The Basic Moves

The basic moves are shared by all Player Characters and provide the basic structure for story interactions. They help you zoom in on dramatic moments, create tension, and tell the GM when to complicate the PCs’ lives.

Reading the Moves

Each move has a name, a trigger, and a description of what happens depending on what you roll. Remember that a down beat is 6-, a mixed beat is 7–9, and an up beat is 10+.

Each move description is followed by additional notes and clarification not found on the Basic Moves Reference.

The moves are written with the convention that “you” always refers to the person making the move, and “they” refers to someone else, a person affected by the move.

If a move tells you to choose a number of options from a list, you can’t choose the same option twice unless instructed otherwise.

Danger Moves

Fight

When you seek to incapacitate someone with violence, roll +Daring or +Grace:

10+: Choose 3 and your opponent chooses 1 to apply to you in response

7–9: Choose 2 and your opponent chooses 1

• Flirt with or provoke your opponent and gain a String on them
• Through violence or cutting words, inflict a Condition
• Create an opportunity for an ally through prowess or distraction
• Take an object from your opponent or seize a superior position

You may not pick the same option more than once for a single Fight move. For instance, you can’t take three Strings on a roll of 10+.

Fighting always has a cost, even when you roll a 10+. It takes a toll on you, because your opponent always gets to choose an option from the list as well. You’re all capable and skilled, but you’ll likely need some Emotional Support after a violent encounter.

Still, sometimes Fighting is necessary. If your opponent is irredeemable, pile on Conditions until they no longer pose a threat. An adversary is Defeated after they take a certain number of Conditions: from one to five, depending on how formidable they are.

Remember, just because you’re crossing swords with someone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re rolling the Fight move. If your intent is to Figure Them Out, roll that move. You might Entice them or Defy Disaster on behalf of someone else. Roll this move when you’re trading blows and seeking to degrade the opponent’s ability to fight.

If you “take something” from the opponent, don’t get too philosophical or abstract. You have to be justified in the fiction. You might cut through their belt, or snatch the Rod of Power, or even seize the high ground or grab the controls of the starship from them. You shouldn’t be trying to take “their will to fight,” “their lungs,” or “their planet.” Look for things that are more in line with the scale of the other options. In addition, you may not take a PC’s sword without the player’s consent except through a GM move or if the PC is Defeated. Being deprived of your sword doesn’t have a mechanical effect, but people are emotionally attached to them.

Fight comes into play when a PC seeks to incapacitate someone, but many of the options provide narrative pathways to resolving the conflict in a different way. Strings suggest emotional vulnerability, allies get new opportunities, and you can take things from your opponent or change the circumstances of the conflict. This, along with the many other options available to PCs, means that it’s rare to simply slug it out with an opponent by repeatedly choosing to Fight them.

If two PCs seek to Fight, first make sure that incapacitating each other is the intent. It’s quite possible that someone is actually seeking to Figure Out or Entice someone instead (if not their opponent, then potentially an onlooker), and make sure it’s not a proxy for an out-of-character dispute that’s better resolved with a conversation between the players. If two PCs really wish to Fight, both characters roll the move and take turns resolving each option selected, roleplaying out what it looks like in the fiction. If one or both PCs are Defeated during resolution, they still get to resolve the other effects of their move before they’re incapacitated. So, if your opponent inflicts a Condition as their first choice and that Defeats you, you still get to make all your choices, take Strings, inflict Conditions, etc.

To be clear, this game doesn’t focus on PCs doing violence to one another, and it’s generally going to cause the PCs a heap of trouble, but sometimes feelings run hot and PCs do foolish things. If you do want to focus on duels between PCs, check out the Expanded Fight Moves optional rule on page 219.

Defy Disaster

When you push your limits to achieve something extraordinary that’s not covered by another move, or to avert an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, say what you’re willing to sacrifice and pick your approach:

• Might, endurance, or courage. +Daring
• Swiftness or elegance. +Grace
• Charm or social insight. +Heart
• Cleverness or knowledge. +Wit
• Willpower or metaphysical skill. +Spirit

10+: Do it with style. At the GM’s discretion, you may also learn new information, discover a new opportunity, or gain a String on someone.

7–9: The GM will offer you a hard choice or success with a sacrifice.

Defy Disaster is a catchall move to represent the broad range of situations that pose significant narrative tension but don’t fit neatly into the other moves. It’s also used when an obstacle is so formidable that you can’t even get into narrative position to make another move without first facing danger. For instance, some people are so fearsome or mesmerising that you have to Defy Disaster just to get into a position to Fight or Entice them.

