players have already gained an experience improvement – is this normal to improve once per session? The others are one roll away. I want to see them unlock more rewards, and grow as characters. They need five to unlock those advanced rewards right, so that’s another four sessions at least.

Also Gunluggers – how shit hard are they. He walked up to the biker gang with a machinegun and just mowed them down! Because he’s got that small gang thing going he was on equal terms, and his armour kept him from harm (along with “suffers little harm”). Is that normal too? I mean one guy taking out a small gang on his own. I visualised it like Terminator, bullets smacking into his flak vest, and him just keeping walking. Wow!

The driver used his car to mow down some, and the other players cashed out the rest. All except Jackson, the leader, who is Preacher Moon’s brother (the leader of New Jerusalem, and the Sheriffs real target). He had that crazy tech virus thing going, so the Angel wants to heal him. I need to decide where that’s headed – maybe he pretends to recover, but is still working for the computer?

Thanks to all of you that offered advice on my first post. I used most, if not all, of those suggestions and had a great game thanks to it. Any more suggestions gratefully received.

Anyway, until next time – keep your supplies close by, and your powder dry.

Adios amigos.

Apocalypse World – session zero.

So we finally got to play AW last night. Our group consists of –

Paul as Boo, an Angel.

Rick as Marlon, a Driver.

John as Sundown, a Brainer.

Bard as Emmy, a Maestro’ d.

Dave as Keeler, a Gunlugger.

After playbooks were chosen, moves picked, and looks decided on, we did the Hx thing, going round the table. I frantically wrote notes on index cards, to detail the relationships, but also recorded the session on an MP3 player, so I can listen again if I need to.

The group are based at “The Pig Pen”, which is the Maestro’s establishment. The main attraction is the fights, supplemented by booze and sex. We’ve got bare knuckle brawls and mud wrestling babes in two rings in the bar. The bar is in an old roadhouse at back of a rundown gas station (pre-fall this was a common amenity along the roads).

Nearby, about 12 miles away, is the town of New Jerusalem. It’s run by a preacher called Moon, and presided over by the local Sheriff. The folks there don’t tolerate booze, sex or fighting in town limits, so regular old battered, battery powered buses run out to the pig pen, so the townies can get their jollies. Naturally some folk are not best pleased about that.

We also have a biker gang run by Jackson, who unknown to most, is the preachers half brother.

I set a few scenes where the players could role play their characters, but was dissapointed by the lack of any real buy in. I had the driver and brainer approaching the town, in the big old muscle car, engine throbbing in the sunset, along the arrow straight road. Cue players – go! Nothing! OK, so what do you guys talk about? “Nothing – we can speak volumes with a single glance”. OK, cool, let’s note that one for the future.

We had the others in the bar, watching the fights and wrestling. OK you’re all there drinking – go! Nothing! Maybe I should have thrown an NPC in their face, all drunk and nasty?

All the group seemed to totally ignore all the relationships formed during Hx, and expressed strong dislike for any “inter party conflict”. Hmm, so I’ll have to provide all the impetus and antagonism they need. I think we’re missing out on a big part of the game there, but will make a story of “us vs them” to accommodate. After all, it’s their story. I’m sure conflict will arrive soon enough, and I’m really looking forward to find out how the story develops…

Did I have too high expectations from the group maybe? Any advice on how to encourage role play appreciated. Any other advice you guys can provide also appreciated. I’ll be doing threat maps etc. later this evening (+1 GMT here, UK time).