Dungeon World Book

Dungeon World
The Bard
Dungeon
World
Dungeon World is a world of fantastic adventure. A world of magic, gods,

demons, Good and Evil. Brave heroes
venture into the most dangerous corners
of the land in search of gold and glory.
You are those heroes. You go where others cant or wont. You conquer the unbeatable and laugh in the face of Death.
There are monstrous things lurking in
the world. Are you ready to face them?
The Bard
Sure, an adventurers life is all open roads
and the glory of coin and combat. Those
tales that are told in every farmhandlled inn have to have some ring of truth
to them, dont they? The songs to inspire
peasantry and royals aliketo soothe
the savage beast or drive men to a frenzy
have to come from somewhere.
Enter the Bard. You, with your smooth
tongue and quick wit. You teller-of-tales
and singer-of-songs. It takes a mere
minstrel to retell a thing but a true Bard
to live it. Strap on your boots, noble orator. Sharpen that hidden dagger and take
up the call. Someones got to be there,
ghting shoulder-to-shoulder with the
goons and the thugs and the soon-to-beheroes. Who better than you to write the
tale of your own heroism?
Your friends may carry blades of forged

steel but, Fighter, you are steel. While
your traveling companions might moan
about their wounds over a camp re in
the wilderness, you bear your scars with
pride.
You are the walllet every danger
smash itself to nothing on you. In the
end, youll be the last one standing.
The Paladin
Hell awaits. An eternity of torment in
re or ice or whatever best suits the
sins of the damned throngs of Dungeon
World. All that stands between the pits
of that grim torture and salvation is you.
Holy man, armored war machine, templar of the Good and the Light, right?
The Cleric may say his prayers at night to
the gods, dwelling in their heavens. The
Fighter may wield his sharp sword in the
name of good but you know. Only you.
Eyes, hands, and sweet killing blow of
the gods, you are. Yours is the gift of
righteousness and virtue. Of justice. Vision, too. A purity of intent that your
companions do not have. So guide these
fools, Paladin. Take up your holy cause
and bring salvation to the wastrel world.
Vae victis, right?
Nobody. Get going.
The Ranger
The Cleric
These city-born folk you travel with.

Have they heard the call of the wolf? Felt
the winds howl in the bleak deserts of the
East? Have they hunted their prey with
the bow and the knife like you? Hell no.
Thats why they need you.
The lands of Dungeon World are a godsforsaken mess. Theyre lousy with the
walking dead, beasts of all sorts, and the
vast unnatural spaces between safe and
temple-blessed civilizations. It is a godless world out there. Thats why it needs
you.
Bringing the glory of your god to the
heathens isnt just in your natureits
your calling. It falls to you to proselytize with sword and mace and spell. To
cleave deep into the witless heart of the
wilds and plant the seed of divinity there.
Some say that it is best to keep god close
to your heart. You know thats rubbish.
God lives at the edge of a blade. Show the
world who is lord.
The Fighter
Its a thankless jobliving day to day by
your armor and the skill of your arm. To
dive heedlessly into danger. They wont
be playing golden horns for the time you
took that knife to the ribs for them in the
bar in Bucksberg. No ock of angels to
sing of the time you dragged them, still
screaming, from the edge of the Pits of
Madness, no.
Forget them.
You do this for the guts and the glory.
The scream of battle and the hot hot
blood of it. You are a beast of iron.
Guide. Hunter. Creature of the wilds.

You are these things and more. Your time
in the wilderness may have been solitary
until now, the call of some greater thing
call it fate if you like, has cast your
lot with these folk. Brave, they may be.
Powerful and strong, too. You know the
secrets of the spaces-between, though.
Without you, theyd be lost. Blaze a trail
through the blood and dark, strider.
The Thief
Youve heard them, sitting around the
camp re. Bragging about this battle or
that. About how their gods are smiling
on your merry band. You count your
coins and smile to yourselfthis is the
thrill above all. You alone know the secret of Dungeon World: lthy lthy lucre.
Sure, they give you lip for all the times
youve snuck off alone but without you,
who among them wouldnt have been
dissected by a ying guillotine or poisoned straight to death by some ancient needle-trap? So let them complain.
When youre done with all this delving
youll toast their heroes graves.
The Wizard
From your castle. Full of gold. You rogue.
The Wizard
Dungeon World has rules. Not the laws
of men or the rule of some petty tyrant.
Bigger, better rules. You drop somethingit falls. You cant make something out of nothing. The dead stay dead,
right?
Oh, the things we tell ourselves to feel
better about the long, dark nights.
Youve spent so very long poring over
those tomes of yours. The experiments
that nearly drove you mad and all the
botched summonings that endangered
your very soul. For what? For power.
What else is there? Not just the power
of King or Country but the power to boil
a mans blood in his veins. To call on the
thunder of the sky and the churn of the
roiling earth. To shrug off the rules the
world holds so dear.
Let them cast their sidelong glances. Let
them call you warlock or diabolist.
Who among them can hurl reballs from
their eyes?
Yeah. We didnt think so.
Dungeon World
Setting Up
Using Dice
Setting Up
To play Dungeon World, youll need to

gather yourself and 25 friends. A group
of 4 to 5, including you, is best. Choose
one person to be the GameMaster (hereafter: GM). Everyone else will be players,
taking the role of the characters in the
game. The players get to say what their
characters say, think, and do. The GM
describes everything else in the world.
You can play a single session or string
together multiple sessions into a campaign. Plan accordingly. Each session
will usually be a few hours and youll be
able to start playing right away within
the rst session.
Youll need to print some materials. Before you start a new game, print off at
least:
A few copies of the basic and special
moves
One copy of each class sheet
One copy each of the cleric and wizard spell sheets
One copy of the adventure sheet and
GM moves
Everyone at the table will need something to write with and some six-sided
dice. Two dice is the minimum but two
dice per player is a good idea.
Youll also need some specialized dice:
four-sided, eight-sided, and ten-sided.
One of each is enough but more is better;
you wont have to pass them around so
much.
Using Dice
When talking about dice, dX means a
dice with X sides (d4, d6, d8, etc.). A
number before the dice size means "roll
this many and add them together," so
2d6 means "roll two six-sided dice and
add them together." Sometimes youll
add something to the roll, maybe a static
number or the result of another roll, add
that to the total. If theres a "b" at the
end instead of adding them together you
take the best one (b for best), so 2d6b+1
means "roll two six-sided dice and take
the best one and add one to it." A "w" at
the end means you take the worst result,
so 2d6w means "roll two six-sided dice
and take the worst one."
Moves
The Flow of Play
The Flow
of Play
Playing Dungeon World is a conversation of sorts; I say something, then you

reply, maybe someone else chimes in.
We talk about the ction, whats happening to the characters we imagine and
the world around them. We also talk
about the rules, how they come from and
lead back to the ction. There are no
turns or rounds in Dungeon World, no
forced order of when people talk, but a
conversation means taking turns. Dungeon World is never a monologue, always a conversation.
The rules shape the conversation. While
the GM and the players are having a conversation the rules and the ction are
having a conversation too. The rules affect the game when the ction triggers
them and a rule will always tell you when
its meant to trigger.
Moves
The basic unit of rules in Dungeon World
is the Move . A move looks like this:
When you attack an enemy in melee
, roll+Str. On a 10+ you deal your damage
to the enemy and avoid their attack. At your
option, you may choose to do +1d6 damage
butexposeyourselftotheenemysattack. On
a 79, you deal your damage to the enemy
and the enemy makes an attack against you.
Moves are rules that describe when they
trigger and what effect they have. A
move always depends on a ctional action and always has some ctional effect.
"Fictional" means that the action and effect come from the shared imaginative
space were describing, not from us directly. In the move above, the trigger
is "when you attack an enemy in melee."
The effect is what follows: a roll to be
made and differing ctional effects based
on the outcome of the roll. Most moves
rely on one of a characters stats which
represent the characters innate abilities.
When a player says their character
does something that triggers a move
that move happens and its rules apply.
Moves and dealing damage are the only
times dice are rolled. The move will tell
you what dice to roll.
The basic rule of moves is: take the action to gain the effect . To make the
mechanical aspect of a move happen the
character has to do something that triggers that move. Likewise, if the character
does something that triggers a move the
mechanical portion happens.
Moves Are Indivisible

A character cant take the ctional action
that triggers a move without that move
occurring. For example, if Isaac tells
the GM that his character dashes past a
crazed, axe-wielding orc to the open door
he makes the Defy Danger move because

its trigger is "when you act despite an
imminent threat". Isaac cant just have
his character run past the orc without
making the Defy Danger move and he
cant make the Defy Danger move without acting despite an imminent threat.
The moves and the ction go hand-inhand to make up the game. When a move
is made it falls to the GM and players to
make sure that both of these things ( ction and rules) happen.
Taking a ctional action that should trigger a move and not applying it looks like
this: Ben says "I run past the orc to the
door," but doesnt make the Defy Danger
move. In this case, the GM should suggest that the move applies: "So youre
Defying the Danger of the crazed orc as
he swings at you?" Ben then has to be
a real adventurer and Defy Danger or
back off and do something else; he cant
take action that triggers the move without making the move. He cant "just" run
past the orc without making the move
that applies.
Trying to apply a move without taking
the action that makes the move occur
happens when a player jumps straight
to the effects of the move. The Hack and
Slash move has damage as one of its effects. Dan cant just say "Im Hacking
and Slashing! I rolled +Str and got a
10, I do 1d8 damage." That doesnt work
because his character hasnt taken any
ctional action. "Hack and Slash" isnt
something a character doesits a rule
that happens when the character ful lls
its trigger. The GMs response should
be "okay, how do you do that?" or "what
does that look like?"
The GMs questions are there to re ne
the action, not to deny it. Its still a conversation. The GM asks to make sure the
everyone understands whats happening
and the moves involved.
Somemovesworkalittledifferentlythey
just provide a bonus all the time. These
moves are still saying something ctionally and mechanically. Theyre saying
something the character is or has. For
example, the Thief move Cautious gives
a constant bonus. Thats still a move,
its just one thats always happening; the
Thief is particularly careful when looking for signs of traps. Maybe theyve
learned their lesson from being caught
in a trap before.
Rolls and Results

Once a move applies, its time to look
at the effects. Most moves tell you to
roll+something. The roll part means to
take two d6s, roll them, and add them
together. The +something part means
to add the modi er associated with that
stat. So, a character with Dex modi er of
+2 who launches a Volley rolls two d6s,
The Flow of Play
Terminology
adds them together, and adds two. Easy.
grows.
The result of the roll falls into three categories: a 10+ is a strong hit . A 79 is a
weak hit . A 6- is a miss .
Stats
Strong hits and weak hits are both hits

. A hit means the character does what
they set out to, more or less. A strong hit
means they do it without much trouble or
complications. A weak hit means complications and unpleasantries. Sometimes, a weak hit will mean you need to
make a hard decision about what to do
next. The move will always say what to
do for a strong and weak hit.
A miss means that the characters action
is unsuccessful or carries major consequences. Unless the move tells you what
to do, all moves work the same on a
missthe GM takes action, doing something dangerous to the characters.
Terminology
Some moves use the phrase "deal damage ." Dealing damage means you roll the
damage dice for your class and modify it
based on the weapon you were using for
that move. You have to be wielding a
weapon to use your classs damage dice.
Default damage without a weapon is 1.
Some moves say "take +1 forward ." That
means to take +1 to your next move roll
(not damage). The bonus can be greater
than +1, or even a penalty, like -1. There
also might be a condition, such as "take
+1 forward to Hack and Slash," in which
case the bonus applies only to the next
time you roll Hack and Slash, not any
other move.
Some moves say "take +1 ongoing ." That
means to take +1 to all move rolls (not
damage). The bonus can be larger than
+1, or it can be a penalty, like -1. There
also might be a condition, such as "take
+1 ongoing to Volley." An ongoing bonus
also says what causes it to end, like "until
you dismiss the spell" or "until you atone
to your deity."
Some moves give you hold . Hold is
currency that allows you to make some
choices later on by spending the hold as
the move describes. Hold is always saved
up for the move that generated it; you
cant spend your hold from Defend on
Trap Sense or vice versa.
There are some moves that all the players have access to. These are the Basic
and Special moves. Basic moves are the
things that happen oftenplayers will
roll these a lot. Special moves are moves
that come up less frequently, but everyone has access to them.
Each class also has some of its own
moves. Some of these moves are starting moves that the class starts with.
Others are advanced moves that the
player may choose as their character
Equipment
The basic stats are:

Strength (Str). The characters physical force and muscle. Used for moves in
melee combat and breaking things.
Dexterity (Dex). The characters precision and aim. Used for moves in ranged
combat and avoiding things.
Constitution (Con). The characters
health and ability to take a beating. Used
for moves that endure things and surviving dangers.
Intelligence (Int). The characters accumulated knowledge and logical thinking. Used for moves that rely on remembered facts and casting some kinds
of spells.
Wisdom (Wis). The characters keen
senses and mental defenses. Used for
moves that rely on noticing things and
casting some kinds of spells.
Charisma (Cha). The characters force
of personality and charm. Used for social
moves.
Each basic stat has a score from 3 to 18
and a modi er from -3 to +3. When
a stat is spelled out (like "Strength") that
refers to the score, when the three letter
abbreviation (like "Str") is used it refers
to the modi er. The stats modi er depends on the stats score:
Score
Modi er
1-3
-3
4-5
-2
6-8
-1
9-11
12-15
+1
16-17
+2
18
+3
There are also a few special stats:

Bond is how well your character knows
another character. You use Bond to aid
another character or interfere with their
actions. Bond is about knowledge and
not about how well you get along or how
similar you are. Bond may also be asymmetrical: the Fighter might know the
Wizard very well, but the Wizard doesnt
pay much attention to the Fighter. Your
Bond with someone starts based on your
history with them. Each class has starting bonds with blanks to ll in names.
When you roll+Bond, count the number
of Bonds you have with that person and
add that to the roll.
Level re ects how your character has
grown. Your character starts at level 1,
and may advance all the way to level 10.
Your level tracks how far youve grown.
As you advance in level you gain new
moves.
Every adventurer needs stuff: weapons,

spellbooks, armor, holy symbols, and the
like. Each item says what it does. In
general, weapons de ne the way a character deals damage with it and at what
range they can do that damage. Armor
and shields reduce damage taken. Other
items have various effects.
Items say what they do through their
tags . A tag is a word or phrase that indicates some common ability the item possess. The Messy tag, for example, means
the weapon does damage in a particularly
devastating way.
All items, unless otherwise noted, are
mundane . Theyre not magical in any
way. Some items are enchantedthey
work through arcane or divine tricks.
These magic items are tougher to get,
tougher to destroy, and more powerful
to use.
Characters are limited in how much they
can carry by their Load . Load is determined by class. Carrying items whose
total weight is more than your load
causes problems.
Some classes have other speci c tools at
their disposal like custom gear or ties to
powerful entities or organizations. The
rules for these are detailed with each
class.
Damage and HP
Dungeon World is a dangerous place in
many ways, not least of which are the
physical perils that await in the forgotten
halls where adventurers explore. Each
character has HP . HP is short for hit
points; its a number which re ects a
characters condition. The characters
HP value is determined by their class and
Constitution score. Your HP doesnt automatically go up as you level, but if your
Constitution score changes you update
your HP as well.
When a character takes damage they reduce their current HP by that amount. If
their current HP falls to zero it means
theyre dying and must immediately
make the Last Breath move. HP never
goes negative; if damage would take a
characters HP below zero set it to zero
instead.
Depending on the outcome of the Last
Breath move a character may be stable
at 0 HP. Stable means the character wont
get worse on their own but they wont
get better without care or time. If a stable character takes damage they stay at 0
HP but must make the Last Breath move
again immediately.
Armor prevents damage. When you take
damage you subtract your armor from
the damage dealt.
Advancement
The Cleric is all about healing HP. Without the Clerics healing magics, adventurers are left at the mercies of bandages, poultices, and other crude medicines, plus the odd healing potion.
HP tracks the assorted bruises and cuts
that accumulate but some wounds go
deeper. These are debilities . Debilities give you a -1 to your modi er for
one stat. They dont effect the base score
(so being Weak wont effect your Load,
just your Str modi er). Theyre tougher
to heal than HP, your best bet is to get
somewhere safe and spend a few days
resting to get rid of them.
Advancement
Adventurers in Dungeon World grow
and learn from their experiences. Eventually, with time and luck, they survive
to level up.
Experience is tracked via XP . Players
mark XP by keeping a tally on their character sheet. When they have XP marks
equal to their current level + 7 they are
ready to level up, but they do not actually
level up until they have some downtime
(usually in camp or in a nearby village).
Gaining a new level means choosing a
new move from your class. If your new
level is 3rd, 6th, or 9th you also get to increase one stat by 2, adjusting the modier to re ect the new score.
There are two times when you mark XP:
when you roll a miss (6-) and when you
make the End of Session move.
Whenever you roll a miss (a 6 or lower)
when making a move you mark XP. These
are the tough lessons of the adventuring
life.
At the end of each session one of your
Bonds may resolve. When a Bond is no
longer applicable it can be resolved if the
person you share that Bond with agrees.
When a Bond is resolved you mark XP
and write a new bond.
You also look back at your alignment
over the session you just concluded. If
you ful lled your alignment at least once
in the session youll get XP.
The End of Session move also has three
questions that all the players answer as
a group. For each "yes" answer everyone
gains XP.
Sessions
A session of Dungeon World is one time
you sit down to play. A session usually
runs a few hours and may be a single
adventure or part of a larger campaign.
The rst session of a game starts off a little different. First youll need to choose
a GM. Once the GM is settled, everyone
else will need to make characters. See
the character creation chapter for more
on that.
The Flow of Play

During character creation, the GM will
be asking questions and making plans
for how to start the game. A game of
Dungeon World always starts with action, either action already underway or
impending.
Such a situation will lead to the characters making moves, which will cause further moves. Moves lead to more moves.
This snowballing action from move to
move is what builds an exciting game.
Once a few moves have been made, youll
nd it easy to keep going. The moves
will keep giving you ideas and prompts
for further action which leads to more
moves.
Why?
Why play Dungeon World?
First, to see the characters do amazing
things . To see them explore the unexplored, slay the undying, and go from
the deepest bowels of the world to the
highest peaks of the heavens. To see
them caught up in momentous events
and grand tragedies.
Second, to see them play off each
other : to stand together as a united
front against their foes or to bicker and
argue over treasure. To unite and fall
apart and reunite again.
Third, because the world still has
so many places to explore . There
are unlooted tombs and dragon hordes
dotting the countryside just waiting for
quick- ngered and strong-armed adventurers to discover them. That unexplored world has plans of its own. We
play to see what they are and how theyll
change the lives of our characters.
Character Creation
Character
Creation
1. Choose a Class
Making Dungeon World characters is
quick and easy. You should all create
your rst characters together at the beginning of your rst session. Character
creation is, just like play, a kind of conversationeveryone should be there for
it. Its somewhat likely your character
may die along the way. if they do, no
worries, the character creation process
helps you make a new character that ts
into the group in just a few minutes.
If youre the GM, your role during character creation is to help everyone, ask
questions, and take notes. When a player
makes a choiceparticularly for their
Bondsask them about it. Get more
detail. Think about what these details
mean.
The GM should also set expectations: the
players are to play their characters as
people. Skilled adventurers delving into
dangerous places, but real people. The
GMs role is to play the rest of the world
as a dynamic, changing place.
Some questions commonly come up during character creation:
Are the characters friends? No, not necessarily, but they do work together as a
team for common goals. Their reasons
for pursuing those goals may be different, but they generally manage to work
together.
Are there other Wizards? Not really. There
are other workers of arcane magic, and
the common folk may call them wizards,
but theyre not like you. They dont have
the same abilities, though they may be
similar. Same goes for any class: theres
only one Cleric, though there are many
with similar powers of divine servitude.
Theres only one Thief, but there are others that ght from the shadows and steal
things.
Whats coin? Coins the currency of the
realm. Its good pretty much everywhere. Itll buy you mundane stuff, like
steel swords and wooden staves, but the
special stuff, like magic weapons, isnt
for sale.
Is the GM trying to kill us? Nope. The GM
represents the world. Its a dangerous
place, and yeah, you might die. But shes
not trying to kill you.
Most everything you need to create
a character youll nd on the character sheets. These steps will walk you
through lling out a character sheet.
1. Choose a Class
Look over the character classes and
choose one that interests you. Everyone
chooses a different class; there arent two
Wizards. If two people want the same
class, talk it over like adults and compromise.
I sit down with Paul and Shannon to play a

game run by John. Ive got some cool ideas
for a Wizard, so I mention that would be
my rst choice. No one else was thinking of
playing one, so I take the playbook.
2. Choose a Race
Every class has a few race options.
Choose one. Your race gives you a special
move.
I like the idea of summoning up Things From
Beyond, so I choose Human, since that gives
me a bonus to Summoning spells. I thought
about being an Elf, but Shannons playing
the Cleric so I dont think well need more
Cleric spells.
3. Choose a Name
Choose your characters name from the
list.
Avon sounds good.
4. Choose Look
Your look is your physical appearance.
Choose one item from each list.
Haunted eyes sound good, since Ive seen
Things From Beyond. No good Wizard has
time for hair styling, wild hair it is. My robes
are strange, and I mention to everyone that I
think maybe they came from Beyond as part
of one of my summonings. No time to eat
with all that magic: thin body.
5. Choose Stats
Look over the basic moves and the starting moves for your class. Pick out the
move that interests you the most: something youll be doing a lot, or something
that you excel at. Put your 17 in the stat
for that move. Look over the list again
and pick out the next most important
move to your character, maybe something that supports your rst choice. Put
your 15 in the stat for that move. Repeat
this process for your remaining scores:
13, 11, 9, 8.
Alternatively, if everyone wants a little more randomness then you can roll
stats. Roll 3d6 and assign the total to a
statrepeat this until you have all your
stats.
If you want something really random
you can roll for stats in order (Str, Dex,
Con, Int, Wis, Cha). If you choose this
method you get to roll before you choose
your class.
6. Figure Out Modi ers

It looks like I need Intelligence to cast spells,
which are my thing, so my 17 goes there. The
Defy Danger option for Dexterity looks like
something I might be doing to dive out of
the way of a spell, so that gets my 15. A
13 Wisdom will help me notice important
details (and maybe keep my sanity, based on
the Defy Danger move). Charisma might be
useful is dealing with summoned creatures
so Ill put my 11 there. Living is always nice,
so I put my 9 in Constitution for some extra
HP. Strength gets the 8.
6. Figure Out Modi ers

Next you need to gure out the modiers for your stats. The modi ers are
what you use when a move says +Dex or
+Cha. You wont actually use the raw
scores much.
Score
Modi er
1-3
-3
4-5
-2
6-8
-1
9-11
12-15
+1
16-17
+2
18
+3
7. Set Starting HP
Your starting HP is equal to your classs
base HP+Constitution score.
Base 4 plus 9 con gives me a whopping 13 HP.
I guess Summoning takes a toll on the body.
8. Choose Starting Moves

Some classes, like the Fighter, have
choices to make as part of one of their
moves. Make these choices now. The
Wizard will need to choose spells for
their spellbook. Both the Cleric and the
Wizard will need to choose which spells
they have prepared to start with.
ASummoningspellisaneasychoice, soItake
Contact Spirits. Magic Missile will allow
me to deal more damage than my pitiful d4
damage dice, so thats in too. I choose Alarm
for my last spell, since I can think of some
interesting uses for it.
9. Choose Alignment
Your alignment is a few words that describe your characters moral outlook.
These are general and tend to guide your
characters outlook rather than dictate
their actions. Usually alignment is a single term declaring the characters allegiance to the forces of good, the hordes
of evil, or the path of neutrality between.
Character Creation
The alignments are Good, Evil, and Neutral. Some classes may only be certain
alignments. Choose your alignmentit
gives you more ways to earn XP.
Avon is all about the magical mysteries,
which makes the Neutral alignment stand
out. Ill go with that one.
10. Choose Gear

Each class has choices to make for starting gear. Keep your Load in mindit
limits how much you can easily carry.
Make sure to total up your armor and
note it on your character sheet.
Im worried about my HP, so I take armor
over books. A dagger sounds about right
for rituals, I choose that over a staff. Its a
toss up between the healing potion and the
antitoxin, but healing wins out. I also end
up with some rations.
11. Introduce Your Character

Now that you know who your character
is, its time to introduce them to everyone else. Wait until everyones nished
choosing their name. Then go around
the table; each player gets to share their
look, class and anything else about their
character. You can share your alignment
now or keep it a secret if you prefer.
This is also the time for the GM to ask
questions. The GMs questions should
help establish the relationships between
characters ("What do you think about
that?") and draw the group into the adventure ("Does that mean youve met
Grundloch before?"). The GM should
listen to everything in the description
and ask about anything that stands out.
Establish where theyre from, who they
are, how they came together, or anything
else that seems relevant or interesting.
"ThisisAvon, summonerofThingsFromBeyond! Hes a human wizard with haunted
eyes, wild hair, strange robes, and a thin
body. Like I mentioned before his robes are
strange because theyre literally not of this
world: they came through as part of a summoning ritual."
12. Choose Bonds

Once everyone has described their characters you can choose your Bonds. You
must ll in one bond but its in your best
interest to ll in more. For each blank
ll in the name of one character. You can
use the same character for more than one
statement.
Once everyones lled in their bonds
read them out to the group. When a move
has you roll+bonds youll count the number of Bonds you have with the character
in question and add that to the roll.
With everyone introduced I choose which
character to list in each Bond, I have Pauls
Fighter Gregor and Shannons Cleric Brinton to choose from. The Bond about
prophecy sounds fun, so I choose Gregor for
it and end up with "Gregor will play an important role in the events to come. I have
foreseen it!" It seems like The Wizard who
contacts Things From Beyond and the Cleric
might not see eye to eye, so I add Shannons
character and get "Brinton is woefully misinformed about the world; I will teach them
all that I can." I leave my last Bond blank,
Ill deal with it later. Once everyone is done
I read my Bonds aloud and we all discuss
what this means about why were together
and where were going.
Basic Moves
Hack and Slash
Basic Moves
Hack and Slash

When you attack an enemy in melee ,
roll+Str. On a 10+ you deal your damage
to the enemy and avoid their attack. At
your option, you may choose to do +1d6
damage but expose yourself to the enemys attack. On a 79, you deal your
damage to the enemy and the enemy
makes an attack against you.
Volley
When you take aim and shoot at an
enemy at range , roll+Dex. On a 10+
you have a clear shotdeal your damage. On a 79, choose one (whichever
you choose you deal your damage):
You have to move to get the shot placing you in danger of the GMs choice
You have to take what you can get:
-1d6 damage
You have to take several shots, reducing your ammo by one.
Defy Danger
When you act despite an imminent
threat or suffer a calamity , say how
you deal with it and roll. If you do it . . .
. . . by powering through, +Str

. . . by getting out of the way or acting
fast, +Dex
. . . by enduring, +Con
. . . with quick thinking, +Int
. . . through mental fortitude, +Wis
. . . using charm and social grace,
+Cha
On a 10+, you do what you set out to,

the threat doesnt come to bear. On a
79, you stumble, hesitate, or inch: the
GM will offer you a worse outcome, hard
bargain, or ugly choice.
, roll+Int. On a 10+ the GM will tell you

something interesting and useful about
the subject relevant to your situation. On
a 79 the GM will only tell you something
interestingits on you to make it useful. The GM might ask you "How do you
know this?" Tell them the truth, now.
Discern Realities
When you closely study a situation
or person , roll+Wis. On a 10+ ask the
GM 3 questions from the list below. On
a 79 ask 1. Take +1 forward when acting
on the answers.
What happened here recently?

What is about to happen?
What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is useful or valuable to me?
Whos really in control here?
What here is not what it appears to
be?
Parley
When you you have leverage on a GM
character and manipulate them ,
roll+Cha. Leverage is something they
need or want. On a hit they ask you
for something and do it if you make
them a promise rst. On a 79, they
need some concrete assurance of your
promise, right now.
Aid or Interfere
When you help or hinder someone
you have a Bond with , roll+Bond with
them. On a 10+ they take +1 or -2, your
choice. On a 79 you also expose yourself
to danger, retribution, or cost.
Defend
When you stand in defense of a person, item, or location under attack,
roll+Con. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 79,
hold 1. So long as you stand in defense,
when you or the thing you defend is attacked you may spend hold, 1 for 1, to
choose an option:
Redirect an attack from the thing you
defend to yourself
Halve the attacks effect or damage
Open up the attacker to an ally giving that ally +1 forward against the
attacker
Deal damage to the attacker equal to
your level
Spout Lore
When you consult your accumulated knowledge about something
Last Breath
Special Moves
Special
Moves
Last Breath
Level Up
When youre dying you catch a glimpse

of what lies beyond the Black Gates of
Deaths Kingdom (the GM will describe
it), then roll (just roll, +nothingyeah,
Death doesnt care how tough or cool you
are). On a 10+ youre stable. On a 79
Death will offer you a bargaintake it
and stabilize or refuse and pass beyond
the Black Gates into whatever fate awaits
you. On a miss, you are dead.
When you have downtime (hours or

days) and XP equal to (or greater
than) your current level + 7 , subtract
your current level +7 from your XP, increase your level by 1, and choose a new
advanced move from your class. If you
are the Wizard, you also get to add a new
spell to your spellbook.
Encumbrance
When you make a move while carrying weight up to or equal to Load,
youre ne. When you make a move
while carrying weight equal to load+1 or
load+2, you take -1. When you make a
move while carrying weight greater than
load+2, you have a choice: drop at least
1 weight and roll at -1, or automatically
fail.
Make Camp
When you settle in to rest consume
a ration. If youre somewhere dangerous decide the watch order as well. If
you have enough XP you may Level Up.
When you wake from at least a few uninterrupted hours of sleep heal damage
equal to half your max HP.
Take Watch
When you youre on watch and
something approaches the camp
roll+Wis. On a 10+ youre able to wake
the camp and prepare a response, the
camp takes +1 forward. On a 79 you
react just a moment too late; the camp
is awake but hasnt had time to prepare.
You have weapons and armor but little
else. On a miss whatever lurks outside
the camp res light has the drop on you.
Undertake a Perilous Journey

When you travel through hostile territory, choose one member of the party to
act as trailblazer, one to scout ahead, and
one to be quartermaster (the same character cannot have two jobs). If you dont
have enough party members or choose
not to assign a job, treat that job as if
it had rolled a 6. Each character with a
job to do rolls+Wis. On a 10+ the quartermaster reduces the number of rations
required by one. On a 10+ the trailblazer
reduces the amount of time it takes to
reach your destination (the GM will say
by how much). On a 10+ the scout will
spot any trouble quick enough to let you
get the drop on it. On a 79 each roles
performs their job as expected: the normal number of rations are consumed, the
journey takes about as long as expected,
no one gets the drop on you but you dont
get the drop on them either.
10
If your new level is 3, 6, or 9, you also

get to increase a stat by 2. Increase the
base score of the stat of your choice by
2, adjust the modi er to re ect the new
score. Changing your Constitution increases your maximum and current HP.
Ability scores cant go higher than 18.
End of Session
When you reach the end of a session
, choose one your bonds that you feel is
resolved (completely explored, no longer
relevant, or otherwise). Ask the player of
the character you have the bond with if
they agree. If they do, mark XP and write
a new bond with whomever you wish.
Once bonds have been updated look at
your alignment. If you ful lled that
alignment at least once this session,
mark XP. Then answer these three questions as a group:
Did we learn something new and important about the world?
Did we overcome a notable monster
or enemy?
Did we loot a memorable treasure?
For each "yes" answer everyone marks
XP.
Carouse
When you return triumphant and
throw a big party , spend 100 coin and
roll + extra 100s of coin spent. On a 10+
choose 3. On a 79 choose 1. On a miss,
you still choose one, but things get really
out of hand.
You befriend a useful NPC

You hear rumors of an opportunity
You gain useful information
You are not entangled, ensorcelled,
or tricked
Supply
When you go to buy something with
gold on hand , if its something readily available in the settlement youre in,
you can buy it at market price. If its
something special, beyond whats usually available here, or non-mundane,
roll+Cha. On a 10+ you nd what youre
looking for at a fair price. On a 79 youll
have to pay more or settle for something
similar.
Special Moves
Recover
Recover
When you do nothing but rest in
comfort and safety after a day of rest
you recover all your HP. After three days
of rest you remove one debility of your
choice. If youre under the care of a
healer (magical or otherwise) you heal
a debility for every two days of rest instead.
Recruit
When you put out word that youre
looking to hire help , roll. If you make
it known . . .
. . . that your pay is generous, take +1
. . . what youre setting out to do, take
+1
. . . that theyll get a share of whatever
you nd, take +1
If you have a useful reputation around

these parts take an additional +1. On a
10+ youve got your pick of a number
of skilled applicants, your choice who
you hire, no penalty for not taking them
along. On a 79 youll have to settle
for someone close or turn them away.
On a miss someone in uential and illsuited declares theyd like to come along
(a foolhardy youth, a loose-cannon, or a
veiled enemy, for example), bring them
and take the consequences or turn them
away. If you turn away applicants you
take -1 forward to Recruit.
Outstanding Warrants
When you return to a civilized place
in which youve caused trouble before , roll+Cha. On a hit, word has
spread of your deeds and everyone recognizes you. On a 79, that, and, the GM
chooses a complication:
The local constabulary has a warrant
out for your arrest
Someone has put a price on your head
Someone important to you has been
put in a bad spot as a result of your
actions
Bolster
When you spend your leisure time
in study, meditation, or hard practice, you gain preparation. If you prepare for a week or two, 1 preparation.
If you prepare for a month or longer,
3 preparation. When your preparation
pays off spend 1 preparation for +1 to any
roll. You can only spend one preparation
per roll.
11
Names
The Bard
The Bard
Sure, an adventurers life is all open roads

and the glory of coin and combat. Those
tales that are told in every farmhandlled inn have to have some ring of truth
to them, dont they? The songs to inspire
peasantry and royals aliketo soothe
the savage beast or drive men to a frenzy
have to come from somewhere.
Enter the Bard. You, with your smooth
tongue and quick wit. You teller-of-tales
and singer-of-songs. It takes a mere
minstrel to retell a thing but a true Bard
to live it. Strap on your boots, noble orator. Sharpen that hidden dagger and take
up the call. Someones got to be there,
ghting shoulder-to-shoulder with the
goons and the thugs and the soon-to-beheroes. Who better than you to write the
tale of your own heroism?
Nobody. Get going.
Names
Elf : Astrafel, Daelwyn, Feliana, Damarra,
Sistranalle, Pendrell, Melliandre, Dagoliir
Human : Baldric, Leena, Dunwick,
Willem, Edwyn, Florian, Seraphine,
Quorra, Charlotte, Lily, Ramonde, Cassandra
Look
Choose one for each:
KnowingEyes, FieryEyes, orJoyous Eyes
Fancy Hair, Wild Hair, or Stylish Cap
Finery, Traveling Clothes, or Poor
Clothes
Fit Body, Well-fed Body, or Thin Body
Stats
Assign these scores to your stats:
Heal 1d8 damage

+1d4 forward to damage
Their mind is shaken clear of one enchantment
The next time the target is Aided, on
a hit they get +2 instead of +1
Then roll+Cha. On a hit, the ally gets the
selected effect. On a 7-9, you also draw
unwanted attention or your magic reverberates to other targets affecting them as
well, GMs choice.
Bardic Lore
Choose an area of expertise:
On Spells and Magicks

The Dead and Undead
Grand Histories of the Known World
A Bestiary of Creatures Unusual
The Planar Spheres
Legends of Heroes Past
Gods and Their Servants
When you rst encounter an important

creature, location, or item (your call) covered by your Bardic Lore you can ask
the GM any one question about it, the
GM will answer truthfully. The GM may
then ask you what tale, song, or legend
you heard that information in.
Charming and Open

When you speak frankly with someone,
you can ask their player a question from
the list below. If they answer it truthfully
they then get to ask you a question from
the list below.
Whom do you serve?
What do you wish I would do?
How can I get you to
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)

You start with 6+Constitution HP.
Starting Moves
?
What are you really feeling right
now?
What do you most desire?
Elf
A Port in the Storm
Your base damage is d6.

Choose a racial move:
When you enter an important location
(your call) you can ask the GM for one
fact from the history of that location.
When you return to a civilized settlement youve visited before, tell the GM
when you were last here. Theyll tell you
how its changed since then.
Human
Alignment
When you rst enter a civilized settlement someone who respects the custom
of hospitality to minstrels will take you
in as their guest.
You start with these moves:
12
Choose an alignment:
Good
Perform your art to aid someone else
Arcane Art (Cha)
Neutral
When you weave a performance into a

basic spell, choose an ally and an effect:
Avoid a con ict or defuse a tense situation
The Bard
Gear
does not trust me, and for good reason.
Chaotic
Spur others to signi cant and unplanned
decisive action
Gear
Your Load is 5+Str. You have dungeon
rations (5 uses, 1 weight). Choose one
instrument:
Your fathers mandolin, repaired
A ne lute, a gift from a noble
The pipes with which you courted
your rst love
A stolen horn
A ddle, never before played
A songbook in a forgotten tongue
Choose your clothing:
Leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight)
Ostentatious clothes
Choose your armament:
Dueling rapier (Close, Precise, 2
weight)
Worn bow (Near, 2 weight), bundle of
arrows (3 ammo, 1 weight), and short
sword (Close, 1 weight)
Choose one:
Adventuring Gear (1 weight)

Bandages (0 weight)
Hal ing pipeleaf (1 weight)
3 coin
Advanced Moves
When you gain a level from 2-5,

choose from these moves.
Healing Song
When you heal with Arcane Art, you heal
+1d8 damage.
Vicious Cacophony
When you grant bonus damage with Arcane Art, you grant an extra +1d4 damage.
It Goes To Eleven
When you unleash a crazed performance
(a righteous lute solo, mighty brass blast,
confusing interpretive dance) choose a
target who can hear you and roll+Cha.
On a 10+ the target ails in confusion
dealing its damage to a creature of your
choosing. On a 79 it deals its damage,
but then takes +1d4 damage ongoing as
the music invigorates it.
Replaces: Vicious Cacophony

When you grant bonus damage with Arcane Art, you grant an extra +1d4 damage.
Unforgettable Face
When you meet someone youve met before (your call) after some time apart you
take +1 forward against them.
Reputation (Cha)
When you rst meet someone whos
heard songs about you, roll+Cha. On a
10+, tell the GM two things theyve heard
about you. On a 7-9, tell the GM one thing
theyve heard, and the GM tells you one
thing.
Replaces: Eldritch Tones
A Little Help From My Friends
When you hear an enemy cast a spell the

GM will tell you the name of the spell and
its effects. Take +1 forward when acting
on the answers.
Eldritch Tones
When you use Arcane Art, you choose
two effects instead of one.
Duelists Parry
When you Hack and Slash, you take +1
armor forward.
long before I ever met them in person.
Vicious Blast
Eldritch Chord
Fill in the name of one of your companions in at least one:
When you heal with Arcane Art, you heal

+2d8 damage.
When you shout with great force or play

a shattering note choose a target and
roll+Con. On a hit the target takes 2d6
damage and is deafened for a few minutes. On a 79 its out of control: the GM
will choose an additional target nearby.
When you successfully Aid someone you

take +1 forward as well.
I sang stories of
Replaces: Healing Song
Metal Hurlant
Bonds
This is not my rst adventure with
Healing Chorus
When you use Arcane Art, you choose

two effects. You also get to choose one of
those effects to double.
An Ear For Magic
Devious
When you use Charming and Open you
may also ask "How are you vulnerable
to me?" Your subject may not ask this
question of you.
Bamboozle
When you Parley with someone, on a hit
you also take +1 forward with them.
is often the butt of my jokes.

