GLoGtober 24: Goblin World
Artist unknown. Detail from The Old Man & The Devils. 1910. Woodcut on paper.
GLoGtober '24 Challenge #2: 300 word hack.
Goblin World is a GLoGhack of Patchwork World by Aaron King. You play as class-y goblins going on hectic adventures.
To make a goblin, name them and write down a question that represents their Class. E.g.:
- Fighter - Is your weapon involved?
- Wizard - Did you prepare an appropriate spell in advance?
- Thief - Are you hidden from sight?
- Cleric - Does your deity command this?
Your goblin starts with 0 XP and one item they never leave home without.
One player is the Goblinmaster (GM). They describe a scene, then the other players describe how their goblins respond. The GM describes how that changes the scene. So on, so forth, forever.
When your goblin attempts something with an uncertain and interesting outcome, roll 2d6, then add 1 for each question you can answer with an enthusiastic "yes":
- Do you have a relevant piece of gear?
- Are you acting on a known weakness or opportunity?
- Each question on their character sheet.
For each question, you (or anyone else at the table) answers with a "hell no!" add -1 instead.
- On a 10+, you succeed!
- On a 7-9, you succeed but at a cost.
- On a 6-, you fail. Mark 1 XP.
Whenever your goblin is harmed or embarrassed, cross out one of their uncrossed Classes. They can't use that question until they get a good night's sleep. If you can't, they die. Make a new one!
Spend XP equal to five times your goblin's number of Classes to gain a new Class. Invent another question.
As GM, play to find out what happens. Monsters and traps have exclamations like "pounce!" or "disintegrate!" Scary ones have multiple. When they take damage, cross them off. When a goblin fails, use one of the exclamations on them.