In many cases, a PC can overcome dangerous situations without any kind of roll. You don’t need to reach for the dice every time there’s a possibility of a character failing. Protagonists inThirsty Sword Lesbiansdon’t need to roll to swing on a chandelier, spot clues at a crime scene, or make good time as they rush to reach the wedding in time to stop it. Let them swing on that chandelier as part of getting into position for a move—or to just look cool. Tell them what physical evidence they see at the crime scene and focus the investigation on the people involved. Have them arrive at the most dramatic moment, in the nick of time. If they fail to stop the wedding, it shouldn’t be because their horses were too slow, but because of how the drama unfolds once they’re on the scene.

When triggering this move, the danger can be physical (leap across the fire pit while archers shoot at you) or social (breach protocol to cut in line and bring your urgent warning to the Sovereign). You might be trying to smuggle contraband propaganda past the guards without them noticing, or struggling to keep from wisecracking during the Prophet’s speech.

Choose a stat that makes sense. Often several stats are fine choices, but no stat fits every situation. The GM has final say.

You may also Defy Disaster when harm is threatening to befall another person. You can generally only do this between moves; you can’t save a person from the direct mechanical consequences of a move they’re resolving. For instance, if the Spooky Witch rolls the Fight move and her opponent chooses to inflict a Condition on her, you can’t interrupt that consequence.

Often, however, the GM will announce that danger is looming. The giant sweeps her club towards someone, or therealCountess is about to enter the throne room and spoil the Trickster’s attempt to impersonate her. This is your best opportunity to Defy Disaster to avert the danger. If it’s not clear, check with the GM. The GM will make more of these “softer” setup moves in a game that has a more escapist or power fantasy tone, and inflict more direct consequences if the tone of the game is heavier. Also remember to check in with the other player, since they may want to take on the challenge without interference.

Defy Disaster requires GMs to think on their feet a bit more than moves with precisely defined effects, particularly on a mixed beat (7–9 result). When in doubt, take inspiration from what the PC was willing to sacrifice or give a dangerous NPC a String on the PC as the cost of success. The String could represent something like the NPC’s smug observation of the PC’s brush with danger or the NPC unexpectedly aiding the PC. And remember that the PC didn’t roll a down beat, so don’t give them “success” at a cost that is equivalent to failing. The sacrifice should be less than the danger they were trying to avert, or at least different, even in a game with a more serious tone.

On an up beat, the GM should make sure that the result is satisfying in a narrative sense. If Defying Disaster results in an achievement that moves the story forward, that certainly qualifies. Otherwise, give the PC an additional opportunity as a result of the up beat: perhaps impressing an NPC who offers a new approach or learning secret information that could be actionable later in the story.

If you create a setting that has a frequent, repeated source of danger, you may want to create a custom move to represent it (Customizing Basic Moves, page 221).

Stagger (Reactive Move)

When you suffer a staggering physical or emotional blow, choose an option from the following based on the number of Conditions you have marked.

4-5 Conditions:

• You’re rendered helpless for the scene
• You’re utterly humiliated and news will spread; this could be a consequence of a setback in the confrontation, or might be caused by something you confess in the heat of the moment
• Choose 2 from the “0-3 Conditions” options

0-3 Conditions:

• You lash out at someone whose regard matters to you: provoke them to do something foolish or harmful and take advantage of a String on them if you have one
• You hesitate or stumble and the opposition gains an opportunity
• You grin and bear the blow; mark two Conditions

This move triggers when something in the fiction seriously shakes your character’s emotional or physical well-being. This is often the result of a GM move, and the darker the tone, the more often the GM will invoke this move. If something occurs in the fiction that seems to qualify, though, you can invoke this move yourself to zoom in on the emotional consequences for your character.

Typically, the kind of blow that causes you to Stagger is more severe than one that merely inflicts a Condition. The blow might be physically staggering, like getting blasted with a laser beam or thrown off a balcony. It might be more emotional, like having someone’s words target your deep insecurities or facing betrayal by a loved one.

Heartstring Moves

Entice

When you appeal to someone’s physical or emotional sensibilities, roll +Heart:

10+: Gain a String on them and they choose 1

7–9: Gain a String on them, unless they decide instead to choose 1

• Get flustered and awkward
• Promise something they think you want
• Give in to desire

Enticing someone is the most basic way to get Strings on them. You might also find someone else at the table suggesting that you roll to Entice them because your PC has just done something sexy or romantic, even without intending to. This move doesn’t require that your character intend to turn the other person on.