I am writing a ballad about the adventures of
.
trusted me with a secret.
Multiclass Dabbler
Get one move from another class. Treat
your level as one lower for choosing the
move.
Multiclass Initiate
move.
choose from these moves or the level
2-5 moves.
13
Advanced Moves
Duelists Block
Replaces: Duelists Parry
When you Hack and Slash, you take +2
armor forward.
Con
Replaces: Bamboozle
When you Parley with someone, on a hit
you also take +1 forward with them and
get to ask their player one question which
they must answer truthfully.
Multiclass Master
move.
14
The Bard
The Cleric
Names
The Cleric
The lands of Dungeon World are a godsforsaken mess. Theyre lousy with the
walking dead, beasts of all sorts, and the
vast unnatural spaces between safe and
temple-blessed civilizations. It is a godless world out there. Thats why it needs
you.
Bringing the glory of your god to the
heathens isnt just in your natureits
your calling. It falls to you to proselytize with sword and mace and spell. To
cleave deep into the witless heart of the
wilds and plant the seed of divinity there.
Some say that it is best to keep god close
to your heart. You know thats rubbish.
God lives at the edge of a blade. Show the
world who is lord.
Names
Dwarf : Durga, Aelfar, Gerda, Rurgosh, Bjorn, Drummond, Helga, Siggrun,
Freya
Human : Wesley, Brinton, Jon, Sara,
Hawthorn, Elise, Clarke, Lenore, Piotr,
Dahlia, Carmine
Look
Kind Eyes, Sharp Eyes, or Sad Eyes
Tonsure, Strange Hair, or Bald
Flowing Robes, Habit, or Common Garb
ThinBody, Knobby Body, orFlabby Body
Stats
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
Bloody Conquest
Civilization
Knowledge and Hidden Things
The Downtrodden and Forgotten
What Lies Beneath
Choose one precept of your religion:

Your religion preaches the sanctity of
suffering, add Petition: Suffering
Your religion is cultish and insular,
add Petition: Gaining Secrets
Your religion has important sacri cial rites, add Petition: Offering
Your religion believes in trial by combat, add Petition: Personal Victory
Divine Guidance
When you ful ll your religions petition your deity grants you some useful
knowledge or boon related to their domain. The GM will tell you what.
Turn Undead
When you hold your holy symbol aloft
and pray aloud for protection, roll+Wis.
On a hit so long as you continue to pray
and brandish your holy symbol no undead may come within reach of you. On
a 10+ intelligent undead are momentarily dazed by the radiance of your god and
mindless undead ee. If you move aggressively towards an undead creature
while Turning them it breaks the effects
and they are able to act as normal. Intelligent undead, vampires and so on, may
still nd ways to harry you from afar.
Theyre clever like that.
Commune
When you spend uninterrupted time (an

hour or so) in quiet communion with
your deity, you lose any spells already
granted to you and are granted new spells
of your choice whose total levels dont
exceed your own+1. You also prepare
your rotes; they dont count against your
limit. You cant prepare spells that are
higher level than you.
Starting Moves
Dwarf
You are one with stone. When you Commune you are also granted a special version of Words of the Unspeaking which
only works on stone as a Rote.
Human
Your faith is diverse. Choose one Wizard
spell. You can cast and be granted that
spell as if it was a Cleric spell.
Deity
You serve and worship some deity or
power which grants you spells. Give
your god a name (maybe Helferth, Sucellus, or Zorica) and choose your deitys
domain:
Healing and Restoration
Cast a Spell
When you unleash a spell granted to you
by your deity, roll+Wis. On a 10+, the
spell is successfully cast and your deity
does not revoke the spell, so you may cast
it again. On a 7-9, the spell is cast, but
choose one:
You draw unwelcome attention or
put yourself in a spot (the GM will
describe it).
Your casting distances you from your
deitytake -1 ongoing to Cast a Spell
until you Commune.
After you cast it, the spell is revoked
by your deity. You cannot cast the
spell again until you Commune and
15
Alignment
The Cleric
have it granted to you.
Alignment
Chosen One
Good
Choose one spell. You are granted that

spell as if it was one level lower.
Endanger yourself to heal another
Invigorate
Choose one spell. You are granted that

spell as if it was one level lower.
Lawful
When you heal someone they take +2

damage forward.
Vicious
Endanger yourself following the precepts of your church or god
Evil
Harm another to prove the superiority of
your church or god
Gear
Your Load is 7+Str. You carry dungeon
rations (1 weight, 5 uses) and some symbol of the divine, describe it (weight 0).
Choose your defenses:
Chainmail (1 armor, 1 weight)
Shield (+1 armor, 2 weight)
Choose your armament:
Warhammer (Close, 1 weight)
Mace (Close, 1 weight)
Staff (Close, Two-handed, 1 weight)
and bandages
Choose one:
Adventuring gear (1 weight) and dungeon rations (1 weight)
Healing potion (1 weight)
Bonds
has insulted my deity; I do not trust

them.
is a good and faithful person; I trust

them implicitly.
is in constant danger, I will keep them

safe.
I am working on converting
Advanced Moves
The Scales of Life and Death

When someone takes their Last Breath
in your presence they take +1 to the roll.
Serenity
You are able to divide your power effectively. When you cast a spell you ignore
the rst -1 penalty from ongoing spells.
First Aid
Cure Light Wounds does not count
against your limit of granted spells.
Divine Intervention
When you Commune you get 1 hold and
lose any hold you already had. Spend
that hold when you or an ally takes damage to call on your deity, they intervene
in an appropriate idiom (a sudden gust
of wind, a lucky slip, a burst of light) and
negate the damage.
Penitent
When you take damage and embrace the
pain, you may take +1d4 damage (ignoring armor). If you do, take +1 forward to
Cast a Spell.
Empower
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10+ you have
the option of choosing from the 7-9 list.
If you do, you may choose one of these
effects as well:
The spells effects are doubled
The spells targets are doubled
Orison for Guidance

When you sacri ce something of value
to your deity and pray for guidance your
deity tells you what it would have you do.
If you do it, mark experience.
Divine Protection
When you wear no armor or shield you
get 2 armor.
to my faith.
16

2-5 moves.
Devoted Healer
When you heal someone else of damage,
heal +your level damage.
Anointed
Requires: Chosen One
Requires: Inquisitor
When you do damage with a spell, you
deal +1d4 damage.
Reaper
When you take time after a con ict to
dedicate your victory to your deity and
deal with the dead, take +1 forward.
Providence
Replaces: Serenity
You ignore the -1 penalty from two spells
you maintain.
Greater First Aid

Requires: First Aid
Cure Moderate Wounds does not count
against your limit of granted spells.
Divine Invincibility
Replaces: Divine Intervention
When you Commune you get 2 hold and
lose any hold you already had. Spend
that hold when you or an ally takes damage to call on your deity, they intervene
in an appropriate idiom (a sudden gust
of wind, a lucky slip, a burst of light) and
negate the damage.
Martyr
Replaces: Penitent
When you take damage and embrace the
pain, you may take +1d4 damage (ignoring armor). If you do, take +1 forward
to Cast a Spell and add your level to any
damage done or healed by the spell.
The Cleric
Advanced Moves
Divine Armor
Replaces: Divine Protection
When you wear no armor or shield you
get 3 armor.
Greater Empower
Replaces: Empower
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10-11 you
have the option of choosing from the 7-9
list. If you do, you may choose one of
these effects as well. On a 12+ you get to
choose one of these effects for free.
Multiclass Dabbler
move.
17
Rotes
Cleric Spells
Cleric Spells
Rotes
Light Rote
An item you touch glows with divine
light, about as bright as a torch. It gives
off no heat or sound and requires no fuel
but is otherwise like a mundane torch.
You have complete control of the color
of the ame. The spell lasts as long as it
is in your presence.
Sanctify Rote
Food or water you hold in your hands
while you cast this spell is consecrated
by your deity. In addition to now being
holy or unholy the affected substance is
puri ed of any mundane spoilage.
Guidance Rote
The symbol of your deity appears before
you and gestures towards the direction
or course of action your deity would have
you take then disappears. The message
is through gesture only; your communication through this spell is severely limited.
1st Level Spells

Bless Level 1 Ongoing
You deity smiles on the target in combat. They take +1 ongoing so long as battle continues and they stand and ght.
While this spell is ongoing you take -1 to
Cast a Spell.
Cure Light Wounds Level 1
At your touch wounds scab and bones
cease to ache. Heal an ally of 1d8 damage.
Detect Alignment Level 1
When you cast this spell choose an alignment: Good, Evil, or Neutral. One of
your senses is brie y able to detect that
alignment. The GM will tell you what
here is of that alignment.
Cause Fear Level 1 Ongoing
Choose an intelligent target you can see
and a nearby object. The target is afraid
of the object so long as you maintain the
spell. Their reaction is up to them: ee,
panic, beg, panic, ght. While this spell
is ongoing you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Magic Weapon Level 1 Ongoing
The weapon you hold while casting does
+1d4 damage until you dismiss this spell.
Until you dismiss this spell you take -1 to
Cast a Spell.
Sanctuary Level 1
You make an area holy to your deity.
Walk the perimeter of the area. So
long as you stay within that area you
are alerted whenever someone acts with
malice within the sanctuary (including
entering with harmful intent). Anyone
who receives healing within a Sanctuary
heals +1d4 HP.
Speak With Dead Level 1 Death
A corpse converses with you brie y. It
will answer any three questions you pose
to it to the best of the knowledge it had in
18
life and the knowledge it gained in death.
3rd Level Spells

Animate Dead Level 3 Ongoing
You invoke a hungry spirit to possess a
recently-dead body and act for you. This
forms a zombie that follows your orders
to the best of its limited abilities. Treat
the zombie as your character, but with
access to only the basic moves. It has a
+1 modi er for all stats and 1 HP. While
this spell is ongoing you take -1 to Cast a
Spell. You get 1d4 of these effects:
The zombie is talented. Give one stat
a +2 modi er.
The zombie is durable. It has +2 HP
for each level you have.
The zombie has a functioning brain
and can complete complex tasks.
The zombie is restored by magicit
does not appear obviously dead, at
least for a day or two.
Cure Moderate Wounds Level 3
You staunch bleeding and set bones
through magic. Heal an ally of 2d8 damage.
Darkness Level 3 Ongoing
Choose an area you can see: its lled
with supernatural darkness and shadow.
While this spell is ongoing you take -1 to
Cast a Spell.
Resurrection Level 3
Tell the GM you would like to resurrect
a corpse whose soul has not yet fully
departed this world. The GM will tell
you "yes, you can resurrect them, but
rst . . . " or "yes, you can resurrect them
now, but it wont be permanent until . . . "
and then one to all of the things from this
list:
Its going to take days/weeks/months

You must ____
You must get help from ____
It will require a lot of money
You must sacri ce ____ to do it
Hold Person Level 3

Choose a creature you can see. Until you
Cast a Spell or leave their presence they
cannot act except to speak. If theyre
harmed this effect ends.
5th Level Spells

Revelation Level 5
Your deity answers your prayers with a
moment of perfect understanding. The
GM will explain the root cause of the current situation. When acting on the information, you take +1 Forward.
Cure Critical Wounds Level 5
Heal an ally of 3d8 damage.
Divination Level 5
Name a person, place, or thing you want
to learn about. Your deity grants you
Cleric Spells
visions of the target, as clear as if you
were there.
Contagion Level 5 Ongoing
While this spell is ongoing a target you
can see suffers from the disease of your
choice and you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Words of the Unspeaking Level 5
With a touch you speak to the spirits
within things. The non-living object you
touch responds to three questions you
pose, answering them as best it can.
True Seeing Level 5 Ongoing
While this spell is ongoing your vision is
opened to the true nature of everything
you lay your eyes on and you take -1 to
Cast a Spell. You pierce illusions and see
things that have been hidden. The GM
will describe the area before you ignoring
any illusions and falsehoods, magical or
otherwise.
Trap Soul Level 5
When cast in the presence of a ghost or
recently dead body this spell traps the
soul in a gem you provide. While trapped
the soul answers every question posed to
it and can not resist your requests. Once
released the soul is likely to hold a grudge
against its captor.
7th Level Spells

Word of Recall Level 7
Choose a word. The rst time after casting this spell that you speak the chosen
word, you and any allies touching you
when you cast the spell are immediately
returned to the exact spot you cast the
spell at. Casting Word of Recall again
before speaking the word replaces the
earlier recall.
7th Level Spells
9th Level Spells

Command Elements Level 9
A mass of one element (earth, air, water,
or re) that you touch as you cast this
spell takes on a form similar to yours
and carries out one command you give
it. Once the command is completed or
a day passes the element retakes its old
form.
Repair Level 9
Choose one event in the targets past. All
effects of that event, including damage,
poison, disease, and magical effects, are
ended and repaired. HP and diseases are
healed, poisons are neutralized, magical
effects are ended.
Divine Presence Level 9 Ongoing
Every creature must ask your leave to enter your presence, and you must speak
permission for them to enter. Any creature that you deny permission takes an
extra 1d10 damage whenever they take
damage in your presence. While this
spell is ongoing you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Consume Unlife Level 9
The mindless undead creature you touch
is destroyed and you steal its death energy to heal yourself or the next ally you
touch of damage equal to its current HP.
Peace Level 9
Choose one traumatic memory in the targets past. The targets memory of that
event is calmly erased. If the target is a
PC, they must be willing.
Heal Level 7
Touch an ally and you may restore up to
your maximum HP to them.
Harm Level 7
Touch an enemy and strike them with
divine wrathdeal 2d8 damage to them
and 1d6 damage to yourself (ignores armor).
Sever Level 7 Ongoing
Choose an appendage on the target such
as an arm, tentacle, or wing. The appendage is magically severed from their
body, causing no damage but considerable pain. Missing an appendage may,
for example, keep a winged creature
from ying, or a bull from goring you
on its horns. While you maintain the
spell you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Mark of Death Level 7
Choose a creature whos true name you
know. This spell inscribes runes that will
kill that creature, should they read them.
Control Weather Level 7
Pray for rainor sun, wind, or snow.
Within a day or so, your god will answer. The weather will change according
to your will and last a handful of days.
19
Names
The Fighter
10
The Fighter
Its a thankless jobliving day to day by

your armor and the skill of your arm. To
dive heedlessly into danger. They wont
be playing golden horns for the time you
took that knife to the ribs for them in the
bar in Bucksberg. No ock of angels to
sing of the time you dragged them, still
screaming, from the edge of the Pits of
Madness, no.
Forget them.
You do this for the guts and the glory.
The scream of battle and the hot hot
blood of it. You are a beast of iron.
Your friends may carry blades of forged
steel but, Fighter, you are steel. While
your traveling companions might moan
about their wounds over a camp re in
the wilderness, you bear your scars with
pride.
You are the walllet every danger
smash itself to nothing on you. In the
end, youll be the last one standing.
Names
Dwarf : Ozruk, Surtur, Brunhilda, Annika, Janos, Greta, Dim, Rundrig, Jarl,
Xotoq
Elf : Elohiir, Sharaseth, Hasrith, Shevaral, Cadeus, Eldar, Kithracet, Thelian
Hal ing : Finnegan, Olive, Randolph,
Bartleby, Aubrey, Baldwin, Becca
Human : Hawke, Rudiger, Gregor, Brianne, Walton, Castor, Shanna, Ajax, Hob
Look
Hard Eyes, Dead Eyes, or Eager Eyes
Wild Hair, Shorn Hair, or Battered Helm
Calloused Skin, Tanned Skin, or Scarred
Skin
Built Body, Lithe Body, or Ravaged Body
Stats
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
Starting Moves
Dwarf
When you share a drink with someone,
you may Parley with them with Con instead of Cha.
Elf
Choose one weaponyou can always
treat weapons of that type as if they had
the Precise tag.
20
Hal ing
When you Defy Danger and use your
small size to your advantage, take +1.
Human
Once per battle you may choose a damage
roll (yours or someone elses) and reroll
it.
Bend Bars, Lift Gates (Str)

When you use pure strength to destroy
an inanimate obstacle, roll+Str. On a 10+
choose 3. On a 7-9 choose 2.
It doesnt take a very long time
Nothing of value is damaged
It doesnt make an inordinate amount
of noise
You can x the thing again without a
lot of effort
Armored
You ignore the Clumsy tag on armor you
wear.
Signature Weapon
This is your weapon. There are many like
it, but this one is yours. Your weapon is
your best friend. It is your life. You
master it as you master your life. Your
weapon, without you, is useless. Without your weapon, you are useless. You
must wield your weapon true.
Choose a base description, all are 2
weight:
Sword
Axe
Hammer
Spear
Flail
Fists
Choose the range that best

weapon:
ts your
Hand
Close
Reach
Choose two enhancements:
Hooks and spikes. +1 damage, but +1
weight.
Sharp. +2 piercing.
Perfectly weighted. +precise.
Serrated edges. +1 damage.
Glows in the presence of one type of
creature, your choice.
Huge. +messy, +forceful.
Versatile. Choose another range.
Well-crafted. -1 weight.
Choose a look:
The Fighter
Alignment
Ancient
Unblemished
Ornate
Blood-stained
Sinister
When you deal damage, deal +1d4 damage.
Heirloom
Defend those weaker than you
When you consult the spirits of that

reside within your signature weapon,
roll+Cha. The spirits will give you an
insight relating to the current situation,
and might ask you some questions in return. On a 10+, the GM will give you good
detail. On a 7-9, the GM will give you an
impression.
Neutral
Armor Mastery
Alignment
Good
Defeat a worthy opponent
Evil
Kill a defenseless or surrendered enemy
Gear
Your Load is 9+Str. You carry your signature weapon and dungeon rations (1
weight, 5 uses). Choose your defenses:
Chainmail (1 armor, 1 weight) and Adventuring gear (1 weight)
Scale armor (2 armor, 3 weight)
Choose two:
When you take damage you can choose

to let your armor take the brunt of it.
The damage is negated but your armor or
shield (your choice) is -1 armor until you
get it repaired at a smithy or workshop.
Bonds
owes me their life, whether they admit

it or not.
I have sworn to protect
.
I worry about the ability of
When you take damage you can choose

to let your armor take the brunt of it. The
damage is negated and you take +1 forward against the attacker but your armor
or shield (your choice) is -1 armor until
you get it repaired at a smithy or workshop.
Evil Eye
Requires: Seeing Red
Taste of Blood
When you Discern Realities during combat, you take +1.
When you Parley using threats of impending violence as leverage you may
use Str instead of Cha.
Scent of Blood
When you Hack and Slash an enemy, you
take +1d4 damage forward against that
enemy.
Replaces: Scent of Blood

When you Hack and Slash an enemy, you
take +1d8 damage forward against that
enemy.
Multiclass Initiate
Required: Multiclass Dabbler
move.
Steel Hide
Multiclass Dabbler
Replaces: Iron Hide
Get one move from another class. For

the purposes of Multiclass Dabbler the
Wizards Spellbook, Prepare Spells, and
Cast a Spell moves count as one move.
The Clerics Commune and Cast a Spell
moves also count as one move. If you
gain the ability to cast spells you cast
them as if you were one level lower.
You gain +2 armor.
Iron Hide
Through Deaths Eyes

When you go into battle, roll+Wis. On
a 10+, name someone who will live and
someone who will die. On a 7-9, name
someone who will live or someone who
will die. Name NPCs, not player characters. The GM will make your vision
come true, if its even remotely possible.
On a 6- you see your own death and consequently take a -1 throughout the battle.
Blacksmith

Merciless
Bloodthirsty
Advanced Moves
Replaces: Armor Mastery
Seeing Red
When you have access to a forge you can

graft the magical powers of a weapon
onto your signature weapon.
This
process destroys the magical weapon.
Your signature weapon gains the magical powers of the destroyed weapon.
2-5 moves.
is soft, but I will make them hard like

me.
Armored Perfection
Choose one extra enhancement for your

signature weapon.
Improved Weapon
You gain +1 armor.

to survive in the dungeon.
When you deal damage, deal +1d8 damage.
When you go into a dangerous situation,

roll+Cha. On a 10+, hold 2. On a 7-9,
hold 1. Spend your hold to make eye contact with an NPC present, who freezes or
inches and cant act until you break it
off. On a miss, your enemies immediately identify you as their biggest threat.
Interrogator
2 Healing potions (2 weight)

shield (+1 armor, 2 weight)
Antitoxin, dungeonrations(1weight),
and poultices and herbs (1 weight)
22 Gold
Replaces: Merciless
21
Advanced Moves
Eye for Weaponry

Whenyou lookoveranenemysweaponry,
ask the GM how much damage they do.
Superior Warrior
When you Hack and Slash on a 12+ you
deal your damage, avoid their attack, and
impress, dismay, or frighten your enemy.
22
The Fighter
The Paladin
Names
11
The Paladin
Hell awaits. An eternity of torment in

re or ice or whatever best suits the
sins of the damned throngs of Dungeon
World. All that stands between the pits
of that grim torture and salvation is you.
Holy man, armored war machine, templar of the Good and the Light, right?
The Cleric may say his prayers at night to
the gods, dwelling in their heavens. The
Fighter may wield his sharp sword in the
name of good but you know. Only you.
Eyes, hands, and sweet killing blow of
the gods, you are. Yours is the gift of
righteousness and virtue. Of justice. Vision, too. A purity of intent that your
companions do not have. So guide these
fools, Paladin. Take up your holy cause
and bring salvation to the wastrel world.
on your divine authority, roll+Cha. On a

hit, they choose one:
They do it
They back away cautiously, then ee
They attack you
On a 10+, you also take +1 forward against
them. On a miss, they do as they please
and you take -1 Forward against them.
Quest
When you dedicate yourself to a mission
through prayer and ritual cleansing state
what you set out to do:
Slay
Vae victis, right?
Names
Thaddeus, Augustine, Lux, Cassius,
Hadrian, Lucia, Octavia, Regulus, Valeria, Sanguinus, Titanius
Look
Defend
, a great blight on the land
from the inequities that beset them

Discover the truth of

Kind Eyes, Fiery Eyes, or Glowing Eyes
Helmet, Styled Hair, or Bald
Worn Holy Symbol or Fancy Holy Symbol
Fit Body, Bulky Body, or Thin Body
Then choose up to two boons:

An unwavering sense of direction to
Stats
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
Invulnerability to

Starting Moves
You are human, so you get this move.
Human
When you pray, even for a moment, to
your deity and ask "What here is evil?"
the GM will tell you, honestly.
Lay on Hands (Cha)

When you touch someone, skin to skin,
and pray for your deity to cure them,
roll+Cha. On a 10+ you heal 1d8 damage
or remove one disease. On a 7-9, they
are healed, but the damage or disease is
transferred to you.
Armored
You ignore the Clumsy tag on armor you
wear.
(ex: edged weapons, re,

enchantment, etc.)
A mark of divine authority
Senses that pierce lies
A voice that transcends language
A freedom from hunger, thirst, and
sleep
The GM will then tell you what vow or

vows is required of you to maintain your
blessing:
Honor (forbidden: cowardly tactics
and tricks)
Temperance (forbidden: gluttony in
food, drink, and pleasure of the esh)
Piety (required: observance of daily
holy services)
Valor (forbidden: suffering an evil
creature to live)
Truth (forbidden: lies)
Hospitality (required: comfort to
those in need, no matter who they
are)
I Am the Law
When you give an NPC an order based
23
Alignment
Alignment
Lawful
Bloody Aegis
When you take damage you can use your
body to de ect the blow. If you do you
take no damage but instead suffer a debility of your choice. If you already have
all six debilities you cant use this move.
armor forward.
Impervious Defender
Replaces: Staunch Defender
While on a Quest you deal +1d4 damage.
When you Defend you always get +1 hold.

Even on a failure you get 1 hold. When
you get a 12+ to Defend instead of getting hold the nearest attacking creature
is stymied giving you a clear advantage,
the GM will describe it.
Gear
Exterminatus
Tandem Strike
Your Load is 8+Str. You start with dungeon rations (1 weight, 5 uses), scale armor (2 armor, 3 weight), and some mark
of faith, describe it (0 Weight). Choose
your weapon:
When you speak aloud your promise to

defeat an enemy, you deal +2d4 damage against that enemy and -4 damage
against anyone else. This effect lasts until the enemy is defeated or you admit
your failure and prove your worth.
Replaces: Setup Strike
Deny mercy to a criminal or unbeliever
Good
Endanger yourself to protect someone
weaker than you
Halberd (Reach, +1 damage, twohanded, 2 weight)

Long sword (Close, +1 damage, 1
weight) and shield (+1 armor, 2
weight)
Smite
Charge!
When you lead the charge into combat,
those you lead take +1 forward.
When you Hack and Slash, choose an

ally. Their next attack against your target does +1d4 damage and they take +1
forward against them.
Divine Protection
Replaces: Holy Protection
You get +2 armor while on a Quest.
Choose one:
Staunch Defender
Divine Authority
Adventuring gear (1 weight)

dungeon rations (1 weight) and healing potion
When you Defend you always get +1 hold.

Even on a failure you get 1 hold.
Replaces: Voice of Authority
Bonds
When you Hack and Slash, choose an

ally. Their next attack against your target does +1d4 damage.
s misguided behavior endangers their

very soul!
has stood by me in battle and can be

trusted completely.
Setup Strike
You get +1 armor while on a Quest.
When you heal an ally, you heal +2d8

damage.
Voice of Authority
Take +1 to Order Hirelings.
Hospitaller
but hope they will someday see the true

way.
Evidence of Faith
is a brave soul, I have much to learn

from them.
When you see divine magic as it happens,

you can ask the GM which deity granted
the spell and its effects. Take +1 when
acting on the answers.
Advanced Moves
Holy Smite
You gain the Commune and Cast a Spell

Cleric move. Your level for the purposes of that move is 1 + the levels youve
gained since you took Divine Favor.
Perfect Hospitaller
Replaces: Hospitaller
I respect the beliefs of
Divine Favor
Take +1 to Order Hirelings. When you

roll a 12+ to Order Hirelings the hireling
transcends their moment of fear and
doubt to perform at the peak of potential.
Holy Protection
When you heal an ally, you heal +1d8

damage.
2-5 moves.

24
The Paladin
Requires: Divine Favor
Replaces: Smite
While on a Quest you deal +1d8 damage.
Ever Onward
Replaces: Charge!
When you lead the charge into combat,
those you lead take +1 forward and +2
Indomitable
When you suffer a debility (even through
Bloody Aegis) take +1 forward against
whatever caused it.
Perfect Knight
When you Quest you choose three boons
instead of two.
The Ranger
12
The Ranger
Names
These city-born folk you travel with.
Have they heard the call of the wolf? Felt
the winds howl in the bleak deserts of the
East? Have they hunted their prey with
the bow and the knife like you? Hell no.
Thats why they need you.
Guide. Hunter. Creature of the wilds.
You are these things and more. Your time
in the wilderness may have been solitary
until now, the call of some greater thing
call it fate if you like, has cast your
lot with these folk. Brave, they may be.
Powerful and strong, too. You know the
secrets of the spaces-between, though.
Called Shot
When you attack a defenseless or surprised enemy at range, you can choose
to deal your damage or name your target
and roll+Dex.
Without you, theyd be lost. Blaze a trail

through the blood and dark, strider.
Head 10+: As 79, plus your damage; 7-9: They do nothing but stand
and drool for a few moments.
Arms 10+: As 7-9, plus your damage; 7-9: They drop anything theyre
holding.
Legs 10+: As 7-9, plus your damage; 7-9: Theyre hobbled and slow
moving.
Names
Animal Companion
Elf : Throndir, Elrosine, Aranwe, Celion,

Dambrath, Lanethe
You have a supernatural connection with

a loyal animal. You cant talk to it per se
but it always acts as you wish it to. Name
your animal companion and choose a
species:
Human : Jonah, Halek, Brandon, Emory,

Shrike, Nora, Diana
Look
Wild Eyes, Sharp Eyes, or Animal Eyes
Hooded Head, Wild Hair, or Bald
Cape, Camou age, or Traveling Clothes
Wolf, cougar, bear, eagle, dog, hawk, cat,

owl, pigeon, rat, mule
Choose a base:
Ferocity +2, Cunning +1, 1 Armor, Instinct +1

Ferocity +2, Cunning +2, 0 Armor,
Instinct +1
Choose as many strengths as its ferocity:
Lithe Body, Wild Body, or Sharp Body
Stats
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
Starting Moves
Elf
When you undertake a Perilous Journey
through wilderness whatever role you
take you succeed as if you rolled a 10+.
Human
When you Make Camp in a dungeon or
city, you dont need to consume a ration.
Hunt and Track (Wis)

When you follow a trail of clues left behind by passing creatures, roll+Wis. On
a hit, you follow the creatures trail until
theres a signi cant change in its direction or mode of travel. On a 10+, you also
choose 1:
Gain a useful bit of information about
your quarry, the GM will tell you
what
Determine what caused the trail to
end
Fast, burly, huge, calm, adaptable, quick reexes, tireless, camou age, ferocious, intimidating, keen senses, stealthy
Your animal companion is trained to
ght humanoids. Choose as many additional trainings as its cunning:
Hunt, search, scout, guard, ght monsters,
perform, labor, travel
Choose as many weaknesses as its instinct:
Flighty, savage, slow, broken, frightening,
forgetful, stubborn, lame
Command
When you work with your animal companion on something its trained in . . .
. . . and you attack the same target,

add its ferocity to your damage
25
Alignment
The Ranger
. . . and you track, add its cunning to

your roll
. . . and you take damage, add its armor to your armor
. . . and you discern realities, add its
cunning to your roll
. . . and you parley, add its cunning to
your roll
. . . and someone interferes with you,
add its instinct to your roll
Alignment
Chaotic
Free someone from literal or gurative
bonds
Good
does not understand life in the wild, so I

will teach them.
Advanced Moves
Take this move only if it is your first

advancement
Half-Elven
Somewhere in your lineage lies mixed
blood and it begins to show its presence.
You gain the Elf starting move if you took
the Human one at character creation or
vice versa.
Wild Empathy
You can speak with and understand animals.
A Safe Place
When you set the watch for the night
everyone takes +1 to Take Watch.
2-5 moves.
Wild Speech
Replaces: Wild Empathy
You can speak with and understand any
non-magical non-planar creature.
Hunters Prey
Replaces: Familiar Prey
When you Spout Lore about a monster

you use Wis instead of Int.
When you Spout Lore about a monster

you use Wis instead of Int. On a 12+ you
get to ask the GM any one question about
the subject.
Help an animal or spirit of the wild
Vipers Strike
Vipers Fangs
Gear
When strike an enemy with two weapons

at once, add an extra 1d4 damage for your
off-hand strike.
Endanger yourself to combat an unnatural threat
Neutral
Your Load is 6+Str. You start with dungeon rations (1 weight, 5 uses), leather
armor (1 armor, 1 weight), and a bundle
or arrows (3 ammo, 2 weight). Choose
your armament:
Hunters bow (Near, Far, 1 weight)
and short sword (Close, 1 weight)
Hunters bow (Near, Far, 1 weight)
and spear (Reach, 1 weight)
Choose one:
Adventuring gear (1 weight) and dungeon rations (1 weight)
adventuring gear (1 weight) and bundle of arrows (3 ammo, 2 weight)
Bonds
I have guided
before and they owe me for it.
is a friend of nature, so I will be their

friend as well.
has no respect for nature, so I have no

respect for them.
Familiar Prey
Camou age
When youre still in natural surroundings, enemies never spot you until you
make a movement.
Replaces: Vipers Strike

When strike an enemy with two weapons
at once, add an extra 1d8 damage for your
off-hand strike.
Smaugs Belly
When you know your targets weakest
point your arrows have 2 piercing.
Mans Best Friend
Strider
When you take damage and you allow

your animal companion to take the blow
the damage is negated and your animal
companions Ferocity becomes 0. If its
Ferocity was already 0 you cant use this
ability. When you have a few hours of
rest with your animal companion its Ferocity returns to normal.
Replaces: Follow Me
Blot out the Sun
When you set the watch for the night

everyone takes +1 to Take Watch. After
a night in camp when you set the watch
everyone takes +1 forward.
When you Volley you may spend extra

ammo before rolling, for each point of
ammo spent you may choose an extra
target. Roll once and apply damage to all
targets.
Well Trained
Choose another training for your animal
companion.
God Amidst the Wastes

You gain the Commune and Cast a Spell
Cleric move. Your level for the purposes of that move is 1 + the levels youve
gained since you took God Amidst the
Wastes.
Follow Me
26
When you Undertake a Perilous Journey

you can take two roles. You make a roll
for each.
When you Undertake a Perilous journey

you can take two roles. Roll twice and
use the better result for both roles.
A Safer Place
Replaces: A Safe Place
The Ranger
Advanced Moves
Observant
When you Hunt and Track, on a hit you
may also ask one question about the creature you are tracking from the Discern
Realities list for free.
Special Trick
Choose a move from another class. So
long as you are working with your animal
companion you have access to that move.
Unnatural Ally
Your animal companion is a monster, not
an animal. Describe it. Give it +2 Ferocity and +1 Instinct, plus a new training.
27
Names
The Thief
13
The Thief
Youve heard them, sitting around the

camp re. Bragging about this battle or
that. About how their gods are smiling
on your merry band. You count your
coins and smile to yourselfthis is the
thrill above all. You alone know the secret of Dungeon World lthy lthy lucre.
Sure, they give you shit for all the times
youve snuck off alone but without you,
who among them wouldnt have been
dissected by a ying guillotine or poisoned straight to death by some ancient
needle-trap? So, let them complain.
When youre done all this delving youll
toast their heros graves.
From your castle. Full of gold. You rogue.
Names
Hal ing : Felix, Rook, Mouse, Sketch,
Trixie, Robin, Omar, Brynn, Bug
Human : Sparrow, Shank, Jack, Marlow,
Dodge, Rat, Pox, Humble, Farley
Look
Shifty Eyes or Criminal Eyes
Tricks of the Trade

When you pick locks or pockets or disable traps, roll+Dex. On a 10+, you do it,
no problem. On a 7-9, the GM will offer you two options between suspicion,
danger, or cost.
Backstab
When you attack a surprised or defenseless enemy with a melee weapon, you can
choose to deal your damage or roll+Dex.
If you roll, on a 10+ choose two, on a 7-9
choose one.
You dont get into melee with them
You deal your damage+1d6
You create an advantage, +1 forward
to you or an ally acting on it
Reduce their armor by 1 until they
repair it
Flexible Morals
Hooded Head, Messy Hair, or Cropped

Hair
When someone tries to detect your alignment you can tell them any alignment
you like.
Dark Clothes, Fancy Clothes, or Common Clothes
Poisoner
Lithe Body, Knobby Body, or Flabby

Body
Stats
17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
Starting Moves
Hal ing
When you attack with a ranged weapon,
deal +1 damage.
Human
You are a professional. When you Spout
Lore or Discern Realities about criminal
activities, take +1.
Trap Expert
When you spend a moment to survey a
dangerous area, roll+Dex. On a 10+, hold
3. On a 7-9, hold 1. Spend your hold as
you walk through the area to ask these
questions:
Is there a trap here and if so, what
activates it?
28
What does the trap do when activated?

What else is hidden here?
Youve mastered the care and use of a poison. Choose a poison from the list below;
that poison is no longer Dangerous for
you to use. You also start with three uses
of the poison you choose. Whenever you
have time to gather materials and a safe
place to brew you can make three uses
of the poison you choose for free. Note
that some poisons are Applied, meaning you have to carefully apply it to the
target or something they eat or drink.
Touch poisons just need to touch the target, they can even be used on the blade
of a weapon.
Oil of Tagit (Applied): The target falls
into a light sleep
Bloodweed (Touch): The target deals
-1d4 damage ongoing until cured
Goldenroot (Applied): The target
treats the next creature they see as
a trusted ally, until proved otherwise
Serpents Tears (Touch): Anyone
dealing damage against the target
rolls twice and takes the better result.
Alignment
Chaotic
Leap into danger without a plan
Neutral
The Thief
Avoid detection or in ltrate a location
Evil
Shift danger or blame from yourself to
someone else
Gear
Your Load is 5+Str. You start with
one dungeon rations (1 weight, 5 uses),
leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight), 3
uses of your chosen poison, and 10 coin.
Chose your arms:
Dagger (Hand, 1 weight) and short
sword (Close, 1 weight)
Rapier (close, precise, 1 weight)
Choose a ranged weapon:
3 throwing daggers (Thrown, Near, 0
weight)
Ragged Bow (Near, 2 weight) and
bundle of arrows (5 ammo, 1 weight)
Gear
Poison Master
cumstances
The best you can manage is a weaker
version
Itll take a while to take effect
Itll have obvious side effects
After youve used a poison once its no

longer Dangerous for you to use.
Serious Underdog
Youre never caught by surprise. When

an enemy would get the drop on you, you
get to act rst instead.
Envenom
You can apply even complex poisons
with a pinprick. When you apply a poison thats not Dangerous for you to use
to your weapon its Touch instead of Applied.
Brewer
When you have you have time to gather
materials and a safe place to brew you
can create three doses of any one poison
youve used before.
Underdog
Choose one:
When youre outnumbered, you have +1

armor.
Adventuring gear (1 weight)

Healing potion
Connections
When you put out word to the criminal

underbelly about something you want or
need, roll+Cha. On a 10+ someone has
Fill in the name of one of your compan- it, just for you. On a 79 youll have
ions in at least one:
to settle for something close or it comes
I stole something from_______________. with strings attached, your call.
_______________ has my back when choose from these moves or the level
things go wrong.
2-5 moves.
_______________ knows incriminatDirty Fighter
ing details about me.
_______________ and I have a con run- Replaces: Cheap Shot
ning.
When using a Precise weapon, your
Backstab deals an extra +1d10 damage
and all other attacks deal +1d6 damage.
Extremely Cautious
Bonds
Advanced Moves
Cheap Shot
When using a Precise or Hand weapon,

your Backstab deals an extra +1d6 damage.
Cautious
When you use Trap Expert you always
get +1 hold (even on a failure you get 1
hold).
Wealth and Taste

When you make a show of ashing
around your most valuable possession,
choose someone present. They will do
anything they can to obtain your item or
one like it.
Shoot First
Replaces: Cautious
When you use Trap Expert you always
get +1 hold (even on a failure you get 1
hold). On a 12+ you get 3 hold and the
next time you discover a trap the GM
will immediately tell you what it does,
what triggers it, who set it, and how you
can use it to your advantage.
Replaces: Underdog
You have +1 armor. When youre outnumbered, you have +2 armor instead.
Evasion
When you Defy Danger on a 12+ you
transcend the danger. You not only do
what you set out to but you the GM will
offer you a better outcome, true beauty,
or a moment of grace.
Strong Arm, True Aim

You can throw any melee weapon, using
it to Volley. A thrown melee weapon
is gone, you can never choose to reduce
ammo on a 7-9.
Escape Route
When youre in too deep and need a
way out, name your escape route and
roll+Dex. On a 10+ youre gone. On
a 7-9 you can stay or go, but if you go
it costs you: leave something behind or
take something with you, the GM will
tell you what.
Disguise
When you have time and materials you
can create a disguise that will fool anyone into thinking youre another creature of about the same size and shape.
Your actions can give you away but your
appearance wont.
Heist
When you take time to make a plan to
steal something, name the thing you
want to steal and ask the GM these questions. When acting on the answers you
and your allies take +1 forward.
Who will notice its missing?

Whats its most powerful defense?
Who will come after it?
Who else wants it?
Alchemist
Replaces: Brewer
When you have you have time to gather
materials and a safe place to brew you can
create three doses of any poison youve
used before. Alternately you can describe the effects of a poison youd like
to create. The GM will tell you can create
it, but with one or more caveats:
It will only work under speci c cir-
29
Names
The Wizard
14
The Wizard
Dungeon World has rules. Not the laws

of men or the rule of some petty tyrant.
Bigger, better rules. You drop somethingit falls. You cant make something out of nothing. The dead stay dead,
right?
your spellbook as well as the cantrips.

Whenever you gain a level, you add a
new spell of your level or lower to your
spellbook. You spellbook is 1 weight.
Oh, the things we tell ourselves to feel

better about the long, dark nights.
When you spend uninterrupted time (an

hour or so) in quiet contemplation of
your spellbook, you lose any spells you
already have prepared and prepare new
spells of your choice from your spellbook whose total levels dont exceed your
own+1. You also prepare your cantrips;
they dont count against your limit.
Youve spent so very long poring over

those tomes of yours. The experiments
that nearly drove you mad and all the
botched summonings that endangered
your very soul. For what? For power.
What else is there? Not just the power
of King or Country but the power to boil
a mans blood in his veins. To call on the
thunder of the sky and the churn of the
roiling earth. To shrug off the rules the
world holds so dear.
Let them cast their sidelong glances. Let
them call you warlock or diabolist.
Who among them can hurl reballs from
their eyes?
Cast a Spell (Int)

When you release a spell youve prepared, roll+Int. On a 10+, the spell is
successfully cast and you do not forget
the spellyou may cast it again later.
On a 7-9, the spell is cast, but choose one:
Human : Avon, Morgan, Rath, Ysolde,

Ovid, Vitus, Aldara, Xeno, Uri
You draw unwelcome attention or

put yourself in a spot (the GM will
describe it)
The spell disturbs the fabric of reality
as it is casttake -1 ongoing to Cast a
Spell until you Prepare Spells again.
After it is cast, the spell is forgotten.
You cannot cast the spell again until
you Prepare Spells.
Look
Spell Defense
Yeah. We didnt think so.
Names
Elf : Galadiir, Fenfaril, Lilliastre, Phirosalle, Enkirash, Halwyr

Haunted Eyes, Sharp Eyes, or Crazy Eyes
Styled Hair, Wild Hair, or Pointed Hat
Worn Robes, Stylish Robes, or Strange
Robes
When you craft an ongoing spell into a

makeshift shield of arcane energy to deect an attack, the spell is ended and you
subtract the spells level from the damage done to you.
Pudgy Body, Creepy Body, or Thin Body
Ritual
Stats
When you draw on a place of power to

create a magical effect, tell the GM what
youre trying to achieve. The GM will tell
you "yes, you can do that, but..." and then
1 to 4 of the following:

17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)
Starting Moves
Elf
Magic is as natural as breath to you. Detect Magic is a rote for you.
Human
Choose one cleric spell, you can cast it as
if it was a wizard spell.
Spellbook
You have mastered several spells and inscribed them in your spellbook. You
start out with three rst level spells in
30
Prepare Spells
Its going to take days/weeks/months

First you must ____
Youll need help from ____
It will require a lot of money
The best you can do is a lesser version,
unreliable and limited
You and your allies will risk danger
from ____
Youll have to disenchant ____ to do
it
Alignment
Good
Use magic to directly aid another
Neutral
The Wizard
Gear
Discover something about a magical

mystery
When you Spout Lore about something

no one else has any clue about, take +1.
Evil
Know-It-All
Use magic to cause terror and fear
When another players character comes

to you for advice and you tell them what
you think is best, they get +1 forward
when following your advice and you
mark experience if they do.
Gear
Your Load is 5+Str. You start with your
spellbook (1 weight) and dungeon rations
(1 weight, 5 uses). Choose your defenses:
Leather armor (1 armor, 1 weight)
Bag of books (5 uses, 2 weight) and 3
healing potions
Choose your weapon:
Expanded Spellbook
Add a new spell from any class to your
spellbook.
Enchanter
Dagger (Hand, 1 weight)

staff (Close, two-handed, 1 weight)
When you have time and safety with a

magic item you may ask the GM what it
does, the GM will answer you.
Choose one:
Logical
healing potion
three antitoxin
When you use strict deduction to analyze your surroundings, you can Discern
Realities with Int instead of Wis.
Bonds
Arcane Ward
As long as you have at least one prepared

spell, you have +2 armor.
Counterspell
will play an important role in the events
to come. I have foreseen it!
is keeping an important secret from me.
is woefully misinformed about the

world; I will teach them all that I can.
Advanced Moves

choose from these moves. You also
add a new spell to your spellbook at
each level.
Prodigy
Choose a spell. You prepare that spell as
if it were one level lower.
Empowered Magic
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10+ you have
the option of choosing from the 7-9 list.
If you do, you may choose one of these as
well:
The spells effects are maximized
Fount of Knowledge
When you are affected by arcane magic

you may attempt to counter the spell.
Stake one of your prepared spells of
equal or higher level on the defense and
roll+Int. On a 10+, the spell is countered
and has no effect on you. On a 7-9, the
spell is countered and you forget the spell
you staked. If the spell has other targets
they are effected as usual.
Quick Study
When you see the effects of an arcane
spell, ask the GM the name of the spell
and its effects. You take +1 when acting
on the answers.
2-5 moves.
Enchanters Soul
Requires: Enchanter
When you have time and safety with a
magic item in a place of power you can
empower that item so that the next time
you use it its effects are ampli ed, the
GM will tell you exactly how.
Highly Logical
Replaces: Logical
When you use strict deduction to analyze
your surroundings, you can Discern Realities with Int instead of Wis. On a 12+
you get to ask the GM any three questions, not limited by the list.
Arcane Armor
Replaces: Arcane Ward
As long as you have at least one prepared
spell, you have +4 armor.
Protective Counter
Requires: Counterspell
When an ally within sight of you is affected by an arcane spell, you can counter
it as if it effected you. If the spell affects
multiple allies you must counter for each
ally separately.
Ethereal Tether
When you have time with a willing or
helpless subject you can craft an ethereal tether with them. You perceive
what they perceive and can Discern Realities about someone tethered to you or
their surroundings no matter the distance. Someone willingly tethered to
you can communicate with you over the
tether as if you were in the room with
them.
Master
Requires: Prodigy
Choose a spell. You prepare that spell as
if it were one level lower.
Greater Empowered Magic

Replaces: Empowered Magic
When you Cast a Spell, on a 10-11 you
have the option of choosing from the 7-9
list. If you do, you may choose one of
these effects as well. On a 12+ you get to
choose one of these effects for free.
31
Advanced Moves
Mystical Puppet Strings

When you use magic to control a persons
actions they have no memory of what
you had them do and bear you no ill will.
Spell Augmentation
When you deal damage to a creature
you can shunt a spells energy into
themend one of your ongoing spells
and add the spells level to the damage
dealt.
Self-Powered
When you have time, arcane materials,
and a safe space, you can create your own
place of power. Describe to the GM what
kind of power it is and how youre binding it to this place, the GM will tell you
one kind of creature that will have an interest in your workings.
32
The Wizard
Wizard Spells
15
Wizard
Spells
Cantrips
Cantrips
Light Cantrip
An item you touch glows with arcane
light, about as bright as a torch. It gives
off no heat or sound and requires no fuel,
but it is otherwise like a mundane torch.
You have complete control of the color of
the ame. The spell lasts as long as it is
in your presence.
Unseen Servant Cantrip
You conjure a simple invisible construct
that can do nothing but carry items. It
has Load 2 and carries anything you hand
to it. It cannot pick up items on its own
and can only carry those you give to it.
Items carried by an unseen servant appear to oat in the air a few paces behind
you. An unseen servant that takes damage or leaves your presence is immediately dispelled.
Prestidigitation Cantrip
You perform minor tricks of true magic.
If you touch an item as part of the casting you can make cosmetic changes to
it: clean it, soil it, cool it, warm it, avor it, or change its color. If you cast
the spell without touching an item you
can instead create minor illusions no bigger than yourself. Prestidigitation illusions are crude and clearly illusions; they
wont fool anyone, but they might entertain them.
1st Level Spells

Contact Spirits Level 1 Summoning
Name the spirit you wish to contact (or
leave it to the GM). You pull that creature
through the planes, just close enough to
speak to you. It is bound to answer any
one question you ask to the best of its
ability.
Detect Magic Level 1 Divination
One of your senses is brie y attuned to
magic. The GM will tell you what here is
magical.
Telepathy Level 1 Divination
You form a telepathic bond, allowing you
to speak to the person you touch with
this spell through your thoughts. You
can only have one telepathic bond at a
time.
Charm Person Level 1 Enchantment
The person (not beast or monster) you
touch while casting this spell counts you
as a friend until they take damage or you
prove otherwise.
Invisibility Level 1 Illusion
Touch an ally: nobody can see them.
Theyre invisible! The spell persists until the target attacks or you dismiss the
effect. While the spell is ongoing, you
cant cast another spell.
Magic Missile Level 1 Evocation
Projectiles of pure magic spring from
your ngers. Deal 2d4 damage to one
target.
Alarm Level 1
Walk a wide circle. Until you prepare
spells again your magic will alert you if a
creature crosses that circle. Even if you
are asleep, the spell will shake you from
your slumber.
3rd Level Spells

Dispel Magic Level 3
Choose a spell or magic effect in your
presence: this spell rips it apart. Lesser
spells are ended, powerful magic is just
reduced or dampened so long as you are
nearby.
Visions Through Time Level 3 Divination
Cast this spell and gaze into a re ective
surface to see into the depths of time. The
GM will reveal the details of a Grim Portent to youa bleak event that will come
to pass if not directly stopped. Theyll tell
you something useful about how you can
interfere with the Grim Portents dark
outcomes. Rare is the Portent that claims
"Youll live happily ever after." Sorry.
Fireball Level 3 Evocation
You evoke a mighty ball of ame that envelops your target and everyone nearby,
in icting 2d6 damage which ignores armor.
Mimic Level 3
You take the form of someone you touch
while casting this spell. Your physical
characteristics match theirs exactly but
your behavior may not. This change persists until you take damage or choose to
return to your own form. While this spell
is ongoing, you lose access to all your
wizard moves.
Mirror Image Level 3 Illusion
You create an illusory image of yourself.
The next attack against you effects the
illusory image, not you. The image then
dissipates.
Sleep Level 3 Enchantment
1d4 enemies you can see of the GMs
choice fall asleep. Only creatures capable of sleeping are effected. They awake
as normal: loud noises, jolts, pain.
5th Level Spells

Cage Level 5 Evocation
The target is held in a cage of magical
force. Nothing can get in or out of the
cage. The cage remains until you cast
another spell or dismiss it. While the
spell is ongoing, the caged creature can
hear your thoughts and you cannot leave
sight of the cage.
Contact Other Plane Level 5 Divination
You send a request to another plane.
Specify what youd like to contact by
location, type of creature, name, or title. You open a two-way communication
33
7th Level Spells

with that creature. Your communication
can be cut off at any time by you or the
creature you contacted.
Polymorph Level 5 Enchantment
Your touch reshapes a creature entirely,
they stay in the form you craft until you
Cast a Spell. Describe to the GM the
new shape you craft, including any stat
changes, signi cant adaptations, or major weaknesses. The GM will then tell
you one or more of these:
The form will be unstable and temporary
The creatures mind will be altered as
well
The form has an unintended bene t
or weakness
Summon Monster Level 5 Summoning
A monster appears and aids you as best
it can. Treat it as your character, but
with access to only the basic moves. It
has +1 modi er for all stats and 1 HP.
Choose the type of monster by choosing
1d6 statements from the list below. The
GM will tell you the type of monster you
get based on your choices:
The monster has +2 instead of +1 to
one stat
The monster is not reckless
The monster does 1d8 damage
The monsters bond to your plane is
strong, +3 HP for each level you have
The monster has some useful adaptation
The creature remains on this plane until
it dies or you dismiss it. While the spell
is ongoing, you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
7th Level Spells

Dominate Level 7 Enchantment
Your touch pushes your mind into someone elses. You gain 1d4 hold. Spend one
hold to make the target take one of these
actions:
Speak a few words of your choice
Give you something they hold
Make a concerted attack on a target
of your choice
Truthfully answer one question
If you run out of hold the spell ends. If
the target takes damage you lose 1 hold.
While the spell is ongoing you cannot
Cast a Spell.
True Seeing Level 7 Divination
You see all things as they truly are. This
effect persists until you tell a lie or dismiss the spell. While this spell is ongoing, you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Shadow Walk Level 7 Illusion
The shadows you target with this spell
become a portal for you and your al-
34
Wizard Spells
lies. Name a location, describing it with a
number of words up to your level. Stepping through the portal deposits you and
any allies present when you cast the spell
at the location you described. The portal
may only be used once by each ally.
Contingency Level 7 Evocation
Choose a 5th level or lower spell you
know. Describe a trigger condition using
a number of words equal to your level.
The chosen spell is held until you choose
to unleash it or the trigger condition is
met, whichever happens rst. You dont
have to roll for the held spell, it just takes
effect. While you have a contingent spell,
you cant gain another one.
Cloudkill Level 7 Summoning
A cloud of fog drifts into this realm from
beyond the Black Gates of Death, lling
the immediate area. Whenever a creature in the area takes damage it takes an
extra 1d6 damage which ignores armor.
This spell persists so long as you can see
the affected area, or until you dismiss it.
9th Level Spells

Antipathy Level 9 Enchantment
Choose a target and describe a type of
creature or an alignment. Creatures of
the speci ed type or alignment cannot
come within sight of the target. If a creature of the speci ed type does nd itself within site of the target, it immediately ees. This effect continues until
you leave the targets presence or you
dismiss the spell. While the spell is ongoing, you take -1 to Cast a Spell.
Alert Level 9 Divination
Describe an event. The GM will tell you
when that event occurs, no matter where
you are or how far away the event is. If
you choose, you can view the location
of the event as though you were there
in person. You can only have one Alert
active at a time.
Soul Gem Level 9
You trap the soul of a dying creature
within a gem. The trapped creature is
aware of its imprisonment but can still
be manipulated through spells, Parley,
and other effects. All moves against the
trapped creature are at +1. You can free
the soul at any time but it can never be
recaptured once freed.
Shelter Level 9 Evocation
You create a structure out of pure magical
power. It can be as large as a castle or
as small as a hut, but is impervious to
all non-magical damage. The structure
endures until you leave it or you end the
spell.
Perfect Summons Level 9 Summoning
You teleport a creature to your presence.
Name a creature or give a short description of a type of creature. If you named
a creature, that creature appears before
you. If you described a type of creature, a

creature of that type appears before you.
Equipment
16
Equipment
Tag Glossary
The musty tombs and forgotten treasure
troves of the world are lled with useful
items. The Fighters can nd a sharp new
sword or the Thief might stumble across
a deadly poison. Most items are mundane; not magical or intrinsically unique
in any way. Any item that is magical
or one-of-a-kind is not mundane for the
purposes of moves. The Fighters signature weapon is never mundane.
Ignores Armor : Dont subtract armor

from the damage taken.
Messy : It does damage in a particularly destructive way, ripping people and
things apart.
n Piercing : It goes right through armor.
When you deal damage with n piercing,
you subtract n from the enemys armor
for that attack.
Weapons dont kill monsters, people do.

