(Press play for an audio version of the example of play, read by Aaron Catano-Saez.)

Below is an example of play for a one-on-one game between a narrator and a player in a fairly typical fantasy setting. This scenario uses optional equipment rules like you might find in Descriptors: Definitive Edition (called Variations). In brief, you can pick up an item that has its own adjectives, and use those adjectives in place of your own. Once all of the item’s adjectives have been spent, the item is used up and is crossed off of your character sheet.

Introduction

The character is as follows:

Razmile, The Wizard – Cunning, Resourceful, Wise, Grumpy

Razmile is a reclusive wizard that occasionally works with local nobles and the Wizards’ Guild. He spends his free time conducting experiments and baking.

The opening scene takes place as a messenger knocks on the front door of Razmile’s house.

Scene 1: Summons

[Narrator] Interior: your house. You hear a knocking at your front door and a messenger clears his throat. Please describe your place and what you are up to.

[Razmile] I am bustling around my kitchen and sipping coffee from a large stein. I groan. “Be right there,” I shout in an annoyed tone as I open the door.

[Note: Descriptors is a great game for play-by-post (PbP) games held on forums or through chat and messaging services. When playing by post, encourage players to include the name, descriptor, and current adjectives at the end of each post as a means of tracking a character’s current status. While it may not be needed for a one on one game. it is extremely helpful in multiplayer games. You’ll see an example of this as this play through progresses.]

[Narrator] A young woman stumbles in. She is rail thin with big eyes, practically milk white skin, red hair, and freckles. She is dressed in impractically gaudy robes marking her as an official messenger of the court.

“Razmile is hereby summoned by the court to enchant a royal robe to remain clean and wear-free,” she announces, obviously feeling sheepish as she blurts out the words.

[Razmile] “They want me to WHAT?! I am an enchanter! I have the power to rend what limited imaginations consider real! And they want me to keep robes clean?! Be GONE and tell them to hire a cleaner!”

[Narrator as the exasperated messenger] “Ach! Well the kingdom is at peace so you can hardly blame ‘em for not wantin’ ye to pick a fight with a dragon. It’s on ye ef ye fool with a big lizard or some such. ‘Sides they reminded me yeh can’t really say no with yer still owin’ for the time ye accidentally summoned some horn-headed fiend in town.”

She sighs, “Listen Raz — can I call ye Raz? Do et for me if nothin’ else. If I come back with ‘no,’ they will blame me then send someone else to get ye anywhy. I get punished and ye get yer arse dragged in later. Havin’ ye do the curtains at that point te boot. Don’t kill the me for deliverin’ the message. Aye?”

[Razmile] “First you may NOT call me ‘Raz’” he says with pointed finger quotes. “Razmile is already my short-name for Razmiledinranvan, Whisperer of Ways, Keeper of Secrets! Be glad I don’t insist on my full name! Second…” He trails off, considering his past ‘accidents.’ Grumbling, he mutters, “Fine!”

Hmm something seems fishy about this request, I’m going to spend “Wise” to see if, based on what I know of the courts, there’s maybe another motive behind this request? Also, may I fish for adjectives while I’m home?

Razmile, The Wizard – Cunning, Resourceful, ~~Wise~~, Grumpy

[Narrator] The messenger smiled briefly at the word ‘fine’ before bolting like a startled rabbit. “I’ll let them know you are on the way! Thank ye!” She shouted the last word as she was already an impressive distance away by the end of the sentence.

I will accept the spending of ‘Wise’ and tell you they are vain enough to want the enchantment for the robe. However, that is almost certainly not the only thing they will request when you get there. It is a season for dances and parties: they may want help magically or socially for intrigue.

You may fish for two adjectives.

[Razmile] I’ll pack up some “Herb Bread” for the journey, it is “Seasoned” and “Fragrant.”

Razmile, The Wizard – Cunning, Resourceful, Grumpy

Herb Bread: Seasoned, Fragrant

Scene 2: Journey

[Narrator] OK approved! You now have the bread and you are ready to begin the journey it is “Cold” and “Windy” out. I will let you spend an adjective to activate either of those while you are outside if you like. Keep that in mind as you play.

[Note: The narrator is basically giving away some free fishing adjectives here. Razmile doesn’t end up using them in this scenario, though. It’s a good way to avoid unnecessary back-and-forth about fishing, and it may signal that the narrator expects there to be enough trouble that the player needs the extra adjectives on hand!]

[Razmile] I make my way out to the court, keeping an eye out for magic ingredients as I go.

[Note: Without saying it outright, Razmile’s player is insinuating they’ll go fishing if that’s possible during the journey.]

[Narrator] I have good news followed by bad. In good news, you find a small hallucinogenic mushroom on the side of the path. However, soon after you see goblin footprints and signs of a scuffle nearby.

Feel free to take an item “Mushroom: Hallucinogenic.”

[Razmile] I take the Mushroom and proceed carefully.

Razmile, The Wizard – Cunning, Resourceful, Grumpy

Herb Bread: Seasoned, Fragrant
Mushroom: Hallucinogenic

Scene 3: Bandits

[Narrator] Ahead you see the messenger from before, but she’s surrounded by six goblins: three-foot-tall, greenish skinned, wicked little creatures from the lands of fairy, with sharp nails and maws filled with needle-like fangs! The messenger is still a little too far out from the town wall for the guards to see.

You have two potential things to overcome. One is to get past the goblins and the other is to rescue the messenger should you opt to.

[Razmile] OK so here is what I do! I spend “Hallucinogenic,” using up the mushroom as a material component to cast a distracting (or maybe blinding?) illusion spell: a spray of rainbow-colored patterns scintillating with magical energy. May I spend “Cunning” to activate the messenger as a self-rescuing damsel?

Razmile, The Wizard – ~~Cunning~~, Resourceful, Grumpy

Herb Bread: Seasoned, Fragrant
Mushroom: Hallucinogenic

[Note: Razmile’s player knows this is a tough challenge, which means it’s going to cost him two adjectives to succeed. He’s all for that, but does it on his own terms without wading into the fray, narratively speaking. Note also how he uses the mushroom’s Hallucinogenic to create a spell: that’s what using an adjective to trigger a descriptor looks like. In this case it’s Razmile’s descriptor “The Wizard” allowing him to cast a spell on the goblins.]

[Narrator] Accepted! The goblins are startled and the messenger is able to quickly judge which is the leader. Since he is distracted, she is able to pull the curved shortsword out of the goblin’s own sheath, and as she does she kicks him squarely in the chest. “Run!” she shouts, swinging the sword and sending the goblins scattering, as they clearly hoped for an easier target!

She smiles brightly and exclaims, “Raz! Ye great bastard! Yer wonderful.”

[Razmile] “Its Razmile!” he says in an exasperated tone. “Let’s get out of here before they come back with a bunch of their friends…”

Razmile, The Wizard – Resourceful, Grumpy

Herb Bread: Seasoned, Fragrant

The end, for now!

Other Replays

The following links will bring you to other actual play podcasts, blogs, and videos featuring Descriptors!

Worldbuilder’s Anvil

The Worldbuilder’s Anvil podcast used Descriptors as a means to test out a specific village and some conflicts meant to appear in the fantasy novel setting of Gardul. Follow as podcast creator Jeffery W. Ingram and Michael Miller explore this setting in “The Wine Steward.”

Not an actual play, but Episode 187 Pathway to DOOM mentions how to use simple roleplaying games like Descriptors to perform various “stress tests” when building a fictional world for a novel, tabletop game, movie, television series, comic series, video game, or other medium.

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