If you try to Entice someone in a way that their player doesn’t think would work, you have a few options for resolving that:

• The player could tell you an alternative approach that might fit their character better, and you can rewind
• You could decide to abandon the move and take the story in another direction
• You can explain the move’s effects in a way that makes sense with the narrative: you gain a String on them because their reaction helps you understand them better, they get flustered and awkward because they’re uncomfortable, or they promise you something to make the awkwardness stop

This move builds in elements of safety and collaboration by giving the choice to the target of the move, and with the wording of the “Give in to desire” option. The target has to desire a course of action to be Enticed into it.

Optionally, your GM may allow you to direct an Entice at a group of people. This might cause them to collectively become flustered and awkward, offer you something, or give in to desire—or one of them might give you a String or choose one of the options.

This is the main move for directly influencing people and getting Strings on them, but if it doesn’t fit, consider trying to Figure Out the person and asking what they care about and what would make them change their minds. And, of course, any means of getting a String on someone can be used to Influence them by spending the String.

Figure Out a Person

When you try to understand a person, roll +Wit (+3 more if you spend a String on them):

10+: You may ask 2 questions, now or later in the scene

7–9: You may ask 2 questions, but they may ask 1 of you

• What are your feelings towards _____?
• What do you hope to get from ***?
• How could I get you to***?
• What do you love most?
• How would you feel if I _____?

The characters you encounter likely have hidden agendas, private desires, and intense angst. When you talk to or observe a person, you can invoke this move to learn more about their inner truth.

Yourcharacterdoesn’t have to literally ask the questions from the list, and the other character doesn’t necessarily speak the answers aloud. Rather, you can infer the answers from their body language, careful observation, or even metaphysical or technological sensing. If you’re having trouble coming up with a rationale for how you learn the information, call it intuition.

In addition to these questions, some truths only reveal themselves when you lock eyes across bared steel. If you’re in physical conflict, your playbook gives you two additional questions you may ask when you make this move. You get to ask one of them for free (even on a roll of 6-). You may choose to ask the other, too, but it counts as one of your choices for this move, rather than a bonus question you can ask for free.

Influence with a String

At any time, spend a String on someone to do one of the following:

• Offer them an XP to do something (don’t spend the String if they refuse the temptation)
• Find out what it will take to get them to do what you want (for an NPC, spending the String means they may simply agree)
• Add 1 to your roll against them (after rolling)
• Add or subtract 1 from any roll they make (after rolling)
• Each character may only spend one String to add or subtract from a given roll.

Narratively, spending a String represents one character wielding their emotional influence over another. They might be pressuring or tempting the other character to take a certain course of action (represented by the mechanical temptation to take the XP bribe). They might be taking advantage of their insight or burning some goodwill to figure out what it will take to get someone to do what they want. Their influence also lets them figure out just how to help or hurt the other character.

Only PCs have XP and make rolls. When you Influence NPCs, you may “find out what it will take to get them to do what you want,” or use Strings to alter rolls made to interact with them.

There is no basic move that simply lets you convince an NPC of something. If you want to change an NPC’s mind, either get emotional leverage or insight by getting a String on them or Figure Out their priorities. When you use a String to ask what it would take for them to do something, you’re cashing in some of your leverage with that NPC, so they’re more receptive to doing what you want than they are when you simply Figure Them Out. They may simply do it just because you asked, if it’s not too risky or onerous or if they really like you.

Influencing NPCs with Strings can be very manipulative. It’s one thing to encourage an NPC to overcome their fear and live openly the way they wish to, and quite another thing to encourage an NPC to conform to your desires for them. There’s certainly room in this game for stories about disaster lesbians behaving badly, but this can be an area where it’s wise to check in on the comfort levels of everyone at the table and make sure that toxic behavior in the story is recognized for what it is, rather than celebrated.

Smitten

When you become Smitten with someone (always your choice), say why, give them a String on you, and answer the question in the Truths of Heart and Blade section of your playbook:

• Beast: What have you done that you are sure they view as inappropriate?
• Chosen: How do our respective stations make it impossible to be together?
• Devoted: How does pursuing them conflict with your Devotion?
• Infamous: Why do you think they would be wrong to forgive you?
• Nature Witch: What is a clear challenge to being with them that you’re overlooking because of your naivete?
• Scoundrel: Why would your romance never last?
• Seeker: Which of your values do they openly violate or decry?
• Spooky Witch: What obvious thing about you are you sure would make them reject you?
• Trickster: What secret do you have that you think would make them reject you if they knew?