Thats why weapons dont have damage
listed. A weapon is useful primarily for
its tags which describe what the weapon
is useful for. A dagger is not useful because it does more or less damage than
some other blade. Its useful because its
small and easy to strike with at close distance. A dagger in the hands of a Wizard
is not nearly so dangerous as one in the
hands of a skilled Fighter.
Precise : It rewards careful strikes. You

use Dex to Hack and Slash with this
weapon, not Str.
The stats below are for typical items.

There are, of course, variations. A dull
long sword might be -1 damage instead
while a masterwork dagger could be +1
damage. Consider the following to be
stats for a typical weapon of that typea
speci c weapon could have different tags
to represent its features.
Slow : It takes minutes or more to use.
Tag Glossary
Two-handed : It takes two hands to use it

effectively.
n Ammo : It counts as n ammo for appropriate ranged weapons.

Applied : Its only useful when carefully
applied to a person or something they eat
or drink.
n Armor : It protects you from harm and
absorbs damage. When you take damage, subtract your armor from the total.
If you have more than one item with narmor, only the highest value counts.
+n Armor : It protects you and stacks with
other armor. Add its value to your total
armor.
Ration : Its edible, more or less.

Reload : After you attack with it, it takes
more than a moment to reset for another
attack.
Requires : Its only useful to certain people. If you dont meet the requirements
it works weakly, if at all.
Thrown : Throw it at someone to hurt
them. If you Volley with this weapon,
you cant choose to mark off ammo on a
79. Once you throw it, its lost until you
can recover it.
Touch : Its used by touching it to the
targets skin.
Stun : When you attack with it, it does

stun damage instead of normal damage.
n Uses : It can only be used n times.
n Weight : Count the listed amount
against your Load. Something with no
listed weight isnt designed to be carried.
100 coins in standard denominations is 1
weight. The same value in gems or ne
art may be lighter or heavier.
Worn : To use it, you have to be wearing
it.
Awkward : Its unwieldy and tough to use.
Range Tags (From Closest to Furthest)
+Bonus : It modi es your effectiveness in

some particular situation. It might be "+1
forward to Spout Lore" or "-1 ongoing to
Hack and Slash."
Hand : Its useful for attacking something

within your reach, no further.
Clumsy : Its tough to move around with.

-1 ongoing while using it.
Reach : Its useful for attacking something thats several feet awaymaybe as
far as ten.
n coins : How much it costs to buy, normally. If the cost includes "-Charisma" a
little negotiation subtracts the hagglers
Charisma score (not modi er) from the
price.
+n Damage : It is particularly harmful to
your enemies. When you deal damage,
you add n to it.
Close : Its useful for attacking something

at arms reach plus a foot or two.
Near : Its useful for attacking if you can

see the whites of their eyes.
Far : Its useful for attacking something
in shouting distance.
Weapons
Dangerous : Its easy to get in trouble with

it. If you interact with it without proper
precautions the GM may freely invoke
the consequences of your foolish actions.
Ragged Bow Near, 15 coins, 2 Weight
Forceful : It can knock someone back a

pace, maybe even off their feet.
Crossbow Near, +1 damage, Reload, 35
Fine Bow Near, Far, 60 coins, 2 Weight

Hunters Bow Near, Far, 100 coins, 1
Weight
35
Armor
coins, 3 Weight
Bundle of Arrows 3 Ammo, 1 coin, 1
Weight
Elven Arrows 4 Ammo, 20 coins, 1
Weight
Club, Shillelagh Close, 1 coins, 2 Weight
Staff Close, Two-handed, 1 coins, 1
Weight
Dagger, Shiv, Knife Hand, 2 coins, 1
Weight
Throwing Dagger Thrown, Near, 1 coin,
0 Weight
Short Sword, Axe, Warhammer, Mace
Close, 8 coins, 1 Weight
Spear Reach, Thrown, Near, 5 coins, 1
Weight
Long Sword, Battle Axe, Flail Close, +1
damage, 15 coins, 2 Weight
Halberd Reach, +1 damage, Twohanded, 9 coins, 2 Weight
Rapier Close, Precise, 25 coins, 1
Weight
Dueling Rapier Close, 1 piercing, Precise, 50 coins, 2 Weight
Armor
Leather, Chainmail 1 Armor, Worn, 10
coins, 1 Weight
Scale Mail 2 Armor, Worn, Clumsy, 50
coins, 3 Weight
Plate 3 Armor, Worn, Clumsy, 350
coins, 4 Weight
Shield +1 Armor, 15 coins, 2 Weight
Dungeon Gear
Adventuring Gear 5 Uses, 20 coins, 1
Weight
Adventuring gear is a collection of useful mundane items such as chalk, poles,
spikes, ropes, etc. When you rummage
through your adventuring gear for some
useful mundane item, you nd what you
need and mark off a Use.
Bandages 3 Uses, Slow, 5 coins, 0
Weight
When you have a few minutes to bandage
someone elses wounds, heal them of 4
damage and expend a use.
Poultices and Herbs 2 Uses, Slow, 10
coins, 1 Weight
and let everyone drink freely, take +1 to

your Carouse roll. If you drink a whole
keg yourself, you are very very drunk.
Bag of Books 5 Uses, 10 coins, 2 Weight
When your bag of books contains just the
right book for the subject youre Spouting Lore on, consult the book, mark off a
use, and take +1 to your roll.
Antitoxin 10 coins
When you drink antitoxin, youre cured
of one poison affecting you.
Dungeon Rations Ration, 5 Uses, 3
coins, 1 Weight
Not tasty, but not bad either.
Personal Feast Ration, 1 Use, 10 coins,
1 Weight
Ostentatious to say the least.
Dwarven Hardtack Requires Dwarf, Ration, 7 Uses, 3 coins, 1 Weight
Dwarves say it tastes like home. Everyone else says it tastes like home, on re,
in a hog farm.
Elven Bread Ration, 7 Uses, 10 coins, 1
Weight
Only the greatest of elf-friends are
treated to this rare delicacy.
Hal ing Pipeleaf 5 Uses, 5 coins, 1
Weight
When you share hal ing pipeleaf with
someone, expend two uses and take +1
forward to Parley with them.
Anights"companionship" 20-Charisma
coins
An evening of song and dance 18Charisma coins
Escort for a day along a bandit-infested
road 20 coins
Escort for a day along a monster-infested
road 54 coins
A run-of-the-mill killing 5 coins
An assassination 120 coins
Healing from a Chirurgeon 5 coins
A months prayers for the departed 1
coins
Repairs to a mundane item 25% of the
items cost
Meals
A hearty meal for one 1 coins
A poor meal for a family 1 coins
A feast 15 coins per person
Transport
Cart and Donkey 50 coins, Load 20
This donkey is sworn to carry your burdens.
Horse 75 coins, Load 10
Oil of Tagit Dangerous, Applied, 15

coins, 0 Weight
Wagon 150 coins, Load 40

Barge 50 coins, Load 15
The target falls into a light sleep
River boat 150 coins, Load 20
BloodweedDangerous, Touch, 12 coins,

0 Weight
The target deals -1d4 damage ongoing
until cured
Goldenroot Dangerous, Applied, 20
coins, 0 Weight
The target treats the next creature they
see as a trusted ally, until proved otherwise
Serpents Tears Dangerous, Touch, 10
coins, 0 Weight
Anyone dealing damage against the target rolls twice and takes the better result.
Healing Potion 50 coins
A weeks stay at a civilized inn 30Charisma coins
When you open a keg of dwarven stout
A custom item from a blacksmith Base

Item + 50 coins
Warhorse 400 coins, Load 12
Services
Keg of Dwarven Stout 10 coins, 4 Weight
A months pay for enlistment in an army

30 coins
Poisons
When you carefully treat someones

wounds with poultices and herbs, heal
them of 7 damage and expend a use.
When you drink an entire healing potion,
heal yourself of 10 damage or remove one
debility, your choice.
36
Equipment
A weeks stay at a peasant inn 14Charisma coins
A weeks stay at the fanciest inn in town

43-Charisma coins
A weeks unskilled mundane labor 10
coins
Merchant Ship 5,000 coins, Load 200

War Ship 20,000 coins, Load 100
Passage on a safe route 1 coins
Passage on a tough route 10 coins
Passage on a dangerous route 100 coins
Equipment
Land and Buildings
Land and Buildings

A hovel 20 coins
A cottage 500 coins
A house 2,500 coins
A mansion 50,000 coins
A keep 75,000 coins
A castle 250,000 coins
A grand castle 1,000,000 coins
A months upkeep 1% of the cost
Bribes
A peasant dowery 20-Charisma coins
"Protection" for a small business 100Charisma coins
A government bribe 50-Charisma coins
A compelling bribe 80-Charisma coins
An offer you cant refuse 500-Charisma
coins
Gifts and Finery

A peasant gift 1 coins
A ne gift 55 coins
A noble gift 200 coins
A ring or cameo 75 coins
Finery 105 coins
A ne tapestry 350+ coins
A crown t for a king 5,000 coins
Hoards
A goblins stash 2 coins
A lizardmans trinkets 5 coins
A priceless sword 80 coins
An orc warchiefs tribute 250 coins
A dragons mound of coins and gems
130,000 coins
37
Magic Items
17
Magic Items
There are stranger things in the world

than swords and leather. Magic items
are the non-mundane, items that have
intrinsic power.
Magic items are for you to make for your
game. Players can make magic items
through the Wizards ritual and similar moves. The GM can introduce magic
items in the spoils of battle or the bounty
of reward. This list provides some ideas,
but magic items are ultimately for you to
decide.
When making your own magic items
keep in mind that magic items are magical. +1 damage is the realm of the mundane, magic items should provide more
interesting bonuses.
Argo-Thaan, Holy Avenger Close, 2
Weight
There are many swords in this world, but
there is only one Argo-thaan. It is a blade
of gold, silver and light, revered as a holy
relic by all orders and religions for whom
Good rings true. Its touch is a blessing
and to many, the sight of it brings tears
of joy.
In the hands of a Paladin, it strikes true
and strong; his damage die becomes 1d12
and he has access to every Paladin move.
As well, Argo-thaan can harm any creature of Evil, regardless of any defenses
it may have. No Evil creature may
touch it without suffering agony. In the
hands of any non-Paladin, it is merely
a sword, heavier and more cumbersome
than most.
Argo-thaan, while not intelligent, will
forever be drawn to a cause of True Good,
like iron to a magnet.
Arrows of Acheron 1 Ammo, 1 Weight
Crafted in darkness by a blind etcher,
these arrows can nd their target in even
the deepest darkness. An archer may re
them blind, in the dark, with his eyes
bound by heavy cloth and still be assured
of a clean shot. If the light of the sun ever
touches the arrows, however, they come
apart like shadows and dust.
Bag of Holding 0 Weight

A bag of holding is larger on the inside
than the outside, it can contain an innite number of items, and its weight
never increases. When you try to retrieve an item from a bag of holding,
roll+Wis. On a 10+, its right there. On a
7-9, choose one:
You get the exact item, but it takes a
while
You get a similar item of the GMs
choice, but it only takes a moment
No matter how many items it contains, a
bag of holding is always 0 weight.
The Burning Wheel 2 Weight
An ancient wooden wheel, as might appear on a war-wagon, banded with steel.
On a glance, it appears to be nothing
specialmany spokes are shattered and
the thing seems mundane. Under the
scrutiny of magic or the eyes of an expert,
its true nature is revealed; the Burning
Wheel is a gift from the God of Fire and
burns with his authority.
When you hold The Burning Wheel and
speak a gods name, roll+Con. On a 7+,
the god you name takes notice and grants
you an audience. An audience with a
god is not without a price: on a 10+, you
choose one of your stats and reduce it to
the next lowest modi er (for example, a
14 is +1, so it would be reduced to 11, a +0).
On a 79, the GM chooses which stat to
reduce.
Once used, the Burning Wheel ignites
and burns with brilliant light. It does not
confer any protection from those ames,
nor does it provide any bonus to swimming.
Captain Blighs Cornucopia 1 Weight
A brass naval horn, curled and ornate,
carved with symbols of the gods of
Plenty. Sounded, the horn spills forth
not sound but food. Enough to feed a
meal to everyone who hears its sound.
Axe of the Conqueror-King Close, 1

Weight
The Carcosan Spire Reach, Thrown, 3

Weight
It is crafted of shining steel, glowing with

a golden light and imbued with mythical
powers of authority. The bearer of the
Axe becomes a beacon of inspiration to
all she leads. Any Henchmen in her employ have +1 Loyalty, no matter whether
she is a benevolent Princess or wicked
Queen.
None know from whence this spear of

twisted white coral comes. Those who
bear it too long nd their minds full
of alien dreams and begin to hear the
strange thoughts of the Others. None
are impervious. Used against any natural target (men, goblins, owlbears and
the like) the Spire acts as a mere mortal
spear. Its true purpose is to do harm
to those things whose strange natures
protect them against mundane weapons.
Used thus, the Spire can wound foes
otherwise invulnerable to harm. The
wielder will recognize these twisted foes
on sightthe Spire knows its own.
Barb of the Black Gate 0 Weight

A nail or spike, twisted and forever cold,
said to have been pried from the Gates
of Death himself. When hammered into
a corpse, it disappears and ensures that
corpse will never be risen againno
magic short of that of Death himself can
reignite the ame of life (natural or oth-
38
erwise) in the body.
Cloak of Silent Stars 1 Weight
Magic Items
A cape of rich black velvet outside
and sparkling with tiny points of light
within, the Cloak bends fate, time and
reality around it to protect the wearer,
who may Defy Danger with whatever
stat he likes. To do this, the wearer invokes the cloaks magic and his player
describes how the cloak helps him "break
the rules." He can de ect a reball with
his Cha by convincing it he deserves to
live or elude a fall by applying the mighty
logic of his Int to prove the fall wont hurt
him. The Cloak makes it so. It can be used
once for each stat before losing its magic.
Coin of Remembering 0 Weight
What appears, at a glance, to be a simple copper coin is, in truth, an enchanted
coin. Its bearer can, at any time, redeem
it to know immediately one fact that has
been forgotten. The coin vanishes thereafter. It does not have to be a thing forgotten by the bearer, but it cannot be
known. Interpretation of this stipulation is left to the Gods. If the coin is unsuccessful, it will still paint an image in
the minds eye of someone or something
that does remember what was sought.
Common Scroll 1 Use, 0 Weight
A common scroll has a spell inscribed on
it. The spell must be castable by you or
on your classs spell list for you to be able
to cast it. When you cast a spell from a
scroll, the spell has effect, simple as that.
Devilsbane Oil 1 Use, 0 Weight
A holy oil, created in limited supply by
a mute sect of mountain-monks whose
order protected humanity from the powers of the Demon Pits in ancient epochs.
Only a few jars remain. When applied to
any weapon and used to strike a denizen
of any outer plane, the oil undoes the
magic that binds that creature. In some
cases, this will return it to its home. In
others, it merely undoes any magic controlling it. The oil stays on the weapon
for a few hours before it dries and akes
away.
If applied to the edges of a doorway or
drawn in a circle, the oil will repel creatures whose home is any of the outer
planes. They cannot pass across it. The
oil lasts for one full day before it soaks in
or evaporates.
Earworm Wax 1 Use, 0 Weight
A yellowish candle. Seems never to burn
out and the light it casts is strange and
weak. Its wax is always cool, too. Drip
the wax into the ear of a target and gain 3
hold. Spend that hold and ask your target
a question. They nd themselves telling
you the whole truth, despite themselves.
The consequences, after the fact? Those
are up to you to deal with.
The Echo 0 Weight
A seemingly empty bottle. Once unstoppered, the whispers of another plane re-
sound once and fall silent. In the silence,

the bearer learns in his soul the coming of one great danger and how he can
avoid it. At any point after the Echo is
used, the wielder can ignore the results
of any single die rollhers or another
playerand roll again. Once opened,
the Echo is released and gone forever.
The Epoch Lens 1 Weight
An archmage, old and too frail to leave
his tower, crafted this intricate and fragile device of glass and gold to examine the
histories and relics he so loved. Looking
at an object through the lens reveals visions of who made it and where it came
from.
Farsight Stone 1 Weight
Swirling clouds ll this smoky orb and
those in its presence often hear strange
whispers. In ancient times, it was part of
a network of such stones, used to communicate and surveil across great distances. When you gaze into the stone,
name a location and roll+Wis. On a hit,
you see a clear vision of the location and
can maintain it as long as you concentrate on the orb. On a 79, you draw the
attention of some other thing (an angel, a
demon, or the holder of another Farsight
stone) that uses the stone to surveil you,
as well.
The Fiasco Codex 0 Weight
A thick tome, said to be penned in the
blood of poor fools and robber-barons
by some demon prince possessed of
dark humor, the Codex details tales and
stories of those whose ambition overwhelmed their reason. Reading from
this tome teaches one the value of clearheadedness but leaves a sense of dread
behind. When you read from the Codex,
Roll+Wis. On a 10+, ask two. On a 79,
just one.
What is my greatest opportunity,
right now?
Who can I betray to gain an advantage?
Who is an ally I should not trust?
The Codex gives up its answers only once
to each reader and takes 2 to 3 hours to
read.
Flask of Breath 0 Weight
A simple thing, but useful when you
need a breath of fresh air. The ask appears empty but cannot be lled, anything added to it simply spills out. This
is because the ask is eternally full of air.
If placed underwater, it will bubble forever. If pressed to the mouth, one can
breath normallysmoke is no concern,
for example. Im sure youll nd all sorts
of unusual uses for it.
Folly Held Aloft, The Wax Wings, A Huge
Mistake 1 Weight
Who hasnt always wanted to soar the

pretty blue sky? In an attempt to
grant the wishes of land-bound folk,
these great magical wings were created.
Known by many names and crafted by
as many mages, they commonly take
the shape of the wings of whatever local
birds hold affection. Worn by means of a
harness or, in some dire cases, a surgical
procedure.
When you take to the air with these magical wings, roll+Dex. On a 10+ your ight
is controlled and you may stay aloft as
long as you like. On a 79, you make it
aloft but your ight is short or erratic and
unpredictable, your choice. On a 6- you
make it aloft, but the coming-down part
and everything between is up to the GM.
Immovable Rod 0 Weight
A funny metal rod with a button on it.
Press the button and the rod just sticks.
It freezes in placein mid air, standing
up or lying down. It cant be moved. Pull
it, push it, try as hard as you like, the
rod stays. Maybe it can be destroyed,
maybe it cant. Push the button again and
its freetake it along with you. Might
be useful to have such a stubborn thing
along.
In nite Book 1 Weight
This book contains an in nite number of
pages in a nite space. With no limit to
the pages, everything that ever was, is,
or will be is contained somewhere in the
book. Luckily the index is great.
When you Spout Lore while consulting
the book you gain an extra clause. On
a 12+ the GM will give a solution to a
problem or situation youre in.
Inspectacles 0 Weight
Rough-hewn glass in wooden frames.
Dinged up and barely held together,
they somehow allow the wearer to see
much more than their mere eyes might.
When you Discern Realities wearing
these gifted lenses, you get to bend the
rules a little. On a roll of 10+, ask any
three questions you like. They dont have
to be on the list. As long as sight could
give you answers, the GM will tell you
what you want to know.
The Kumeh Maneuver and Other Stratagem 1 Weight
A great leathery tome worn shiny by the
hands of a hundred great generals, this
book is often passed from warrior to warrior, from son to father along the great
battle lines that have divided Dungeon
Worlds past. Anyone reading it may,
upon nishing for the rst time, roll+Int.
On a 10+ hold 3, on a 79 hold 1. You may
spend your hold to advise a companion
on some matter of strategic or tactical
signi cance. This advice allows you to,
at any time, regardless of distance, roll to
Aid them on any one roll. On a miss, the
39
Magic Items
GM can hold 1 and spend it to apply -2
to any roll of yours or the poor sap who
listened to your advice.
Lamented Memento 0 Weight
Taking the form of a single lock of bright
red hair, bound in a black ribbon and
immune to the ravages of time, the
Lamented Memento bears a grim enchantment. In it are the memories and
emotions of a girl who dealt with Death
at the Black Gates so many times that,
in the end, they fell in love and she left
the world to be with him for a time. Her
memory protects the wielder. If he nds
himself at the Gates, the Memento can
be traded for an automatic result of 10+
on the Last Breath move.
Lodestone Shield +1 armor, 1 Weight
What mixed-up dummy made this?
Shields are meant to repel metal, not
draw it in! Emblazoned with a lion
rampant, the Lodestone Shield has the
power to pull blades and arrows to it.
When you Defend against enemies using metal weapons you can spend one
hold, per target, to disarm them. Also,
sometimes youll nd a handful of loose
change stuck to it.
Map of the Last Patrol 0 Weight
An ancient order of brave rangers once
patrolled the land, protecting villages
and warning kings and queens of encroaching danger. Theyre long gone,
now, but their legacy remains. This map,
when marked with the blood of a group
of people, will always show their locationso long as they remain within the
bounds of the map.
Neds Head 1 Weight
An old skull, missing its jaw and
very much worse-for-wear. The skull
remembers the folly of its former
ownera man with more honor than
sense. Once per night, the owner of the
skull can ask Who has it in for me? and
the skull will give up one name in a sad,
lonely voice. If the owner of the skull is
ever killed, it disappears surreptitiously.
No-one knows where it might turn up
next.
Nightsiders Key 0 Weight
This key unlocks any door, provided the
owner of the key does not belong where
she intends to go. So long as the intruder
does nothing that would alert another
to her presence (remaining unheard, unseen and unnoticed) and takes nothing
more than her memories out with her,
the keys magic will prevent her intrusion from ever being discovered. Its like
she was never there at all.
40
de nitely. When smoked in a pipe or

consumed in an incense burner and the
thick, blue smoke inhaled, these herbs
will grant strange visions of far away
places and distant times. If the imbiber
focuses his will on a particular person,
place or thing, the herbs will respond:
roll+Wis. On a 10+ the vision is clear
and usefulsome valid information is
gained. On a 79 the vision is of the focus, but unclear, fraught with metaphor
or somehow dif cult to understand. On
a miss, the GM will ask you What is it
you fear most? You must answer honestly, of course.
The Sartar Duck 0 Weight
An odd, hand-carved wooden duck.
Who would make such a funny thing?
Whoever bears it nds himself an exceptionally gifted storytellerno matter the language, he can make himself
and his story clear to any audience. They
will understand his meaning, if not his
words.
Tears of Annalise 0 Weight
Cloudy red gemstones the size of a
thumbnail, the Tears of Annalise are
always found in pairs. When swallowed, they bind the swallowers togetherwhen either feels strong emotions (particularly sadness, loss, fear or
desire) the other feels it, as well. The effects last until one spills the blood of the
other.
Teleportation Room Slow
James Nine ngers, eccentric genius
mage, created these room-sized magical apparati. A stone room etched with
runes and scribblings, glowing with a
faint blue light. When you enter and say
aloud the name of a location, roll+Int.
On a 10+, you arrive exactly where youd
intended. On a 79, the GM chooses a
safe location nearby. On a miss, you end
up someplace. Maybe its nearby? Its
de nitely not safe. Strange things sometimes happen to those who bend time and
space with these devices.
Timunns Armor 1 Armor, 1 Weight
A stealthy suit of armor, it appears as
many things to many people and blends
in with appropriate apparel. The wearer
always seems the height of fashion to any
who gaze upon him.
Titus Truthful Tallow 0 Weight
A candle of ivory-and-copper colored
tallow with a wick of spun silver. When
lit, none upon whom its light falls is able
to tell a lie. They may keep silent or dissemble but when asked a question directly, they can speak naught but truth.
Sacred Herbs 0 Weight
Tricksy Rope 1 Weight
The sacred herbs, collected and prepared

by an order of lost wizard-monks, can
be found in bundles with two or three
uses to them. Kept dry, they last in-
A rope that listens. Does tricks, too, like

a smart and more obedient snake might.
Tell it coil or slack or come here,
rope and it will.
The Sterling Hand 0 Weight

Crafted by dwarven whitesmiths, this
mirrored-metal hand is deeply scored
with runes of power and rejuvenation.
Meant to replace wounded or destroyed
limbs from mining accidents, the Sterling Hand bonds to the wound, old or
new, and is strong and stout. It can
be used as a weapon (near range) and
is made of pure enough silver to harm
creatures affected by such.
Velliuss Gauntlets 1 Weight
Crafted in the name of Vellius the
Clumsy, Vellius the Butter-Fingered,
Vellius the Clod, these gloves of simple
cloth prevent the wearer from dropping
any object she does not intent to. She
cannot be disarmed nor fall from any
rope or ladder, for example. This item
can get very messy if you have something strong pulling at your legs while
you grip onto something solid.
Violation Glaive Reach, 2 Weight
A legendary blade, said to have been
thrust backwards in time from some
grim future, the violation glaive is
crafted of strange green iron. The blade
strikes at the mind of those it wounds,
as well as the body. When you Hack &
Slash on a 10+ you have an additional option: you can deal your normal damage,
let them counter attack you, and instill
the emotion of your choice (maybe fear,
reverence, or trust)
Vorpal Sword Close, 3 Piercing, 2
Weight
Snicker-snack and all that. Sharp as anything, this simple-seeming sword means
to separate one thing from anotherthe
limb from the body or folk from their
lives. When you deal damage with the
Vorpal Sword, your enemy must choose
something (an item, an advantage, a
limb) and lose it, permanently.
The GM
Always Say
18
The GM
This section is about the art and rules

of being the Game Master or GM. There
are many styles of GMing epic fantasy
games with things like dragons and dungeons and brave adventurers but Dungeon World is designed for one of those
styles in particular. These rules will help
you run a game in that style.
Just because the rules are mechanical
doesnt mean theyre removed from the
ction of whats actually happening in
the game or that youre playing to win.
Youll be refereeing, adjudicating, and
narrating your part the game much like
you would any other game. Youll just
have a framework that helps you determine what to say, at what time.
The GMs rules are rules, just like the
rules for moves and character creation
and all the rest. Just like every other rule
in the game, they are designed to help
you play a game of exploration and epic
fantasy. You will of course be making
your own rules, in the form of custom
moves, but the GMs rules are as important to playing Dungeon World as the
rules for rolling dice. Play with the rules
as written before making any changes,
and think carefully about any changes
you do make.
The Basics
Dungeon World is built on a framework: the GMs agenda , principles
, and moves . The GMs agenda is
what they set out to do when they sit
down at the table. The principles are the
guides that keep the GM focused on their
agenda. The GMs moves are the concrete, moment-to-moment things the
GM does to drive the game forward. The
GMs moves arent like player moves,
they arent triggered by the ction. Instead they are actions that drive the game
onward.
The GMs agenda, principles, and moves
are rules just like damage or stats or HP.
You should take the same care in altering
them or ignoring them that you would
with any other rule. Changing a principle may have just as much of an effect
on your game as changing the Fighters
damage dice or giving the Cleric access
to Wizard spells.
Always Say
When running Dungeon World as the
GM you say these things:
What the rules demand

What the adventure demands
What honesty demands
What the principles demand
The players have it easythey just say

what their characters say, think and do.
You have it a bit harder. You have to
say everything else. So what do you say?
Say what the rules tell you to . If a

move has triggered, yours or the players,
then say what the rules tell you to say.
Embellish and expand but use the rules
to give you a start. The rules will always
give you material to work with.
Say what the adventure demands
. Youll know some things before you
sit down at the table. You might know
where the goblins are hiding or when the
reinforcements are going to arrive. If the
players havent done anything to change
those things, stick with them.
Always be honest . If the rules tell you
to give out information, like the Spout
Lore and Discern Realities moves, do it.
Dont lie or give half truths; be open
and honestgenerous, even. The player
characters have risked something to get
that information just by rolling so make
it worth their while. If you dont know
the answer make one up or turn the question back to the players. Once you tell the
players its set in stone, no going back on
it.
This applies in general to the players
actions, too. If they have worked to
achieve something, you should give it to
them fully. Youre not here to ght back
against the players; youre not opposed
to them at all. You are playing the game
with them.
At all times, use your principles and
agenda as a lter or inspiration. If
something falls at its usually because
you ignored one of your principles or
acted on a different agenda. If youre unsure of what youre about to say just take
a moment and look at your agenda and
principles to make sure youre abiding
by them.
Agenda
The GMs agenda is what they sit down
at the table to do:
Make the world fantastic
Fill the characters lives with adventure
Play to nd out what happens
Everything you say, create, and do at the
table and away from the table is to accomplish these three goals and no others.
Things that arent on this list arent your
goals. Youre not trying to beat the players or test their ability to solve complex
traps. Youre not here to give the players
a chance to explore your nely crafted
setting. Youre most certainly not here
to tell everyone a planned story.
That one deserves repeating: you are
not here to tell everyone a planned
story . Dont ever plan a storyline. You
do not know what will happen to the
players characters any more than they
do. Your job is to portray a fantastic
world, not provide a canned plot.
41
Principles
To that end, Dungeon World adventures
never presume player actions. A Dungeon World adventure describes a location in motion, someplace important
with creatures pursuing their own goals.
As the players come into con ict with
that location, it will snowball into action. Youll honestly portray the repercussions of their actions.
When you play this way you get to share
in the fun of nding out what happens
to the characters and the world around
them. Youre not a frustrated novelist
trying to organize your unruly characters. Youre a participant in a great story
thats unfolding. So reallydont plan
the story. The rules of the game will ght
you.
Fill the characters life with adventure means helping the players create
a world thats exciting and full of epic
foes to battle, strange places to explore,
and glorious treasure to discover. Adventurers are always caught up in some
plot or world-threatening danger or anotherencourage and foster that kind of
action in the game.
The players have an agenda too, but its
probably something theyll do by default: portray their characters.
Principles
Draw maps, leave blanks
Address the characters, not the players
Embrace the fantastic
Make a move that follows
Never speak the name of your move
Give every monster life
Name every person
Ask questions and use the answers
Be a fan of the characters
Think Dangerous
Begin and end with the ction
Think offscreen, too
Your principles are your guides. Often,
when its time to make a move, youll
already have an idea. Quickly run it
past your principles and make sure it ts,
then go with it.
Draw maps, leave blanks

Dungeon World is mostly in our imaginations, but we can actually see it when
we draw a map. So, make use of maps.
You wont always be drawing them yourself, but any time theres a new location
draw it on a map (or make a new map for
it).
When you draw a map, it doesnt have to
be complete. Leave blanks, places that
are unknown to you. As you play youll
get more ideas or the players will give
you inspiration to work with.
Address the characters, not the players

Addressing the characters, not the play-
42
The GM
ers, means that you dont say "Whit,
is Dunwick doing something about that
wight?" Instead you say "Dunwick, what
are you doing about the wight?" Talking
this way keeps the game rooted in the ction and not at the table. Its important
to the ow of the game, too. If you talk to
the players you may leave out details that
are important to what moves the characters make. Since moves are always based
on the actions of the character you need
to think about whats happening in terms
of charactersnot players.
Embrace the fantastic

The fantastic is the core of fantasy:
magic, strange vistas, gods, demons, and
abominations. The player characters already have these kind of abilities, so you
should re ect them in the world.
Make a move that follows

When you make a move what youre actually doing is taking some element of
the ction and bringing it to bear against
the characters. Your move should always follow from the ction, and you
never speak its name. Instead describe
the ctional actions that take place which
follow from the situation established.
Never speak the name of your move

There is no quicker way to ruin the consistency of Dungeon World than to tell
the players what move youre making.
Your moves are prompts to you, not
things you say directly.
You never show the players that youre
picking a move from a list. You know
the reason the slavers dragged off Omar
was because you made the "Put someone
in a spot" move, but you show it to the
players as a straightforward outcome of
their actions.
Give every monster life

Monsters are nameless hordes of creatures that stand between the players and
what they want. Give each monster details that bring it to life: smells, sights,
sounds. Your monsters are arrows, red
en masse at the players. Give each
enough detail to make it real, but dont
cry when it gets slain by intrepid adventurers.
Name every person

Every person gets a name. Youll have
a name list to work from on your adventure sheet, so dont worry too much
about it. Anyone that the players interact with has a name. They probably have
a personality and some goals or opinions
too, but you can gure that out as you
go. Start with a name. The rest can ow
from there.
How do you know if someone gets a
name? If you start dealing with them
as an individual (not just "a member of
the Knob Street gang" or "a goblin ambusher") its time for a name.
Ask questions and use the answers

You dont have to know everything. If
you dont know, or you dont have an
idea, just ask the players and use what
they say.
The easiest question to use is "What do
you do?" Whenever you make a move,
end with "What do you do?" You dont
even have to ask the person you made
the move against. Take that chance to
shift the focus elsewhere: "Raths spell
is torn apart with a ick of the mages
wand. Finnegan, that spell was aiding
you. What are you doing now that its
gone?"
Be a fan of the characters

Treat the players characters like characters you watch on TV. You want to see
how things turn out for them. Youre not
here to make them lose, or to make them
win, and de nitely not to guide them to
your story. Youre here to portray the
interesting world around them and see
how interacting with that world changes
everything.
Think Dangerous
Thinking Dangerous means that everything in the world is a target. Youre
thinking like an evil overlord: no single life is worth anything, there is nothing sacrosanct. Everything can be put
in danger, everything can be destroyed.
Nothing you create is ever protected.
Whenever your eye falls on something
youve created, think dangerous. Think
how it can be put in danger, fall apart,
crumble.

Everything you and the players do in
Dungeon World comes from and leads to
ctional events. When the players make
a move, they always take a ctional action to trigger it, apply the rules, and get
a ctional effect. When you make a move
it always comes from the ction.
You can apply this to everything you
say.
Start with the ction ("The
ogres axe comes sailing down into your
shoulder . . . "), apply the rules (" . . . you
take 12 damage . . . "), go back to the ction (" . . . as your collar bone cracks beneath your armor. What do you do?").
The GM
Moves
Think offscreen too
tend is a move waiting to happen.
Just because youre a fan of the characters

doesnt mean everything happens right
in front of them. Sometimes your best
move is in the next room, or another part
of the dungeon, or even back in town.
Make your move elsewhere and show the
effects later.
Of course your moves apply when the

players undertake something thats not
a player move. In that case the players
will say something, like "I lay my case
before the king, pleading for aid," and
look to you to nd out what happens.
Since they havent made a move (theres
no leverage to make a Parley) you just
respond with a soft move of your own as
setup by the ction.
Moves
Use a monster, danger, or location
move
Reveal an unwelcome truth
Show signs of doom
Deal damage
Use up their resources
Turn their move back on them
Separate them
Give an opportunity that ts a class
abilities
Show a downside to their class, race,
or equipment
Offer an opportunity, with or without cost
Put someone in a spot
Tell them the requirements or consequences and ask
Whenever everyone looks to you to see
what happens choose one of these. Each
move is something that occurs in the ction of the gamethey arent code words
or special terms. "Use up their resources"
literally means to expend the resources
of the characters.
Of course you dont say that to the players. You never speak the name of your
move (its one of your principles). You
make it a real thing that happens to them:
"As you dodge the hulking ogres club,
you slip and land hard. Your sword
goes sliding away into the darkness. You
think you saw where it went but the ogre
is lumbering your way. What do you
do?"
No matter what move you make always follow up with "What do you do?"
Your move is a way of ful lling your
agendapart of which is to ll the characters lives with adventure. When a
spell goes wild or the oor drops out from
under them adventurers react.
When to Make a Move

You make a move when everyone looks
to you to nd out what happens. When
its your turn to say something in the
conversation you make a move. In particular, you make a soft move: a move
that sets up a future move.
Making a soft move just means that you
put events in motion, then let the players
react. If they dont do anything about it
you follow through with the full consequences, making another (harder) move.
Showing signs of doom is your most versatile soft move since the doom you por-
You also make a move when the players give you a golden opportunity. A
golden opportunity is any time they ignore a threat or when they fail a roll (6-).
When they give you a golden opportunity, you can make your move just as
hard as you like. A hard move is one that
is irrevocable and immediate. The players immediately feel the consequences
of the move and have to deal with them.
Dealing damage is a hard move, since the
damage is immediately applied.
Soft moves are useful to setup future
harder moves. When the doom you show
signs of is an onslaught of goblin arrows,
if the players dont so something to get
out of the way, you can follow through
with damage as a hard move. Ignoring
the oncoming arrows is a golden opportunity.
Choosing a Move
To choose a move, start by looking at the
obvious consequences of the action that
triggered it. If you already have an idea,
think on it for a second to make sure it ts
your agenda and principles and then do
it. Let your moves snowball . Build
on the success or failure of the characters
moves and on your own previous moves.
You can choose to save up your moves
instead. Use this option sparingly, only
when youre sure the consequences of
their action occurred off screen and that
youll be able to come up with those consequences later. The saved move should
always be used in the same physical area,
such as a dungeon complex or sprawling
swamp. Your players will come to expect you to make hard moves on the tail
of their failed rollsthis will throw them
off. Their actions will instead come back
to bite them later. Be careful with it.
When an ogre ings you against a wall

you take damage as surely as if he had
smashed you with his sts. If a monster
deals damage incidentally as part of another move, like charging past Titanius
slamming her to the ground, the damage dealt is equal to half the monsters
normal damage.
If a move causes damage not related to a
monster, like a collapsing tunnel or fall
into a pit, use the damage rules on page
X (Blood and Guts chapter).
After every move you make, always ask
"What do you do?" The players characters are the stars, remember.
Use a monster, danger, or location move

Each monster in an adventure has moves
associated with it, as do many locations.
A monster or location move is just a description of what that location or monster does, maybe "hurl someone away" or
"bridge the planes." If a move (like Hack
and Slash) says that a monster gets to
make an attack, make a move with that
monster.
The overarching dangers of the adventure also have moves associated with
them. Use these moves to bring that
danger into play, which may mean more
monsters.

