dungeon world game notes

Venice Dungeon World game notes

Primary setting - fantasy venice
- formed from communities around a lagoon that banded together for protection
 - have players name and describe them - species, one of their customs, how they sound when they talk
- ruled by a Most Serene Duke, who rules for life, and his Ring of Ten Nobles from the ruling Families
 - ask players for one or two important members, a few ruling Families and their "theme"
- designate a central area of the city and have players create or describe areas in it
  - ask where key things are
- guilds - have players come up with a few
- huge focus on commerce - traders, merchant guild, mercenary forces (war as a continuation of commerce)

major themes
- advancement and intelligence - this city is the most advanced in the world and is discovering new things ALL OF THE TIME
 - printing press, books, architectural methods
 - magic pared down into rote actions - most people know a little bit of magic
  - what about people who can't do magic? possibly focus their talents elsewhere
 - initial developments into gunpowder technology - cannon is widespread, looking into muskets and such
- religious and personal freedoms
- seedy underbelly, crime rampant
- warring families looking for power and more control.
- STAGNATION
 - families have been in charge for centuries
 - very little social movement - a stoneworker is stuck as a stoneworker
 - ruling families are reviewed every twenty years and are chosen for the Ring of Ten - lots of fighting to be in the top spot
 - rebellions often crushed swiftly

players start as IMPORTANT people - wealthy (although not too much), good-looking, fabulous
!!!this won't last!!!
stress that players should try things they'd be afraid to do in a more traditional setting/rpg/campaign - sexually active characters, homosexual/gender reassigned characters, very alien characters, characters who may have an impediment such as being unable to speak.

interesting facts about the republic of venice
- architecture designed to look good from the land and sea
 - what about bits people don't see often? probly look crap
- nobles were often hard-working businessmen and this not wealthy
 - low-class people more respectful of their nobles as a result, but not too much
- importer of artistic talent
 - stolen treasures from wars on display?
 - attracts artists via wealth - join our guilds? set up your own schools? fat cash bags from doing jobs for nobles?