Hi! So, the Powered by Apocalypse rules (specifically Apocalypse World and Dungeon World) have two distinct methods for dealing with PC relationships. Apocalypse World uses History (Hx) as a stat, which can go up and down. Each time it goes up past Hx+4 or down past Hx-4, you reset it to Hx+1 or Hx-1 and mark XP. Dungeon World uses Bonds, where each character has a particular relationship with another character, and if that relationship status gets resolved with another character by the end of the session, it gets scratched out, rewritten, and the character marks XP.

Can someone explain to me the different ideas behind these? Design intents, consequences...the big idea? I don't know what purpose they each serve that the other doesn't, and what role they each fill in a game.
This message was last updated by a moderator, as it was the wrong forum, at 04:40, Mon 06 Apr 2015.

The big picture (to me) is that the two stats and their tie-ins give you a starting point for relationships and reasons to complicate them. It builds drama and tension in the party, both of which drive story.

Personally, I like the Hx stat better than bonds. It's a concrete number to help in the aside/hinder rolls present in both games.