An unwelcome truth is a fact the players
wish wasnt true: that the rooms been
trapped, maybe, or that the helpful goblin is actually a spy. You never make up
an unwelcome truth when making this
moveyou just bring one to light. Reveal to the players just how much trouble
theyre in.
Show signs of doom

This is one of your most versatile moves.
Doom is anything bad thats coming.
With this move, you just show them that
somethings going to happen unless they
do something about it. Remember to ask
"What do you do?"
Making your Move

When making a move, keep your principles in mind. In particular, "never speak
the name of your move" and "address
the characters, not the players." Your
moves are not mechanical actions happening around the table. They are concrete events happening to the characters
in the ctional world you are describing.
Note that "Deal damage" is a move, but
other moves may include damage as well.
43
Dungeon Moves
Deal damage
When you deal damage you choose
one source of damage thats ctionally
threatening a character and apply it. In
combat with a lizard man? It stabs
you. Running from a collapsing tunnel?
Some rocks catch your ankle.
The amount of damage is decided by the
source. In some cases, this move might
involve trading damage both ways, with
theplayercharacteralsodealing damage.
Most damage is based on a dice roll.
When a player takes damage, tell them
what to roll, you never need to touch the
dice. If the player is too cowardly to nd
out their own fate, they can ask another
player to roll for them.
Dealing damage is a hard move. Use it
carefully.
Use up their resources

Surviving in a dungeon, or anywhere
dangerous, often comes down to supplies. With this move, something happens to use up some resource: weapons,
armor, healing, ongoing spells. You
dont always have to use it up permanently. A sword might just be ung to
the other side of the room, not shattered.
Offer an opportunity, with or without cost

Show them something they want: riches,
power, glory. If you want, you can associate some cost with it too, of course.
Remember to lead with the ction. You
dont say "This area isnt dangerous so
you can make camp here, if youre willing to take the time." You make it a solid
ctional thing and say "Helferths blessings still hang around the shattered alter.
Its clearly been untouched, the goblins
dont come here. Its a nice safe spot, but
the chanting from the ritual chamber is
getting louder. What do you do?"
Put someone in a spot

A spot is someplace where they have to
make tough, ugly choices. Put them in
the path of destruction. Put someone
or something they care about in a dangerous situation. Whatever you do, just
make sure theyre someplace where they
have to take action and then ask "What
do you do?"
Tell them the requirements or consequences and

ask
This move is particularly good when
theyve done something thats not a
move, or failed a move. They can do
it, sure, but theyll have to meet the
requirements. Or, they can do it, but
there will be consequences. Maybe they
can swing across the chasm, fully armored, and leap into battle, but the rope
will be stressed beyond usefulness afterwards. Maybe they can swim through
the crocodilian-infested moat before be-
44
The GM
ing devoured, but theyll need a distraction. Of course this is made clear to
the characters, not just the players: the
crocodilians are slavering hungry and
starved, or the rope already has dangerous give.
Dungeon Moves
Dungeon Moves are a special subset that
are used to make or alter a dungeon on the
y. Use these if your players are exploring a hostile area that you dont already
have planned all the way through.
Map out the area being explored as you
make these moves. Most of them will
require you to add a new room or element
to your map.
Change the environment
Point to a looming threat
Introduce a new faction or type of
creature
Use a threat from an existing faction
or type of creature
Make them backtrack
Present riches at a price
Present a challenge to one of the characters
You can make these moves whenever
everyone looks to you to say something,
when the players present you an opportunity, or when the players miss on a
roll. Theyre particularly well-suited for
when the players look at you to nd out
what a new room or area is like.
Change the environment

The environment is the general feel of
the area the players are in: carved tunnels, warped trees, safe trails, or whatever else. This is your opportunity to
introduce them to a new environment:
the tunnels gradually become naturally
carved, the trees are dead, or the trails
are lost and the wilderness takes over.
Use this move to vary the types of areas
and creatures the players will face.
Its an opportunity for you to interject
with a change in scenery and play up
the themes and dangers that are to come.
Snowball this move with itself over time
to gradually shift the dungeon to something new and exciting by using one or
two elements at a time. First the scent of
brimstone lls the tunnels, then hellish
sigils mar the walls, then the moans of
the damned and before the players know
it, theyre not in a cavern at alltheyre
in the pit of a demon lord!
Point to a looming threat

If you know that something lurking and
waiting for the players to stumble upon
it, this move shows them the signs and
clues. This move is the dragons footprints in the mud or the slimy trail of the
gelatinous cube.
This move means that when the players
nally come face-to-face with the threat,

theyll have some ideas and fear about
what awaits them. Use it to build tension or, in some cases, provide hints that
prove to be a surprise. Its not a wicked
red dragon like the players expected, its
a wounded silver drake who needs their
help.
Introduce a new faction or type of creature

A type of creatures is a broad grouping:
orcs, goblins, lizardmen, golems, etc.
A faction is a group of creatures united
by a similar goal. Once you introduce
them you can begin to make moves and
cause trouble for the players with those
creatures or NPCs.
Introducing means giving some clear
sensory evidence or substantiated information. Dont be coy, the players should
have some idea what youre showing the
presence of. You can, however, be subtle in your approach. No need to have
the cultist overlord waving a placard and
screaming in the infernal tongue every
single time.
You dont have to warn the players about
this move. A hard application of this
move will snowball directly into a combat scene or ambush.
Use a threat from an existing faction or type of

creature
Once the characters have some been introduced to the presence a faction or type
of creature you can use monsters of that
type.
Use the factions and types broadly. Orcs
are accompanied with their hunting
worgs. A mad cult probably has some
undead servants or maybe a few beasts
summoned from the deepest pits. This
is a move that, often, youll be making
subconsciouslyits just implementing
the tools youve set out for yourself in a
clear and effective manner.
The GM
Dungeon Moves
Make them backtrack

Look back at the spaces youve added to
the map. Is there anything useful there
as yet undiscovered? Can you add a new
obstacle that can only be overcome by
going back there? Is there a locked door
here and now whose key lies in an earlier
room?
When backtracking, take the opportunity to show the effect the players have
had on the areas theyve left behind.
What new threatshave sprung up in their
wake? What didnt they take care of
thats waiting for their return?
Use this move the make the dungeon a
living, breathing place. There is no stasis
in the wake of the characters passing.
Add reinforcements, cave in walls, cause
chaos. Make the dungeon evolve in the
wake of the characters actions.
Present riches at a price

What do the players want? What might
they give something up for?
Put some desirable item just out of reach.
Find something theyre short on: time,
HP, gear, whatever. Find a way to make
what they want available if they give up
what they have.
The simplest way to use this move is the
promise of gold out of the way of the
main objective. Will they stop to pry the
ruby eyes from the idol when they know
that the virgin sacri ce looms closer and
closer? Use this move and you can nd
out.
Present a challenge to one of the characters

Challenge a character by looking at what
theyre good at. Give the Thief a lock to
pick, show the Cleric evil gods to battle
against. Give the Wizard magical mysteries to investigate. Show the Fighter
some skulls he can crack. Give someone
a chance to shine.
As an alternative, challenge a character
by looking at what theyre bad at or what
theyve left unresolved. If the Bard has a
long con running what steps will he take
to cover it up when someone gures him
out? If the Wizard has been summoning
demons then what happens when word
gets out?
This move can give a character the spotlighteven if just for a moment. Try to
give everyone a chance to be the focus
of play using this move from session to
session.
45
Prep
First Session
19
First
Session
The rst session of a game of Dungeon

World begins with character creation.
Character creation is also world creation,
the details on the character sheets and
the questions the GM asks establish what
Dungeon World is likewho lives in it
and whats going on.
This section is for the GM so its addressed to youthe GM. For the players, the rst session is just like every
other. They just have to play their characters like real people and explore Dungeon World. The GM has to do a little
more in the rst session. They establish
the world and the threats the players will
face. Dont worry, its fun.
Prep
Before the rst session, youll need to
print some stuff. Print off:
A few copies of the basic moves and
special moves (double sided, basic on
one side and special on the other).
Youll want about one per player.
One copy of each class sheet, double
sided.
One copy each of the cleric and wizard spell sheets, double sided.
A few copies of the equipment sheet.
The GM moves.
The GM worksheets.
Youll also need to read this whole book,
especially the sections on GMing (GM
moves) and the basic moves. Its a
good idea to be acquainted with the class
moves too, so you can be prepared for
them. Be especially sure to read the rules
for Fronts, but dont create any yet.
Think about fantastic worlds, strange
magic, and foul beasts. If youve played
other fantasy games like Dungeons and
Dragons think back to what made your
old games so much fun. Remember the
games you played and the stories you
told. They can all provide inspiration for
your Dungeon World game. Watch some
movies, read some comics; get heroic
fantasy into your brain.
What you bring to the rst session, ideaswise, is up to you. At the very least bring
your head full of ideas. Thats the bare
minimum.
If you like you can plan a little more.
Maybe think of an evil plot, or whos behind it, or some monsters youd like to
use.
If youve got some spare time on your
hands you can even draw some maps
(but remember, from your Principles:
leave blanks) and imagine speci c locations. Flexibility is key when planning:
what happens during character creation
trumps anything you wrote ahead of
time.
The one thing you absolutely cant bring
46
to the table is a planned storyline or plot.

You dont know the heroes or the world
before you sit down to play so planning
anything concrete is just going to frustrate you. It also con icts with your
Agenda: play to nd out what happens.
Dont use the Fronts rules (in the next
chapter) for the rst session either.
Those will come with time but in the rst
session you need to be able to focus more
on getting the game rolling. The big picture doesnt matter so much, yet. Instead
focus on getting the players into action,
interacting with each other, and using
the rules.
Getting Started
When everyone shows up for the rst
session brie y introduce anyone who
hasnt played before to Dungeon World.
Cover the mechanical basis of moves. Introduce the character classes, help players pick their classes, and walk them
through character creation.
During this entire process, especially
character creation, ask questions. Look
for interesting facts established by the
characters Bonds, moves, classes, and
descriptions and ask about those things.
Be curious! When someone mentions
the demons that slaughtered their village nd out more about them. After all,
you dont have anything (except maybe
a dungeon) and everything they give you
is fuel for future adventures.
Also pay attention to the players questions. When mechanical questions come
up answer them. When questions of setting or ction come up your best bet is
to turn those questions around. When a
player says "Who is the King of Torsea"
say "I dont know. Who is it? What is
he like?" Collaborate with your players.
Asking a question means its something
that interests them so work with them
to make the answers interesting. Dont
be afraid to say "I dont know" and ask
them the same questions; work together
to nd a fantastic and interesting answer.
Share the ideas youve brought to the table (either general ones or even a speci c
dungeon). If youre interested in starting with the players hunting for a lost
wizard, tell them that. Until the players
agree, its just your idea. Once they nod
their heads, its part of the game.
Once everyone has their characters created you can take a deep breath. Look
back over the questions youve asked and
answered so far. You should have some
notes that will point you towards what
the game might look like. Look at what
the players have brought to the table.
Look at the ideas thatve been stewing
away in your head. Its time for the adventure to begin!
First Session
The First Adventure

The rst adventure is really about nding out what future sessions will deal
with. Throughout the rst adventure
keep your eye out for unresolved threats;
note dangerous things that are mentioned but not dealt with. These will be
fuel for future sessions.
Start the session with a group of player
characters (maybe all of them) in a tense
situation. Use anything that demands
action: outside the entrance to a dungeon, ambushed in a fetid swamp, peeking through the crack in a door at the
orc guards, or being sentenced before the
King. If the situation stems directly from
the characters and your questions, all the
better.
Heres where the game starts. The players will start saying and doing things,
which means theyll start making moves.
For the rst session you should watch
especially carefully for when moves apply, until the players get the hang of it.
Often, in the early sessions, the players
will be most comfortable just narrating
their actionsthis is ne. When a move
triggers let them know. Say "It sounds
like youre trying to . . . " and then walk
them through the move. Players looking
for direction will look to their character
sheet. Be quick to ask "so what are you
actually doing?" when a player just says
"I Hack and Slash him." Ask, too, "how?"
or "with what?".
For the rst session, you have a few speci c goals:
Establish details, describe
Use what they give you
Ask questions
Leave blanks
Look for interesting facts
Help the players understand the
moves
Give each character a chance to shine
Introduce NPCs
Establish details, describe

All the ideas and visions in your head
dont really exist in the ction of the
game until you share them, describe
them and detail them. The rst session
is the time to establish the basics of what
things look like, whos in charge, what
they wear, what the world is like, what
the immediate location is like. Describe
everything but keep it brief enough to expand on later. Use a detail or two to make
a description really stand out as real.
Use what they give you

The best part of the rst session is
you dont have to come with anything
concrete. You might have a dungeon
sketched out but the players provide the
real meatuse it. Theyll emerge from
the darkness of that rst dungeon and
Prep
when they do and their eyes adjust to
the light, youll have built up an exciting
world to explore with their help. Look at
their Bonds, their moves, how they answer your questions and use those to ll
in the world around the characters.
duce NPCs but dont protect them. The

recently-deceased Goblin King is just as
useful for future adventures as the one
whos still alive.
Ask questions
Youre using what they give you, right?
What if you need more? Thats when you
draw it out by asking questions. Poke and
prod about speci c things. Ask for reactions "what does Lux think about that?"
"is Avon doing something about it?"
If you ever nd yourself at a loss, pause
for a second and ask a question. Ask
one character a question about another.
When a character does something, ask
how a different character feels or reacts. Questions will power your game
and make it feel real and exciting. Use
the answers you nd to ll in what might
happen next.
Leave blanks
This is one of your Principles, but its
especially true during the rst session.
Every blank is another cool thing waiting
to happen, leave yourself a stock of them.
Look for interesting facts

There are some ideas that, when you
hear them, just jump out at you. When
you hear one of those ideas, just write
it down. When a player mentions the
Duke of Sorrows being the demon he bargained with, note it. That little fact is the
seed for a whole world.
Help the players understand the moves

Youve already read the game, the players may not have, so its up to you to
help them if they need it. The fact is,
they likely wont need it much. All they
have to do is describe what their character does, the rules take care of the rest.
The one place they may need some help is
remembering the triggers for the moves.
Keep an ear out for actions that trigger
moves, like attacking in melee or consulting their knowledge. After a few
moves the players will likely remember
them on their own.
Give each character a chance to shine

As a fan of the heroes (remember your
Agenda?) you want to see them do what
they do best. Give them a chance at
this, not by tailoring every room to their
skills, but by portraying a fantastic world
(Agenda again) where there isnt one solution to everything.
Introduce NPCs
NPCs bring the world to life. If every
monster does nothing more than attack
and every blacksmith sets out their wares
for simple payment the world is dead.
Instead give your characters, especially
those that the players show an interest
in, life (Principles, remember?). Intro-
47
Creating Fronts
20
Fronts
Fronts
Fronts are secret tomes of GM knowledge. With the exception of a few sneaky
PC tricks Fronts are your purview and
are a place where youll build the adversaries, organizations, and other misfortune that the characters will come in
con ict with. A Front is a collection of
linked Dangersthreats to the characters speci cally and to the people, places,
and things the characters care about. It
also includes one or more Impending
Dooms, the horrible things that will happen without the players intervention.
Fronts comes, of course, from ghting
on two fronts which is just where you
want the characters to besurrounded
by threats, danger and adventure.
Fronts are built outside of active play.
Theyre the solo fun that you get to have
between gamesrubbing your hands
and cackling evilly to yourself as you
craft the foes with which to challenge
your PCs. You may tweak or adjust the
Fronts during play (who knows when inspiration will strike?) but the meat of
them comes from preparation between
sessions.
Fronts are designed to help you organize
your thoughts on PC opposition. Theyre
here to contain your notes, ideas, and
plans for these opposing forces. When
youre in a bind your Fronts are where
youre going to turn and say oh, so that
s what I should do. Consider them
an organizational tool, as inspiration for
present and future mayhem.
When youre building Fronts, think
about all the creepy dungeon denizens,
the rampaging hordes and ancient cults
that youd like to see in your game.
Think in broad strokes at rst and then,
as you build Dangers into your Fronts,
youll be able to narrow those ideas
down. When you write your Campaign
Front, think about sessiontosession
trends. When you write your Adventure Fronts, think about whats important right here and right now. When
youre done writing a few Fronts youll
be equipped with all the tools youll need
to challenge your players and ready to
run Dungeon World.
Campaign and Adventure Fronts

At their core, all Fronts contain the
same components. They sort and gather
your Dangers into easytouse clusters. There are, however, two different
kinds of Fronts available to you. On the
sessiontosession level theres your
Adventure Fronts. These Fronts will see
use for 3 or 4 sessions each. Theyre tied
to one problem and will be dealt with
or cast aside as the characters wander
the dungeon or uncover the plot at hand.
Think of them as episodic content: Today, on Dungeon World . . .
Tying your Adventure Fronts together is
48
your Campaign Front. While the Adventure Fronts will contain immediate
Dangersthe Orcs in Hargrosh Pass,
saythe Campaign Front contains the
Dark God Grishkar who drives the Orcs
to their pillaging. The Campaign Front
is the unifying element that spans your
all the sessions of your Dungeon World
game. It will have slowerburning Portents but theyll be bigger in scope and
have a deeper impact on the world. Most
importantly theyll be scarier if theyre
allowed to resolve.
When a Danger from an Adventure Front
goes without resolution youll have to
make a decision. If the Danger is something you like and feel has a place in the
larger story of your game dont hesitate
to move it to the Campaign Front. Youre
able to make smaller Dangers that went
unresolved into bigger Dangers some
day later on. You can move Dangers
from the Campaign Fronts to the an Adventure Front if youre ready for the big
showdown, too.
Creating Fronts
Heres how a Front comes together:
Choose Campaign Front or Adventure Front
Create 23 Dangers
Choose their Impending Doom
(For an Adventure Front, 13 Grim
Portents)
(For the Campaign Front, 35 Grim
Portents)
Write 13 stakes questions
List the general cast of the Front
Creating Dangers
Not every single element of your game
will warrant a Dangertraps, some roving monsters and other bits of ephemera
may just be there to add avour but arent
important enough to warrant inclusion.
Thats okay. Fronts are here to keep you
appraised of the bigger picture. Dangers
are divided into a handful of categories,
each with its own name and impulse .
Every Danger has a crucial motivation
that drives it called its "impulse." The impulse exists to help you understand that
Danger. What pushes it to ful ll its Impending Doom? Impulse can help you
translation the Danger into action.
When creating Dangers for your Front,
think about how each one interacts as a
facet of the Front as a whole. Keep in
mind the people, places, and things that
might be a part of the threat to the world
that the Front represents. How does each
Danger contribute to the Front?
Fronts
Lets say we have an idea for a Frontan
ancient portal has been discovered in the icy
north. Well call our Front "The Opening of
the White Gate".
The easiest place to start is with people
and monsters. Cultists, ogre chieftains,
demonic overlords and the like are all excellent Dangers. These are the creatures
that have risen above mere monster status to become serious threats on their
own. Groups of monsters, too, can be
Dangersgoblin tribes or a rampaging
centaur khanate, for example.
For the Front were creating, we can pick a
few different groups or people who might be
interested in the gate. The College of Arcanists, perhaps. Theres a golem, too, weve
decided, that protects the forgotten portal.
The golem is just an obstacle, so we wont
make him a Danger.
Thinking more broadly, less obvious elements of the world can be Dangers.
Blasted landscapes, intelligent magical
items, ancient spells woven into the
fabric of time.
These things ful ll
the same purposes as a mad necromancertheyre part of the Front, a
Danger to the world.
For our Front, well add the Gate itself.
Lastly, if we think ahead, we can include some overarching Dangers. The
sorts of things that are in play outside
the realm of the obviousgodly patrons,
hidden conspiracies and cursed prophecies waiting to be ful lled.
Perhaps the White Gate was carved in the
ancient past, hidden by a race of Angels until
theDayofJudgement. Welladdthe"Argent
Seraphim" to our Front.
Of course, theres so much more I could
add to my Front, but theres two reasons
not to go overboard: rstly, I want to
leave room for discovery. Like a map,
blank spaces can always be lled in later.
Leaving room for player contribution
and future inspiration means Ill have
freedom to alter the Front and make it t
the game as the story emerges. Secondly,
not every bad thing that could happen
deserves Dangerhood. If youre uncertain, think about it this way: Dangers
can always get worse.
A barbarian tribe near the Gate, the frozen
tundra itself, a band of rival adventurers; all
these things could be dangerous elements of
the game but theyre not important enough
just yet to deserve to be Dangers.
Types of Dangers
Creating Dangers is a way to slice up your
overall Front concept into smaller, easier to manage pieces. Dangers are a tool
for adding detail to the right parts of the
Front and for making the Front easier to
manage in the long run.
Once youve named and added a Danger
to the Front you need to choose a type
for that Danger from the list below. Alternately you can use the list of types
to inspire Dangers: with your Front in
mind, peruse the list and pick one or two
that t.
For our three Dangers (The College of Arcanists, The White Gate and the Argent
Seraphim) weve selected Cabal, Dark Portal
and Choir of Angels, respectively.
Types of Dangers
Ambitious Organizations
Planar Forces
Arcane Enemies
Hordes
Cursed Places
Ambitious Organizations
Misguided Good (impulse: to do what
is right no matter the cost )
Thieves Guild (impulse: to take by subterfuge )
Cult (impulse: to infest from within )
Religious Organization (impulse: to establish and follow doctrine )
Corrupt Government (impulse: to
maintain the status quo )
Cabal (impulse: to absorb those in power,
to grow )
GM Moves for Ambitious Organizations

Attack someone by stealthy means
(kidnapping, etc.)
Attack someone directly (with a gang
or single assailant)
Absorb or buy out an someone important (an ally, perhaps)
In uence a body of control (change a
law, manipulate doctrine)
Establish a new rule (within the organization)
Claim territory or resources
Negotiate a deal
Observe a potential foe in great detail
Choir of Angels (impulse: to pass judgement )

Construct of Law (impulse: to eliminate
perceived disorder )
GM Moves for Planar Forces

Turn an organization (corrupt or inltrate with in uence)
Give dreams of prophecy
Lay a Curse on a foe
Extract a promise in exchange for a
boon
Attack indirectly, through intermediaries
Rarely, when the stars are right, attack directly
Foster rivalries with other, similar
powers
Expose someone to a Truth, wanted
or otherwise
Arcane Enemies
Lord of the Undead (impulse: to seek
true immortality )
Power-mad Wizard (impulse: to seek
magical power )
Sentient Artifact (impulse: to ndaworthy wielder )
Ancient Curse (impulse: to ensnare )
Chosen One (impulse: to ful ll or resent
their destiny )
Dragon (impulse: to hoard gold and jewels, to protect the clutch )
GM Moves for Arcane Enemies

Learn forbidden knowledge
Cast a spell over time and space
Attack a foe with magic, directly or
otherwise
Spy on someone with a scrying spell
Recruit a follower or toady
Tempt someone with promises
Demand a sacri ce
Planar Forces
God (impulse: to gather worshippers )
Demon Prince (impulse: toopenthegates
of Hell )
Elemental Lord (impulse: to tear down
creation to its component parts )
Force of Chaos (impulse: to destroy all
semblance of order )
49
Types of Dangers
Hordes
Wandering Barbarians (impulse: to
grow strong, to drive their enemies before
them )
Humanoid Vermin (impulse: to breed
to multiply and consume )
Underground Dwellers (impulse: to defend the complex from outsiders )
Plague of the Undead (impulse: to
spread )
GM Moves for Hordes
Assault a bastion of civilization

Embrace internal chaos
Change direction suddenly
Overwhelm a weaker force
Display a show of dominance
Abandon an old home, nd a new one
Grow in size by breeding or conquest
Appoint a champion
Declare war and act upon that declaration without hesitation or deliberation
Cursed Places
Abandoned Tower (impulse: to draw in
the weak-willed )
Unholy Ground (impulse: to spawn evil
)
Elemental Vortex (impulse: to grow, to
tear apart reality )
Dark Portal (impulse: to disgorge demons
)
Shadowland (impulse: to corrupt or consume the living )
Place of Power (impulse: to be controlled
or tamed )
GM Moves for Cursed Places
Vomit forth a lesser monster

Spread to an adjacent place
Draw the attention of a curious party
Grow in intensity or depth
Leave a lingering effect on an inhabitant or visitor
Hide something from sight
Offer power
Dampen magic or increase its effects
Confuse or obfuscate truth or direction
Corrupt a natural law
Description and Cast

Write up something short to remind you
just what this Danger is about; something to describe it in a nutshell. Dont
worry about where its going or what
could happenGrim Portents and the
Impending Doom will handle that for
you, youll get to those in a bit. If there
are multiple people involved in the Danger (an orc warlord and his clansmen, a
hateful God and his servants) go ahead
50
Fronts
and give them a name and a detail or two
now. Leave yourself some space as youll
be adding to this section as you play.
Custom Moves
Sometimes, a Danger will require some
particular move that might not exist yet.
Write one or two you think you might
need, now. They may be player moves
or GM moves, as you see t. Of course, if
youre writing a player move, keep your
(the GMs) hands off the dice and keep
in mind the basic structure of a move.
A 10+ is a complete success; a 79 is a
partial success. On a miss, maybe the
custom move does something speci c,
or maybe notmaybe you just get to
make a move or work towards ful lling
a Grim Portent. The formatting of these
moves varies from move to move. See
the Advanced Delving chapter for details
on how to create your own.
For the Opening of the White Gate, I just
know some fool PC is going to end up in the
light that spills from the gate, so Im writing
a move to show what might occur.
Grim Portents
Grim Portents are dark designs for
what could happen if a Danger goes
unchecked. Imagine yourself a kind of
diviner working some scrying spell into
the future of your campaign or the adventure that the characters are undertaking. Think about what would happen if the Danger existed in the world
but the PCs didnt. If all these awful
things youve conjured up had their run
of the world. Scary, huh? The Grim Portents are your way to codify the plans and
machinations of your Dangers. A Grim
Portent can be a single interesting event
or a chain of steps. When youre not
sure what to do next push your Danger
towards resolving a Grim Portent.
More often than not, each Portent relies
on its predecessors to resolve. The Orcs
tear down the city only after the peace
talks fail, for example. A simple Front
will progress from bad to worse to much
worse in a clear path forward. Sometimes, Grim Portents are unconnected
pathways to the Impending Doom. The
early manifestations of Danger might
not all be related. Its up to you how
complex your Front will be. Whenever
a Danger comes to pass, check the other
Dangers in the Front. In a complex Front,
you may need to cross off or alter the
Grim Portents. Thats ne, youre allowed.
Think of your Grim Portents as possible
moves waiting in the wings. When the
time is right, unleash them on the world.
Ive chosen a few Grim Portents for my new

Front.
The College sends an expedition to the
Gate
The Key is discovered
The First Trumpet sounds
A Champion is chosen
The Second Trumpet sounds
The Herald appears
The Gate is Opened
Grim Portents are the sword of inevitability that hangs over the characters. The struggles that they ght every
day on the eld of battle, in the courts of
society and in the deepest dungeons of
the world. Think about how the Dangers
contribute to the Front youre creating,
both externally (the effect of the Danger
on the world around it) and internally
(the politics or struggles of its parts).
Keep scale in mind, too. Grim Portents
dont all have to be worldshaking.
They can simply represent a change in
direction for a Danger. Some new way
for it to cause trouble in the world.
When a Grim Portent comes to pass,
check it offthe Portent is a part of the
world, now. The prophecy has come
true! A Portent that has come to pass
might have rami cations for your other
Fronts, too. Have a quick look when your
players arent demanding your attention
and feel free to make changes. One small
Portent may resound across the whole
Campaign in subtle ways.
You can advance a Grim Portent descriptively or prescriptively. Descriptively
means that, through play, youve seen
the change happen, so you mark it off.
Maybe the players sided with the goblin tribes against their lizardmen enemiesnow the goblins control the tunnels. Lo and behold, this was the next
step in a Grim Portent. Prescriptive is
when, due to a failed player move or
a golden opportunity, you advance the
Grim Portent as your hard move. That
step comes to pass, show its effects and
keep on asking "what do you do, now?"
Fronts
Impending Doom
At the end of every Dangers path is
an Impending Doom. This is the nal
toll of the bell that signals the Dangers
triumphant resolution. When a Grim
Portent comes to pass the Impending
Doom grows stronger, more apparent
and present in the world. These are
the Very Bad Things that every Danger, in some way, seeks to bring into
effect. Choose one of the types of Impending Dooms and give it a concrete vision in your Front. These may change in
playoften they will, as the characters
meddle in the affairs of the world. Dont
fret, you can change them later.
Tyranny (of the strong over the weak
or the few over the many)
Pestilence (the spread of sickness and
disease, the end of wellness)
Destruction (apocalypse, ruin and
woe)
Usurpation (the chain of order comes
apart, someone rightful is displaced)
Impoverishment (enslavement, the
abandonment of goodness and right)
Rampant Chaos (laws of reality, of
society, or any order is dissolved)
When all of the Grim Portents of a danger come to pass, the Impending Doom
sets in. The Danger is then resolved but
the setting has changed in some drastic wayeven on a small level. This
will almost certainly change the Front at
large, as well. Making sure that these effects are felt and signi cant to the NPCs,
places, and life of the campaign world is
a big part of making them feel real.
Stakes
Your stakes questions are 13 questions
about people, places, or groups that
youre interested in. People include
characters and NPCs, your choice. Remember that your agenda includes "Play
to nd out what happens?" Well this is
a way of reminding yourself what you
want to nd out.
Stakes are concrete and clear. Dont
write stakes about vague feelings or incremental changes. Stakes are about important changes that affect the PCs and
the world. A good stakes question is
one that, when its resolved, means that
things will never be the same again.
The most important thing about stakes
is that you nd them interesting. Your
stakes should be things that you genuinely want to know, but that youre also
willing to not decide. Once youve written it as a stake, its out of your hands,
you dont get to just make it up anymore.
Now you have to play to nd out.
Playing to nd out is one of the biggest
rewards of playing Dungeon World.
Resolving a Front
Youve written down something tied to
events happening in the world that you
want to nd out aboutnow you get to
do just that.
Once you have your stakes your front is
ready to play.
My stakes questions include, as tailored to
my group:
Who will be the Champion?
How will Lux respond to the Light from
Beyond?
Will the College be able to recruit Avon?
Resolving a Front
Often a Front will be resolved in a simple
and straightforward manner. A Front
representing a single dungeon may have
its Dangers killed, turned to good, or
overcome by some act of heroism. In
this case the Front is dissolved and set
aside. Maybe there are elements of
the FrontDangers that go unresolved
or leftover members of a Danger thats
been clearedthat lives on. Maybe they
move to the Campaign Front as brand
new Dangers?
The Campaign Front will need a bit more
effort to resolve. Itll be working slowly
and subtly as the course of the Campaign
rolls along. You wont introduce or resolve it all at once, but in pieces. The
characters work towards defeating the
various minions of the Big Bad that lives
in your Campaign Front. In the end,
though, youll know that the Campaign
Front is resolved when the Dark God is
confronted, the Undead Plague is wiped
clear, and the heroes emerge bloodied
but victorious. Campaign Fronts take
longer to deal with, but in the end theyre
the most satisfying to resolve.
When a Front is resolved, take some extra time to sit down and look at the aftermath. Did any Grim Portents come
to pass? Even if a Danger is stopped,
if one or two Grim Portents are fullled, the world is changed. Keep this
in mind when you write your future
Fronts. Is there anyone who could be
moved from the nowdefeated Front
somewhere else? Anyone get promoted
or reduced in stature? The resolution of
a Front is an important event!
Multiple Adventure Fronts

As you start your campaign youre likely
to have a lightly-detailed Campaign
Front and a single, detailed Adventure
Front. Characters may choose, part-way
through an Adventure, to pursue some
other course. You might end up with
a handful of partly-resolved Adventure
Fronts. Not only is this okay, its a great
way to explore a world that feels alive
and organic. Always remember, Fronts
continue along apace no matter whether
the characters are there to see it or not.
Think offscreen, especially where Fronts
are concerned.
When running two Adventure Fronts at
the same time they can be intertwined or
independent. The Anarchists corrupting the city from the inside are a different Front from the orcs massing outside
the walls, but theyd both be in play at
once. On the other hand one dungeon
could have multiple Fronts at play within
its walls: the powers and effects of the
cursed place itself and the warring humanoid tribes that inhabit it.
A situation warrants multiple Adventure Fronts when there are multiple Impending Dooms, all equally potent but
not necessarily related. The Impending
Doom of the Anarchists is chaos in the
city, the Impending Doom of the orcs is
its utter ruination. They are two separate
Fronts with their own Dangers. Theyll
deal with each other, as well, so theres
some room for the players choosing sides
or attempting to turn the Dangers of one
Front against the other.
When dealing with multiple Adventure
Fronts the players are likely to prioritize.
The cult needs attention now, the orcs
can wait, or vice versa. These decisions
lead to the slow advancement of the neglected Front, eventually causing more
problems for the players and leading to
new adventures. This can get complex
once youve got three or four Fronts in
play. Take care not to get overwhelmed.
When you resolve an Adventure Front,

usually that means the adventure itself
has been resolved. This is a great time to
take a break and look at The Campaign
Front you have. Let it inspire your next
Adventure Front. Write up a new Adventure Front or polish off one youve
been working on, draw a few maps to
go with it and get ready for the next big
thing.
51
Dangers
An Example Front: The Opening of the White Gate
21
An Example
Front: The
Opening
of the
White Gate
Dangers
Stakes
The College of Arcanists (Cabal)
Who will be the Champion?

How will Lux respond to the holy
light?
Will the College be able to recruit
Avon?
Impulse: to absorb those in power, to

grow
Grim Portents
The College sends an expedition to
the Gate
The Key is discovered
The Gates Power is harnessed
The College seizes control
Impending Doom: Usurpation
The White Gate (Dark Portal)

Impulse: to disgorge demons
Grim Portents
The First Trumpet sounds
The Second Trumpet sounds
The Gate is opened
Impending Doom: Destruction
The Argent Seraphim (Choir of Angels)

Impulse: to pass judgement
Grim Portents
A Champion is chosen
An organization of power is formed
or co-opted
The Herald appears
Judgement is passed
Impending Doom: Tyranny
Description and Cast

An ancient gate, buried for aeons in the
icy north. It opens into a realm of pure
light, guarded by the Argent Seraphim.
It was crafted only to be opened at Judgement Day, so that the Seraphim could
come forth and purge the realm of men.
Recently uncovered by the College of Arcanists, who do not yet understand its
terrible power.
Oren Balserus, Arcanist Supreme
Haliel, voice of the Seraphim
Drudge, a manservant
Custom Moves
When you stand in the presence of the
Light From Beyond, roll+Wis. On a
10+ you are judged worthy, the Argent
Seraphim will grant you a vision or boon.
On a 7-9 you are under suspicion and see
a vision of what dark fate might befall
you if you do not correct your ways.1On
a miss, thou art weighed in the balance
and art found wanting.
52
Blood and Guts
22
Blood
and Guts
HP
Death and dismemberment are common
dangers for adventurers to face in Dungeon World. In the course of play, characters will take damage, heal, and maybe
even die. A characters health is measure by their HP (HP being short for
hit points). Damage subtracts from HP,
which may lead to death. In the right
conditions, or with medical or magical
help, damage is healed and HP is restored.
HP
A characters HP is a measure of their stamina, endurance, and health. More HP
means the character can ght longer and
endure more before facing Deaths cold
stare. Think of HP in the abstracta
character with high HP cant be hit in the
head any more times than one with low
HPthey just have greater stores of energy to expend before it comes to blowsto-the-head.
Your class tells you how many HP you
get. Your Constitution (the score, not
the modi er) always comes into play as
well so more Constitution means more
HP. If your Constitution permanently
changes during play you adjust your HP
to re ect your new Constitution score.
Unless your Constitution changes your
maximum HP stays the same.
Damage
When a character takes damage they
subtract the damage dealt from their current HP. Armor mitigates damage; if a
character has armor they subtract their
armors value from the damage dealt.
Damage can never take a character below 0 HP.
Damage is decided by the attacker. Each
class has a base damage die, which may
be modi ed by the weapon used. No
matter the implement, the Fighter will
always deal more damage than a Wizardits about training and skill. Monsters and other non-player characters
have a static damage instead of a dice to
roll.
Player characters deal damage according
to their class, the weapon used and the
move theyve made. When a character
is armed, they deal their classs damage.
If a character is unarmed, they probably
cant deal damage, or they might do 1 stun
damage.
If a move just says "deal damage" the
character rolls their classs damage dice
plus any bonuses or penalties from
moves or weapons. If a move speci es
an amount of damage, use that in place
of the classs damage roll.
their normal attack.

Other sources of damagelike being
struck by a chunk of a collapsing tower,
or falling into a pitare left to the GM
based on these options:
It threatens bruises and scrapes at
worst: d4 damage
Its likely to spill some blood, but
nothing horrendous: d6 damage
It might break some bones: d8 damage
It could kill a common person: d10
damage
Add the Ignores Armor tag if the source
of the damage is particularly large or if
the damage comes from magic or poison.
Temporaryor circumstantialarmor works
the same way: 1 armor for partial cover,
2 armor for major cover.
Remember that damage is both prescriptive and descriptive: if a move says
someone takes damagethey have been
struck by the weapon or ability causing
the damage. If a character is struck by a
weapon, they take damage. This means
that you can deal damage without making a move. Think of it like an implied
move: if you hurt someone and no other
move applies, you just deal your damage.
Damage only applies when the injury is
general. Falling into a pit trap is general,
it could cause any sort of injury, so its
represented by HP loss. When the harm
is speci c, like an orc pulling your arm
from its socket, HP should be part of the
effect but not the entirety of it. The bigger issue is dealing with the newly disjointed arm: how do you swing a sword
or cast a spell? Likewise having your
head chopped off is not HP damage, its
just death.
Damage From Multiple Creatures

Its a brave monster that goes into battle
alone. Most creatures ght with someone at their side, and maybe another at
their back, and possibly an archer covering the rear, and so on. This can lead to
multiple monsters dealing their damage
at once.
If multiple creatures attack at once roll
the damage die for each of them and take
the highest result. If some of the creatures deal a different amount of damage
roll the damage with the highest potential for each creature involved in the attack and take the highest result.
Monsters damage is listed in their description. Use this damage any time the
monster takes direct action to hurt someone, even if they use a method other than
53
Debilities
A goblin orkaster (d10+1 damage ignores
armor) and three goblins (d6 damage) all
throw their respective weaponsa magical acid orb for the orkaster, spears for the
restat Lux as she assaults their barricade.
I roll the highest damage, d10+1 ignores armor, four times: once for the orkaster, and
once for each of the other goblins. I take the
highest result, a roll of 8, and tell Lux she
takes 9 damage ignoring armor as the acid
leaks into the scratches left by the spears.
Stun Damage
Stun damage is non-lethal damage. A PC
who takes stun damage is Defying Danger to do anything at all, the danger being
"youre stunned." A GM character that
takes stun damage counts it against their
HP as usual, but when they are out of HP
they are knocked out, not at the GMs
mercy.
Healing
There are two sources of healing in Dungeon World: the passage of time and
medical aid.
Whenever a character spends some
time resting without aggravating their
wounds they heal. The amount of healing is described in the move (Make Camp
for a night in a makeshift bed, Recover
for says in civilization).
Medical aid, both magical and mundane,
also provides healing. The amount of
damage healed is dependent on the move
or item used. Some moves may fully replenish HP while others are just enough
to keep someone standing through a
ght.
No matter the source of the healing a
characters HP can never increase over
their maximum.
Death
Death walks the edges of every battle. It
waits silently to claim those that fall. A
characters who is reduced to 0 HP immediately takes his Last Breath. Death
comes for commoner and king alikeno
stat is added to the Last Breath roll.
What lies beyond the Black Gates of
Death is unknown but it is said that many
secrets of the mortal plane are laid bare
in what lies beyond.
Deaths bargains range from the simple
to the costly. Death is capricious. One
life may be traded for two more dead
while for another Death may demand
eternal servitude.
Depending on the outcome of the Last
Breath the character may become stable.
A stable character stays at 0 HP but is
alive and unconscious. If they receive
healing they regain consciousness and
54
Blood and Guts

may return to battle or seek safety. If a
stable character takes damage again they
face Death and draw their Last Breath
once more.
ble act and how it might affect the world,

give the character back his sweet, sweet
life and remember; Death never forgets
a soul stolen from his realm.
After Death
Debilities
Being an adventurer isnt easyits cold

nights in the wild and sharp swords and
monsters. Sooner or later, youre going to make that long walk to the Black
Gates and give up the ghost. In Dungeon World, Death is always watching
and waiting for an adventurer to slip up
and visit the other side. That doesnt
mean you have to give it the satisfaction
of sticking around. Death, in its way, is
just another challenge to conquer. Even
dead adventurers can rise again.
Losing HP is a general thing, its getting tired, bruised, cut, and so on. Some
wounds are deeper though. These are
debilities.
If your character dies, you can ask the

GM and the other players to try and resurrect you. The GM will tell them what it
will cost to return your poor, dead character to life. If youre all willing to pay
that cost and succeed at the goal set before you then your character can cross
back over to the land of the living. The
Resurrection spell is a special case of this:
the magic of the spell gives you an easier
way to get a companion back, but the GM
still has a say.
While this quest is underway you can
play a new character. Maybe a hireling
becomes a full- edged adventurer worthy of a whole share and a part in the real
action. Maybe the characters in the party
nd a new friend in a steading, willing to join them. Maybe your character
had a vengeful family member who now
seeks to take up their blades and spells
to make right what happened. In any
case, make your new character as you
normally would at level 1. Add Bonds
with the other player characters and join
in the quest to resurrect the fallen. When
the price has been paid and the quest is
done, you can choose which character
to play. You can then retire your new
character to safety or simply have them
vanish into the background. At the start
of any given session, choose which character youll be playing that time around
and set the other aside. Make sure this
change makes sense in the story youve
createdcharacters cant just appear out
of nowhere without a good excuse.
GM, when you tell the players what
needs to be done to bring their comrade
back, dont feel like it has to derail the
ow of the current game. Weave it in
to your fronts, steadings and prep. This
is a great opportunity to change focus or
introduce an element youve been waiting to show off. Dont feel, either, that
it has to be some great and epic quest. If
the character died at the end of a goblin pike, maybe all it takes is an awkward walk home and a few thousand gold
pieces donated to a local temple. Think
about the rami cations of such a charita-
Weak (Str): You cant exert much

force. Maybe some important muscles were slashed, or maybe the
strength was pulled out of you by
magic.
Shaky (Dex): Youre a little unsteady
on your feet and youve got a shake in
your hands.
Sick (Con): Something just isnt right
deep inside. It could be a disease or it
might be an organ swollen to bursting.
Stunned(Int): Yourehavingtrouble . . . remembering?
Is that how that sentence ends?
Confused (Wis): Ears ringing. Vision
blurred. Youre more than a little out
of it.
Scarred (Cha): It may not be permanent, but for now you dont look so
good. Your voice is probably weak
too.
Debilities are in icted by certain monsters. Not every attack in icts a debilitytheyre most often associated with
magic, poison, or stranger things like a
vampire sucking your blood. Each debility is tied to a stat and gives you -1 to that
stats modi er. The stats score is unaffected so you dont have to worry about
changing your Load when youre Weak.
You can only have each debility once.
If youre already Sick and something
makes you Sick you just ignore it.
Debilities are harder to heal than HP.
Some high level magic can do it, sure, but
your best bet is getting somewhere safe
and spending a few days in a soft warm
bed. Of course debilities are both descriptive and prescriptive: if something
happens that would remove a debility,
that debility is gone.
Debilities dont replace descriptions and
using the established ction. When
someone loses an arm that isnt Weak,
thats losing an arm. They cant hold a
shield, to begin with. Dont let debilities
limit you. A speci c disease can have
whatever effects you can dream up, Sick
is just a convenient shorthand for some
anonymous fever picked up from a lthy
rat.
Blood and Guts
Advancement
Dungeon World is ever-changing. The
characters change, too. As their adventures progress, player characters gain
experience or XP, which lets them level
up. This prepares them for greater danger, bigger adventures, and mightier
deeds.
Advancement, like everything else in
Dungeon World, is both prescriptive and
descriptive. Prescriptive means that
when a player changes their character
sheet the character changes. Descriptive
means that when the character changes
the player should change the character
sheet to re ect that.
This isnt a bene t or detriment to the
players or the GM; its not an excuse to
gain more powers or take them away. Its
just a re ection of life in Dungeon World.
Gregor offers his signature weapon, an axe
permanently dyed green in orc blood, as a
desperate bargain to save the King from eternal damnation. Without his axe he gets
none of the bene ts of his signature weapon.
Should he recover it hell have access to its
bene ts again.
Avon, despite being a Wizard, has risen to
the notice of Lenoral, the deity of arcane
knowledge. After being blessed by an avatar
of Lenoral, Avon is under the deitys watch.
He can ful ll Petitions and gain boons like a
Cleric.
Descriptive changes only happen when
the character has clearly gained access to
an ability. Befriending a stray dog does
not have the same bene ts as an animal
companion.
Level Up
When you have a safe moment and
XP equal to (or greater than) your
current level + 7 , reset your XP to 0 and
choose a new advanced move from your
class. If you are the Wizard, you also get
to add a new spell to your spellbook.
New moves are chosen based on the characters new level. If a move requires 6th
level, its available as the character advances from 5th to 6th level.
If your new level is 3, 6, or 9, you also
get to increase a stat by 2. Increase the
base score of the stat of your choice by
2, adjust the modi er to re ect the new
score. Changing your Constitution increases your maximum and current HP.
Ability scores cant go higher than 18.
Requires & Replaces