The purpose of the Smitten move is twofold. First, you signal to the rest of the table that this is something important that your character is feeling. Second, you describe one reason why that romance is fraught andinteresting. The GM may introduce other obstacles, as well.

There is no hard-and-fast trigger for the Smitten move beyond the player’s choice. People fall in love for many different reasons. Give it some thought whenever someone makes you blush or swoon, or if they gather multiple Strings relating to the way you feel about them. You are also free to declare that you are no longer Smitten, at any time.

In a particularly action-packed scene, wait until the end of the scene to resolve the Smitten move to keep the action flowing. You can still declare that you’re Smitten in the middle of the action, but resolve it at the end of the scene.

You may become Smitten as early as character creation, if you feel so moved.

The reason you always answer thesamequestion each time you’re Smitten is because each playbook revolves around a central emotional conflict, which keeps occuring and causing trouble in your life until you resolve it. If, however, this question doesn’t speak to your character’s conflict, feel free to rewrite it into something that has bite and creates the kind of drama and challenge you want for your character.

Finally Kiss, in a Dangerous Situation

When people finally kiss after a period of tension, each takes +1 ongoing to get to safety and protect the other for the rest of the scene.

If more than two people finally kiss in these circumstances, they all get the bonus. Each participant must be enthusiastic about kissing to trigger this move.

Recovery Moves

Emotional Support

When you offer someone support in a way that could be meaningful to them, roll +Heart or +Spirit (+3 more if you spend a String on them):

10+: If they open up to you, they choose 1 and you either choose 1 or take a String on them

7–9: If they open up to you, they choose 1

• Clear a Condition
• Mark XP
• +1 forward
• Gain insight from the GM about an obstacle facing one of you

If they’re Smitten with you, they may choose an additional option.

If you’re Smitten with them and they refuse to open up to you, it stings. You mark a Condition.

Emotional moments are a crucial part of Thirsty Sword Lesbians, and the Emotional Support move exists to motivate and complicate those moments. First of all, this is the central way that characters can help one another recover from Conditions. Second, it can be a ton of fun when Emotional Support goes awry. Maybe you put your foot in your mouth by saying just the wrong thing, or maybe you’re starting to forge a deep connection and your lips are just an inch away from theirs when the window shatters and your nemesis rolls in, sword drawn.

Support means different things to different people. It might be a heartfelt conversation, sitting quietly and watching the flow of a river, or blowing off steam with a rough-and-tumble match of space derby or a roll in the hay. A person might open up by spilling their life story, or by shedding a silent tear and leaning against their friend’s shoulder. Whatever feels meaningful to the characters is fair play.

It’s entirely possible that your caring gesture prompts the recipient to become Smitten with you. In this case, they get the benefit of being Smitten with you and may choose an additional option from the list. For ease of play, resolve Emotional Support first and then the Smitten move.

You can also provide Emotional Support to NPCs. An NPC will generally open up to you if they have a Condition. If there are unusual circumstances, for instance, if you or your known allies inflicted that Condition, they may or may not open up to you—the GM will decide. In the stories told with this game, people who are hurting are often open and a little bit vulnerable with the PCs, perhaps more than you might expect.

Special Moves

Call on a Toxic Power

When you parley with a Toxic Power, ask it your question and roll +Spirit:

10+: It answers the question and grants you +1 forward to act on the information

7–9: It answers the question and the GM chooses 1

• It takes something from you, either knowledge, reputation, or something physical
• You mark a Condition
• It gains a String on you

The world you inhabit likely contains Toxic Powers such as evil gods, exploitative corporations, oppressive Space Popes, or patriarchal governments. You can approach them and you may even find them helpful at times, but only those with strong Spirit can engage with them and emerge unscathed.

End of Session

At the end of every session, each player marks XP if, during the session:

• Any PC confessed their love
• Any PC struck a blow against oppression or de-escalated a violent situation
• Any PC leapt into danger with daring and panache
• Any player used a safety practice such as adding to the palette or checking in

Each PC marks XP for each condition that is met by anyone in the group. In other words, each PC marks the same number of XP as a result of this move.

These XP rewards exist primarily for the group to take a moment to reflect on the heroic and intense moments in the story, and to thank players who helped foster a culture of mutual care by looking out for one another or for their own well-being. Interpret this move broadly and look for reasons to celebrate aspects of play, not reasons to deny the XP.