Interfere
Invoke this move when a PC acts, another PC tries to stop them, and the first PC persists. Stop and discuss the situation, giving both players the chance to back off. Either player can relent without going to the dice.
On a 7+, the initial player (the one being interfered with) chooses: act anyway with disadvantage on their next roll, or relent. If they choose to act, but doing so doesn’t trigger a move, then they take disadvantage on their next roll—even if that roll is unrelated. Ask the acting player why the disadvantage lingers. Maybe they’re angry or distracted, or doubting themselves.
On a 7-9, the Interfering character is off-balance, exposed, or vulnerable. Give the other PC an opportunity to retaliate. If that’s impossible or unlikely, put the Interfering character in a spot and/or shift the spotlight to someone else.
On a 6-, the obvious outcome is that they fail to prevent the initial PC’s action. The initial PC does what they started doing, and either that triggers a player move or you say what happens. Don’t let the initial PC back down now! They committed, or else Interfere wouldn’t have been rolled.
Technically, though, a 6- to Interfere means you get to make a hard GM move. Maybe the Interfering PC foils the initial action after all, but doing makes things much, much worse.
To be clear: Interfere doesn’t apply against monsters or most NPCs. It might apply against followers, when they’re acting on another PC’s orders, but you’ll need to figure that out case-by-case.
Example
Wynfor just stabbed Blodwen, to everyone’s surprise, and Rhianna reacts: “Oh screw this. I shoot her. In the leg.”
Even though Blodwen just got stabbed by the glassy-eyed girl, she’s says “RHIANNA, NO!” and puts her hand up to stop her. I ask Rhianna if she shoots. If she does, Blodwen will be Interfering.
But Rhianna holds her shot. “I’ve still got my bow drawn, though. ‘Back off, girl, and drop the knife. I’d rather not have to explain a hole in your leg to your ma.’”
Example
Caradoc is still hearing the swyn’s voice, hissing bad ideas in his head, and Rhianna just gave him a dressing down. I lean in and say “Sssseee? Contempt! Shhhow her what you’re made ovvv.” I offer him an XP if he attacks Rhianna, and he goes for it.
“I growl and swing my shield at her, like SHUT UP! Clash?”
“Probably, but hold on. Rhianna, Caradoc is attacking you, what do you do?”
“What? No. I step back, dodging that shield and kicking his leg out from under him.”
Caradoc doesn’t back down and neither does Rhianna, so she rolls +DEX to Interfere. She gets a 7. Caradoc can either Clash with disadvantage or let his attack be foiled. He lets it be foiled, but Rhianna’s off-balance and/or vulnerable.
“Rhianna, you kick Caradoc’s leg out but he tumbles into you. You both fall, him on top. Caradoc, you’re on your back, Rhianna under you, her face right by your elbow, and that voice hissing ‘ssstrike her!’ What do you do?”
Example
Rhianna falls back and walks with Vahid for a bit. “Vahid, what’s up with you and Eira? You’re creeping her out.” Vahid is evasive and Rhianna’s like “ Yeah, I stop and peer through your enigmatic old man routine. Seek Insight?”
“Sure,” I say. Vahid asks if there’s anything he can do about that. “ You can Interfere. But tell us what that looks like.”
“I smile awkwardly and say something about being a lonely old man looking at a pretty younger woman, even though that’s not what’s going on at all.” Interesting! We agree that he’s Interfering and rolls +CHA. He rolls a 4.
I consider turning his move back on him and giving Rhianna advantage to Seek Insight. But I’d rather let this issue simmer, so I announce trouble and cut the conversation short. “Rhianna, he gives you that bogus line but before you can process it, Garet yells ‘DRAKES!’ and there’s a snarl and shouting up ahead, what do you do?”
Example
Thornthumb offers Blodwen a pretty flower, and she goes to take it. Vahid Interferes, trying to slap it from the spriggans’ hand. He gets a 10, but Blodwen decides to take the flower anyhow. “I think he knocks it out of my hand, and I’m like ‘Vahid! Apologize!’” Vahid clenches his jaw and apologizes, then stomps off. Thornthumb grins as he goes.
Because she acted despite Vahid’s 10+ to Interfere, Blodwen has disadvantage on her next roll. I ask her why she thinks that is.
“I’m disturbed,” she says. “I’m telling myself that the flower was just a sweet gesture, but I keep thinking about Thornthumb’s grin and wondering if Vahid was right.”