Some moves depend on other moves. If
another move is listed along with the
Advancement
word Requires or Replaces you can
only gain the new move if you have the
move it requires or replaces.
A move the requires another move can
only be taken if you have the move it
requires already. You then have both
moves and they both apply.
A move that replaces another move can
only be taken if you have the move it
replaces already. You lose access to the
replaced move and just have the new one.
The new move will usually include all the
bene ts of the replaced one: maybe you
replace a move that gives you 1 armor
with one that gives you 2 armor instead.
Bonds
Bonds are what make you a party of adventurers, not just a random assortment
of people. Seeing your bonds evolve and
play off each other is one of the best parts
of the game.
That said, this isnt high drama. How
you feel about Titanius doesnt matter
so much when youre both ghting for
life and limb against a horde of demons
who would happily end the world if they
could. Bonds are the icing on the cake:
they make your adventures (and your adventurers) more interesting.
Resolving Bonds
At the end of each session you may resolve one bond. Resolution of a bond depends on both you and the player of the
character you share the bond with: you
suggest that the bond has been resolved
and, if they agree, it is.
A bond is resolved when it no longer describes how you relate to that person.
That may be because circumstances have
changedThelian used to have your
back but after he didnt rush to save you
from the ankheg youre not so sure. Or it
could be because thats no longer a questionyou guided Wesley before and he
owed you, but he paid that debt when he
saved your life with a well-timed spell.
Any time you look at a Bond and think
"thats not a big factor in how we relate
anymore" the bond is at a good place to
resolve.
If a character has blank Bonds left over
from character creation they can resolve
that Bond without asking anyone and
write a new one or they can add a characters name to the Bond instead of writing
a new Bond. Ignoring a Bond at character creation does not reduce the total
Bonds available to the character.
Writing New Bonds

You write a new bond whenever you resolve an old one. Your new bond may be
with the same character, but it doesnt
have to be.
When you write a new bond rst choose

another character. Then pick something
relevant to the last session youve just
nishedmaybe a place you traveled
together or a treasure you discovered.
Lastly, choose a thought or belief your
character holds that ties the two together
and an action, something youre going to
do about it. Youll end up with something
like this:
Avon proved himself a coward in the
dungeons of Xaxtakar, he is a dangerous liability to the party and must
be watched.
Mouses quick thinking saved me
from the white dragon we faced. I
owe her a boon.
Xotoq won the Bone-and-Whispers
Axe through trickery! It will be mine,
I swear it.
Valerias kindness to the Gnomes of
the Vale has swayed my heart. I will
nd a way to prove to her my love.
These new bonds act just like the old
ones. They are still resolved and still
grant XP when resolved.
If you chose not to use a starting Bond
you can replace it with a new Bond at the
end of any session. This does not count
as resolving a Bond, you dont get XP for
it.
Alignment
Alignment is your characters way of
thinking and moral compass. For the
character, this is re ected as an ethical ideal, religious strictures, or maybe
just a gut instinct. It re ects the things
your character might aspire to be and
can guide you when youre not sure
what to do next. Some characters might
proudly proclaim their alignment while
others might hide it away. A character might not say "Im an evil person"
but may instead say "I put myself rst."
Thats all well and good for a character,
but the world knows otherwise. Buried
deep down inside is the ideal self a person wants to becomeit is this mystic core that certain spells and abilities
tap into when detecting someones alignment. Every sentient creature in Dungeon World bears an alignment, be she
an elf, a human, or some other, stranger
thing.
The alignments are Good, Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic, and Evil. Each one shows
an aspiration to be a different type of person.
Lawful creatures aspire to impose order
on the world, either for their own bene t or for that of others. Chaotic creatures embrace change and idealize the
messy reality of the world, prizing freedom above all else. Good creatures seek
to put others before themselves. Evil
creatures put themselves rst at the ex-
55
Alignment
pense of others.
A Neutral creature looks out for itself
so long as that doesnt hurt anyone else
much. Neutral characters are content
to live their lives and pursue their own
goals and let others do the same.
Most creatures are Neutral. They take
no particular pleasure in harming others, but will do it if it is justi ed by their
situation. Those that put an ideal, be it
Law, Chaos, Good, or Evil, above themselves are rarer.
Even two creatures of the same alignment can come into con ict. Aspiring
to help others does not grant infallibility, two Good creatures may ght and die
over two different views of how to help
others. A great king may wage war on a
free city despite his good alignment since
he sees (justly, perhaps) that the peoples
of the free city will live a better life under
his enlightened rule.
Ignore danger to aid another

Lead others into righteous battle
Give up powers or riches for the
greater good
Reveal a dangerous lie
Show mercy
Neutral
Chaotic
Reveal corruption
Break an unjust law to bene t another
Defeat a tyrant
Reveal hypocrisy
Evil
Alignment can, and will, change. Usually such a change comes about as a gradual slide to a decisive moment when the
pain caused becomes too great or the
bene t too others too small.
The rst time a player character changes

alignment it must be to another alignment listed for their class, though they
can choose any of the alignment moves
below for a listed alignment. After that
they can go to any alignment they like.
In some cases a player character may
switch alignment moves while still keeping the same alignment. This re ects a
smaller shift, one of priority instead of a
wholesale shift in thinking. They simply
choose a new move for the same alignment from below and mention why their
character now sees this as important.
GM characters can change alignment as
well, even if the players have already discerned the characters alignment. Since
NPCs do not earn XP the GM can change
the NPCs alignment any time its warranted. The GM is subject to the same
justi cation requirement: if an NPC with
a known alignment is no longer that
alignment the players may ask the GM
for a reason why.
Lawful
Uphold the letter of the law over the
spirit
Ful ll a promise of import

Bring someone to justice
Choose honor over personal gain
Put power in its rightful hands
Return treasure to its rightful owner
Good
Changing Alignment
Any time a player would earn XP from

their current alignment they can, instead of taking the XP, change the alignment. The player must have a reason
for the change which they can explain to
the other players. If they cant explain
why their character has had a change of
heart they cant change alignment. Dont
abuse the privilege.
56
Blood and Guts
Take advantage of someones trust

Cause suffering for its own sake
Destroy something beautiful
Upset the rightful order
Harm an innocent
Example
23
Example
Im GMing a game with Isaac (playing Omar), Ben (playing Brianne), Amy
(playing Nora), and Dan (playing Rath).
The group has come upon a tribe of goblins preparing the ritual sacri ce of a rare
and valuable albino crocodile (highly regarded as pets among the wealthy of the
city).
Three of the goblin warriorsdrugged
on narcotic vaporscharge the ghter
Brianne, shrieking. Two others take
cover, prepare their bows and gesture urgently toward Rath, as they make signs
to ward off the evil eye. Another group
of three slips into the shadows around
the outer edge of the chamber, preparing
a sneak attack. The high priest and her
acolyte carry on with the ritual, rubbing
the crocs upturned belly to keep it compliant, and bringing out the sacred knife
to slit its throat.
Once I describe the situation I make sure
the games a conversation by giving them
a chance to do something: "So, what do
you do?"
Isaac jumps into the action rst. "Theres
enough shadows at the edges of the
chamber to hide in?" "Yeah," I say, "the
goblins arent much for lighting apparently. The edges of the chamber just
kind of disappear into crumbling walls,
rubble, and gloom." "Great! Im going
over here, the other side from where the
sneaky ones went. Omar glances over
his shoulders, pulls up his hood over his
head, and ducks into the shadows. Im
going to pop out of the shadows right
here, where the torches illuminate the
sacri cial altar."
I look over the map and say "Well, theres
certainly a danger of being discovered
that I think youre defying. Sounds like
Dex to me, since youre moving carefully
and silently," so he picks up the dice and
rolls. The dice show 1 and 2, plus his Dex
of 2 is only 5. "Damn!" he says.
I already have an idea of what to do, but
I check it against my list of moves to be
sure. Sure enough, my idea to have him
get his foot lodged in the rubble in the
darkness is a move, "put someone in a
spot." "As you make your way through
the shadows, you put your foot down on
some rubble and it shifts under you, pinning your foot. Whats worse, you hear a
deep raspy breath as the shifting rubble
awakes something in the shadows. Are
you giving away your position to cry for
help or trying to get out yourself?"
"Um, Im not sure."
"Thats ne, well come back to you.
What are the rest of you doing?"
Dan steps up. "Those goblins that ducked
into the shadows? Can I see them?" "Not
at rst glance. Are you trying to pick
them out?" "No, Im just wondering if
theyll be targets for my sleep spell. I
push the winds of magic into a lulling

summer breeze that lls the room."
Dan rolls his Cast a Spell move to cast
Sleep. He rolls 6 total on the dice, and he
has +2 Int, for a total of 8. He has a choice
to make. "You can feel the spell slipping
away from you, the winds of magic are
already all caught up in the goblins ritual
sacri ce. There are some options on the
move, which one are you taking to keep
the spell?"
Dan ponders his options. "I may need to
put more of these guys to sleep. Brianne,
can you cover me if I get in trouble or
should I take the -1 forward?"
"Sure, I can cover you." Ben says.
"Okay, Ill take the danger option."
"Great" I say. "The narcotic vapors those
goblins are on? It attunes their senses:
They can feel the winds of magic just a
bit, and now theyre all running at you
instead of Brianne. How many creatures
are you putting to sleep?"
Dan rolls the dice. "Looks like only 1,
damn."
"Right in the middle of some long goblin invocation the priest just drops to
the oor. Her acolyte immediately starts
shaking her to wake her up. Neither of
them is paying much attention to the albino crocodile, which is no longer content since no one is rubbing its belly. The
goblins on the fumes, though, theyre
coming right at Rath."
Ben jumps in. "I step between Rath and
the crazed goblins and make myself a
big target, drawing the goblins attention
with a yell."
"Sounds like Defend" I say.
"Okay, I rolled a 7, so I hold 1."
"Great. The three goblins on fumes pratically bowl Rath over as they slam into
him, swinging their daggers wildly."
"No they dont!" Ben says. "I spend my
hold to get into the way and direct the
attack to me."
"So Brianne steps in at the last moment,
pushes Rath out of the way, and the goblins lay into her instead. Looks like 5
damage. Nora, Briannes got these three
psychotic goblins all over her, Raths
just put the priestess to sleep, the crocodiles stirring, and Omars nowhere to be
found. What are you doing?"
"First I line up a shot on one of the archer
goblins, and while Im doing that I give a
little head nod and Canto heads off into
the shadows, hes trained to hunt, hes
looking for Omar to make sure hes alright."
I look over the Rangers Command move,
to make sure I know what the effects of
Cantos search are, before responding.
"Well, on his own Canto will probably
57
Example
nd Omar in a while. If you go into the
darkness with him youll his bonus to
your Discern Realities roll to nd Omar.
But rst it sounds like youre making a
Called Shot?"
"Oh, the goblin archers are surprised by
me? I thought I was just volleying" Amy
replies.
Its time for me to make a call. "No,
theyre entirely focused on Rath, theyre
about to re on him. I think youve got
the element of surprise because theyre
just too focused."
"Great! Then Ill go ahead and take a
shot at the arms of the one closest to me,
I want him to drop his bow. Looks like
thats +Dex . . . 10! He drops his bow and
takes 4 damage."
I consult the goblins stats rst, then reply "yup, thatll kill him. And since you
hit him dead in the arm, he doesnt get a
shot off. The other one, however, releases his shot at Rath, for 2 damage.
Rath, Brianne pushes you out of the way
and you think youre safe for a split second before an arrow ies into your leg,
what are you doing about it? Actually,
hold that thought, lets see what Omars
doing."
Isaacs had some time to think things
through now. "This deep raspy breath,
can I make out where its coming from?
Is it like a human-sized rasp or a
monster-sized rasp?"
"Sounds to me like youre trying to listen
to your senses and get some information." Im hoping that this will remind
Isaac theres a move for this, instead of
just telling him to make the move.
"Oh yeah! So Im Discerning Realities,
staying as quiet as I can and just trying
to pick up any detail on what this thing
is. With my Wisdom thats a 7, whew.
What should I be on the lookout for?"
I take a second to look over my notes and
the map, just to make sure I give him all
the information. "Well, not the goblins,
actually. They pass by, closer to the light
then you, intent on backstabbing your
friends and not noticing you. The thing
that you do see is the tip of this huge
crocodile snout peak over a mound of
rubble, with that rasping sound coming
from it. It looks like the albino crocodile
has family, and its big, horse-size. If you
make noise by moving rocks and getting
unstuck itll almost certainly hear you.
What are you doing about that?"
Isaac ponders. "So, I can try to get out of
here, Defying Danger most likely from
the sounds of it. Or . . . I tear off a piece
of my cloak and soak it in an entire dose
of my Goldenroot poison. Its an applied
poison, but if I can get this huge crocodile
to swallow it before it swallows me itll
treat me as a trusted ally, and then I can
use it against the goblins."
58
"Okay!" That sounds like a risky plan

to me, but its just crazy enough to
work. Time to cut back to someone else.
"Omars soaking poison into a scrap of
cloak, Briannes got three drugged-up
goblins scraping at her, Noras got an eye
out for Omar, there are goblin sneaks in
the shadows, one goblin archer by the alter, the crocodile is waking up, and Rath
just took an arrow to the knee. Whew.
Rath, what are you doing about that arrow?"
The world
24
The world
Creating the world

Much of the adventuring life is spent in
dusty, forgotten tombs or in places of
terror and life-threatening danger. Its
commonplace to awaken from a short
and tful rest, still deep in the belly of the
world and surrounded by foes. When the
time comes to emerge from these kinds of
placeswhether laden with the spoils of
battle or beaten and bloodyan adventurer seeks out safety and solace.
These are the comforts of civilization; a
warm bath, a meal of mead and bread,
company of fellow men and elves and
dwarves. Often, thoughts of returning to
these places are all that keep an adventurer from succumbing to madness in the
depths. All ght for gold and glory but
in their hearts, everyone wants a place to
call "home".
This chapter covers the wider world. The
grand and sweeping scope outside the
dungeon. The always-marching movement of the GMs Fronts will shape the
world and, in turn, the world re ects the
actions the players take to stop or redirect them.
Steadings
We call all the assorted communities,
holds, and so on where theres a place
to stay and some modicum of safety
Steadings , as in "homestead." Steadings
are places with at least a handful of inhabitants, usually humans, and some
stable structures. They can be as big as a
capital city or as small as few ramshackle
buildings.
Creating the world

Remember how you started the rst session? With action either underway or
impending? At some point the characters are going to need to retreat from that
action, either to heal their wounds or to
celebrate and resupply.
When the players leave the site of their
rst adventure for the safety of civilization its time to start drawing the Campaign Map. Take a large sheet of paper
(plain white if you like or hex-gridded
if you want to get fancy), place it where
everyone can see, and make a mark for
the site of the adventure. Use pencil, this
map will change. It can be gurative or
literal depending on your drawing skill,
just make it obvious. Keep the marking
small and somewhere around the center
of the paper so you have space to grow.
Now add the nearest Steading, a place the
characters can go to rest and gather supplies. Draw a mark for that place on the
map and ll in the space between with
some terrain features. Try to keep the it
within a day or two of the site of their rst
adventurea short trip through a rocky
pass or some heavy woods is suitable, or
a wider distance by road or across open
ground.
When you have time (after the rst session or during a snack break or the like)
use the rules to create the rst Steading.
Consider adding marks for other places
that have been mentioned so far, either
details from character creation or the
Steading rules themselves.
Steading Moves
When the players visit a Steading there
are some special moves theyll be able to
make. These still follow the ctional ow
of the game. When the players arrive,
ask them "What do you do?" The players
actions will, more often than not, trigger a move from this list. They represent
respite, reinvigoration and resupply; opportunities for the players to gather their
wits and spend their treasure. Remember that a Steading isnt a break from reality. Youre still making hard moves
when necessary and thinking about how
the players action (or inaction) leads to
your Fronts advancing. The Impending
Doom is always there, whether the players are combatting it in the dungeon or
ignoring it while getting drunk in the local tavern.
Let each player make one or two moves
here, depending on how they answer
your "what do you do?" question. Dont
let a visit to a Steading become a permanent respite. Remember, Dungeon
World is a scary, dangerous place. If
the players choose to ignore that, make a
hard move. Fill the characters lives with
adventure whether theyre out seeking it
or not. These moves exist to you can
make a visit to town an interesting thing
without spending a whole session haggling over the cost of a new baldric.
Carouse
When you return triumphant and
throw a big party , spend 100 coin and
roll + extra 100s of coin spent. On a 10+
choose 3. On a 79 choose 1. On a miss,
you still choose one, but things get really
out of hand.
You befriend a useful NPC

You hear rumors of an opportunity
You gain useful information
You are not entangled, ensorcelled,
or tricked
Supply
When you go to buy something with
coin on hand , if its something readily available in the steading youre in,
you can buy it at market price. If its
something special, beyond whats usually available here, or non-mundane,
roll+Cha. On a 10+ you nd what youre
looking for at a fair price. On a 79 youll
have to pay more or settle for something
59
Recover
similar.
Recover
When you do nothing but rest in
comfort and safety after a day of rest
you recover all your HP. After three days
of rest you remove one debility of your
choice. If youre under the care of a
healer (magical or otherwise) you heal
a debility for every two days of rest instead.
Recruit
When you put out word that youre
looking to hire help , roll. If you make
it known . . .
. . . that your pay is generous, take +1
. . . what youre setting out to do, take
+1
. . . that theyll get a share of whatever
you nd, take +1
If you have a useful reputation around

these parts take an additional +1. On a
10+ youve got your pick of a number of
skilled applicants, your choice who you
hire and no penalty for not taking them
along. On a 79 youll have to settle for
what you get or turn applicants away. On
a miss someone in uential and ill-suited
declares theyd like to come along (a foolhardy young duke, a loose cannon mercenary, or a hidden enemy, for example),
bring them and damn the consequences
or turn them away and risk their ire. If
you turn away applicants you take -1 forward to Recruit.
When you return to a Steading in
which youve caused trouble before
, roll+Cha. On a 10+, word has spread of
your deeds and everyone recognizes you.
On a 79 that, and GM chooses a complication:
The local constabulary has a warrant
out for your arrest
Someone who holds a grudge makes
their move
Someone important to you has been
put in a bad spot as a result of your
actions
Bolster
When you spend your leisure time
in study, meditation, or hard practice, you gain preparation. If you prepare for a week or two, 1 preparation.
If you prepare for a month or longer,
3 preparation. When your preparation
pays off spend 1 preparation for +1 to any
roll. You can only spend one preparation
per roll.
60
The world
Elements of a Steading
A Steading is any bit of civilization that
offers some amount of safety to its inhabitants. Villages, towns, keeps, and
cities are the most common Steadings.
Steadings are differentiated based on
size. The size indicates roughly how
many people the Steading can support.
The population tag tells you if the current population is more then or less than
this amount.
Villages are the smallest Steadings.
Theyre usually out of the way, off
the main roads. If theyre lucky they
can muster some defense but its often
just rabble with pitchforks and torches.
A village stands near some easily exploitable resource: rich soil, plentiful
sh, an old forest, or a mine. There might
be a store of some sort but more likely its
just people trading to each other. Coin is
scarce.
Towns have a few thousand inhabitants.
Theyre the kind of place that springs up
around a mill, trading post, or inn and
usually have elds, farms, and livestock
of some kind. They might have a standing militia of farmers strong enough to
wield a blade or shoot a bow. Towns have
the basics for sale but certainly no special goods. Usually theyll focus on a local
product or two and do some trade with
travelers.
A Keep is a Steading built speci cally
for defensesometimes of a particularly
important location like a river delta or a
rich gold mine. Keeps are found at the
frontier edges of civilization. Inhabitants are inured to the day-to-day dangers of the road. Theyre tough folks that
number between a hundred and a thousand, depending on the size of the Keep
and the place it defends. Keeps wont
often have much beyond their own supplies, traded to them from nearby villages, but will almost always have arms
and armor and sometimes a rare magical
item found in the local wilds.
From bustling trade center to sprawling metropolis the City represents the
largest sort of Steading in Dungeon
World. These are places where folk of
many races and kinds can be found. They
often exist at the con uence of a handful
of trade routes or are built in a place of
spiritual signi cance. They dont often
generate their own materials for trade,
relying on villages nearby for food and
raw material but will always have crafted
goods and some stranger things for sale
to those willing to seek them.
Steadings are created as needed. Discovered by players, added as part of the
prep for a Front or spawned as the result
of the GM asking questions of the players, whatever the reason each Steading
is created using the rules below.
Like weapons, Steadings are described

by their tags. All Steadings have tags indicating prosperity, population and defenses and many will have tags to illustrate their more unusual properties.
Prosperity indicates what kinds of items
are usually available. Population indicates the number of inhabitants relative to the current size of the steading.
Defenses indicate the general scope of
arms the steading has. Tags in these
categories can be adjusted. -category
means to change the steading to the next
lower tag for that category (so Moderate
would become Poor when tagged with Prosperity). +category means to change
the steading to the next higher tag (so
Shrinking becomes Steady with +Population). Tags in those categories can
also be compared like numbers. Treat
the lowest tag in that category as 1 and
each successive tag as the next number
(so Dirt is 1, Poor is 2, etc.).
Tags will change of the course of play.
Creating a Steading provides a snapshot
of what that place looks like right now .
As the players spend time in it and your
Fronts progress the world will change
and your Steadings with it.
Adding Steadings
You add your rst Steading when you
create the Campaign Map; its the place
the players go to to rest and recover.
When you rst draw it on the map all
you need is a name and a location.
When you have the time youll use the
rules below to create the Steading. The
rst Steading is usually a village, but you
can use a town if the rst adventure was
closely tied to humans (for example, if
the players fought a human cult). Create
it using the rules below.
Once youve created the rst Steading
you can add other places referenced in its
tags (the Oath, Trade, and Enmity tags in
particular) or anywhere else thats been
referred to in play. Dont add too much in
the rst session, leave blanks and places
to explore.
As play progresses the characters will
discover new locales and places of interest either directly, by stumbling upon
them in the wild, or indirectly, by hearing about them in rumors or tales. Add
new Steadings, dungeons, and other locations to the map as theyre discovered
or heard about. Villages are often near a
useful resource. Towns are often found
at the point where several villages meet
to trade.Keeps watch over important locations. Cities rely on the trade and support of smaller steads. Dungeons can be
found anywhere and in many forms.
Whenever you add a new Steading use
the rules to decide its tags. Consider
adding a distinctive feature somewhere
The world
nearby. Maybe a forest, some old standing stones, an abandoned castle, or whatever else catches your fancy or makes
sense. A map of only Steadings and ruins
with nothing in-between is dull, dont
neglect the other features of the world.
Steading Tags
Prosperity
Dirt : Nothing for sale, nobody has more
than they need (and theyre lucky if they
have that). Unskilled labor is cheap.
Poor : Only the bare necessities for sale.
Weapons are scarce unless the steading is
heavily defended or militant. Unskilled
labor is readily available.
Moderate : Most mundane items are
available. Some types of skilled laborers.
Wealthy : Any mundane item can be
found for sale. Most kinds of skilled laborers, too, but demand is high for their
time.
Rich : Mundane items and more, if you
know where to nd them. Specialist labor available, but at high prices.
Making a Village
alent). The Steadings defenses are intimidating.
Lawless : Crime is rampant; authority is

weak.
Other Tags
Blight : The Steading has a recurring

problem, usually a type of monster.
Safe : Outside trouble doesnt come here

unless the players bring it. Idyllic and
often hidden. If the Steading would lose
or degrade another bene cial tag get rid
of Safe instead.
Religion : The listed deity is revered here.
Steading Names
Exotic : There are goods and services

available here that arent available anywhere else nearby. List them.
Greybark, Nooks Crossing, Tanners

Ford, Golden eld, Barrowbridge, Rum
River, Brindenburg, Shambles, Covaner, En eld, Crystal Falls, Castle
Daunting, Nultys Harbor, Castonshire,
Cornwood, Irongate, Mayhill, Pigton,
Crosses, Battlemoore, Torsea, Curland, Snowcalm, Seawall, Varlosh, Terminum, Avonia, Bucksburg, Settledown,
Goblinjaw, Hammerford, Pit, The Grey
Fast, Ennet Bend, Harrisons Hold,
Fortress Andwynne, Blackstone
Resource : The steading has easy access to

the listed resource (e.g. a spice, a type of
ore, sh, grapes). That resource is signi cantly cheaper.
Need : The Steading has an acute or ongoing need for the listed resource. That
resource sells for considerably more.
Oath : The Steading has sworn oaths to
the listed Steadings. These oaths are generally of fealty or support, but may be
more speci c.
Trade : The Steading regularly trades
with the listed Steadings.
Exodus : The Steading has lost its population and is on the verge of collapse.
Market : Everyone comes here to trade.

On any given day the available items may
be far beyond their prosperity. +1 to Supply.
Shrinking : The population is less than it

once was. Buildings stand empty.
Enmity : The steading holds a grudge

against the listed steadings.
Steady : The population is in line with the

current size of the steading. Some slow
growth.
History : Something important once happened here, choose one and detail or
make up your own: Battle, Miracle,
Myth, Romance, Tragedy.
Population
Growing : More people than there are

buildings.
Booming : Resources are stretched thin
trying to keep up with the number of
people.
Defenses
None : Clubs, torches, farming tools.
Militia : There are several dozen ablebodied men and women with worn
weapons ready to be called, but no standing force.
Watch : There are a few watchers posted
who look out for trouble and settle small
problems, but their main role is to summon the militia.
Guard : There are armed defenders at all
times with a total pool of less than 100
(or equivalent). There is always at least
one armed patrol about the steading.
Garrison : There are armed defenders at
all times with a total pool of 100300 (or
equivalent). There are multiple armed
patrols at all times.
Battalion : As many as 1,000 armed defenders (or equivalent). The steading has
manned maintained defenses as well.
Legion : The Steading is defended by
thousands of armed defenders (or equiv-
Power : The Steading holds sway of some

type. Typically Political, Divine, or Arcane.
Arcane : Someone in town can cast arcane

spells for a price. This tends to draw
more arcane casters, +1 to Recruit when
you put out word youre looking for an
adept.
Divine : There is a major religious presence, maybe a cathedral or monastery.
They can heal and maybe even raise the
dead for a donation or resolution of a
quest. Take +1 to recruit priests here.
Guild : The listed type of guild has a major presence (and usually a fair amount of
in uence). If the guild is closely associated with a type of hireling, +1 to recruit
that type of hireling.
Personage : Theres a notable person who
makes their home here. Give them a
name and a short note on why theyre
notable.
Dwarven : The Steading is signi cantly
or entirely dwarves. Dwarven goods are
lower price.
Elven : The Steading is signi cantly or entirely elves. Elven goods are lower price.
Craft : The Steading is known for excellence in the listed craft. Items that are a
product of that craft are of lower price,
higher quality, or both.
Making a Village
By default a village is Poor, Steady, Militia, Resource (your choice) and has an
Oath to another steading of your choice.
If the village is part of a kingdom or empire choose one:
The village is somewhere naturally
defended: Safe, -Defenses
The village abundant resources that
sustain it: +Prosperity, Resource
(your choice), Enmity (your choice)
The village is under the protection of another steading: Oath (that
steading), +Defenses
The village is on a major road: Trade
(your choice), +Prosperity
The village is built around a wizards
tower: Personage (the wizard), Blight
(arcane creatures)
The village was built on the site of religious signi cance: Divine, History
(your choice)
Choose one problem:
The village is in arid or uncultivable
land: Need (Food)
The village is dedicated to a deity: Religious (that deity), Enmity (a settlement of another deity)
The village has recently fought a battle: -Population, -Prosperity if they
fought to the end, -Defenses if they
lost.
The village has a monster problem:
Blight (that monster), Need (adventurers)
The village has absorbed another village: +Population, Lawless
The village is remote or unwelcoming: -Prosperity, Dwarven or Elven
61
Making a Town
Making a Town
By default a town is Moderate, Steady,
Watch, and Trade (two of your choice).
If the town is listed as Trade by another
steading choose one:
The town is booming: Booming,
Lawless
The town stands on a crossroads:
Market, +Prosperity
The town is defended by another
steading: Oath (that steading), +Defenses
The town is built around a church:
Power (Divine)
The town is built around a craft: Craft
(your choice), Resource (something
required for that craft)
The town is built around a military
post: +Defenses
Choose one problem:
The town has grown too big for an
important supply (like grain, wood,
or stone): Need (that resource), Trade
(a village or town with that resource)
The town offers defense to others:
Oath (your choice), -Defenses
The town is notorious for an outlaw
who is rumored to live there: Personage (the outlaw), Enmity (where the
crimes were committed)
The town has cornered the market on
a good or service: Exotic (that good
or service), Enmity (a settlement with
ambition)
The town has a disease: -Population
The town is a popular meeting place:
+Population, Lawless
Making a Keep
By default a keep is Poor, Shrinking,
Guard, Need (Supplies), Trade (someplace with supplies), Oath (your choice).
If the keep is owed fealty by at least one
settlement choose one:
The keep belongs to a noble family:
+Prosperity, Power (Political)
The keep is run by a skilled commander: Personage (the commander), +Defenses
The keep stands watch over a trade
road: +Prosperity, Guild (trade)
The keep is used to train special
troops: Arcane, -Population
The keep is surrounded by fertile
land: remove Need (Supplies)
The keep stands on a border: +Defenses, Enmity (steading on the other
side of the border)
Choose one problem
The keep is built on a naturally defensible position: Safe, -Population
The keep was a conquest from an-
62
The world
other power: Enmity (steadings of

that power)
The keep is a safe haven for brigands:
Lawless
The keep was built to defend from a
speci c threat: Blight (that threat)
The keep has seen horrible bloody
war: History (Battle), Blight (Restless
Spirits)
The keep is given the worst of the
worst: Need (Skilled Recruits)
Making a City
By default a city is Moderate, Steady,
Guard, Market, and Guild (one of your
choice). It also has Oaths with at least
two other steadings, usually a town and
a keep. If the city has trade with at least
one steading and fealty from at least one
steading choose one:
The city has permanent defenses, like
walls: +Defenses, Oath (your choice)
The city is ruled by a single individual: Personage (the ruler), Power (Political)
The city is diverse: Dwarven or Elven
or both
The city is a trade hub: Trade (every
steading nearby), +Prosperity
The city is ancient, built on top of its
own ruins: History (your choice), Divine
The city is a center of learning: Arcane, Craft (your choice), Power (Arcane)
Choose one problem:
The city has outgrown its resources:
+Population, Need (food)
The city has designs on nearby territory: Enmity (nearby steadings),
+Defenses
The city is ruled by a theocracy: Defenses, Power (Divine)
The city is ruled by the people: Defenses, +Population
The city has supernatural defenses:
+Defenses, Blight (related supernatural creatures)
The city lies on a place of power: Arcane, Personage (whoever watches
the place of power), Blight (arcane
creatures)
Fronts on the Campaign Map

Of course your steadings are not the only
thing on the campaign map. In addition
to steadings and the areas around them
your fronts will appear on the map, albeit
indirectly.
Fronts are organizational tools, not
something the characters think of, so
dont put them on the map directly. The
orcs of Olggothal may be a front but
dont just draw them on the map. In-
stead for each front add some feature to

the map that indicates the fronts presence. You can label it if you like, but use
the name that the characters would use,
not the name you gave the front.
For example, the orcs of Olggothal could
be marked on the map with a burning village they left behind, res in the distance
at night, or a stream of refugees. Lord
Xothal, a lich, might be marked by the
tower where dead plants take root and
grow.
As your fronts change, change the map.
If the players cleanse Xothals tower redraw it. If the orcs are driven off, erase
the crowds of refugees.
Updating the Campaign Map

The Campaign Map is updated between
sessions or whenever the players spend
signi cant downtime in a safe place. Updates are both prescriptive and descriptive: if an event transpires that, say,
gathers a larger ghting force to a village,
update the tags to re ect that. Likewise
if a change in tags mean that a village has
a bigger ghting force youll likely see
more armored men in the street.
Between each session check each of the
conditions below. Go down the list and
check each condition for all steadings before moving to the next. If a condition
applies, apply its effects.
Growth
When a village or town is Booming
and its Prosperity is above Moderate you may reduce Prosperity and Defenses to move to the next largest type.
New towns immediately gain Market
and new cities immediately gain Guild
(your choice).
Collapse
When a steadings Population is Exodus and its Prosperity is Poor or
less it shrinks. A city becomes a town
with a Steady Population and +Prosperity. A keep becomes a town with +Defenses and a Steady population. A town
becomes a village with Steady population and +Prosperity. A village becomes
a ghost town.
The world
Want
When a steading has a Need that is
not ful lled (through trade, capture,
or otherwise) that steading is in want. It
gets either -Prosperity, -Population, or
loses a tag based on that resource like
Craft or Trade, your choice.
Trade
When Trade is blocked because the
source of that trade is gone, the route
is endangered, or political reasons, the
steading has a choice: gain Need (a traded
good) or take -Prosperity.
Capture
When control of a resource changes
remove that resource from the tags of the
previous owner and add it to the tags of
the new owner (if applicable). If the previous owner has a Craft or Trade based on
that resource they now have Need (that
resource). If the new owner had a Need
for that resource, remove it.

pened recently to stoke their anger? The
forces of the attacker embattle the defender, while they maintain the attack
theyre -Defenses.
Clash
When two steadings both attack
each other their forces meet somewhere between them and ght. If theyre
evenly matched they both get -Defenses
and their troops return home. If one has
the advantage they take -Defenses while
the other takes -2 Defenses.
Other Updates
The conditions above detail the most basic of interactions between steadings, of
course the presence of your Fronts and
the players mean things can get far more
complex. Since tags are descriptive, add
them as needed to re ect the players
actions and your fronts effects on the
world.
Pro t
When a steading has more Trade
than its current Prosperity it gets
+Prosperity.
Surplus
When a steading has a Resource that
another steading Needs unless Enmity or other diplomatic reasons prevent
it they set up Trade. The steading with
the Resource gets +Prosperity and their
choice of Oaths, +Population, or +Defenses; the steading with the Need erases
that need and adds Trade.
Aid
When a steading has Oaths to a
steading under attack that steading
may take -Defenses to give the steading
under attack +Defenses.
Embattled
When a steading is surrounded by
enemy forces it suffers loses. If it ghts
back with force it gets -Defenses. If its
new Defenses are Watch or less it also
gets -Prosperity. If it instead tries to
wait out the attack it gets -Population. If
its new Population is Shrinking or less it
loses a tag of your choice. If the steadings
Defenses outclass the attackers (your
call if its not clear, or make it part of
an Adventure Front) the steading is no
longer surrounded.
Opportunity
When a steading has Enmity against
a weaker steading they may attack.
Subtract the distance (in rations) between the steadings from the steading
with Enmitys Defenses. If the result
is greater than the other steadings Defenses +Defense for each step of size difference (village to town, town to keep,
keep to city) they de nitely attack. Otherwise its your call: has anything hap-
63
Making a Hireling
25
Hirelings
Hirelings
Hirelings are those sorry souls thatfor
money, glory, orstrangerneedsventure
along with adventurers into the gloom
and danger. They are the foolhardy that
seek to make their name on adventures.
Hirelings serve a few purposes. To the
characters, theyre the help. They lend
their strength to the player characters
efforts in return for their pay. To the
players, theyre a resource. They buy the
characters some extra time against even
the most frightening of threats. Theyre
also replacement characters, waiting to
step up into the heros role when a player
character falls. To the GM, theyre a human face for the characters to turn to,
even in the depths of the earth of the far
reaches of the planes.
Hirelings are not heroes. A hireling may
become a hero, as a replacement character, but until that time theyre just another GM character, suffering the dangers and perils of the world. As such
their exact HP, armor, and damage isnt
particularly important. A hireling is dened by their Skill (or Skills) a Cost and
a Loyalty score.
A hirelings skill is a special bene t they
provide to the players. Most skills are related to class abilities, allowing a hireling
to ll in for a certain class. If you dont
have a Ranger but you need to track the
assassins route out of Torsea anyway,
you need a Tracker. Each skill has a rank,
usually from 1 to 10. The higher the rank
the more trained the hireling. Generally
hirelings only work for adventurers of
equal or higher level than their highest
skill.
If a hireling becomes a character their
skills may suggest a given class, but there
isnt a requirement. When the moment
comes and the spotlight is on them they
may nd strength they didnt know they
had.
Skills dont limit what a hireling can do,
they just provide mechanics for a certain ability. A hireling with the protector
skill can still carry your burdens or check
for traps, but the outcome isnt guaranteed by a rule. It will fall entirely to the
circumstances and the GM. Sending a
hireling to do something that is clearly
beyond their abilities is asking the GM
for trouble.
Of course no hireling works for free. The
hirelings cost is what it takes to keep
them with the player characters. If the
hirelings cost isnt paid regularly (usually once a session) theyre liable to quit
or turn on their employers.
When hirelings are in play, the players
may have to make the Order Hirelings
move. The move uses the loyalty of the
hireling that triggered the move:
Order Hirelings
64
Hirelings do what you tell them to, so

long as it isnt obviously dangerous, degrading, or stupid, and their cost is
met. When a hireling nd themselves
in a dangerous, degrading, or just atout crazy situation due to your orders
roll+loyalty. On a 10+ they stand rm
and carry out the order. On a 7-9 they do
it for now, but come back with serious demands later. Meet them or the hireling
quits on the worst terms.
Making a Hireling
Hirelings are easy to make on the y.
When someone enters the players employ note down their name and what cost
theyve agreed to as well as any skills they
may have.
Start with a number based on where the
hireling was found. Hirelings in villages
start with 25. Town hirelings get 46.
Keep hirelings are 58. City hirelings are
610. Distribute the hirelings number
between loyalty, a main skill, and zero or
more secondary skills. Starting loyalty
higher than 2 is unusual, as is starting
loyalty below 0. Choose a cost for the
hireling and youre done.
A hirelings stats, especially their loyalty, may change during play as a reection of events. A particular kindness
or bonus from the players is worth +1
loyalty forward. Disrespect is -1 loyalty forward. If its been a while since
their cost was last paid they get -1 loyalty ongoing until their cost is met. A
hirelings loyalty may be permanently
increased when they achieve some great
deed with the players. A signi cant failure or beating may permanently lower
the hirelings loyalty.
Costs
The Thrill of Victory

Money
Uncovered Knowledge
Fame and Glory
Debauchery
Good Accomplished
Skills
Adept
An adept has at least apprenticed to an
arcane expert, but is not powerful in their
own right. They may have mastered a
few simple spells, but they dont have
anything like the wizards spellbook
ArcaneAssistance When an adept aids in
the casting of a spell of lower level than
their skill, the spells effects have greater
range, duration, or potency. The exact
effects depend on the situation and the
spell and are up to the GM. The GM will
describe what effects the assist will add
before the spell is cast. The most impor-
Hirelings
tant feature of casting with an adept is
that any negative effects of the casting
are focused on the adept rst.
Expert
Experts are skilled in a variety of areas,
most of them illicit or dangerous. They
are good with devices and traps, but not
too helpful in the eld of battle.
Experimental Trap Disarming When an
expert leads the way they can detect traps
almost in time. If a trap would be sprung
while an expert is leading the way the expert suffers the full effects but the players get +skill against the trap and add
the experts skill to their armor against
the trap. Most traps leave an expert in
need of immediate healing. If the players
Make Camp near the trap, the expert can
disarm it by the time camp is broken.
Minstrel
Making a Hireling
Track When a tracker is given time
to study a trail while Making Camp,
when camp is broken they can follow the
trail to the next major change in terrain,
travel, or weather.
Guide When a tracker leads the way
you automatically succeed on any Perilous Journey of a distance lower than
the trackers skill.
Warrior
Warriors are not masters of combat, but
they are handy with a weapon. They
wont be leading anyone into battle anytime soon, but their arm is good.
Man-at-arms When you deal damage
while a warrior aids you add their skill to
the damage done. If your attack results
in consequences (like a counter attack)
the man-at-arms takes the brunt of it.
When a smiling face is needed to smooth

things over or negotiate a deal, a minstrel
is always happy to lend their services for
the proper price.
A Heros Welcome When you enter a
place of food, drink, or entertainment
with a minstrel you will be treated as a
friend by everyone present (unless your
actions prove otherwise). You also subtract the minstrels skill from all prices
in town.
Priest
Priest are the lower ranking clergy of a
religion, performing minor of ces and
regular sacraments. While not granted
spells themselves, they are able to call
upon their deity for minor aid.
Ministry When you make camp with
a priest if you would normally heal you
heal to your maximum HP value.
First Aid When you call on a priest for
healing, the priest rushes to your side
and heals you of 2skill HP. You take -1
forward as their healing is painful and
distracting.
Protector
A protector stands between their employer and the blades, fangs, teeth, and
spells that would harm them.
Sentry When a protector stands between you and an attack you increase
your armor against that attack by the defenders skill, then reduce their skill by
1 until they receive healing or have time
to mend.
Intervene When a protector helps you
Defy Danger you may opt to take +1 from
their aid. If you do you cannot get a 10+
result, a 10+ instead counts as a 79.
Tracker
Trackers know the secrets of following a
trail, but they dont have the experience
with strange creatures and exotic locals
that make for a great hunter.
65
Using Monsters
26
Monsters
Monsters
Great heroes need horrendous antagonists. This section is about how to create
and play as those antagonistsfrom the
lowly goblin warrior to the hellish demon.
Using Monsters
A monster is any living (or undead) thing
that stands in the players way.
How you use these monsters follows directly from your Agenda and Principles.
Stay true to your principles, use your
moves and pursue your agendayou
cant go wrong.
Your rst agenda is to "Make the world
fantastic". This shines through strongly
based on how you think about monsters.
Everyone and everything who comes up
against the players is a monster but that
doesnt mean you have to write their
stats out ahead of time. In a fantastic
world, every goblin might end up in a
ght but you dont have to know their
HP before that happens. A monster is
so simple to make you can jump right
into the ction, describing whatever you
want and back it up with stats as you
need them. Make the world fantastic:
describe your monsters rst and worry
about their stats later.
The player characters are the heroes.
You shouldnt be rooting for the monsters, per se. Monsters exist to illustrate
what a dangerous awful place Dungeon
World can behow it will remain if the
players dont step in. If you feel like your
monsters are being beaten too quickly,
dont worry. Let the players revel in
their victory and prepare a bigger, badder follow-up monster for next time.
The principle of "Think dangerous" sums
up that philosophythe world is just
as dangerous for the monsters as for
the characters. An evil overlord doesnt
care about his every golem, demon, and
harpy. Until proven otherwise, consider
every monster an arrow red at the characters. The monsters are ammunition of
the Danger youre presenting. Some may
be smarter, faster, or more dangerous
than others but until a monster warrants
a name, a personality, or some other special consideration, its an arrow. Take
aim and shoot. Dont worry if you miss.
A monster stops being an arrow when
it is given a chance to shine by the players actions. When the players are forced
to run away from something it gains
weight. When a monster somehow survives the players assault it becomes interesting to the players and to the world
at large. The players are the heroes. Your
monsters are only important when they
become important to the heroes and,
thus, important to the world.
One thing that your Agenda and Principles dont say anything about is set-
66
ting up a fair ght. Heroes are often

outnumbered or faced with ridiculous
oddssometimes they have to retreat
and make a new plan. Sometimes they
suffer loss. When adding a monster to
a front, placing them in a dungeon, or
making them up on the y your rst responsibility is to the ction (Make the
world fantastic) and to give the characters a real threat (Make the characters
heroes), not to make a balanced ght.
Dungeon World isnt about balancing
encounter levels or counting experience
points; its about telling stories about adventure and death-defying feats!
Elements of a Monster
The most important part of a monster
is what it does. These are its moves .
Just like the normal GM moves, theyre
things that you do when theres a lull in
the action or when the players give you
a golden opportunity. Just like the normal GM moves they can be hard or soft
depending on the circumstances and the
move: a move thats irreversible and immediate is hard, a move thats impending
or mitigable is soft.
Each monsters raison dtre is summed
up in its instinct . Much like Dangers, monsters have instincts that describe their goals at a high level. Some
monsters live for conquest, or treasure,
or simply for blood. The monsters instinct is the guide to how to use the monster
The monsters description is where all
its other features come from. The description is how you know what the monster really is, the other elements just reect the description.
Damage is a measure of how much pain
the monster can in ict at once. Just like
player damage its a dice to roll, maybe
with some modi ers. A monster deals its
damage to another monster or a player
when it uses its standard weapons and
tactics to hurt them, or when a move says
so.
Just like a weapon, monsters have tags
that describe how it deals damage, including what range(s) it can do damage
at. When trying to attack something out
of its range (to close or too far) the monsters out of luck, no damage. Any tag
that can go on a weapon (like Messy or
Slow) can also go on a monster.
There are also monster tags that apply
only to monsters. These tags, listed below, describe the monsters key attributes. Every monster has a tag for its
scope: where it falls in the bigger picture
of Dungeon World. The scope tag lets the
GM know how to portray the monster in
a way that its stats back up, for example
if an army of gnolls can take a defended
village (hint: most likely). Some monsters also have a size tag, which notes
Monsters
their physical size. Monsters without a
size tag are just about human size, give
or take.
A monsters HP is a measure of how
much damage it can take before it dies.
Just like players, when a monster takes
damage it subtracts that amount from its
HP. At 0 HP its dead, no Last Breath.
Some monsters are lucky enough to enjoy Armor . Just like player armor:
when a monster with armor takes damage it subtracts its armor from the damage done.
Special qualities describe innate aspects of the monster that are important
to play. These are a guide to the ction, and therefore the moves. There
is no master list of special qualities,
theyre just plain-english descriptions of
the qualities of a monster that arent part
of an attack. A quality like "Intangible" means just what it says: mundane
stuff just passes through it. That means
swinging a mundane sword at it isnt
Hack and Slash, for a start.
Monsters Without Stats

Some creatures operate on a scale so far
beyond the mortal that concepts like HP,
Armor, and Damage just do not hold.
These creatures may still cause problems
for the players and may even be defeated
with clever thinking and enough preparation, they just wont be trading blows.
If a creature is of such a scale far beyond
the players, or if it simply doesnt live or
die like a mortal creature, dont assign
it HP, Damage, or Armor. You can still
use the monster creation rules to give it
tags. The core of a stat-less monster is
its instinct and moves; the GM can still
make its moves and act according to its
instinct.
Monster Tags
Magical : It is by nature magical through
and through.
Devious : Its main danger lies beyond the
simple clash of battle.
Gibbous : Its anatomy and organs are
bizarre and unnatural.
Organized : It has a group structure that
aids it in survival. Defeating one may
cause the wrath of others. One may
sound an alarm.
Intelligent : Its smart enough that some
individuals pick up other skills. The GM
can adapt the monster by adding tags to
re ect speci c training, like a mage or
warrior.
Hoarder : It almost certainly has treasure.
Stealthy : It can avoid detection and
prefers to attack with the element of surprise.
Monster Tags
Terrifying : Its presence and appearance
evoke fear.
to a certain place in the world.
Cautious : It prizes survival over aggression.
Write a monster move describing what

it does.
Construct : It was made, not born
What is it known to do?
Planar : Its from beyond this world
What does it want that causes problems for

others?
Organization Tags
This is its instinct. Write it as an intended

action.
Horde : Where theres one, theres more.

