People and Other Hazards: More Moves from the Climbers

Now for the last of my material from my long running Apocalypse World game, the Climbers. Here are some moves, mostly unused, pertaining to people and places from the game.

People and Other Hazards

A major front that didn't see much fruition related to the Touchstone's goal of creating a new republic. After the Gunlugger took over the holding she had devoted so much energy to freeing, the Touchstone had to look for some place new. Sadly everyone else's story was ending quickly and I felt I'd spent enough time following her story. There wasn't enough decisiveness to it.

Anyway in the end I gave her a target for a new holding, someone who make it happen (at a potentially high cost), and some trouble in establishing it. Almost none of this came into use in the game.

The Cinema

A potential holding location, the ruined sixteen theater cinema had two flaws: it was a slaver hideout and it was surrounded by toxic plants.

Kind: Landscape – Fortress
Impulse: to deny access

Killer Kudzu: When you try to traverse the Kudzu roll +Sharp. On a hit you make it across. On a 10+ pick 2. On a 7-9 pick 1. On a miss you are stuck partway.

• No one gets poisoned (which deals 1-harm (ap) ongoing).
• You don't lose something.
• You can use this route again.

Fire's Anger

This hard looking woman is somewhere in her late teens. She keeps her dark hair short, exposing a number of scars and her fierce eyes. She wears real armor made from scavenged tactical vests and metal plates.

The second in charge of the Militia (a.k.a. Lieutenant), Fire is known for temper.

I introduced Fire initially as insurance in case the group made A.T. an ally. That way the Militia might remain a threat. Later she served as a counter to Violet. But when gator revealed he once had a daughter I knew had one of two choices. I decided Fire had the most potential for drama.

Kind: Affliction – Delusion
Impulse: to dominate people's choices and actions
Cast: Fire (who hates her father for failing her and wants revenge on Gator for destroying the Militia's dream of a democratic Big Ship)

Fire has the following custom move:

Play with Fire: when fighting against Fire suffer +1 harm. Gain +1 forward when you help her plans.

The Election

At some point a holding working under democratic principles will need to elect a leader. That choice will dominate everyone's attention.

Kind: Affliction - Delusion
Impulse: to dominate people’s choices and actions
Cast: Fire (with an authoritarian bent of enforced liberties), Wisher (running his campaign as cult of personality), Boo (supporting town hall style democracy), AOL (pushing for libertarian anarchy), Morgana (who support military strength first)

Decide the Votes: If you have followers or a gang who are included in the electorate, you may be able to dictate their votes. If Fortunes, Pack Alpha or Leadership yields a success gain 1 Hold (2 hold for a large gang).

Sway the Electorate: After candidates are decided and voters determined, any PCs can roll +hot to influence the crowd. On a hit, hold 2. On a 10+ diminish someone else's hold by 1. On a miss, someone takes violent action against you.

Voting: Spend hold to give a candidate a bonus. The MC will spend 2 hold of his own. The highest tally wins.

Lost Love Letter

Finally an unused love letter from the mid-game.

Gator,

Your gang gets hired to defend a holding. If you lead them roll+hard, you suffer what they suffer. If you just direct them roll+cool. On a hit pick one.

• You earn 2-barter.
• The team secures a working bit of tech: a functional landmine, a cache of grenades, or a jeep.
• The locals are impressed and three join the gang.

On a 10+ nobody suffers worse than a few scrapes. On a 7-9, there are injuries and one of the attackers had the climbers. Some of the team got exposed. On a miss, I'll get back to you, you or your team is pinned down someplace.