Uncommon World

Basic Moves - Parley

Uncommon World is a customizable fantasy roleplaying game using the PbtA system and designed to work with over 400 playbooks. Characters are defined using the standard array of six stats (CHArisma, CONstitution, DEXterity, INTelligence, STRength, and WISdom). You can choose the basic and advanced moves most relevant to your players, selected from over a dozen different systems and adapted to be compatible with one another.

Select each move that you prefer from the options presented; feel free to click Next and skip the types of moves that you are not interested in. On any subsequent page, you can select “Save and continue later” to resume later.

Once you have made all your selections, they will be summarized for you and can be downloaded as a PDF.

Alternatively, if you want to spend more time reading and reviewing, you can copy and paste and build your own choices from either a PDF or HTML document.

Credits... CA: Chasing Adventure is © 2021 by Spencer Moore. Used by permission. DW: Dungeon World is the work of Sage Kobold and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. FW: Fantasy World by Alessandro Piroddi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 4W: Fourth World by Lester Ward is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. FotF: Freebooters on the Frontier by Jason Lutes is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license. HBW: Homebrew World by Jeremy Strandberg is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States. OSW: One Shot World by Yochai Gal is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. PW: Perilous Wilds by Jason Lutes and Jeremy Strandberg is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license. UD: Unlimited Dungeons is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. UMF: Urban/Modern/Fantasy by Tam H of katamoiran games is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 (Tam has also compiled the Big List of Playbooks). WoA: Worlds of Adventure by Cameron Burns is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. YAPFPH: Yet Another Fantasy PbtA Hack by J. Alan Henning is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 United States.

Basic Moves

1. ParleySelect the wording you intend to use.

When you press or entice an NPC, say what you want them to do (or not do). If they have reason to resist, roll+CHA. On a 10+, they either do as you want or reveal the easiest way to convince them. On a 7–9, they reveal something you can do to convince them, though it’ll likely be costly, tricky, or distasteful. The GM should consider what might convince them, using this list for inspiration: • a promise/an oath/a vow • a chance to do it safely/freely/discretely • appeasing or appealing to their ego/honor/conscience/fears • a convincing deception • a better/fair/excessive offer • helping them/doing it with them • violence (or a credible threat thereof) • something they want or need (coin/food/booze/art/etc.) • concrete assurance/proof/collaboration • pressure from ________ • permission from ________ • assistance from ________. [Source: 4W]
When you influence or manipulate an NPC to do something they normally wouldn't do, roll+CHA. On a hit, they reveal the easiest way to convince them to go along. On a 7-9, they reveal something you can do to convince them, though it’ll likely be costly, tricky, or distasteful. (Note that “easiest” does not necessarily mean easy to accomplish, convincing a royal guard to let you by is still a challenging task. Parley is not mind control in that regard, nor is it just asking nicely. If you have leverage on them, the GM should take it into consideration when telling you their costs.) [Source: UD]
When you try to convince someone to agree and go along with you >>> If your actions or words convey violence check the Threaten move. If you can, use that instead. What could convince them? • a solemn promise / oath / vow • a safe / free / discreet way to do it • leaning on their ego / honor / fear / etc. • a convincing deception • a better / fair / excessive offer • help doing it / help with other stuff • something they want or need • pressure / permission / help from ____ <<< clarify what you want them to do. They will ponder their opinions, desires, motivations and then choose: • yes, they are convinced and will go along with you unless or until something betrays the reasons you gave them. • no, they hesitate, haggle, or refuse ... so you must roll+Cha. For NPCs: 10+ = be it grudgingly or happily their answer becomes yes as above; 7-9 = their words or actions convey a way to get a yes; the GM will express it clearly. If you can't or won't comply, the GM performs a Soft Reaction. 1-6 = GM Reaction. For PCs: 10+ = both effects from the 7-9 list; 7-9 = you choose one: • if they go along with you, they earn 1 XP • if they refuse, they get Disadvantage ongoing until the next Recover move; 1-6 = GM Reaction. [Source: FW]
When you press or entice someone into a course of action, say what you want them to do (or not to do), give them a reason (leverage), and roll+CHA. For NPCs: On a 10+, they’ll do what you want until some fact or action betrays the reason you gave them. On a 7-9, they’ll do it, but they’ll need some extra incentive first. For PCs: On a 7+, they mark XP if they do as you ask. On a 7-9, they can choose to ask you for something in return. On a 6-, they’re under no obligations to do as you ask. [Source: WoA]
When you press or entice an NPC, say what you want them to do (or not do). If they have reason to resist, roll+CHA: on a 10+, they either do as you want or reveal the easiest way to convince them; on a 7-9, they reveal something you can do to convince them, though it’ll likely be costly, tricky, or distasteful.
When you press or entice a PC and they resist, you can roll +CHA: on a 10+, both; on a 7-9, pick 1: • They mark XP if they do what you want • They must do what you want, or reveal how you could convince them to do so. [Source: HBW]