A lot more.
Group : Usually seen in small numbers,
36 or so.
Solitary : It lives and ghts alone.
Size Tags
Tiny : Its much smaller than a hal ing.
Small : Its about hal ing size.
Large : Its much bigger than a human,
about as big as a cart.
Huge : Its as big as a small house or larger.
Making Monsters
Monsters start with your description of
them. No matter if youre making the
monster before play or just as the players come face-to-face with it, a monster
starts with a clear vision of what it is and
what it does.
If youre making a monster between sessions start by imagining it. Imagine what
it looks like, what it does, why it stands
out. Imagine the stories told about it and
what effects it has had on the world.
If youre making a monster on the y
during a session start by describing it
to the players. Your description starts
before the characters even lay eyes on
it: describe where it lives, what marks it
has made on the environment around it.
Your description is the key to the monster.
When you nd you need stats for the
monster you use this series of questions
to establish them. Answer every question based on the facts established and
imagined. Dont answer them aloud to
anyone else, just note down the answers
and the stats listed with each answer.
If two questions would grant the same tag
dont worry about it. If you like you can
adjust damage or HP by 2 to re ect the
tag that would be repeated, but its not
necessary. If a combination of answers
would reduce HP or damage below 1 they
stay at 1.
How does it usually hunt or ght?

In large disorganized groups: Horde,
d6 damage, 3 HP
In small groups, about 25: Group,
d8 damage, 6 HP
All by its lonesome: Solitary, d10
damage, 12 HP
How big is it?

Smaller than a house cat: Tiny, Hand,
-2 damage
Hal ing-esque: Small, Close
About human size: Close
As big as a cart: Large, Close, Reach,
+4 HP, +1 damage
Much larger than a cart: Huge, Reach,
+8 HP, +3 damage
What is its most important defense?
Cloth or esh: 0 armor

Leathers or think hide: 1 armor
Mail or scales: 2 armor
Plate or bone: 3 armor
Permanent magical protection: 4 armor, Magical
What is it known for? (Choose all that apply)

Unrelenting strength: +2 damage,
forceful
Skill in offense: roll damage twice
and take the best
Skill in defense: +1 armor
Deft strikes: +1 piercing
Uncanny endurance: +4 HP
Deceit and trickery: Stealthy, write a
move about dirty tricks
A useful adaptation like being amphibious or having wings: Add a special quality for the adaptation
The favor of the gods: Divine, +2
damage or +2 HP or both (your call)
Spells and magic: Magical, write a
move about its spells
When youre nished your monster may

have only one move. If this is the case
and you plan on using the monster often, give it another 23 moves of your
choice. These moves often describe secondary modes of attack, other uses for a
primary mode of attack, or connections
67
Treasure
What is its most common form of attack?

Note it along with the creatures damage. Common answers include: a type
of weapon, claws, a speci c spell. Then
answer these questions about it.
Its armaments are vicious and obvious: +2 damage
It lets the monster keep others at bay:
Reach
Its armaments are small and weak:
-damage dice size
Its armaments can slice or pierce
metal: Messy, +1 Piercing or +3 Piercing if it can just tear metal apart
Armor doesnt help with the damage
it deals (due to magic, size, etc.): Ignores Armor
It usually attacks at range (with arrows, spells, or other projectiles):
Near or Far or both (your call)
Which of these describe it? (Choose all that

apply)
It isnt dangerous because of the
wounds it in icts, but for other reasons: Devious, -damage dice size,
write a move about why its dangerous
It organizes into larger groups that it
can call on for support: Organized,
write a move about calling on others
for help
Its as smart as a human or thereabouts: Intelligent
It actively defends itself with a shield
or similar: Cautious, +1 Armor
It collects trinkets that humans
would consider valuable (gold, gems,
secrets): Hoarder
It uses magic: Magical, write a move
about its style of magic and the effects
it can invoke
Its from beyond this world: Planar,
write a move about using its otherworldly knowledge and power
Its kept alive by something beyond
simple biology: +4 HP
It was made by someone: Construct,
give it a special quality or two about
its construction or purpose
Its appearance is disturbing, terrible,
or horrible: Terrifying, write a special quality about why its so horrendous
It doesnt have organs or discernible
anatomy: Gibbous, +1 Armor, +3 HP
Treasure
Monsters, much like adventurers, collect shiny useful things. When the players search the belongings of a monster
(be they on their person or tucked away
somewhere) describe them honestly.
If the monster has accumulated some
wealth you can roll that randomly. Start
68
Monsters
with the monsters damage die, modi ed
if the monster is:
Hoarder: roll damage die twice, take
higher result
Far from home: +at least one ration
(usable by anyone with similar taste)
Magical: some strange item, possibly
magical
Divine: a sign of a deity (or deities)
Planar: something not of this earth
Lord over others: +1d4 to the roll
Ancient and noteworthy: +1d4 to the
roll
Roll the monsters damage die plus any
added dice to ne the monsters treasure:
1. A few coins, 2d8 or so
2. An item useful to the current situation
3. Several coins, about 4d10
4. A small item (gem, art) of considerable value, worth as much as 2d1010
coins, 0 weight
5. Some minor magical trinket
6. Useful information (in the form of
clues, notes, etc.)
7. A bag of coins, 1d4100 or thereabouts. 1 weight per 100.
8. A very valuable small item (gem, art)
worth 2d6100, 0 weight
9. A chest of coins and other small valuables. 1 weight but worth 3d6100
coins
10. A magical item or magical effect
11. Many bags of coins for a total of
2d4100 or so
12. A sign of of ce (crown, banner) worth
at least 3d4100 coins
13. A large art item worth 4d4100
coins, 1 weight
14. A unique item worth at least 5d4100
coins
15. All the information needed to learn a
new spell and roll again
16. A portal or secret path (or directions
to one) and roll again
17. Something relating to one of the
characters and roll again
18. A hoard: 1d101000 coins and
1d1010 gems worth 2d6100 each
Monster Settings
The monsters in this book are presented
in monster settings . A monster setting is a location (or type of location) and
the monsters that inhabit it. Its a way
of grouping monsters by where they t
in the world. A monster setting tells
you what kind of monsters might inhabit
an area while your Fronts tell you what
monsters are working together or have
ongoing plots.
When creating your own monster settings, they can be more speci c. You
could create a monster setting for the
Great Western Steppes or the Domains
of the Horse Lords.
Consult a monster setting to populate a

Front or when you want a threat that is
only tangentially related to one of your
Fronts. For example, if the heroes are
battling against the Dungeon Front "The
Cult of Khul-ka-ra" by exploring the ancient ruins that the cult has made its
home then you might use monsters from
the Legions of the Undead as a related
threatnot truly part of the front but
still a block in the heroes path.
Monsters within a given setting will tend
to be about as powerful. This is a product
of their ecologytheyre in competition
for space and resources, after all. Cavern Dwellers or Denizens of the Murky
Swamp are likely to be faced by fresh adventurers as they are the creatures who
most often encroach on civilization. The
Gnarled Woods, Ravenous Hordes, and
Twisted Experiments settings hold more
powerful monsters, monsters that can
threaten the safety of whole cities. Planar Powers and Creatures of the Lower
Depths are the most dangerous enemies
the heroes can faceoften endangering
entire kingdoms. The Legions of the Undead are everywhere and can appear in
just about any setting or situation.
The monster stat blocks within these
settings describe not only HP, damage,
and all the other aspects of the monster, but also the reasons those stats were
assigned. These monsters were created
with the same process listed above, and
the reasons for their stats are just as important as the stats themselves. Looking at the reasoning behind the stats will
allow you to present the monsters honestly, answering questions that arise in
Dungeon World like "can a warband of
gnolls sack an entire village?"
Cavern Dwellers
At the edges of civilization in the caves
and tunnels below the old mountains
of the world dwell all sorts of scheming, dangerous monsters. Some are wily
and old, like the race of goblins scheming to burn villages and make off with
livestock. Others are strange aberrations
of nature like the stinking, trash-eating
Otyugh. A word of caution, then, to those
brave adventurers whose rst foray into
danger leads them into these dank and
shadowy places; bad things live in the
dark. Bad things with sharp teeth.
Monsters
Denizens of the Swamp

All things give way to rot, in the end.
Food spoils on the table, mens minds
go mad with age and disease. Even the
world itself, when left untended and uncared for, can turn to black muck and
stinking air. Things dwell in these parts
of Dungeon World. Things gone just as
a bad as the swirling lth that lls the
swamps. In these cesspit lowlands adventurers will nd such creatures as the
deadly-eyed basilisk or the famed, unkillable troll. Youll need more than a
dry pair of boots to survive these putrid
fens. A sword would be a good start.
Legions of the Undead

The sermons of mannish and dwarven
gods would tell you that Death is the end
of all. They say that once the mortal coil
is unwound and a person takes their nal breath that all is warmth and song
and the white wings of angels. Not so.
Not for all. For some, after lifes embrace
loses its strength a darker power can take
hold. Black magic rips the dead from the
ground and gives them shambling unlife full of hate and hunger. Sorcery and
witchcraft lend an ancient spell-smith
the power to live forever in the husk of
a Lich. There are bleak enchantments at
play in shadowy corners all throughout
Dungeon World. These creatures are the
spawn of that fell magic.
The Dark Woods

It would not be a lie to say that there are
trees that stand in the deepest groves of
Dungeon World that have stood since before man or elf walked amidst their roots.
It would be true, too, to say that these ancient trees have long lost the green leaves
of spring. In the strands of the dark
woods one nds, if one looks in the right
place, sylvan monsters of old and powerful nature. Here live the race of savage Centaurs and the fey soul-stealing
creatures of olde. Under the shadow
of the ancient trees, wolf-men howl for
blood. Hurry along the old forest road
and light no re for food or warmth for
its said that ames offend the woods
themselves. You wouldnt want that,
would you?
Ravenous Hordes
"Ive bested an orc in single combat" they
crow. "Ive fought a gnoll and lived to
the tell the tale." Which is no small feat
and yet, you know the truth of these
boasts. Like vermin, spotting but one of
these creatures speaks to a greater doom
on the horizon. No orc travels alone.
No slavering gnoll moves without his
pack. You know that soon, the wardrums
will sound and the walls will be besieged
by the full fury of the warchief and his
Monster Settings
tusked berserkers. These are the monsters that will bring civilization, screaming and weeping, to its knees. Unless you
can stop them. Best of luck.
Twisted Experiments
For some who learn the arcane arts its
not merely enough to be able to live
for a thousand years or throw lightning bolts that can fry a man. Some
arent quite satis ed with the power to
speak to the dead or draw the angels
down from heaven. Hubris calls on those
cloaked-and-hooded"scientists"to make
a strange and unholy life of their own.
No mortal children, these. These are the
wages of a mind gone foul with strange
magic. In this setting you will nd such
nightmares as the chimera, dripping poison. Here, too, are the protector golems
and mutant apes. All sorts of bad ideas
await you in the fallen towers of the mad
magicians of Dungeon World.
The Lower Depths

Ruins dot the countryside of Dungeon
World. Old bastions of long-forgotten
civilization fallen to decay, to monsters
or to the whim of a vengeful god. These
ruins often cover a much more dangerous truth catacombs and underground
complexes lousy with traps and monsters. Gold, too. Which is why youre
here. Why youre locked in mortal combat with a tribe of spiteful dark elves.
Battling stone giants in caverns the size
of whole countries. Maybe, though,
youre the noble souls whove travelled
to the worlds heart to put an end to the
Apocalypse Dragonthe beast who, it is
said, will one day swallow the sun and
kill us all. We appreciate it, really. Well
all pray for you.
Planar Powers
Sometimes, monsters do not come from
Dungeon World at all. Beyond the
mountains at the edge of the world or below the deepest seas the sages and wise
old priests say that there are gateways to
the lands beyond. They speak of elysian
elds; rivers of sweet wine and maidens
dancing in elds of gold. They tell tales of
the paradise of heavens to be found past
the Planar Door. Tales tell, too, of the
Thousandfold Hell. Of the swirling Elemental Vortex and the devils that wait
for the stars to align so they can enter
Dungeon World and wreak their bloody
havoc. You must be curious to know
if these tales are true? What will you
see when the passage to the beyond is
opened?
69
Cavern Dwellers
27
Cavern
Dwellers
Ankheg Group, Large

Bite (d8+1 damage) 10 HP 3 Armor
Dwarven Warrior Horde, Organized

Axe (d6 damage) 7 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Burrowing
A hide like plate armor and great crushing
mandibles are problematic. A stomach full
of acid that can burn a hole through a stone
wall makes them all the worse. Theyd be bad
enoughiftheywereproperinsect-sizedbutthese
things have the gall to be as long as any given
horse. Its just not natural! Good thing they
tend to stick to one place? Easy for you to
sayyou dont have an Ankheg living under
your corn eld. Instinct : To undermine
Close
For ages, men believed all dwarves were men
and all were of this ilkstoic and proud warriors. Axe-wielding and plate-wearing. Stout
bearded battle-hungry men who would push
them, time and time again, back up out of their
mines and tunnels with ferocity. It just goes
to show how little men know about the elder
races. These folk are merely a vanguard, and
they bravely do their duty to protect the riches
of the Dwarven realm. Earn their trust and
youve an ally for life. Earn their ire and youre
not like to regret it very long. Instinct : To
defend
Undermine the ground

Burst from the earth
Spray forth acid, eating away at metal
and esh
Cave Rat Horde, Small
Gnaw (d6 damage 1 piercing) 7 HP 1 Armor
Close, Messy
Who hasnt seen a rat before? Its like that, but
nasty and big and not afraid of you anymore.
Maybe this one was a cousin to that one you
caught in a trap or the one you killed with a
knife in that lthy tavern in Darrow. Maybe
hes looking for a little ratty revenge. Instinct
: To devour
Swarm
Rip apart something (or someone)
Choker Solitary, Stealthy, Intelligent
Choke (d10 damage) 15 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Flexible
Some say these things descended from the family of a cruel wizard who forced them to live out
their lives underground. Say his experiments
led him to fear the sun and ages passed while he
descended into unlife, dragging his folk along
with him. These things resemble men, in a way.
Head, four limbs and all that. Only their skin
is wet and rubbery and their arms long and
ngers grasping. They hate all life that bears
the stink of the suns touch, as one might expect. Jealousy, long instilled, is hard to shake.
Instinct : To deny light
Hold someone, wringing the breath
from them
Fling a held creature
Cloaker Solitary, Stealthy
Constrict (d10 damage ignores armor) 12
HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Looks like a
cloak
Dont put on that cloak, Gareth. Dont. You
dont know where its been. I tell you, its no
good. See! It moved! Im not mad, Gareth, it
moved! Dont do it! No! GARETH! Instinct
: To engulf
Engulf the unsuspecting
70
Drive them back

Call up reinforcements
Earth Elemental Solitary, Huge
Smash (d10+5 damage) 27 HP 4 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Made of stone
Our shaman says that all the things of the
world have a spirit. Stones, trees, a stream.
Now that Ive seen the earth roil under my feet
and sts of stone beat my friends half to death
Im like to believe that crazy old man. The one I
saw was hugebig as a house! It came boiling
up from a rockslide out of nowhere and had a
voice like an avalanche. I pay my respects, now.
Rightly so. Instinct : To show the strength of
earth
Turn the ground into a weapon
Meld into stone
Goliath Group, Huge, Organized, Intelligent
Mace (d8+7 damage) 14 HP 1 Armor
Reach, Forceful
They dwell beneath the earth because they do
not belong above it any longer. An undying
race of mighty titans ed the plains and mountains in ages pastdriven out by men and their
heroes. Left to bide their time in the dark, hate
and anger warmed by the pools of lava deep below. Its said that an earthquake is a goliaths
birthing cry. Some day theyll take back whats
theirs. Instinct : To retake
Shake the earth
Retreat, only to come back stronger
Fire Beetle Horde, Small
Flames (d6 damage ignores armor) 3 HP
3 Armor
Near
Special Qualities: Full of
ames
Cavern Dwellers
Scarabaeus Pyractomena! What a delightful
creaturesee how its carapace glitters in the
light of our torches? Not too close now, theyre
temperamental, you see. The re in their belly
isnt just metaphorical, no. Watch as I goad
the beast. Aha! A spout of ame! Unexpected,
isnt it? One of these creatures alone, if it comes
up from below, can be a hellish nuisance to a
farmstead or village. A whole swarm? Theres
a reason they call it a con agration of re beetles. Ill say that much. Instinct : To en ame
Undermine the ground
and esh
Gargoyle Horde, Stealthy, Hoarder
Claw (d6 damage) 3 HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Wings
Its a sad thing, really. Guardians bred by Magi
of the past with no more castles to guard. Their
ancestors sacred task bred into their blood
leads them to nd a placeruins, mostly but
sometimesacaveorhillormountaincliffand
guard it as though their masters yet lived below.
Theyre notoriously good at nding valuables
buried below the earth, though. Find one of
these winged reptiles and youll nd yourself a
treasure nearby. Just be careful, theyre hard to
spot and tend to move in packs. Instinct : To
guard
Attack with the element of surprise
Take to the air
Blend into stonework
Gelatinous Cube Solitary, Large,
Stealthy, Gibbous
Engulf (d10+1 damage ignores armor) 20
HP 1 Armor
Hand
Special Qualities: Transparent
How many adventurers last thought was
"strange, this tunnel seems cleaner than most?"
Too many and all because of this transparent
menace. A great acidic blob that expands to
ll a small chamber or corridor and then slides,
ever so slowly along, eating everything in its
path. It cannot eat stone or metal and will often have them oating in its jelly mass. Blech.
Instinct : To clean
Fill an apparently empty space
Dissolve
Goblin Horde, Small, Intelligent, Organized
Spear (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Nobody seems to know where these things

came from. Elves say theyre the Dwarves
faultdredged up from a hidden place beneath
the earth. Dwarves say theyre bad Elvish children, takenawayatbirthandraisedinthedark.
The truth of the matter is that goblins have always been here and theyll be here once all the
civilized races have fallen and gone away. Goblins never die out. Theres just too damn many
of them. Instinct : To multiply
Charge!
Call more goblins
Retreat and return with (many) more
Goblin Orkaster Solitary, Small,
Magical, Intelligent, Organized
Acid orb (d10+1 damage ignores armor)
12 HP 0 Armor
Near, Far
Oh lord, who taught them magic? Instinct :
To tap power beyond their stature
Unleash a poorly understood spell
Pour forth magical chaos
Use other goblins for shields
Otyugh Solitary, Large
Tentacles (d10+3 damage) 20 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Filth Fever
The mating call of the otyugh is a horrible,
blaring cry that sounds like a cross between
an elephant dying and an over-eager vulture.
The otyugh spends much of its time partly
submerged in lthy water and prefers eating
garbage over any other food. As a result, it
often grows fat and strong on the offal of orcs,
goblins and other cave-dwelling sub-humans.
Get too close, however, and youll have one of its
barbed tentacles dragging you into that soggy,
razor-toothed maw. If you get away with your
life, best get to a doctor, or your victory may be
short lived. Instinct : To foul
Infect someone with lth fever
Fling someone or something
Maggot-Squid Horde, Small
Chew (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Amphibious,
Paralyzing Tentacles
The gods that made this thing were playing
some sick joke on the civilized folk of the world.
The maggot-squid wields a face full of horrible
squirming tentacles that, if they touch you, feel
like being struck by lightning. Theyll paralyze
you and chew you up slowly while youre helpless. Best to not let it get to that. Instinct : To
eat
Paralyze with a touch
Purple Worm Solitary, Huge
I! I! The Purple Worm! Blessed is its holy

slime! We walk, unworthy, in its miles of massive tunnels. We are but shadows under its
violet and all-consuming glory. Mere acolytes,
we who hope someday to return to the great
embrace of its tooth-ringed maw. Let it consume us! Let it eat our homes and villages so
that we might be taken! I! I! The Purple
Worm! Instinct : To consume
Swallow whole
Tunnel through stone and earth
Roper Solitary, Large, Stealthy, Intelligent
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Rock-like Flesh
Evolutionary happenstance has created a
clever underground predator. Disguised as a
rocky formationmost often a stalactite or
stalagmitetheroperwaitsforitspreytowander by. When it does, whether its a rat, a goblin or a foolhardy adventurer, a mass of thin,
whipping tentacles erupts from the things hide.
A hundred lashes in the blink of an eye and the
stunned prey is being dragged into the ropers
mouth. Surprisingly effective for a thing that
looks like a rock. Instinct : To ambush
Ensnare the unsuspecting
and esh
Rot Grub Horde, Tiny
Burrow (d6-2 damage) 3 HP 0 Armor
Hand
Special Qualities: Burrow into
esh
They live in your skin. Or your organ meat. Or
your eyeballs. They grow there and then, in a
bloody and horri c display, burrow their way
out. Disgusting. Instinct : To infect
Burrow under esh
Lay eggs
Burst forth from an infected creature
Spiderlord Solitary, Large, Devious,
Intelligent
Mandibles (d8+4 damage) 16 HP 3 Armor
Close, Reach
Even spiders have their gods, whispered to in
webs with little praying arms. Instinct : To
weave webs (literal and metaphorical)
Enmesh in webbing
Put a plot into motion
Troglodyte Group, Organized
Club (d8 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close
Reach, Forceful
71
Cavern Dwellers
Long-forgotten, our last remaining ancestors
dwell in caves in the wild parts of the world.
Driven away by our cities and villages, our
iron swords and our re, these ape-men eat
their meat raw with sharp-nailed hands and
jagged teeth. They strike out at frontier villages
wielding clubs and in overwhelming numbers
to seize cattle, tools, and poor prisoners to drag
into the hills. Known for their viciousness and
their stink, theyre an old and dying race wed
all sooner forget existed. Instinct : To prey on
civilization
Raid and retreat
Use scavenged weapons or magic
72
Swamp Denizens
28
Swamp
Denizens
Bakunawa Solitary, Large, Intelligent, Messy, Forceful

Bite (d10+3 damage 1 piercing) 16 HP 2
Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Amphibious
Dragon-turtles sister is a mighty serpent
queen. Ten yards of scales and muscle, they
say she wakes with a hunger when the sun
disappears from the sky. She is drawn in by
bright light in the darkness and like any snake,
the Bakunawa is sneaky. She will seek rst
to beguile and mislead and will only strike out
with violence when no other option is available. When she does, though, her jaws are
strong enough to crack the hull of any swampboat and certainly enough to slice through a
steel breastplate or two. Instinct : To devour
Lure prey with lies and illusions
Lash out at light
Devour
Basilisk Solitary, Hoarder
Bite (d10 damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close
Few have seen a basilisk and lived to tell the
tale. Get it? Seen a basilisk? Little bit of
basilisk humor there. Sorry, I know youre
looking for something helpful, sirs. Serious
stuff, I understand. The basilisk, even without
its ability to turn your esh to stone with a
gaze, is a dangerous creature. A bit like a frog,
bulbous eyes and six leaping-muscle legs. A
bit like an alligator, with snapping jaws and
sawing teeth. Covered in stoney scales and very
hard to kill. Best avoided, if possible. Instinct
: To collect stone
Turn esh to stone with a gaze
Retreat into a maze of stone
Black Pudding Solitary, Gibbous
Corrode (d10 damage ignores armor) 15
HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Amorphous
How do you kill a pile of goo? A great squishy,
pile of goo that happens also to want to dissolve
you and slurp you up? That is a good question
to which I have no answer. Do let us know
when you nd out. Instinct : To dissolve
As if in direct affront to the decay and lth

of the world, the gods granted us the Coutal.
As if to say there is beauty, even in this grim
place have we been gifted the Coutal. A serpent in ight on jeweled wings, these beautiful
creatures glow with a soft light, as the sun does
through stained glass. Bright, wise and calm,
a Coutal often knows many things and sees
many more. You might be able to make a trade
with it in exchange for some favor. They seek to
cleanse and to purge and to make of this dark
world a better one. Shame we have so few. The
gods are cruel. Instinct : To cleanse
Pass judgement on a person or place
Summon divine forces to cleanse
Offer information in exchange for
service
crocodilian Group, Large
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Amphibious,
Camou age
Its a really, really big crocodile. Seriously. So
big. Instinct : To eat
Attack an unsuspecting victim
Escape into the water
Hold something tight in its jaws
Doppelganger Solitary, Devious, Intelligent
Dagger (d6 damage) 12 HP 0 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Shapeshifting
Theirnaturalform, ifyoueverseeit, isahideous
thing. Like a creature who stopped growing
part-way, before it decided it was elf or man
or dwarf. Then again, maybe thats how you
get to be the way a doppleganger iswithout
form, without shape to call their own, they seek
little more than a place to t in. If you go
out into the world, when you come back home,
make sure your friends are who you think they
are. They might, instead, be a doppleganger
and your friend might be dead at the bottom of
a well somewhere. Then again, depending on
your friends, that might be an improvement.
Instinct : To in ltrate
Eat away metal, esh, or wood

Ooze into a troubling place: food, armor, stomach
Assume the shape of a person whos

esh its tasted
Use anothers identity to advantage
Leave someones reputation shattered
Coutal Solitary, Intelligent Devious

Light ray (d8 damage ignores armor) 12
HP 2 Armor
Dragon Turtle Solitary, Huge, Cautious

Close
Special Qualities: Wings, Halo
Reach
Special Qualities: Shell, Amphibious
73
Swamp Denizens
Bakunawa has a brother. Where she is quick
to anger and hungry for gold, he is slow and
sturdy. She is a knife and he is a shield. A great
turtle that lies in the muck and mire for ages as
theypass, mudpileduponhisbacksometimes
trees and shrubs. Sometimes a whole misguided clan of goblins will build their huts and
cook their ratty meals on the shell of the dragon
turtle. His snapping jaws, glacier-slow they
may be, can rend a castle wall. Careful where
you tread. Instinct : To resist change
Move forward implacably
Bring its full bulk to bear
Destroy structures and buildings
Dragon Whelp Solitary, Small, Intelligent, Cautious, Hoarder
Elemental breath (d10+2 damage) 16 HP
3 Armor
Close, Near
Special Qualities: Wings, Elemental Blood
What? Did you think they were all a mile
long? Did you think they didnt come smaller
than that? Sure, they may be no bigger than a
dog and no smarter than an ape, but a Dragon
Whelp can still belch up a hellish ball of re
thatll melt your armor shut and drop you
screaming into the mud. Their scales, too, are
softer than their bigger kin but still turn aside
an arrow or sword not perfectly aimed. Size is
not the only measure of might. Instinct : To
grow in power
Start a lair, form a base of power
Call on family ties
Demand oaths of servitude
Ekek Horde
Talons (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Thesestrangecreaturesarenobiggerorsmarter
then their mundane kin. They have the same
vicious nature. Over their relations they have
one advantagean oily secretion that drips
from their skin. It makes them hard to catch.
On top of that, with a twist of their body they
ignite the stuff, leaving pools of burning oil atop
the surface of the water and roasting prey and
predator alike. I hear the slimy things make
good ingredients for re-resistant gear, but you
have to get your hands on one, rst. Instinct :
To ignite
Catch someone or something on re
(even underwater)
Consume burning prey
Frogman Horde, Small, Intelligent
Close
Croak croak croak. Little warty munchkins.
Some wizard or godlings idea of a bad joke,
these creatures are. They stand as men, dress in
scavenged cloth and hold court in their froggy
villages. They speak a rumbling pidgin form
of the tongue of man and war constantly with
their neighbors. Theyre greedy and stupid but
clever enough when they need to defend themselves. Some say, too, their priests have a remarkable skill at healing. Or maybe theyre
just really, really hard to kill. Instinct : To
war
Launch an amphibious assault
Heal at a prodigious rate
Hydra Solitary, Large
Some are wont to lump these rat-like little

dragon-men in with goblins and orcs, bugbears and hobgoblins. They are smarter
and wiser than their kin, however. The
Kobolds, beholden slaves to dragons andin
ancient timestheir lorekeepers and sorcererservants. Their clans, named in fashion like
Ironscale and Whitewing, form around a
dragon master and live to serve and do its
bidding. Spotting a Kobold means more are
nearif more are near then a mighty dragon
cannot be far, either. Instinct : To serve dragons
Lay a trap
Call on dragons or draconic allies
Retreat and regroup
Lizardman Group, Stealthy, Intelligent, Organized
Close
A traveling sorcerer once told me that Lizardmen came before we did. That before elves
and dwarves and men built even the rst of
their wattle huts a race of proud lizard kings
strode the land. That they lived in palaces of
crystal and worshipped their own scaly gods.
Maybe thats true and maybe it aintnow
they dwell in places men long forgot or abandoned, crafting tools from volcano-glass and
lashing against the works of the civilized world.
Maybe they just want back what they lost. Instinct : To destroy civilization
Ambush the unsuspecting
Launch an amphibious assault
Medusa Solitary, Devious, Intelligent, Hoarder
Claws (d6 damage) 12 HP 0 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Wing-arms
Ugly, wrinkled bird-folk, these. Once, maybe,
in some ancient past, they were a race of angelic
menfromonhighbutnowtheyeatratsthey sh
from the murk with talon-feet and devour with
needle-teeth. They understand the tongues of
men and dwarves but speak in little more than
gibbering tongues, mimicking the words they
hear with mocking laughter. Its a chilling
thing to see a beast so close to man or bird but
not quite either one. Instinct : To lash out
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Many heads,
Only killed by a blow to the heart
A bit like a dragon, wingless though it may be.
Heads, nine in number at birth, spring from a
muscled trunk and weave a sinuous pattern in
the air. A hydra is to be feareda scaled terror
of the marsh. The older ones, though, they have
more heads for every failed attempt to murder
it just makes it stronger. Cut off a head and
two more grow in its place. Only a strike, true
and strong, to the heart can end a Hydras life.
Not time or tide or any other thing but this.
Instinct : To grow
Attack from the air

Carry out the bidding of a more powerful creature
Attack many enemies at once

Regenerate a body part (especially a
head)
Close
Special Qualities: Look turns you to
stone
The Medusa are children of a serpent-haired
mother, birthing them in ancient times to
bear her name across the ages. They dwell
near places of civilizationluring folks to their
caves with promises of beauty untold or riches.
Fine appreciators of art, the medusa curate
strange collections of their victims, terror or
ecstasy frozen forever in stone. It satis es their
vanity to know they were the last thing seen in
somanylives. Arrogant, proud, andspiteful, in
their way, they seek what so many doendless
company. Instinct : To collect
Fire Eels Horde, Tiny

Burning touch (d6-2 damage ignores armor) 3 HP 0 Armor
Kobold Horde, Small, Stealthy, Intelligent, Organized

Short spear (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Hand
Special Qualities: Flammable oil,
aquatic
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Dragon connection
Turn a body part to stone with a look

Draw someones gaze
Show hidden terrible beauty
Sahuagin Horde, Intelligent
Endless teeth (d6+4 damage 1 piercing) 3
HP 2 Armor
Close, Forceful, Messy
74
Swamp Denizens
The shape and craft of men wedded to the
hunger and the endless teeth of a shark. Voracious and lled only with hate, these creatures
will not stop until all life has been consumed.
They cannot be reasoned with, they cannot be
controlled or sated. They are hunger and bloodlust, driven up from the depths of the sea to ravage coastal towns and swallow island villages.
Instinct : To spill blood
Turn a body part to stone with a look
Draw someones gaze
Show hidden terrible beauty
Sauropod Group, Huge, Cautious
Trample (d8+5 damage) 18 HP 4 Armor
Reach
Special Qualities: Armor plated
body
Great lumbering beasts, they live in places long
since forgotten by the thinking races of the
world. Gentle if unprovoked but mighty if
their ire is raised, they trample smaller creatures with the care we might give to crushing
an any beneath our boots. If you see one, drift
by and gaze in awe, but do not wake the giant.
Instinct : To endure
caused by a weakness, your call)

Hurl something or someone
Wll-o-wisp Solitary, Large
Club (d10+3 damage) 20 HP 1 Armor
Special Qualities: Body of light
Spot a lantern oating in the darkness, lost
traveller in the swamp. Hopea beacon of
shimmering light. You call out to it, but theres
no answer. It begins to fade and so you follow,
sloshing through the muck, tiring at the chase,
hoping youre being led to safety. Such a sad
tale that always ends in doom. These creatures
are a mysterysome say theyre ghosts, others
beaconsoffaerielight. Nobodyknowsthetruth.
They are cruel, however. All can agree on that.
Instinct : To misguide
Lead someone astray
Clear a path to the worst place possible
Stampede
Panic
Swamp Shambler Solitary, Large,
Magical
Lash (d10+3 damage) 23 HP 5 Armor
Special Qualities: Swamp form
Some elementals are conjured up in sacred circles etched in chalk. Most, in fact. Theres
a sort of science to it. Others, though, arent
so orderlythey dont fall under the carefully
controlled assignments of re or air or earth.
Some are a natural con uence of vine and mire
and fungus. They do not think the way a man
might think. They cannot be understood as an
elf might be. They simply are. Spirits of the
swamp. Shamblers in the mud. Instinct : To
preserve and create swamps
Call on the swamp itself for aid
Meld into the swamp
Reassemble into a new form
Troll Solitary, Large
Special Qualities: Regeneration
Tall. Real tall. Eight or nine feet when theyre
young or weak. Covered all over in warty,
tough skin, too. Big teeth, stringy hair like
swamp moss and long, dirty nails. Some are
green, some grey, some black. Theyre clannish
and hateful of each other, not to mention all
the rest of us. Near impossible to kill, too,
unless youve re or acid to sparecut a limb
off and watch. In a few days, youve got two
trolls where you once had one. A real serious
problem, as you can imagine. Instinct : To
smash
Undo the effects of an attack (unless
75
29
Legions of
the Undead
Abomination Solitary, Large, Construct, Terrifying

Slam (d10+3 damage) 20 HP 1 Armor
Special Qualities: Many limbs,
heads, and so on
Corpses sewn unto corpses make up the bulk of
these shambling masses of dark magic. Most
undead are crafted to be controlledmade to
serve some purpose like building a tower or
serving as guardians. Not so the abomination.
The last aspect of the ritual used to grant re
to their hellish limbs invokes a hatred so severe that the abomination knows but one task:
to tear and rend at the very thing it cannot
havelife. Many students of the black arts
learn to their mortal dismay the most important fact about these hulks. An abomination
knows no master. Instinct : To end life
Tear esh apart
Spill forth putrid guts
Banshee Solitary, Magical, Intelligent
Scream (d10 damage) 16 HP 0 Armor
Near
Special Qualities: Insubstantial
Comeawayfromanencounterwithoneofthese
vengeful spirits merely deaf and count yourself lucky for the rest of your peaceful, silent
days. Often mistaken at rst glance for a ghost
or wandering spirit, the Banshee reveals a far
more deadly talent for sonic assault when angered. And angered they are. A victim of betrayal (often by a loved one) the Banshee makes
known their displeasure with a roar or scream
thatcanputrefy eshandrendthesenses. Ifyou
can, help them get their vengeance and theyve
been known to grant rewards. Whether the
affection of a spurned spirit is a thing youd
want, well, thats another question. Instinct :
To avenge
Drown out all other sound with a
ceaseless scream
Unleash a skull-splitting noise
Disappear into the mists
Devourer Solitary, Large, Intelligent, Hoarder
Most folk know that the undead feed on esh.
The warmth, blood and living tissue continue
their unholy existence. This is true for most of
the mindless dead, animated by black sorcery.
Not so the Devourer. When a particularly
wicked person (often a manipulator of men,
an apostate priest or the like) dies in a gruesome way, the dark powers of Dungeon World
might bring them back to a kind of life. The
Devourer, however, does not feed on the esh
of men or elves. The Devourer eats souls. It
kills with a pleasure only the sentient can enjoy and in the moments of its victims expiry,
draws breath like a drowning man and swallows a soul. What does it mean to have your
soul eaten by such a creature? None dare ask
for fear of nding out. Instinct : To eat souls
76
Devour or trap dying soul

Bargain for a soul
Dragonbone Solitary, Huge
Armor
Reach, Messy
Mystical sorcerers debate: is this creature truly
undead or is it a golem made of a particularly
rare and blasphemous material? The bones,
sinews and scales of a dead dragon make up
this bleak automaton. Winged but ightless,
dragon-shaped but without the mighty re of
such a noble thing, the Dragonbone serves its
master with a twisted devotion and is often set
to assault the keeps and towers of rival necromancers. It would take a being of some considerable evil to twist the remains of a dragon
thus. Instinct : To serve
Attack unrelentingly
Draugr Horde, Organized
Rusty sword (d6+1 damage) 7 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Icy touch
In the Nordemark, the men and women tell
tales in their wooden halls of a place where the
noble dead go. A mead hall atop their heavenly
mountain where men of valor go to await the
nal battle for the world. It is a goodly place.
It is a place where one hopes to go when they
die. And the inglorious dead? Those who fall
to poison or in an act of cowardice, warriors
though they may be? Well, those mead halls
arent open to all and sundry. Some come back,
frozen and twisted and empowered by jealous
rage and wage their eternal war not on the
forces of giants or trolls but on the towns of the
men they once knew. Instinct : To take from
the living
Freeze esh
Call on the unworthy dead
Ghost Solitary, Devious, Terrifying
Phantom touch (d6 damage) 16 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Every culture tells the story the same way. You
live, you love or hate, you win or you lose, you
die somehow youre not too fond of and here
you are, ghostly and full of disappointment
and what have you. Some people take it upon
themselves, brave and kindly folks, to seek out
the dead and help them pass to their rightful
rest. You can nd them, most times, down
at the tavern drinking away the terrors theyve
seen or babbling to themselves in the madhouse.
Death takes a toll on the living, no matter how
you come by it. Instinct : To haunt
Reveal the terrifying nature of death
Offer information from the other
side, at a price
Ghoul Group
Talons (d8 damage 1 piercing) 10 HP 1
Armor

Close, Messy
Hunger. Hunger hunger hunger. Desperate clinging void-stomach-emptiness hunger.
Sharp talons to rend esh and teeth to tear
and crack bones and suck out the soft marrow
inside. Vomit up hate and screaming jealous
anger and charge on twisted legsscare the
living esh and sweeten it ever more with the
stink of fear. Feast. Peasant or knight, wizard,
sage, prince, or priest all make for such delicious
meat. Instinct : To eat
Gnaw off a body part
Gain the memories of their meal
Lich Solitary, Magical, Intelligent,
Cautious, Hoarder, Construct
Enervate (d10+3 damage ignores armor)
16 HP 5 Armor
Near, Far
At the end, they give you a scroll and a jeweled medallion to commemorate your achievements. Grand Master of Abjuration, I was
called, then. Old man. Weak and wizened
and just a bit too senile for themhose jealous
halfwits. Barely apprentices, and they called
themselves The New Council. It makes me sick,
or would, if I still could be. They told me it was
an honor and I would be remembered forever.
It was like listening to my own eulogy. Fitting,
in a way, dont you think? It took me another
ten years to learn the rituals and another four
to collect the material and you see before you
the fruits of my labour. I endure. I live. I will
see the death of this age and the dawn of the
next. It pains me to have to do this, but, you
see, you cannot be permitted to endanger my
research. When you meet Death, say hello for
me, would you? Instinct : To un-live
Cast a perfected spell of death or destruction
Set a ritual or great working into motion
Reveal a preparation or plan already
completed
Mohrg Group
Close
You never get away with murder. Not really.
You might evade the law, might escape your
own conscience in the end and die, fat and
happy in a mansion somewhere. When the
gods themselves notice your misdeeds, though,
thats where your luck runs out and a Mohrg
is born. The Mohrg is a skeleton esh and
skin and hair all rotted away. All but their
gutstheirtwisted, knottedgutsstillspillfrom
their bellies, magically preserved and often
wrapped, noose-like, about their necks. They
do not think, exactly, but they suffer. They kill
and wreak havoc and their souls do not rest.
Such is the punishment, both on them for the
crime and on all mankind for daring to murder
one another. The gods are just and they are
harsh. Instinct : To wreak havoc
Rage
Add to their collection of guts
Mummy Solitary, Divine, Hoarder

Close
There are cultures who revere the dead. They do
not bury them in the cold earth and mourn their
passing. These people spend weeks preparing
the sacred corpse for its eternal rest. Temples,
pyramids, and great vaults of stone are built to
house them and are populated with slaves, pets
and gold. The better to live in luxury beyond the
Black Gates, no? Do not be tempted by these
vaultsoh, I know that greedy look! Heed my
warnings or risk a terrible fate, for the honored
dead do not wish to be disturbed. Thievery will
only raise their iredo not say I did not warn
you! Instinct : To enjoy eternal rest
Curse them
Wrap them up
Rise again
Nightwing Horde, Stealthy
Rend (d6 damage) 7 HP 1 Armor
Close
Scholars of the necromantic arts will tell you
that the appellation undead applies not only
to those who have lived, died, and been returned to a sort of partway living state. It
is the proper name of any creature whose energy originates beyond the Black Gates. The
creature men call the nightwing is one such
creatureempowered by the negative light of
Deaths domain. Taking the shape of massive,
shadowy, winged creatures (some more batlike, somelikevultures, otherslikesomeancient,
leathery things) nightwings travel in predatory
ocks, swooping down to strip the esh from
cattle, horses and unlucky peasants out past
curfew. Watch the night sky for their red eyes
and listen for their screeching call and hope to
the gods you have something to hide under until
they pass. Instinct : To hunt
Attack from the night sky
Fly away with prey
Shadow Horde, Large, Magical, Construct
Shadow Touch (d6+1 damage) 11 HP 4 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Shadow Form
We call to the elements. We call on re, everburning. We summon water, life-giving. We
beseech the earth, stable-standing. We cry to
the air, forever-changing. These elements we
recognize and give our thanks but ask to pass.
The elemental we call upon this night knows
another name. We call upon the element of
Night. Shadow, we name you. Deaths messenger and black assassin, we claim for our
own. Accept our sacri ce and do our bidding
til the morning come. Instinct : To darken
Tail whip (d6+1 damage) 11 HP 2 Armor

Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Vampire spawn
Aswang-hound and hopping whip-tail! Sent
by vampires on their two, twisted legs, these
ugly things look like the head of a rat or a
crocodile, maybe, furry though and sharp of
tooth. They have withered wings, but cannot
usethemandlong, whippingtails, spurredwith
poison tips. Stupid, vengeful and mischievous
they cause all kinds of chaos when let out of the
strange clay jars in which theyre born. Only
a vampire could love such a wretched thing.
Instinct : To disturb
Poison them
Do a vampires bidding
Skeleton Horde
Slam (d6 damage) 7 HP 1 Armor
Close
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Instinct : To take the semblance of life
Act out what it did in life
Reveal a fact from its life
Spectre Solitary, Hoarder
Withering touch (d10 damage) 12 HP 0
Armor
Close
For some folk, when they pass, Death himself
cannot release their grip on the places they love
most. A priest whose devotion to the temple
is greater than that of his god. A banking
guild of cial who cannot bear to part with his
vault. A drunk and his favourite tavern. All
make excellent spectres. They act not out of
the usual hunger that drive the undead, but
jealousy. Jealousy that anyone else might come
to love their home as much as them and drive
them out. These places belong to them and these
invisible spirits will kill before theyll let anyone
send them to their rest. Instinct : To drive life
from a place
Turn their haunt against a creature
Bring the environment to life
Vampire Group, Stealthy, Organized, Intelligent
Supernatural force (d8+5 damage 1 piercing) 10 HP 2 Armor
Close, Forceful
Special Qualities: Changing form,
ancient mind
Snuff out light

Spawn another shadow from the
dead
Sigben Horde, Large, Construct
77

We fear them, because they call to us. So much
like us, or how we hope to be: beautiful, passionate, and powerful. They are drawn to us
for what they cannot be: warm, kind, and alive.
These tormented souls can only hope, at most,
to pass their dreadful curse along. Every time
they feed they run the risk of passing along
their torture to another and in each one lives
the twisted seed of creator. Vampires beget
vampires. Suffering begets suffering. Do not
be drawn in by their seduction or you may be
given their gifta crown of shadows and the
chains eternal undying grief. Instinct : To
manipulate
Charm someone
Feed on their blood
Retreat to plan again
Wight-Wolf Horde, Organized, Intelligent
Pounce (d6+1 damage 1 piercing) 7 HP 1
Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Shadow form
Like the nightwing, the wight-wolf is a creature
not spawned in our world. Somehow slipping
the seals of the Black Gates of Death, these
spirits take the shape of massive hounds or
shadowy wolves and hunt the living for sport.
They travel in packs, led by a mighty alpha,
but bear a kind of intelligence unknown to true
canines. Their wild hunts draw the attention
of intelligent undeadliches, vampires and the
likewho will sometimes make pacts with the
alpha and serve a grim purpose together. Listen
for the baying of the hounds of Death and pray
that they do not howl for you. Instinct : To
hunt
Encircle prey
Summon the pack
Zombie Horde
Close
WhentheresnomoreroominHell . . . Instinct
: Braaaaaains
Attack with overwhelming numbers
Corner them
Gain strength from the dead, spawn
more zombies
78
Gnarled Woods
30
Gnarled
Woods
Assassin Vine Solitary, Stealthy,

Gibbous
Thorns (d10 damage 1 piercing) 15 HP 1
Armor
Close, Reach, Messy
Special Qualities: Plant
Among the animals there exists a clear division tween hunter and hunted. All it takes is a
glance to knowby fangs and glowing eyes or
claws or venomous stingwhich of the creature of this world are meant to kill and which
stand to be killed. Such a split, if you have
the eyes to see it, cuts the world of leaves and
owers in twain, as well. Druids in their forest
circles know it. Rangers, too, might spot such
a plant before its too late. Lay folk, though,
they wander where they oughtntpaths into
the deep woods covered in creeping vines and
with a snap, these hungry ropes snap tight,
dragging their meaty prey into the underbrush.
Mind your feet, traveller. Instinct : To grow
Shoot forth new growth
Attack the unwary
Blink Dog Group, Small, Magical, Organized
Close
Special Qualities: Illusion
Now you see it, now you dont. Hounds once
owned by a sorcerer lord and imbued with a
kind of illusory cloak, they escaped into the
woods around his lair and began to breed with
wolves and wild dogs of the forest. You can spot
them, if youre lucky, by the glittering silver of
their coats and their strange, ululating howls.
They have a remarkable talent for being notquite where they appear to be and use it to take
down prey much stronger than themselves. If
you nd yourself facing a pack of blink dogs
you might well close your eyes and ght. Youll
have an easier time when not betrayed by your
natural sight. By such sorceries are the natural
places of the world polluted with unnatural
things. Instinct : To hunt
Give the appearance of being somewhere theyre not
Summon the pack
Move with amazing speed
Centaur Horde, Large, Organized,
Intelligent
Bow (d6+2 damage 1 piercing) 11 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach, Near
SpecialQualities: Half-horse, Halfman
It will be a gathering of clans unseen in this

age. Call Stormhoof and Brightspear. Summon Whitemane and Iron anks. Sound the
horn and we shall begin our meetingwe shall
speak the words and bind our people together.
Too long have the men cut the ancient trees
for their ships. The elves are weak and cowardly, friend to these mannish slime. It will be
a cleansing re from the darkest woods. Raise
the red banner of war! Today we strike back
against these apes and retake what is ours! Instinct : To rage
Overrun them
Move with unrelenting speed
Chaos Ooze Solitary, Planar, Terrifying, Gibbous
Warping touch (d10 damage ignores armor) 23 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Ooze, Fragments
of other planes embedded in it
The barrier between Dungeon World and the
Elemental Planes is not, as you might hope, a
wall of stone. Its much more porous. Thinlike, with holes. Places where the civil races
do not often tread can sometimes, how to put
this, spring a leak. Like a dam come just a
little loose. Bits and pieces of the chaos spill
out. Sometimes, theyll congeal like an egg on
a panthats where we get the material for
many of the Guilds magical trinkets. Useful, right? Sometimes, though, it squirms and
squishesaroundabitandstaysthatway, warping all it touches into some other, strange form.
Chaos begets chaos, and it grows. Instinct :
To change
Cause a change in appearance or substance
Brie y bridge the planes
Cockatrice Group, Small, Hoarder
Peck (d8 damage) 6 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Stone touch
I aint ever seen such a thing, sir. Rodrick
thought it a chicken, maybe. Poor Rodrick. I
gured it to be a lizard of a sort, though he
was rightit had a beak and grey feathers
like a chicken. Right, well, see, we found it
in the woods, in a nest at the foot of a tree
while we were out with the sow. Looking for
mushrooms, sir. I told Rodrick we wereyes,
sir, right sir, the birdsee, it was glaring at
Rodrick and he tried to scare it off with a stick
to steal the eggs but the thing pecked his hand.
Quick it was, too. I tried to get him away but he
just got slower and slower and . . . yes, as you
see him now, sir. All frozen up like when we
left the dog out overnight in winter two years
back. Poor, stupid Rodrick. Werent no bird
nor lizard, were it, sir? Instinct : To defend
the nest
Start a slow transformation to stone
Dryad Solitary, Magical, Intelligent,
Devious, Gibbous
79
Gnarled Woods
Crushing vines (2d10w damage) 23 HP 5
Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Plant
More beautiful by far than any man or woman
born in the civil realms. To gaze upon one is
to fall in love. Deep and punishing, too. Thing
is, they dont love. Not the eshy folk who
often nd them, though. Their love is a primal thing, married to the woodsto a great
oak that serves as home and mother and sacred place to them. Its a curse to see one, too,
theyll never love you back. No matter what
you do. No matter how you pledge yourself to
them, theyll always spurn you. If ever their
oak comes to harm, youve not only the dryads
wrath to contend with, but in every nearby village theres a score of men with a secret longing
in their heart, ready to murder you where you
sleep for just a smile from such a creature. Instinct : To love nature passionately
Entice a mortal
Merge into a tree
Turn nature against them
Eagle Lord Group, Large, Organized,
Intelligent
Claw (2d8b+1 damage 1 piercing) 10 HP 1
Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Mighty wings
Some the size of horses. Bigger, eventhe
Kings and Queens of the Eagles. Their cry
pierces the mountain sky and woe to those who
fall under the shadow of their mighty wings.
The ancient wizards forged a pact with them in
theprimordial days. Menwouldtaketheplains
and valleys and leave the mountaintops to the
Eagle Lords. These sacred pacts should be honored, lest they set their talons into you. Lucky
are the elves, for the makers of their bonds yet
live and when danger comes to Elvish lands, the
Eagle Lords often serve as spies and mounts for
the elves. Long-lived and proud, some might
be willing to trade their ancient secrets for the
right price, too. Instinct : To rule the heights
Attack from the sky
Pull someone into the air
Call on ancient oaths
Elvish Warrior Horde, Intelligent,
Organized
Sword (2d6b damage) 3 HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Sharp sense
Like all the elves do, war is an art. I saw them

ght, once. The Battle of Astrids Veil. Yes, I
am that old, boy, now hush. She was clad in
plate that shone like the winter sky. White hair
streaming and a pennant of ocean blue tied to
her spear. She seemed to glide across between
the trees the way an angel might, striking out
and bathing her blade in blood that steamed in
thecoldair. Ineverfeltsosmallbefore. Itrained
with the master-at-arms of Battlemoore, you
know. Iveheldaswordlongerthanyouvebeen
alive, boy, and in that one moment I knew that
my skill meant nothing. Thank the gods the
elves were with us then. A more beautiful and
terrible thing I have not seen since. Instinct :
To seek perfection
Strike at a weak point
Set ancient plans in motion
Use the woods to advantage
Elvish High Arcanist Solitary, Magical, Intelligent, Organized
Flame (d10 damage ignores armor) 12 HP
0 Armor
Near, Far
Special Qualities: Sharp senses
True elvish magic isnt like the spells of men.
Mannish wizardry is all rotes and formulas.
They cheat to nd the arcane secrets that resound all around them. They are deaf to the arcane symphony that sings in the woods. Elvish
magic is ne ear to hear it and the voice with
which to sing. To harmonize with what is already resounding. Men bind the forces of magic
to their will; Elves simply pluck the strings and
hum along. The High Arcanists, in a way, have
become more and less than any elf. The beat of
their blood is the throbbing of all magic in this
world. Instinct : To unleash power
Work the magic that wants to be
worked
Cast forth the elements
Gri in Group, Large, Organized
Claw (d8+3 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
On rst glance, one might mistake the Grif n
for another magical mistake like the Manticore
or the Chimera. It looks the part, doesnt it?
These creatures have the regal haughtiness of
a lion and the arrogant bearing of a eagle but
temper it with the unshakeable loyalty of both.
To earn the friendship of a Grif n is to have an
ally all your living days. Truly a gift, that. If
youre ever lucky enough to meet one be respectful and deferential above all else. It may not
seem it but they can tell and answer perceived
slights with a sharp beak and talons. Instinct
: To serve allies
Carry an ally aloft
Strike from above
Ogre Group, Large, Intelligent
80
A tale, then. Somewhere in the not-so-long

history of the Mannish race there was a divide.
In days when men were merely dwellers-inthe-mud with no magic to call their own, they
split in two: one camp left their caves and the
dark forests and built the First City to honor
the gods. The others, a wild and savage lot,
retreated into darkness. They grew, there. In
the deep woods a grim loathing for their softer
kin gave them strength. They found dark gods
of their own, there in the woods and hills. Ages
passed and they bred tall and strong and full
of hate. We have forged steel and they match
it with their savagery. We may have forgotten
our common roots, but somewhere, deep down,
the Ogres remember. Instinct : To return the
world to darker days
Destroy something
Topple trees
Bring down the roof
Hill Giant Group, Huge, Intelligent,
Organized
Rock (d8+3 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Reach, Near, Far, Forceful
Ever seen an ogre before? Bigger than that.
Dumberandmeaner, too. Hopeyoulikehaving
cows thrown at you. Instinct : To hurl
Throw something
Shake the earth
Razor Boar Solitary
Bite (d10 damage 3 piercing) 16 HP 1 Armor
Close, Messy
The tusks of the razor boar shred metal plate
like so much tissue. Voracious, savage and unstoppable, they tower over their mundane kin.
To kill one? A greater trophy of bravery and
skill is hard to name, though I hear a razor boar
killedtheDrunkardKinginasinglethrust. You
think youre a better hunter than he? Instinct
: To shred
Rip them apart
Rend armor and weapons
Sprite Horde, Tiny, Stealthy, Magical, Devious, Intelligent
Dagger (2d4w damage) 3 HP 0 Armor
Hand
Special Qualities: Wings, Fey Magic
Id classify them elementals, except that Being
Annoying isnt an element. Instinct : To play
tricks
Play a trick to expose someones true
nature
Confuse their senses
Craft an illusion
Treant Group, Huge, Intelligent,
Gibbous
Wallop (d8+5 damage) 21 HP 4 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Wooden
Old and tall and thick of bark
walk amidst the tree-lined dark
Gnarled Woods
Strong and slow and forest-born
the treants anger quick, we warned
If to the woods with axe ye go
know the treants be thy foe
Instinct : To protect nature
Move with implacable strength
Set down roots
Spread old magic
Werewolf Solitary, Intelligent
Armor
Close, Messy
Special Qualities: Weak to silver
Beautiful, isnt it? The moon, I mean. Shes
watching us, you know? Her pretty silver eyes
watch us while we sleep. Mad, toolike all the
most beautiful ones. If she were a woman, Id
bend my knee and make her my wife on the spot.
No, I didnt ask you here to speak about her,
though. The chains? For your safety, not mine.
Im cursed, you see. You must have suspected.
The sorcerer-kings called it lycanthropy in
their daypassed on by a bite to make more
of our kind. No, I could nd no cure. Please,
Dont be scared. You have the arrows I gave
you? Silver, yes. Ah, you begin to understand.
Dont cry, sister. You must do this for me. I
cannot bear more blood on my hands. You
must end this. For me. Instinct : To shed the
appearance of civilization
One of only a very few creatures to be found

in the old woods that dont right out want to
maim, kill, or eat us. They dwell in glades
pierced by the sun, and dance on their funny
goat-legs to enchanting music played on pipes
made of bone and silver. They smile easily and,
so long as you please them with jokes and sport,
will treat our kind with friendliness. Theyve
a mean streak, though, so if you cross them,
make haste elsewhere; very few things hold a
grudge like the stubborn Satyr. Instinct : To
enjoy
Pull others into revelry through
magic
Force gifts upon them
Play jokes with illusions and tricks
Transform to pass unnoticed as beast

or man
Strike from within
Hunt like man and beast
Worg Horde, Organized
Close
As horses are to the civil races, so go the worg
to the goblins. Mounts, erce in battle, ridden
by only the bravest and most dangerous, are
found and bred in the forest primeval to serve
the goblins in their wars on men. The only safe
worg is a pup, separated from its mother. If
you can nd one of these, or make orphans of a
litterwithasharpsword, youvegotwhatcould
become a loyal protector or hunting hound in
time. Train it well, mind you, for the worg are
smart and never quite free of their primal urges.
Instinct : To serve
Carry a rider into battle
Give its rider an advantage
Satyr Group, Devious, Magical, Hoarder
Charge (2d8w damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Enchantment
81
Ravenous Hordes
31
Ravenous
Hordes
Formian Drone Horde, Organized,

Cautious
Close
Special Qualities: Hive connection,
Insectoid
With good cause, they say that these creatures
(likeallinsects, really)areclaimedbythepowers
of Law. They are order made esha perfectly
strati ed society in which every larva, hatchling and adult knows their place in the great
hive. The Formian is some strange intersection of men and ants (though there are winged
tribes that look like ants out in the Western
Desert, Ive heard. And some with great sawtooth arms like mantids in the forests of the
east). Tall, with a hard shell and a harder
mind, these particular Formians are the bottom caste. They work the hills and honeycombs
with single-minded joy that can be known only
by such an alien mind. Instinct : To follow
orders
Raise the alarm
Create value for the hive
Assimilate
Formian Taskmaster Group, Organized, Intelligent
Spiked whip (d8 damage) 6 HP 3 Armor
Close, Reach
Insectoid
It takes two hands to rule an empire: one to
wield the scepter and one to crack the whip.
These ant-folk are that whip. Lucky for them,
with two extra arms, thats a lot of whip to
crack. They oversee the vast swarms of worker
drones that set to build the mighty caverns and
ziggurats that dot the places that formians can
be found. One in a hundred, these brutes stand
two or three feet taller than their pale, nearmindless kin and have a sharper, crueler wit to
match. Theyll often ignore the soft races (as
were known) if we dont interfere in a project,
but get in the way of The Great Work and
expect nothing less than their full attention.
You dont want their full attention. Instinct :
To command
Order drones into battle
Set great numbers in motion
Formian Centurion Horde, Intelligent, Organized
Barbed spear (2d6b+2 damage) 7 HP 3
Armor
Close, Reach
Insectoid, Wings
82
Whether in the form of a legionnaire, part of

the Formian standing army, or as a praetorian
guard to the queen, every formian hive contain
a great number of these most dangerous insectoids. Darker in carapace, often scarred with
furrows and the ceremonial markings that set
them apart from their drones, the formian centurions are their ghting force and rightly so.
Born, bred and living only for the singular purpose to kill the enemies of their kind, they ght
with one mind and a hundred swords. Thus
far, the powers of Law have seen t to spare
mankind a great war with these creatures,
but weve seen them in skirmishdescending
sometimes on border towns with their wings
ickering in the heat or spilling up from a sandy
mound to wipe clean a newly-dug mine. Theirs
is an orderly bloodshed, committed with no
pleasure but the completion of a goal. Instinct
: To ght as ordered
Advance as one
Summon reinforcements
Give a life for the hive
Formian Queen Solitary, Huge, Organized, Intelligent, Hoarder
Reach, Forceful
Insectoid
At the heart of every hive, no matter its size
or kind, lives a queen. As large as any giant,
she sits protected by her guard, served by every
drone and taskmaster with her own, singular
purpose: to spread her kind and grow the hive.
To birth the eggs. To nurture. We do not
understand the minds of these creatures but
it is known they can communicate with their
children, somehow, over vast distances and
that they begin to teach them the ways of earth
andstoneandwarwhilestillpaleandwriggling
larva, without a word. To kill one is to set chaos
on the hive; without their queen, the rest turn
on one another in a mad, blind rage. Instinct
: To spread formians
Call every formian it spawned
Release a half-formed larval mutation
Set designs on a formian goal
Gnoll Tracker Group, Organized, Intelligent
Bow (d8 damage) 6 HP 1 Armor
Near, Far
Special Qualities: Scent
Ravenous Hordes
Once they scent your blood, you cant escape.
Not without intervention from the gods, or the
dukes rangers at least. The desert scrub is a
dangerous place to go exploring on your own
and if you fall and break your leg or eat the
wrong cactus, well, youll be lucky if you die of
thirst before the gnolls nd you. They prefer
their prey alive, seecracking bones and the
screams of the dying lend a sort of succulence
to a meal. Sickening creatures, no? Theyll
hunt you, slow and steady, as you die. If you
hear laughter in the desert wind, well, best pray
Death comes to take you before they do. Instinct : To prey on weakness
Doggedly track prey
Strike at a moment of weakness
Gnoll Emissary Solitary, Divine, Intelligent, Organized
Ceremonial dagger (d10+2 damage) 18
HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Oh, an emissary! How nice. I suspect you
didnt know the Gnolls had ambassadors, did
you? Yes, even these mangy hyenas have to
make nice sometimes. No, no, not with us. Nor
the dwarves, neither. No, the Emissary is the
one, among his packmates, who trucks directly
with their dripping demon lord. Frightening?
Too right. Every hound has a master with his
handonthechain. Thisgnollhearshismasters
voice. Hears it and obeys. Instinct : To share
divine insight
Pass on demonic in uence
Drive the pack into a fervor
Gnoll Alpha Solitary, Intelligent, Organized
Sword (d10b damage 1 piercing) 12 HP 2
Armor
Close
Every pack has its top dog.
Bigger,
maybethatd be the simplest way. Often,
though, with these lank and lthy mutts, its
not about size or sharp teeth but about cruelty.
About a willingness to kill your brothers and
eat them while the pack watches. Willingness
to desecrate the pack in a way that cows them
to you. If theyre that awful to each otherto
their living kinthink about how they must
view us. Its hard to be mere meat in a land of
these kinds of predators. Instinct : To drive
the pack
Demand obedience
Send the pack to hunt
Orc Bloodwarrior Horde, Intelligent, Organized
Jagged blade (d6+2 damage 1 piercing) 3
HP 0 Armor
Close, Messy
The orcish horde is a savage, bloodthirsty, and

hatefulcollectionoftribes. Therearemythsand
stories that tell of the origin of their ragea demon curse, a homeland destroyed, elven magic
gone wrongbut the truth has been lost to
time. Every able orc, be it man or woman, child
or elder, swears fealty to the warchief and their
tribe and bears the jagged blade of a bloodwarrior. Men are trained to ght and killorcs
are born to it. Instinct : To ght
Special Qualities: One eye

In the name of He Of Riven Sight and by the
First Sacri ce of Elf-Flesh do we invoke the
Old Powers. By the Second Sacri ce, I make
my claim to what is minethe dark magic of
Night. In His image, I walk the path to Gorsha-thak, the Iron Gallows! I call to the runes!
I call to the clouded sky! Take this mortal
organ, eat of the esh of our enemy and give me
what is mine! Instinct : To hate
Fight with abandon

Revel in destruction
Rend esh with divine magic

Take an eye
Make a sacri ce
Orc Berserker Solitary, Large, Divine, Intelligent, Organized

Cleaver (d10+5 damage) 20 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Mutations
Stained in the unholy ritual of Anointing By
The Nights Blood, some warriors of the horde
rise to a kind of twisted knighthood. They trade
their sanity for this honor, stepping halfway
into a world of swirling madness. This makes
Berserkers the greatest of their tribe, though
as time passes, the chaos spreads. The rare
Berserker that lives more than a few years becomes horrible and twisted, growing horns or
an extra arm with which to grasp the iron
cleavers they favor in battle. Instinct : To
rage
Fly into a frenzy
Unleash chaos
Orc Breaker Solitary, Large
Massive hammer (d10+3 damage ignores
armor) 16 HP 0 Armor
Orc Shaman Solitary, Intelligent,

Organized
Flame (d10 damage ignores armor) 12 HP
0 Armor
Close, Reach, Near, Far
Special Qualities: Elemental power
The orcs are as old a race as any. They cast
bones in the dirt and called to the gods in the
trees and stone as the elves built their rst cities.
They have waged wars, conquered kingdoms,
and fallen into corruption in the aeons it took
for men to crawl from their caves and dwarves
to rst see the light of the sun. Fitting, then,
that the old ways still hold. They summon the
powers of the world to work, to ght and to
protect their people, as they have since the rst
nights. Instinct : To strengthen orc-kind
Give protection of earth

Give power of re
Give swiftness of water
Give clarity of air

Before you set out across the hordeland, brave
sir, hark a moment to the tale of Sir Regnus.
Regnus was like you, sira Paladin of the Order, all a-shine in his armored plate and with
a shield as tall as a man. Proud he was of
it, tooMirrorshield, he called himself. Tale
goes that hed set his eyes on rescuing some lost
priest, a kidnap from the abbey on the borders.
Regnus came across some orcs in his travels, a
dozen or so, and thought, as one might, that
theyd be no match. Battle was joined and all
was well until one of them orcs emerged from
the fray with a hammer bigger than any man
ought to be able to wield. Built more like an
ogre or a troll, they say it was, and with a single
swing, it crushed Regnus to the ground, shield
and all. It were no ordinary orc, they say. It
were a breaker. They cant make plate of their
own, see, so maybe its jealousy drives these
burly things to crush and shatter the way they
do. Effective tactic, though. Careful out there.
Instinct : To smash
Orc Slaver Horde, Stealthy, Intelligent, Organized

Whip (d6 damage) 3 HP 0 Armor
Destroy armor or protection

Lay low the mighty
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Shadow cloak
Close, Reach
Red sails y in the southern sea. Red sails and
ships of bone, old wood and iron. The war eet
of the horde. Orcs down that way have taken
to the sea, harassing island towns and stealing
away with shermen and their kin. Its said the
custom is spreading north and the orcs learn
the value of free work. Taken to it like a sacred
taskespecially if they can get their hands on
elves. Hard to think of a grimmer fate than to
live out your life under a lash in an orcish st.
Instinct : To take
Take a captive
Pin someone under a net
Drug them
Orc Shadowhunter Solitary, Stealthy,
Magical, Intelligent
Poisoned dagger (d10 damage 1 piercing)
10 HP 0 Armor
Orc One-Eye Group, Divine, Magical,

Intelligent, Organized
In ict Wounds (d8+2 damage ignores armor) 6 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach, Near, Far
83
Ravenous Hordes
Not every attack by orcs is torches and screaming and enslavement. Amongst those who follow He Of Riven Sight, poison and murder-inthe-dark are considered sacred arts. Enter the
shadowhunter. Orcs cloaked in Nights magic
who slip into camps, towns and temples and
end the lives of those within. Do not be so distractedbythehowlingoftheberserkersthatyou
do not notice the knife at your back. Instinct :
To kill in darkness
Poison them
Melt into the shadows
Cloak them in darkness
Orc Warchief Solitary, Intelligent,
Organized
Iron Sword of Ages (2d10b+2 damage) 16
HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: One-Eye blessings, Shaman blessings
There are chiefs and there are leaders of the
tribes among the orcs. There are those who rise
to seize power and fall under the machinations
of their foes. There is but one Warchief. One
orc in all the horde who stands above the rest,
bearing the blessings of the One-Eyes and the
Shamans both. Who walks with the elements
underNight. WhobearstheIronSwordofAges
and carries the ancient grudge against the civil
races on his shoulders. The warchief is to be
respected, to be obeyed and above all else, to be
feared. All glory to the Warchief. Instinct :
To lead
Start a war
Make a show of power
Enrage the tribes
Triton Spy Solitary, Stealthy, Intelligent, Organized
Trident (2d10w damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close, Near
Special Qualities: Aquatic
A shing village caught one in their net, some
time ago. Part a man and part some scaly sea
creature, it spoke in a broken, spy-learned form
of the common tongue before it suffocated in
the open air. It told the shermen of a coming
tide, an inescapable swell of the power of some
deep-sea god and that the triton empire would
rise up and drag the land down into the ocean.
The tale spread and now, when shermen sail
the choppy seas, they watch and worry that the
dying tritons tales were true. That there are
powers deep below that watch and wait. They
fear the tide is coming in. Instinct : To spy on
the surface world
Reveal their secrets
Strike at weakness
Triton Tidecaller Group, Divine,
Magical, Intelligent
Wave (d8+2 damage ignores armor) 6 HP
2 Armor
Near, Far
Special Qualities: Aquatic, Mutations
84
Part priest, part outcast among their kind,

the tidecaller speaks with the voice of the
deeps. They can be known by their mutationstransparent skin, perhaps, or rows of
teeth like a shark. Glowing eyes or ngertips,
angler-lights in the darkness of their underwater kingdom. They speak in strange tongue
that can call and command creatures of the sea.
They ride wild hippocampi and cast strange
spellsthatrotthroughthewoodendecksofships
or encrust them with barnacles heavy enough
to sink. It is the tidecallers who come, now,
back to the cities of the Triton, bearing word
that the prophecy is coming to pass. The world
of men will drown in icy brine. The tidecallers
speak and the Lords begin to listen. Instinct :
To bring on The Flood
Cast a spell of water and destruction
Command beasts of the sea
Reveal divine commands
Triton Sub-Mariner Group, Organized Intelligent
Harpoon (2d8b damage) 6 HP 3 Armor
Close, Near, Far
The Triton are not a militant race by nature.
They shy away from battle except when the
sahuagin attack, and only then do they defend
themselves and retreat into the depths where
their foes cant follow. This trend begins to
change. As the tidecallers come to rally their
people, some Triton men and women take up
arms. They call these generals sub-mariners
and build for them armor of shells and hardened glass. They swim in formation, wielding
pikes and harpoons and attack the crews of
ships that wander too far from port. Watch
for their pennants of kelp on the horizon and
the conch-cry of a call to battle and keep, if you
can, your boats near shore. Instinct : To wage
war
Lead Tritons to battle
Pull them beneath the waves
Triton Noble Group, Organized, Intelligent
Trident (d8 damage) 6 HP 2 Armor
Close, Near, Far
The Triton Ruling Houses were chosen, they
say, at the dawn of time. Granted lordship over
all the races of the sea by some now-forgotten
god. These bloodlines continue, passing rulership from father to daughter and mother to son
through the ages. Each is allowed to rule their
city in whatever way they choosesome alone
or with their spouses, others in council of brothers and sisters. In ages past, they were known
fortheirsagacityandbloodlinesofeven-temper
were respected above all else. The tidecallers
prophecy is changing that: Nobles are expected
to be strong, not wise. The Nobles have begun
to respond, and it is feared by some that the
ancient blood is changing forever. It may be
too late to turn back. Time and tide wait for
none. Instinct : To lead
Stir tritons to war
Call reinforcements
Twisted Experiments
32
Twisted
Experiments
Bulette Solitary, Huge, Construct

Armor
Close, Forceful
A seasoned caravan guard learns to listen for
the calls of a scout or sentry with a keen ear. A
few extra seconds after the alarm is raised can
mean life or death. Different cries mean different responses, tooa call of orcs! means
draw your sword and steady for blood but a
call of bandits! says you might be able to bargain. One alarm from the scouts that always,
always means its time to pack up, whip your
horse and run for the hills? LAND SHARK!
Instinct : To devour
Drag prey into rough tunnels
Swallow whole
Chimera Solitary, Large, Construct
Reach
Well known and categorized, the chimera is
a perfected creature. From the codices of the
Mages Guild to the famous pages of Cullainas
Creature Compendium, theres no confusion
aboutwhatChimerameans. Twopartslioness,
one part serpent, head of a she-goat, and all the
viciousmagiconecanmuster. Theactualritual
might vary, as might a detail or twomore
creative sorcerers switch the ame breath for
acid, perhaps. Used as a guardian, an assassin
or merely an instrument of chaos unchained,
it matters little. The chimera is the worst sort
of abomination: an intentional affront to all
natural life. Instinct : To do as commanded
Belch forth ame
Run them over
Poison them
Derro Horde, Devious, Intelligent,
Organized
Pickaxe (2d6w damage) 3 HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Telepathy
Its typical to think that all the malignant arcanemonstersmadeinthisworldarebirthedby
wizards, sorcerers, and their ilk. That the colleges and towers of Dungeon World are womb
to every bleak experiment. There are mistakes
made in the depths of the earth, too. These ones,
the Derro, are the mistakes of a long-forgotten
dwarven alchemist. The derro dont forget,
though. Twisted and hateful, the Derro can
be spotted by their swollen skulls, brain-matter
grown too large. They do not speak except in
thoughts to one another and plot in the silent
dark to extract sweetest revengethat of the
created on the creator. Instinct : To replace
dwarves
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Digest acid secretion
Its okay, magical experimentation is a messy
science. For every beautiful pegasus theres a
half-done creature that wasnt quite right. We
understand. The goblin-elephant you thought
was such a great idea. The Gelatinous Drake.
Just examples. No judgement here. Anyway,
weve got something for that. We call it the
Digester. Yes, just like it sounds. Strange looking, I know, and the smell isnt the best, but this
thingitll eat magic like Svenloff the Stout
drinks ale. Next time one of these unfortunate
accidents occurs, just point the Digester at it
and all your troubles drain away. Just keep an
eye on it. Damn thing ate my wand last week.
Instinct : To digest
Eat away at something
Draw sustenance
Ethereal Filcher Solitary, Devious,
Planar
Stolen dagger (2d8w damage) 12 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Things go missing. A sock, a silver spoon, your
dead mothers bones. We blame the maid, or
bad luck, or just a moment of stupid forgetfulness and we move on. We never get to see
the real cause of these problems. The spidery
thing with human hands and eyes as blue as the
deep ethereal from whence the creature comes.
We never see the nest it makes of astral silver
webbing and stolen objects arranged in some
madness pattern. We never watch it assemble its collection of hal ing nger-bones, stolen
from the hands of the sleeping. Were lucky,
that way. Instinct : To steal
Take something important to its planar lair
Retreat to the Ethereal plane
Use an item from its lair
Ettin Solitary, Large, Construct
Special Qualities: Two heads
What could possibly be better than an idiotic
angry hill giant? One with two heads. Fantastic idea, really. Grade A stuff. Instinct : To
smash
Attack two enemies at once
Defend its creator
Girallon Solitary, Huge
Rend (d10+5 damage) 20 HP 1 Armor
Reach, Forceful
Special Qualities: Many arms
Fill a mind with foreign thoughts

Take control of a beasts mind
Digester Solitary, Large, Construct
Acid (d10+1 damage ignores armor) 16 HP
1 Armor
85
Twisted Experiments
The pounding of the jungle drums calls to it.
The slab of meat on the sacri cial stone to lure
in the Great Ape. Girallon, they call ita name
fromthelong-forgottentongueofthekingswho
bred the beast. Taller than a building, some
say. Cloaked in ivory fur with tusks as long
as scimitars. Four arms? Six? The rumors
are hard to verify. Every year it is the same:
some explorer visits the jungle villages seeking
the Ape and return, never quite the same, never
with a trophy. The pounding of the drums goes
on. Instinct : To rule
Answer the call of sacri ce
Drive them from the jungle
Throw someone
Iron Golem Group, Large, Construct
Special Qualities: Metal
A staple of the enchanters art. Every golemist
and mechano-thaumaturge in the Kingdoms
knows this. Iron is a misnomer, though. These
guardians are crafted of any metal, really.
Steel, copper, or even gold, in some small cases.
As much an art as a science, the crafting of
a ne golem is as respected in the Kingdoms
as a bridge newly built or a castle erected in
the mountains. Unceasing watchdogs, stalwart defenders, the iron golem lives to serve,
following its orders eternally. Any enchanter
worth his salt can craft one, if he can afford the
materials. If not . . . Instinct : To serve
Follow orders implacably
Use a special tool or adaptation builtin
Flesh Golem Horde
Claw (d6+2 damage) 3 HP 0 Armor
Close, Forceful
Special Qualities: Many body parts
Stolen bits and pieces in the night. Graveyards
stealthily uprooted and maybe tonight an arm.
A leg. Another head (the last one came apart
too soon). Even the humblest hedge-enchanter
can make due with what he can and, with a
little creativity, wellits not only the College
that can make life, hmm? Well show them.
Instinct : To live
Follow orders
Detach a body part
Kraken Solitary, Huge
Reach, Forceful
A cephalo-what? No, boy. Not a kraken

but the kraken. I dont know what nonsense
they taught you at that school you say youre
from, but here, we know to respect the Hungerer. Right, thats what we call it, The Hungerer in the Deep to be more proper. Aint no
god, though weve got those, too. Its a squid!
A mighty squid with tentacles thicker round
than a barrel and eyes the size of the full moon.
Smart, too, the Hungerer. Knows just when to
strikewhen youre all too drunk or too tired
or run out of clean water, thats when he gets
you. No, I aint ever seen him. Im alive, arent
I? Instinct : To rule the ocean
Drag a person or ship to a watery
grave
Wrap them in tentacles
Manticore Solitary, Large, Construct
Sting (d10+1 damage 1 piercing) 16 HP 3
Armor
Close, Reach, Messy
If the chimera is the rst step down a dark path,
the manticore is a door that cant be closed
once its been opened. A lion, a scorpion, the
wings of a drake. All dif cult to obtain but
not impossible and just animals, anyway. The
last component, the hissing hateful face of the
beast, is the ingredient that makes a manticore
so cruel. Young or old, man or woman, it
matters not but that they are human, living
and breathing, married to the creature with
twisted magic. All sense of who they are is lost,
and maybe thats a blessing, but the beast is
born from human suffering. No wonder, then,
that theyre all so eager to kill. Instinct : To
kill
Poison them
Rip something apart
Owlbear Solitary, Construct
Claw (d10 damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close
Body of a bear. Feathers of an owl. Beak, claws,
and excellent night vision. Whats not to love?
Instinct : To hunt
Strike from darkness
Pegasus Group, Construct
Stomp (d8 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close
Dont go thinking that every creature not
natural-born is a horrible abomination. Dont
imagine for a second that theyre all tentacles
and screaming and blood or whatever. Take
this noble beast, for example. Lovely thing, isnt it? A ne white horse with the wings of a
swan. Dont look like it ought to be able to y,
but it does. The elves work miracles, in their
own way. They breed truethats the purity of
elf-magic at work. Hatching from little crystal eggs and bonded with their riders for life.
Theres still some beauty in the world, mark
my words. Instinct : To carry aloft
Carry a rider into the air
86
Give their rider an advantage

Rust Monster Group, Construct
Corrode (d8 damage ignores armor) 6 HP
3 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Corrosive touch
A very distinctive-looking creature. Something
like a reddish cricket, I think. Long crickety legs,
anyhow. Blind, too, as I understand itthey
feel their way around with those long mothlooking tendrils. Feed that way, too. Sift
through piles of metal for the choicest bits.
Thats what they eat, dont matter the type,
neither. Their merest touch turns it all to
rusted akes. Magic lasts longer but under
the scrutiny of a rust monster, its a foregone
conclusion. Only the gods know where they
came from, but theyre a curse if you value your
belongings. Instinct : To decay
Turn metal to rust
Gain strength from consuming metal
Xorn Solitary, Large, Construct
Maw (d10 damage) 12 HP 2 Armor
Close, Reach
Dwarf-made elemental garbage muncher.
Shaped like a trash bin with a radius of arms
to feed excess rock and stone into its gaping
maw. They eat stone and excrete light and
heat. Perfect for operating a mine or digging
out a quarry. Once one gets lost in the sewers
below a city, though, or in the foundation of a
castle? Youre in deep trouble. Theyll eat and
eat until youve got nothing left but to collapse
the place down on it and move somewhere else.
Ask Burrin, Son of Fjornnvald, exile from his
clan. I bet he could tell you a story about a
Xorn. Instinct : To eat
Consume stone
Give off a burst of light and heat
Lower Depths
33
Lower
Depths
Aboleth Group, Huge, Intelligent

Tentacle (d8+3 damage) 18 HP 0 Armor
Reach
Special Qualities: Telepathy
Deepbelowthesurfaceoftheworld, infreshwater seas untouched by the sun dwell the aboleth.
Fish the size of whales, with strange growths
of gelatinous feelers used to probe the lightless shores. Theyre served by slaves; blind albino victims of any race unfortunate enough to
stumble on them, drained of thought and life
by the powers of the aboleths alien mind. In
the depths they bid and plot against each other,
shy cultists building and digging upward towards the surface until someday, theyll breach
it. For now, they sleep and dream and guide
their pallid minions to do their bidding. Instinct : To command
Let us, for a moment, consider the lobster. This

one is your worst seafood nightmare come to
life. A sort of vicious, half-man half-crawdad
cursed with primal intelligence and blessed
with a pair of razor-sharp claws. Strange
things lurk in the stinking pools in caverns best
forgotten and the Chuul is one of them. If you
spot one, your best hope is a heavy mace to
crack its shell and maybe a little garlic butter.
Mmmm. Instinct : To split
Split something in two with mighty
claws
Retreat into water
Deep Elf Assassin Group, Intelligent, Organized
Poisoned blade (d8 damage 1 piercing) 6
HP 1 Armor
Close
It was not so simple a thing as a war over religion or territory. No disagreement of Queens
led to the great sundering of the elves. It was
Apocalypse Dragon Solitary, Huge, sadness. It was the very diminishing of the
Magical, Divine
world by the lesser races and the glory of all
Bite (2d10b+9 damage 4 piercing) 26 HP the elves had built was cracking and turning
to glass. Some, then, chose to separate them5 Armor
selves from the world; wracked with tears they
Reach, Forceful, Messy
Special Qualities: Inch-thick metal turned their backs on men and dwarves. Othhide, Supernaturalknowledge, Wings ers, though, they were overcome with something new. A feeling no elf had felt before. Spite.
The end of all things shall be a burningof tree
Hatred lled these elves and twisted them and
and earth and of the air itself. It shall come
they turned on their weaker cousins. Some still
upon the plains and mountains not from beremain after the great exodus below. Some hide
yond this world but from within it. Birthed
amongst us with spider-poisoned blades, metfrom the womb of deepest earth shall come the
ing out that strangest of punishments: elven
Dragon that Will End the World. In its passvengeance. Instinct : To spite
ing all will become ash and bile and the earth
a dying thing will drift through planar space Poison them
devoid of life. They say to worship it is to invite Unleash an ancient spell
madness. They say to love it is to know obliv- Call reinforcements
ion. The awakening is coming. Instinct : To
end the world
Deep Elf Swordmaster Group, Intelligent, Organized
Set a disaster in motion
Barbed blade (2d8b+2 damage 1 pierc Breath forth the elements
ing) 6 HP 2 Armor
Act with perfect knowledge
Invade a mind
Turn minions on them
Put a plan in motion
Chaos Spawn Solitary, Gibbous

Chaotic touch (d10 damage) 19 HP 1 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Chaos form
Driven from the city, a cultist nds solace in
towns and villages. Discovered there, he ees
to the hills and scratches his devotion on the
cave walls. Found out, he is chased with knife
and torch into the depths, crawling deeper and
deeper until, in the deepest places, he loses his
way. First, he forgets his name. Then he forgets
his shape. His chaos gods, most beloved, bless
him with a new one. Instinct : To undermine
Rewrite reality
Unleash chaos from containment
Chuul Group, Large, Cautious
Claws (d8+1 damage 3 piercing) 10 HP 4
Armor
Close, Reach, Messy
Close
The deep elves lost the sweetness and gentle
peace of their bright cousins ages ago but did
not abandon grace. They move with a swiftness and beauty that would bring a tear to any
warriors eye. In the dark, theyve practiced. A
cruelty has infested their swordsmanshipa
wickedness comes to the fore. Barbed blades
and whips replace the shining pennant-spears
of surface elven battles. The swordmasters of
the deep elf clans do not merely seek to kill,
but to punish with every stroke of their blades.
Wickedness and pain are their currency. Instinct : To punish
In ict pain beyond measure

Use the dark to advantage
Deep Elf Priest Solitary, Divine, Intelligent, Organized
Smite (d10+2 damage) 14 HP 0 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Divine connection
87
Lower Depths
The spirits of the trees and the lady sunlight
are far far from home in the depths where the
deep elves dwell. New gods were found, there,
waiting for their children to come home. Gods
ofthespiders, thefungalforests, andthingsthat
whisper in the forbidden caves. The deep elves,
ever attuned to the world around them, listened
with hateful intent to their new gods and found
a source of power yet unrealized. Hate calls
to hate and grim alliances were made. Even
among these spiteful ranks, piety nds a way
to express itself. Instinct : To pass on divine
vengeance
Weave spells of hatred and malice
Rally the deep elves
Pass on divine knowledge
Dragon Solitary, Huge, Terrifying,
Cautious, Hoarder
Bite (2d10b+5 damage 4 piercing) 16 HP
5 Armor
Reach, Messy
SpecialQualities: Elementalblood,
Wings
They are the greatest and most terrible things
this world will ever have to offer. Instinct : To
rule
Bend an element to its will
Demand tribute
Act with disdain
Gray Render Solitary, Large
Rend (d10+3 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
On its own, the render is a force of utter destruction. Huge and leathery, with a maw
of unbreakable teeth and claws to match, the
render seems to enjoy little more than tearing
things apart. Stone, esh, or steel, it matters
little. However, the gray render is so rarely
found alone. They bond with other creatures.
Some at birth, others as fully-grown creatures,
and will follow their bonded master wherever
it goes, bringing them offerings of meat and
protecting them while they sleep. Finding an
un-bonded render means certain riches, if you
survive to sell it. Instinct : To serve
Tear something apart
Magmin Horde, Intelligent, Organized, Hoarder
Flaming hammer (d6+2 damage) 7 HP 4
Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Firey blood
Dwarf-shaped and industrious, the magmin

are among the deepest-dwellers of Dungeon
World. Found in cities of brass and obsidian
built nearest the molten core of the planet, the
magmin live a life devoted to craftespecially
thatof reandmagicalitemsrelatedtoit. Surly
and strange, they do not often deign to speak to
petitionerswhoappearattheirgates, eventhose
who have somehow found a way to survive the
hellish heat. Even so, they respect little more
than a nely made item and to learn to forge
from a magmin craftsman means unlocking
secrets unknown to surface blacksmiths. Like
so much else, visiting the magmin is a game of
risk and reward. Instinct : To craft
Offer a trade or deal
Strike with re or magic
Provide just the right item, at a price
The excavation uncovered a basalt gate, the reports called it. Black stone carved with molten
runes. When they dug it up, the magi declared
it inert but further evidence indicates that was
an incorrect claim. The entire team went missing. When we arrived, the gate was glowing.
Its light lled the whole cavern. We could see
from the entrance that the area had become full
of these creatureslike red and orange skinned
men, tall as an ogre but with a snakes tail where
there legs ought to be. They were clothed, too
some had black glass armor. They spoke to
each other in a tongue that sounded like grease
in a re. I wanted to leave but the Sergeant
wouldntlisten. Youvealreadyreadwhathappened next, sir. I know Im the only one that
got back, but what I said is true. The gate is
open, now. This is just the beginning! Instinct
: To consume in ame
Minotaur Solitary, Large

