The Roleup Project : Blog : 2025-08-16


Ironsworn GMless

Yesterday we played Ironsworn in GMless mode. Some of us who had played this before came with rather different ideas of how to play it. This led to a long and fruitful Discord conversation, which uncovered real differences of opinion in how to deal with at-table social dynamics, particularly how to allocate narrational authority, and how to balance the space occupied by the players at the table.

The Discord conversation, with many participants, shifted around, which made it hard for me to pin down my own idea of how I fantasize the game to go. So I slept on it and then wrote this down.

I prioritize character > story >> system, because I don't want Ironsworn to be B/X with d10s. I find Ironsworn's system meh, but this doesn't bother me; it's not the important part.

I also prioritize cooperation > consensus >> rules because this is a voluntary recreational social activity for me. I want to have a good time with current and future friends.

Disclaimers: First draft. Not prescriptive. This is not the way to play Ironsworn GMless, but rather the way I imagine it. These are guidelines, not rules, and meant to be bent. Based on my own thoughts and experiences. Parts lifted straight from Dungeon World. Your mileage may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Alex's fantasy guidelines for Ironsworn GMless

  1. CAUSE AND HAVE FUN: You have a positive obligation to make sure you and other players have fun. This means learning over time what makes you happy and works with other players.

  2. FOCUS ON THE STORY: Start and end with the fiction. The system serves the story. Describe what you as your character are doing. Don't name the move. The table may decide to use a move or oracle to shape the outcome, or not.

  3. PLAY IN CHARACTER: Spend the majority of play time in character. Speak as your character in the first person. Tell your emotional state and intentions, and describe your actions. Make choices in character; consider fictional consequences rather than system-mechanical outcomes.

  4. HAVE RELATIONSHIPS: Address other characters, not players. Character development happens within relationships, as well as in situations.

  5. NARRATE THE PRESENT: Narrate the here and now; the outcomes of character's actions; what they see, hear, and feel. Success or failure, move the story one step forward. Avoid generalities and things outside the scene. Play to find out.

  6. SAY YES-AND: Respond directly to other characters' intent and actions, as a character or narrator. Consider, adopt, and build on what came before. Introduce novel elements sparingly.

  7. PASS THE BALL: Move the spotlight to the character who least recently had it. Ask a question to hand narration to a player who has narrated less. Be mindful of the space you take in the story and at the table.

  8. TALK ABOVE THE TABLE: Sometimes, have a conversation among players about setting, lore, rules, boundaries, retcons, play style, pizza toppings, whatever. Do this consciously, then go back into character.