Microscope RPG as a World Burner?

Burning Wheel Modifications, Hacks and Expansions
1

So I’m sure a lot of people on the forums are familiar with Ben Robbins of West Marches fame. I didn’t know this, but he came out with a game last year called Microscope, which he dubs as a “fractal” RPG. Basically the whole game is a GM-less RPG where you communally create a setting and history by taking turns defining certain events and parameters and by roleplaying specific scenes to help iron out the details. I just ordered a copy, and I don’t have it yet, but my thoughts are that the communal (even egalitarian) nature of the game and its focus on creating a compelling, vibrant world chock full of problems and mystery (with roleplaying!) seems like a natural fit for a World Burner.

Has anybody played this game? Would it work as a World Burner, or am I misunderstanding it?

If so, then I find it VERY exciting.

2

My group played a game describing the rise and fall of a dwarven hold–and liked it enough that we set a BW campaign in the aftermath. It works very well that way, though I would suggest keeping what you can do easily in BW when you’re setting the things that are allowed/prohibited. If you establish that gnomes control the world’s ley lines, you’re going to need to create rules for gnomes, ley lines and what they do when you start the campaign!

3

The fellow from Age of Ravens uses Microscope to make settings for various non-BW games that he runs. I’ve always imagined it’d work well for making a BW setting. I’ve had it for a while, but have yet to take it for a spin.