GMing Dwindle pt 2 Complications and Consequences

 Dwindle gives lots of room for both Complications and Consequences. Complications come in the form of Setbacks (discussed in an earlier post), and Consequences are the results of the PCs' Failures and Successes. Yes, their Successes.

Often in games, we talk about Failing Forward. This is the concept that when a character fails, the plot still advances. This is great narrative advice. I suggest GMs and Players alike keep it in mind as they play. GMs because they are sort of in charge of the plot, and Players, because they should not be afraid of having their characters fail in interesting ways.

Successes causing Consequences might be named Succeeding Sideways in the same vein. This is a technique best employed in a long-term game. 

My Dwindle group Succeeded in implementing the Lady of Chaos' plan so they could gain a steady stream of hell shrooms. The consequence was that they opened a portal to the realm of chaos in a warehouse basement in a major city. The resulting chaos and destruction, of course, came to the attention of the Empire at large, which brought in forces that wish to stop the destruction and chaos. The players Succeeded in abandoning the city (and therefore their steady stream of Hell-Shrooms and the income from their speakeasy under Tom's Lovely Buns). They resurfaced in Santa Cora (we are using the 13th Age Dragon Empire map) and succeeded in hosting a rave with illegal drugs in the middle of town. The cops came sniffing around, and the PCs Succeeded in  swatting an innocent purple faun and his kids, and then they succeeded in weaponizing some Kaiju sized collectable fighting pets. The resulting destruction caused the loss of 28 lives, 30 if you count the Kaiju).

So their Successes have consequences. They want something to happen, and the world reacts to what they put into motion. They didn't think about the buildings the Kaijus would collapse, they just wanted the cops off of their tails. Their destruction will catch up with them, and when it does, they'll either pass or succeed to get out of it. And whatever results they have, more consequences will be waiting for them.