Updating threats

Threats change over time. Between each session, review your threats and update them as needed. For each threat, if…

• … it's no longer a threat (because it's dead, it's left, the conflict has been resolved, etc.), then cross it off the threat tracker;
• … its threat type no longer rings true (because you got it wrong, or because its nature has changed), then pick a new one;
• … its instinct no longer rings true or has changed, then revise it;
• … there's something new that you want to remember, then add that to its description;
• … any of its grim portents have come to pass, then tick them off;
• … the PCs foiled it or changed its course, then update its grim portents and impending doom appropriately, or cross them off if the doom has been completely averted;
• … it's moving towards something bad (but it wasn't before), then write an impending doom and grim portents;
• … any of its stakes questions were answered, or are no longer relevant, cross them off;
• … there's something new that you wonder about and that interests you, then write a new stakes question;
• … its behavior or capabilities have changed (or been revealed), then write some new GM moves for it; and/or
• … it moved closer or farther away, then move it from one threat tracker to another.

Consider also: did you introduce any new threats in play? Were there any new enemies or rivals? Any monsters that might return to cause trouble later? NPCs who the PCs can't trust? Groups in conflict, with the PCs or with the status quo? Did you introduce any difficult circumstances that will worsen or at least persist? Did the PCs acquire anything that others really want, or that will draw attention, or just cause trouble by itself? Write them up as threats.

We just finished our first session of actual play. Rheinal stumbled home. The crinwin abducted Pryder. The PCs organized an expedition to rescue him. There was a fair bit of interaction with the NPCs in town, and no small amount of drama.

I had previously written up Tegwen, Blodwen's mother, as a wildcard threat ("to nitpick and snipe"). But in play, I found myself portraying her as much nastier, more abusive and manipulative. Blodwen's player was on board with that, so I update her instinct to be "to undermine others' value," I make note of her attitude towards the various PCs, and I write some stakes questions ("How far will she go to control Blodwen? How much will Blodwen put up with?").

During that first session of play, we also met Owain, whose daughter disappeared the previous winter. He and Glenys (Caradoc's aunt and mother of Wynfor, who was abducted in the late-winter crinwin raid) were bitter and nasty towards the PCs, especially Rhianna.

I start writing them up as a rabble threat, but when I look at the threat moves, I realize that no, the parents aren't the threat. The threat is "Distrust of the PCs," an affliction*, and the parents are just wrapped up in it. I write it up as a threat (Instinct to fester). I don't have a sense for where this is going just yet, so I don't write an impending doom. But I am curious: Can Rhianna regain Owain and Glenys's respect? Will Glenys ever forgive Caradoc? I write those down as stakes questions.*