Axe (d10+1 damage) 16 HP 1 Armor
Summon elemental re
Melt away deception
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Unerring sense
of direction
Head of a man, body of a bull. No, wait, Ive
got that backwards. Its the bulls head and
the mans body. Hooves sometimes? Is that
right? I remember the old King said something
about a maze? Blast! You know I cant think
under this kind of pressure. What was that?
Oh gods, I think its coming . . . Instinct : To
contain
Confuse them
Make them lost
Naga Solitary, Intelligent, Organized, Hoarder, Magical
Close, Reach
Ambitious and territorial above nearly all else,
the naga are very rarely found without a wellformed and insidious cult of followers. Youll
see it in many mountain townsa snake sigil
scrawled on a tavern wall or a local church
burned to the ground. People going missing
into the mines. Men and women wearing the
mark of the serpent. At the core of it all lies
a naga; an old race now fallen into obscurity,
still preening with the head of a man over its
coiled, serpent body. Variations of these creatures exist depending on their bloodline and
original purpose, but they are all master manipulators and magical forces to be reckoned
with. Instinct : To lead
Send a follower to their death
Use old magic
Offer a deal or bargain
Salamander Horde, Large, Intelligent, Organized, Planar
Flaming spear (2d6b+3 damage) 7 HP 3
Armor
Close, Reach, Near
88
Planar Powers
34
Planar
Powers
Angel Solitary, Terrifying, Divine, Intelligent, Organized

Flame sword (2d10b+4 damage ignores
armor) 18 HP 4 Armor
Close, Forceful
So was it written that the heavens opened up
to Avrahal and did an angel from the clouds
emerge to speak unto her and so did it appear
to her as her rstborn daughterbeautiful, of
ebon skin and golden eyesand did Avrahal
cry tears to see it. Be not afraid it commanded
her go to the villages I have shown you in your
dreams and unto them show the word I have
written on your soul. Avrahal wept and wept
and did agree to do this and did take up her
sword and tome and did into the villages go, a
great thirst for blood on her lips for the word
the angel wrote upon the soul of Avrahal was
kill. Instinct : To share divine will
Deliver visions and prophecy
Stir mortals to action
Expose sin and injustice
Barbed Devil Solitary, Large, Planar,
Terrifying
Spine (d10+3 damage 3 piercing) 16 HP 3
Armor
Close, Reach, Messy
Special Qualities: Spines
There are a thousand forms of devil, maybe
more. Some common and some unique. Each
time the Inquisitors discover a new one they
write it into the codex and the knowledge is
shared among the abbeys in the hope that the
atrocitiesofthatparticularsortwont ndtheir
way into the world again. The barbed devil has
long been known to the brothers and sisters of
the inquisition. A literal thing, it appears only
at a site of great violence or when called by a
wayward summoner. Covered in sharp quills,
this particular demon revels in the spilling of
blood, being speci cally fond of impaling victims piecemeal or in whole upon its thorns and
letting them die there. Cruel but not particularly effective beyond slaughter. A low inquisitorial priority. Instinct : To bloody
Impale someone
Kill randomly
Chain Devil Solitary, Planar
Crush (d10 damage ignores armor) 12 HP
3 Armor
Close, Reach
Do you think the phrase drag him to hell
means nothing? It is unfortunately literal, in
the case of the chain devil. Appearing differently to each victim, this summoned creature
has but a single purpose: to wrap its victim up
in binding coils and take it away to a place of
torment. Sometimes it will come as a manshaped mass of rusting iron, hooks and coils of
mismatched links. Other times, a roiling tangle of rope or kelp or twisted bloody bedsheets.
The results are always the same. Instinct : To
capture
Take a captive
Return to whence it came

Torture with glee
Concept Elemental Solitary, Devious, Planar, Gibbous
Special Qualities: Ideal form
The planes are not as literal as our world.
Clothed in the elemental chaos are places of
stranger stuff than air and water. Here,
rivers of time crash upon shores of crystal fear.
Bleak storms of nightmare roil and churn in
a laughter-bright sky. Sometimes, the spirits of these places can be lured into our world,
though they are in nitely more unpredictable
and strange than mere re or earth might be.
Easier to make mistakes, tooone might try
calling up a Wealth Elemental and be surprised
to nd a Murder Elemental instead. Instinct
: To perfect its concept
Show its concept in its purest form
Corrupter Solitary, Devious, Planar,
Hoarder
Secret dagger (2d8w damage) 12 HP 0
Armor
Close
Surely, my good man, you must know why I am
here. MustknowwhoIam. Yousaidthewords.
You spilled the blood and followed the instructions almost to the letter. Your pronunciation
was a bit off but thats to be expected. Ive
come to give you what youve always wanted,
friend. Glory, love, money? Paltrythingswhen
youve the vaults of hell to plumb. Dont look
so shocked, you knew what this was. You have
but one thing we desire. Promise it to us, and
the world shall be yours for the taking. Trust
me. Instinct : To bargain
Offer a deal with horrible consequences
Plumb the vaults of hell for a bargaining chip
Make a show of power
Djinn Group, Large, Magical
Flame (d8+1 damage ignores armor) 14
HP 4 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Made of ame
Stop rubbing that lamp, you idiot. I do not
care what you have read, it will not grant you
wishes. I brought you here to show you something real, something true. See this mural? It
shows the ancient city. The true city that came
before. They called it Majilis and it was made
of brass by the spirits. They had golem servants
and human lovers and, in that day, it was said
you could trade them a year of your life for a
favor. We are not here to gather treasure this
night, fool, we are here to learn. The djinn still
sometimes come to these places, and you must
understand their history if you are to know how
to behave. They are powerful and wicked and
proud and you must know them if you hope to
survive a summoning. Now, bring the lamp
here and we will light it, it grows dark and
these ruins are dangerous at night. Instinct :
To burn eternally
89
Planar Powers
Grant power for a price
Summon the forces of the City of
Brass
Hell Hound Group, Planar, Organized
Fiery Bite (d8 damage) 10 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Hide of shadow
When one reneges on a deal, does not the debtor
come for payment? Does the owed party not
send someone to collect what is due? So too
with the Powers Below. They only want what
istheirs. Ahowlingpackofshadows, ameand
jagged bone, driven by the hunting horn. They
will not cease, they cannot be evaded. Instinct
: To pursue
Follow despite all obstacles
Spew re
Summon the forces of hell on their
target
Imp Horde, Planar, Intelligent, Organized
Flame gout (d6 damage ignores armor) 7
HP 1 Armor
Close, Near, Far
These tiny observer-demons often act as a rsttime binding subject by neonate warlocks. They
can be found infesting arcane cabals, drinking
potions when no-one watches, and chasing pets
and servants with tiny pitchforks. A caricature
of true demonhood, these little creatures are,
thankfully, not too dif cult to bind or extinguish. Instinct : To harass
Send information back to hell
Cause mischief
Inevitable Group, Large, Magical,
Cautious, Gibbous, Planar
Hammer (d8+1 damage) 21 HP 5 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Made of Order
All things come to an end. Entropy bleeds
reality slowly out. At the edge of time itself
stand the Inevitable. Massive, powerful and
seemingly carved from star-stuff themselves,
the Inevitable intervene only where magic or
calamity have undone the skein of fate. Where
the arrogant and powerful boil the substance
of destiny away and seek to undermine the very
laws of reality, the Inevitable arrive to guide
things back to the proper order. Unshakable,
seemingly immune to mortal harm and utterly
enigmatic, it is said that the Inevitable are all
that will remain when times long thread has
run out. Instinct : To preserve order
End a spell or effect
Enforce a law of nature or man
Give a glimpse of destiny
Larvae Horde, Devious, Planar, Intelligent
Slime (2d4w damage) 10 HP 0 Armor
Close
90
Those who have seen visions of the Planes Below, and survived with their sanity intact,
speak of masses of these writhing wretches.
Maggots with the face of men and women,
crying out for salvation in a nest of ames.
Sometimes, they can be goaded out through
a rip in the planar caul and emerge, wriggling
and in torment, into our world. Once here, they
spread misery and sickness during their may y
lives before expiring into a slurry of gore. All in
all, an inspiration towards good deeds in life.
Instinct : To suffer
Fill them with despair
Beg for mercy
Draw evil attention
Nightmare Horde, Large, Magical,
Terrifying, Planar
Trample (d6+1 damage) 7 HP 4 Armor
Close, Reach
Special Qualities: Flameandshadow
The herd came from a pact made in the days
when folk still inhabited the Blasted Steppes.
Horselords, they were, who travelled those
lands. Born in the saddle, it was said. One
of theirs, in a bid to dominate his peers, made
a black pact with some fell power and traded
away his nest horses. He had some power,
surebut whats a thousand year dynasty
when a life is so short? Now the ends of
the pit ride on the nest horses ever seen. Coats
of shining oil and manes of tormented ame:
these are steeds of hells cavalry. Instinct : To
ride rampant
Sheath a rider in hellish ame
Drive them away
Quasit Horde, Planar
Hellish weaponry (d6 damage) 7 HP 2 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Adaptable form
An imp with some ambition. A quasit is a
kind of foot soldier in the demon realm. A
commoner, armedwithfangsorclawsorwings
or some other thing to give it just a little edge
over its hellish peers. Commonly bound by
warlocks to carry heavy loads or build bridges
or guard their twisted towers, a quasit can take
many forms, none of them pleasant. Instinct
: To serve
Attack with abandon
In ict pain
The Tarrasque Solitary, Huge, Planar
Special Qualities: Impervious
TheTarrasque. Legendaryunstoppablejuggernauteater of cities and swallower of ships,

horses, and knights. A creature unseen in an
age but about whom all kinds of stories are told.
One thread of truth weaves through these stories. It cannot be killed. No blade can pierce its
stonyshellnorspellpenetratetheshielditsomehow bears. Stories say, though, that the will
of one pure soul can send it to slumber, though
what that means and, by the gods, where such
a thing might be found, pray we do not ever
need to learn. It slumbers. Somewhere in the
periphery of the planar edge, it sleeps for now.
Instinct : To consume
Swallow a person, group, or place
whole
Release a remnant of a long-eaten
place from its gullet
Word Daemon Solitary, Planar, Magical
All of mortal magic is just words. Spells are
prayers, roteformula, runescast, orsongssung.
Letters, words, sentences, and syntax strung
together in a language that the whole world
itself might understand. By way of words we
can make our fellows cry or exult, can paint
pictures and whisper desire to the gods. No
little wonder, then, that in all that power is
intent. That every word we utter, if repeated
and meaning or emotion given to it, can spark a
kind of unintentional summoning. Word daemons are called by accident, appear at random
and are often short-lived, but come to attend
a particular word. Capricious, unpredictable
and dangerous, yesbut possibly useful, depending on the word. Instinct : To further
their word
Cast a spell related to their word
bring their word into abundance
Folk of the Realm
35
Folk of
the Realm
Acolyte
Cant all be the High Priest, they said. Cant
all wield the White Spire, they said. Scrub the
oor, they told me. The Cthonic Overgod dont
want a messy oor, do he? They said itd be
enlightenment and magic. Feh. Its bruised
knees and dish-pan-hands. If only Id been a
cleric, instead. Instinct : To serve dutifully
Follow dogma
Offer eternal reward for mortal deeds
Adventurer Horde, Intelligent
Sword (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
Special Qualities: Endless enthusiasm
Scumoftheearth, theyare. Atroupeofarmored
men and women come sauntering into town,
brandishing what, for all intents and purposes,
is enough magical and mundane power to level
the whole place. Bringing with them bags and
bags of loot, still dripping blood from whatever poor sod they had to kill to get it. An
economical asco waiting to happen, if you
ask me. The whole system becomes completely
uprooted. Dangerous, unpredictable murderhobos. Oh, wait, youre an adventurer? I take
itallback. Instinct: Toadventureordietrying
Go on a fools errand
Act impulsively
Share tales of past exploits
Bandit Horde, Intelligent, Organized
Dirk (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
Desperation is the watchword of banditry.
When times are tough, what else is there to do
but scavenge a weapon and take up with a clan
of nasty men and women? Highway robbery,
poaching, scams and cons and murder most
foul but weve all got to eat so who can blame
them? Then again, theres evil in the hearts of
some and whos to say that desperation isnt a
want to sate ones baser lusts? Anywayits
this or starve, sometimes. Instinct : To rob
Steal something
Demand tribute
Bandit King Solitary, Intelligent, Organized
Trusty knife (2d10b damage) 12 HP 1 Armor
Close
Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven. Instinct : To lead
Make a demand
Extort
Topple power
TheresnotbutonepersoninalltheKingscourt
allowed to speak the truth. The real, straightand-honest truth about anything. The Fool
couches it all in bells and prancing and chalky
face-paint, but who else gets to tell the King
whats what? You can trust a Fool, they say,
especially when hes made you red-faced and
youd just as soon drown him in a cesspit. Instinct : To mock
Expose injustice
Play a trick
Guardsman Group, Intelligent, Organized
Close, Reach
Noble protector or merely drunken lout, it often
makes no difference to these sorts. Falling just
shy of a noble Knight, the proud town guard
is an ancient profession none-the-less. These
folks of the constabulary often dress in the colors of their lord (when you can see it under the
mud) and, depending on the richness of that
lord, might even have a decent weapon and
some armor that ts. Those are the lucky ones.
Even so, someone has to be there keep an eye
on the gate when the Black Riders have been
spotted in the woods. Too many of us owe our
lives to these soulsremember that the next
time one is drunkenly insulting your mother,
hmm? Instinct : To do as ordered
Uphold the law at all costs
Make a pro t
Halfling Thief Solitary, Small, Intelligent, Stealthy, Devious
Dagger (2d8w damage) 12 HP 1 Armor
Close
It would be foolish, now, to draw conclusions
about folks just because they happen to be good
at one thing or another. Then again, a spades
a spade, isnt it. Or maybe just the goodly,
soft-and-sweet type of Hal ing have the mind
to stay in their grassy-hill homes and arent
the type you nd in the slums and taverns of
the mannish world . Perhaps theyre there to
cut your purse for calling them hal ng in the
rst place. Not all take so kindly to the title.
Or theyre playing a game, pretending to be
a child in need of almsand your arrogant
eyes cant even see the difference until too late.
Well, it matters little. Theyre gone with your
coin before you even realize you deserved it.
Instinct : To live a life of stolen luxury
Steal
Put on the appearance of friendship
Hedge Wizard Magical
Fool
91
Folk of the Realm

Not all those who wield the arcane arts are
adventuring Wizards. Nor necromancers in
mausoleums or sorcerers of ancient bloodline.
Some are just old men and women, smart
enough to have discovered a trick or two. It
might make them a bit batty to come by that
knowledge, but if youve a curse to break or a
love to prove, might be that a hedge wizard will
help you, if you can nd his rotten hut in the
swamp and pay the price he asks. Instinct :
To learn
Cast almost the right spell (for a price)
Make deals beyond their ken
High Priest
Respected by all who gaze upon them, the high
priests and abbesses of Dungeon World are
treated with a sort of reverence. Whether they
pay homage to Ur-thuu-hak, God of Swords,
or whisper quiet prayers to Namiah, precious
daughterofpeace, theyknowathingortwothat
you and I, we wont ever know. The gods speak
to them as a hawker-of-wares might speak to
us in the marketplace. For this, for the bearingof-secrets and the knowing-of-things, we give
them a wide berth as they pass in their shining
robes. Instinct : To lead
Set down divine law
Reveal divine secrets
Commission divine undertakings
Hunter Group, Intelligent
Ragged bow (d6 damage) 6 HP 1 Armor
Near, Far
The wilds are home to more than just beasts
of horn and scale. There are men and women
out there, toothose who smell blood on the
wind and stalk the plains in the skins of their
prey. Whether with a trusty longbow bought
on a rare trip into the city or with a knife of
bone and sinew-made, these folk have more in
common with the things they track and make
their meals than with their own kind. Solemn,
somber and quiet, they nd a sort of peace in
the wild. Instinct : To survive
Bring back news from the wilds
Slay a beast
Knight Solitary, Intelligent, Organized, Cautious
Sword (2d10b damage) 12 HP 4 Armor
Close
What youngster doesnt cling to the rail at the
mighty joust, blinded by the sun on their glittering armor, wishing they could be the one
adorned in steel and riding to please the King
and Queen? What peasant youth with naught
but a loaf of bread and a lame sow doesnt wish
to trade it all in for the lance and the bright
pennant? A Knight is many thingsa holy
warrior, a sworn sword, a villain sometimes,
too, but a Knight cannot help but be a symbol
to all who see her. A Knight means something.
Instinct : To live by a code
Make a moral stand
Lead peasants into battle
92
Merchant
Ten foot poles. Get your ten foot poles, here.
Torches, bright and hot. Mules, toostubborn
but immaculately bred. Need a linen sack, do
you? Right over here! Come and get your ten
foot poles! Instinct : To pro t
Propose a business venture
Offer a deal
Noble
Are they granted their place by the gods, perhaps? Is that why theyre able to pass their
riches and power down by birth? Some trick or
enchantment of the blood, maybe. The peasant
bends his knee and scrapes and toils and the
noble wears the nery of his place and, they
say, we all have our burdens to bear. Seems to
me that some of us have burdens of stone and
some carry their weight in gold. Its a tough
life. Instinct : To rule
Issue an order
Offer a reward
Peasant
Covered in muck, downtrodden at the bottom
of the great chain of being, we all stand on
the backs of those that grow our food on their
farms. Some peasants do better than others,
but none will ever see a coin of gold in their
day. Theyll dream at night of how someday,
somehow, theyll ght a dragon and save a
princess. Dont act like you werent one before
you lost what little sense you had, adventurer.
Instinct : To get by
Plead for help
Offer a simple reward and gratitude
Rebel Horde, Intelligent, Organized
Axe (d6 damage) 3 HP 1 Armor
Close
In the countryside theyd be called outlaw and
driven off or killed. The city, though, is full of
places to hide. Damp basements to pore over
maps and to plan and plot against a corrupt
system. Like rats, they gnaw away at order,
eithertosupplantitaneworjusterodethewhole
thing. The line between change and chaos is a
ne onesome rebels walk that thin line and
others just want to see it all torched. Disguise,
a knife in the dark or a thrown torch at the right
moment are all tools of the rebel. The burning
brand of anarchy is a common fear amongst
the nobles of Dungeon World. These men and
women are why. Instinct : To upset order
Die for a cause
Inspire others
Soldier Horde, Intelligent, Organized
Close, Reach
For a commoner with a strong arm, sometimes

its this or be a bandit. Its wear the colors
and don ill- tting armor and march into the
unknown with a thousand other scared men
and women conscripted to ght the wars of our
time. They could be hiding out in the woods
instead, living off poached elk and dodging the
kings guard. Better to risk ones life in service to
a cause. To bravely toss ones lot in with their
fellows and hope to come out the other side still
in one piece. Besides, the nobles need strong
men and women. What is it they say? A handful of soldiers beats a mouthful of arguments.
Instinct : To ght
March into battle
Fight as one
Spy
Beloved of Kings but never truly trusted. Mysterious, secretive and alluring, the life of a spy
is, if you ask a commoner, full of romance and
intrigue. Theyre a knife in the dark and a pair
of watchful eyes. A spy can be your best friend,
your lover or that old man you see in the market every day. One never knows. Hells, maybe
youre a spythey say theres magic that can
turn folks minds without them ever knowing it.
How can we trust you? Instinct : To in ltrate
Report the truth
Double cross
Tinkerer
Its said that if you see a tinker on the road and
you dont offer him a swig of ale or some of
your food that hell leave a curse of bad luck behind. A tinker is a funny thing. These strange
folk often travel the roads between towns with
their oddment carts and favorite mules. With
a ratty dog and always a story to tell. Sometimes the mail, too, if youre lucky and live in
a place where Queens Post wont go. If youre
kind, maybe theyll sell you a rose that never
wilts or a clock that chimes with the sound of
faerie laughter. Or maybe theyre just antisocial peddlers. You never know, right? Instinct
: To create
Offer an oddity at a price
Spin tales of great danger and reward
in far-off lands
Moves in Detail
36
Moves
in Detail
Volley
Hack and Slash

Hack and Slash is for attacking a prepared enemy plain and simple. If the
enemy isnt prepared for your attackif
they dont know youre there or theyre
restrained and helplessthen thats not
Hack and Slash. You just deal your damage or murder them outright, depending
on the situation. Nasty stuff.
The enemys counter-attack can be any
GM move made directly with that creature. A goblin might just attack you back,
or they might jam a poisoned needle into
your veins. Lifes tough, isnt it?
Note that an "attack" is some action that
a player undertakes that has a chance
of causing physical harm to someone
else. Attacking a dragon with inch-thick
metal scales full of magical energy with
a typical sword is like swinging a meat
cleaver at a tank: it just isnt going to
cause any harm, so its not an attack.
Note that circumstances can change that:
if youre in a position to stab the dragon
on its soft underbelly (good luck with
getting there) it could hurt, so its an attack.
If the action that triggers the move
could reasonably hurt multiple targets
roll once and apply damage to each target (they each get their armor).
Jarl is up to his not-inconsiderable belly
in slavering goblins. They have him surrounded, knives bared. "Ive had enough of
this!" he bellows "I wallop the closest goblin
with my hammer." We agree that this is a
combat situation and Jarl rolls the dice for
Hack and Slash. He rolls an 11, so he has a
choice. "Fear is for the weak! I deal extra
damagelet the goblins come." "The goblin
you strike certainly doesnt like that much"
I say, "you smash your hammer into his
shoulder and are rewarded with the crunch
of goblin bonesand a deep knife wound
as the goblin counter-attacks. He deals 4
damage to you."
Cadeus has the drop on two orc warriorshes lurking in the shadows as the
orcs walk past. "I leap out and bring my
sword down in a sweeping arc, like this!"
he says, miming the strike. The orc wasnt
ready to ght so I say "The orc is caught
entirely off-guard and doesnt even have a
chance to raise his patchwork shield. Deal
your damage." Cadeus rolls his damage and
its enough to kill the orc. The other warrior
is still standing, so I say "The other orc freezes
in horror for a split second. Then hes smiling at you with his horrible tusked mouth as
he raises a signal horn from his belt. What
do you do?"
Bartelby has disarmed a duelist and has

him at sword point. "Im not giving this
guy another chance to attack! I run him
through." Without thinking about it carefully I say "Oh, okay, sounds like Hack and
Slash, roll+Str." Bartelby rolls and gets a
7. I try to make a move "You run him
through, hes not able to defend himself, but,
uh . . . Oh, wait, hes not really in melee with
you, is he? Hes helpless. Forget Hack and
Slash. You run him through and he slumps
to the ground coughing up blood."
Volley
Volley covers the entire act of drawing,
aiming, and ring a ranged weapon or
throwing a thrown weapon. The advantage to using a ranged weapon over melee
is that the attacker is less likely to be attacked back. Of course they do have to
worry about ammunition and getting a
clear shot though.
On a 7-9, read "danger" broadly. It can
be bad footing or ending in the path of a
sword or maybe just giving up your sweet
sniper nest to your enemies. Whatever
it is its impending and its always something that causes the GM to say "What do
you do?" Quite often, the danger will be
something that will then require you to
dedicate yourself to avoiding it or force
you to Defy Danger.
If yourethrowingsomething thatdoesnt
have ammo (maybe youve got a move
that makes your shield throwable) you
cant choose to mark off ammo. Choose
from the other two options instead.
Aranwe is on the oor of the ritualarium
as the orc eyegouger chants his ritual from
atop the pedestal. "Since Thelian has the
other orcs busy, I take the opportunity to
site down my bow and take a shot at the
orc running the ritual." "Sounds like volley
to me." She rolls an 8, plus her Dex makes 9.
"Looks like you have a tough choice" I say.
"Well, Imalmostoutofarrows, andweneed
to get rid of him before the ritual nishes, so
Im going to take the danger." "Sure, that
sounds good. Well, as the ritual progresses
the ames around him have gotten higher
and you have to move around to take the
shot. You hit him dead on, roll your damage,
but you had to step inside the ritual circle to
do it. Everything outside the circle looks
cloudy and unreal, all you can hear is the orc
chanting. Thelian, you notice that Aranwe
is inside the circle. What do you do?"
93
Defy Danger
Halek is ring on the advancing kobold mob.
He rolls an 8 and decides to be put in danger. I think for a moment and then say
"You have to duck and dodge to get the shot
but you nally let it go and nail the lead
kobold. You hear something behind you
and turn to see that youre right next to the
ogre. He smashes you with his club and
deals you 12 damage." "All that? Just for
getting put in danger? That seems like a lot
more than danger." Hes right, of course, so I
say "Oh, youre rightdangers something
thats about to happen. How about, instead,
you turn around after ring the shot and the
ogres right in your face! Hes about to swing
his club right down on you. What do you
do?"
Defy Danger
You Defy Danger when you do something in the face of impending peril. This
may seem like a catch-all. It is! Defy
Danger is for those times when it seems
like you clearly should be rolling but no
other move applies.
Defy Danger also applies when you make
another move despite danger not covered by that move. For example, Hack
and Slash assumes thats youre trading blows in battleyou dont need to
Defy Danger because of the monster
youre ghting unless theres some speci c danger that wouldnt be part of your
normal attack. On the other hand, if
youre trying to Hack and Slash while
spikes shoot from hidden traps in the
walls, youre ignoring a clear and present
threat and need to Defy Danger.
Danger, here, is anything that requires
resilience, concentration, or poise. This
move will usually be called for by the GM.
Shell tell you what the danger is as you
make the move. Something like "Youll
have to Defy Danger, rst. The danger
is the steep and icy oor youre running
across. If you can keep your footing, you
can make it to the door before the Necromancers magic gets you."
Which stat applies depends on what action you take and your action has to trigger the move. That means you cant Defy
the Danger of the steep and icy oor with
a charming smile just so you can use Cha,
since charmingly smiling at the ice oor
does nothing to it. On the other hand,
making a huge leap over the ice would be
Str, placing your feet carefully would be
Dex, and so on. Make the move to get the
results.
Moves in Detail
Emory is climbing a steep ravine. Unbeknownst to him, a cultist sorcerer lurks
nearby. The sorcerer casts a spell of frost
on the cliffside, covering it with ice. "As you
reach for the next handhold, a terrible chill
overcomes you. If you want to keep climbing,
Defy Danger or risk slipping" I say, making
sure to explain what the Danger is. "No
way" Emory says, "I need to get the top of
this ravine! I grit my teeth and hold tight
even as my ngers go numb." He rolls Defy
Danger, getting an 8 including his Con for
enduring. Now its time for a hard decision.
"You make some progress but as your hands
go numb you start slipping. The only way
you can get any more traction is by jamming
your dagger into the ice to pull yourself up
the last few feet. If you do that, though, the
dagger is going to be jammed in the face of
the cliff until you get a chance to stop and
pry it out."
"Theathachsthirdarmisswingingdownon
you with its crude club, what are you doing
Valeria?" Ive just made a move to establish
an impending threat: the athachs strike.
She says "I Hack and Slash it! I make a wide
swing sideways, right into its legs." Sounds
good to me, but shes not doing anything
about the club coming at her. "Okay, you can
do that, but you take the athachs damage
from the club coming right down on your
skull." "What? But trading blows is part
of Hack and Slash, right?" "It is, but before
you make your attack theres already a club
coming at you, Hack and Slash doesnt cover
that. Do you still want to Hack and Slash,
or are you doing something about the club?"
Octavia is locked in battle with an ogre. She
says "I drop my shield and take up my hammer in both hands. I swing it at the ogre.
Thats Hack and Slash, right?" "Yeah, it will
be but rst youve gotta Defy Danger. The
danger is the ogres massive club." "Isnt that
part of what Hack and Slash already is? I
mean if he couldnt be smashing me with his
club then I wouldnt be making the move at
all because we wouldnt be in melee." "Oh
yeah, youre totally right. Hack and Slash it
is, make your roll!"
Defend
Defending something means standing
nearby and focusing on preventing attacks on that thing or stopping anyone
from getting near it. When youre no
longer nearby or you stop devoting your
attention to incoming attacks then you
lose any Hold you might have had.
You can only spend Hold when someone makes an attack on you or the thing
youre Defending. The choices you can
make depend on the attacker and the
type of attack. In particular, you cant
deal damage to an attacker who you cant
94
reach with your weapon.

An attack is any action you can interfere
with that has harmful effects. Swords
and arrows are, of course, attacks but so
are spells, grabs, and charges.
If the attack doesnt deal damage then
halving it means the attacker gets some
of what they want but not all of it. Its up
to you and the GM to work out what that
means depending on the circumstances.
If youre defending the Gem Eye of OroUht and an orc tries to grab it from its
pedestal then half effect might mean that
the gem gets knocked to the oor but the
orc doesnt get his hands on it, yet. Or
maybe the orc gets ahold of it but so do
younow youre both ghting over it,
tooth and nail. If you and the GM cant
agree on a halved effect you cant choose
that option.
Defending yourself is certainly an option. It amounts to giving up on making
attacks and just trying to keep yourself
safe.
Avon is weaving a powerful spell to send the
source of the Necromancers power back to
the Plane of Death. The spell takes time and
concentration and theres zombies massing
on all sides! Lux says "While Avons casting
his spell, its my duty to keep him alive. I
stand between him and the dead and slam
my hammer against my shieldYou want
him, you go through me! Im Defending
Avon." That sounds good to me, so I say
"roll+Con." She gets an 11 and Holds three.
A few moments later Avon nishes his spell
but, in rolling for it, has to make a tough
choice and puts himself in danger. I say "you
unleash the magic of your spell, sure enough.
Themagicaldisturbancedrawstheattention
of the zombie hordethey sense your power
and it drives their hunger! With a sudden
burst of speed, theyre right on top of you.
What do you do?" Avon looks unsure for a
moment, but Lux says "Let them come. Ive
got his back. Im spending a point of hold to
direct that attack to me. I push Avon back
and swing a wide arc with my shield. Ill also
spend a point of hold to halve the damage.
To be safe, I follow up with my hammer and
use one more hold to deal damage to the
gang of zombies." "Wow, okay. They get a
few feeble claws past your guard but youre
mostly unscathed. That does it for your
hold. Are you still defending him or are you
doing something else?" "I dont think hell
live long without me. I yell at him to run
without taking my eyes off the zombies, Im
not letting any of them past me." "Sounds
like youre Defending again, roll+Con."
Moves in Detail
Hadrian has been Defending Durga while
shehealsabadlywoundedWillem. Willems
in ghting shape again so Durga has leaped
forwards to drive back the troglodytes.
Hadrian is still locked in battle with a deadly
crocodilian. The troglodytes attack Durga
and Hadrian reacts. "Wait! I still have one
hold to Defend Durga. Im doing to redirect
that attack to myself." That doesnt sound
quite right to me, theyre spread out, now.
"How are you doing that if shes over at
the troglodyte camp and youre battling the
crocodilian in the water?" "Oh yeah. I guess
when I started doing something other than
standing guard I lost that hold. Damn."
Spout Lore
Vitus has Spouted Lore on a gilded skull she
found on a pedestal and gotten a 10. I begin by saying, mysteriously, "Youre pretty
sure you recognize the telltale signs of metal
forged in the City of Dis, the living planar
city." I catch myself and remember to be generous with the truth and make it useful. I
add "You recognize some of the glyphs from
your spellbook, actually: theyre part of re
spells, but with other magic symbols smaller
inside them. Casting a non- re spell into the
skull turns it into re magic, based on the
glyphs."
Discern Realities
Spout Lore
You Spout Lore any time you want to
search your memory for knowledge or
facts about something. You take a moment to ponder the things you know
about the Orcish Tribes or the Tower of
Uldammar and then reveal that knowledge.
The knowledge you get is like consulting
a bestiary, travel guide, or library. You
get facts about the subject matter. On a
10+ those facts the GMwill show you how
those facts can be immediately useful, on
a 79 theyre just facts.
On a miss the GMs move will often
have to do with the time you take thinking. Maybe you miss that goblin moving around behind you, or the trip wire
across the hallway. Its also a great
chance to reveal an unwelcome truth.
Just in case it isnt clear: the answers are
always true, even if the GM had to make
them up on the spot. Always say what
honesty demands.
Fenfaril has had the misfortune of dropping through an illusory oor and now nds
himself in a murky pit. A mottled, eyeless
creature shambles towards him, mumbling
in a strange tongue. "Im a little freaked
outwhat is this thing? Is it going to attack me? I probably read about these things
in a bestiary back in school." "Great, thats
Spout Lore." I say. Fenfaril rolls and gets an
8. "Well of course you read about these. The
name escapes you, but you clearly remember
a drawing of a creature like this standing
in front of a doorway, like a guard, with
someone kneeling before it." On a strong hit I
wouldhavegivensomeinformationonwhat
makes the creature let people pass.
To Discern Realities you must closely observe your target. That usually means
interacting with it or watching someone else do the same. You cant just
stick your head in the doorway and Discern Realities about a room. Youre not
merely scanning for cluesyou have to
look under and around things, tap the
walls and check for weird dust patterns
on the bookshelves. That sort of thing.
Discerning Realities isnt just about
noticing a detail, its about guring out
the bigger picture. The GM always describes what the player characters experience honestly, so during a ght the GM
will say that the kobold mage stays at the
other end of the hall. Discerning Realities could reveal the reason behind that:
the kobolds motions reveal that hes actually pulling energy from the room behind him, he cant come any close.
Just like Spout Lore the answers you get
are always honest ones. Even if the GM
has to gure it out on the spot. Once they
answer, its set in stone. Youll want to
Discern Realities to nd the truth behind
illusionsmagical or otherwise.
Unless a move says otherwise players
can only ask questions from the list. If
a player asks a question not on the list
the GM can tell them to try again or answer a question from the list that seems
equivalent.
Of course, some questions might have a
negative answer, thats ne. If there really, honestly is nothing useful or valuable here, the GM will answer that question with "Nothing, sorry."
Finding a strangely empty room guarded by

deadly traps, Omar says "I dont trust this
shiftyroom. Imgoingtopokearoundalittle.
I take out my tools and start messing with
stuffpulling candlesticks, tapping the wall
with my stone hammer. My usual tricks." I
say to Omar, "Sounds like youre Discerning
Realities?" Omar answers in the af rmative
and makes his roll. He rolls a 12 and gets
to ask questions. "What here is not as it
appears to be?" I think for a second, look at
my notes and tell him, "As you tap the walls
you nd that theres an odd, hollow space
on the north side. The stones look newer
too, this was added recently. Its actually a
hidden room."
Omar still has two more questions. His his
next one is "Who sealed the hidden room?"
Thats not a question from the list but it
sounds to me like hes really asking "what
happened here recently". I answer that instead. "Looking at the stonework you notice
the wall bends out a little. The works definitely of goblin originshoddy and quick.
The only way it could get bent out like that is
if something pushed out on the stones from
within." "So some goblins blocked it from the
other side?" Omar says. "Yeah, exactly."
Parley
Parley covers a lot of ground including
old standbys like intimidation and diplomacy. You know youre using Parley
when youre trying to get someone to do
something for you by holding a promise
or threat over them. Nice or not, the tone
doesnt matter.
Merely asking someone politely isnt
Parleying. Thats just talking. You say
"Can I have that magic sword?" and the
Kings knight says "Hell no, this is my
blade, my father forged it and my mother
enchanted it" and thats that. To Parley, you have to have leverage. Leverage is anything that could lure the target of your Parley to do something for
you. Maybe its something they want
or something they dont want you to do.
Like a sack of gold. Or punching them in
the face. What counts as leverage depends on the people involved and the
request being made. Threaten a long
goblin with death and you have leverage. Threaten a goblin backed up by his
gang with death and he might think hes
better off in a ght.
On a hit they ask you for something related to whatever leverage you have. If
your leverage is that youre standing before them sharpening your knife and insinuating about how much youd like to
shank them with it they might ask you
to let them go. If your leverage is your
position in court above them they might
ask for a favor.
95
Aid or Interfere
Whatever they ask for, on a 10+, you
just have to promise it clearly and unambiguously. On a 79, thats not enough:
you also have to give them some assurance, right now, before they do what you
want. If you promise that youll ensure
their safety from the wolves if they do
what you want and you roll a 7-9 they
wont do their part until you bring a fresh
wolf pelt, for example. Its worth noting
that on a 10+ you dont actually have to
keep your promise. Whether youll follow up or not, well, thats up to you. Of
course breaking promises leads to problems. People dont take kindly to oathbreakers and arent likely to deal with
them in the future.
In some cases when you state what you
want you may include a possible promise
for the creature to make, as in "Flee and
Ill let you live." Its up to the target of the
Parley if thats the promise they want
or if they have something else in mind.
They can say "yes, let me live and Ill go"
(with assurances, if you rolled a 79) or
"promise me you wont follow me."
Leena is trying to convince Lord Hywn to
vouch for her so that she is granted an audience with the Queen. Shes laid out what
she wants pretty well but I say "Lord Hywn
obviously isnt convinced. Why should he
help you?" She smirks a bit. "Oh. That.
While Im talking to him, I absentmindedly
start playing with the signet ring from that
assassin we killed. The one he hired to off
the prince. I make a big show of it just to
make sure he sees whos ring it is." Thats
perfect; now I know what to ask for. Leenas
player hits her roll with an 8. "Once your
little show sets in, Hywn just looks at you
coldly. After a moment he says Enough being coy. You and I both know you murdered
my hired man. Give me that ring and swear
youll speak no more about it, then Ill do
as you ask." "Oh sure, I give it to him" she
says "We can always dig up more dirt on this
scumbag later."
Pendrells trying to get into the gambling den
where One-Eye usually plays. He saunters
up to the guards and says "Hey fellas, hows
it going, care to open the door for me?" Pendrells player says "Im being all suave as I
do it to; really cool so these guys will let me
in. Thats Parley! I roll+Cha." Somethings
not right here so I stop him "Wait a sec.
All youve done is tell these guys what you
wantyoure just talking. The big smelly
one on the right of the door steps in front of
you, looks you in the eyes and says Sorry,
private venue like hes bored with keeping
people out and hed rather be inside himself.
If you want to Parley him, you need some
leverage. A bribe maybe?"
Aid or Interfere
96
Moves in Detail
Any time you feel like two players should
be rolling against each other, the defender should be Interfering with the attacker. This doesnt always mean sabotaging them. It can mean anything from
arguing against a Parley to just being a
shifty person whos hard to Discern. Its
about getting in the way of another players success.
Always ask the person aiding or interfering how they are doing it. As long
as they can answer that, they trigger the
move. Sometimes, as the GM, youll have
to ask if interference is happening. Your
players might not always notice theyre
interfering with each other.
Aid is a little more obvious. If a player
can explain how theyre helping in a roll
and it makes sense, let them roll to aid.
No matter how many people aid or interfere with a given roll, the target only gets
the +1 or -2 once. Even if a whole party
of adventurers aid in attacking an ogre,
the one who makes the nal attack only
gets +1.
Ozruk stands alone and bloodied before a
pack of angry hellhounds. Behind him, the
Prince of Lescia weeps in fear. Ozruk says "I
stand rm and lift my shield, despite certain
doom. Im defending the Prince." At the last
moment, though (just as Im about to have
Ozruk roll Defend) Aronwe appears from
the shadows, sword drawn. "Doom is not so
certain, Dwarf" he says. "Im standing beside him, helping Ozruk Defend by covering
his sword arm." Aronwe rolls+bonds and, if
he succeeds, Ozruk will be able to add a +1 to
his Defend result.
Special Moves
37
Special
Moves
Last Breath
Special moves are moves that come up
less often or in more speci c situations.
Theyre still the basis of what characters do in Dungeon Worldparticularly
what they do between dungeon crawls
and high- ying adventures.
Last Breath
The Last Breath is the last moment that
stands between life and death. Time
stands still as Death comes to claim the
living. Even those who stay will catch
a glimpse of the other side as they ght
for their life. Many are changed by this
momenteven those who escape alive.
The deal offered by death is decided by
the GM but it should always be a real
choice with real consequences. If the
GM offers something completely painless, the move is pointless. If the GM offers a ridiculous price, no one will take it.
Think of ways that the character might
be changed by the event: a new goal in
life, a debt that must be paid, an obligation.
Sparrow stands at Deaths black gates. First
the Gm describes what she sees beyond them:
"In among the suffering souls you clearly
see Lord Hywn. It appears his double dealing has caught up with him." Now for the
bargain: "The shadowy form of Death itself
steps between you and the gates. Here so
soon? I enjoy seeing the souls you send me.
Ill return you to the world so that you may
serve me, but there is a cost: you will never
be able to move under the sun again, or you
will return to my realm immediately."
Encumbrance
A PCs Load stat is determined by their
class and Str. Being able to carry more
is a clear bene t when trying to carry
treasure out of a dungeon or just making
sure you can bring along what you need.
This move only applies to things a person
could walk around and still act with. Carrying a boulder on your back is not encumbranceyou cant really act or move
much with it. It effects what moves you
can make appropriately in the ction.
Carouse
Unless the PCs are particularly extravagant or generous Carousing doesnt cost
any gold. If the players are paying someone elses tab or living the high life then
itll costs them appropriately.
You can only carouse when you return
triumphant. Thats what draws the
crowd of revelers to surround adventurers as they celebrate their latest haul. If
you dont claim your success or your failure is well known then who would want
to party with you anyway?

Distances in Dungeon World are measured in rations. A ration is the amount
of supplies used up in a day. Journeys
take more rations when they are long or
when travel is slow.
A perilous journey is the whole way between two locations. You dont roll for
one days journey and then make camp
only to roll for the next days journey,
too. Make one roll for the entire trip.
This move only applies when you know
where youre going. Setting off to explore is not a perilous journey. Its wandering around looking for cool things to
discover. Use up rations as you camp
and the GM will give you details about
the world as you discover them.
Make Camp
You usually Make Camp so that you can
do other things, like Prepare Spells or
Dutiful Prayer. Or, you know, sleep
soundly at night. Whenever you stop to
catch your breath for more than an hour
or so, youve probably Made Camp.
When camping in dangerous territory
the selections made apply to the entire
camp. Every PC camping out needs to
roll. Camping with fewer than three
characters, or without the Ranger, is
dangerousthere will always be at least
one option not selected.
What counts as dangerous territory is up
to the GM. She should call for the move.
When not Making Camp in dangerous
territory the camp is in all ways unexceptional with neither bene ts or dangers.
Staying a night in an inn or house is Making Camp is a safe location. Regain your
hit points as usual, but only mark off a
ration if youre eating from the food you
carry, not paying for a meal or receiving
hospitality.
This move is only for places where youve
caused trouble, not every piece of civilization you enter. Being publicly caught
up in someone elses trouble still triggers
this move.
Civilization generally means the villages, towns and cities of humans, elves,
dwarves, and hal ings but it can also
apply to any relatively lawful establishment of monstrous species, such as orcs
or goblins. If the PCs have stayed there
as part of the community its civilization.
97
Moves in Detail
38
Moves
in Detail
98
Multiclass Moves
39
Multiclass
Moves
Multiclass Dabbler
Multiclass Dabbler
Multiclass Initiate
Multiclass Master
For the purposes of these multiclass
moves the Clerics Commune and Cast
a Spell count as one move. Likewise for
the Wizards Spellbook, Prepare Spells,
and Cast a Spell.
If a multiclass move grants you the ability to cast spells you prepare and cast
spells as if you had one level in the casting class. Whenever you level up you
increase the level you prepare and cast
spells at too.
When Ajax gains 3rd level he takes Multiclass Dabbler to get Commune and Cast a
Spell from the Cleric class. He casts and prepares spells like a rst level Cleric: rst level
spells and rotes only, a total of 2 levels of
spells prepared.
99
Bardic Lore
40
Bard Moves
Bard Moves
Bardic Lore
Treat the areas of your lore like books. Is
the upwards- owing waterfall you just
came across something important that
would be covered in a book called "On
Spells and Magicks?" If so, your Bardic
Lore applies.
If you care enough to ask a question about
it then its probably important. Dont
second guess yourself: if you care enough
to want to know more about it then it has
some importance.
Charming and Open

Speaking frankly means you really are
being open with them, not just giving the
appearance of openness. Its your true
sincerity that puts others at ease and lets
you get information out of them; if youre
trying to maintain a lie at the same time
you wont get very far.
It Goes To Eleven
Of course the creature you effect must
have some way of harming your target
of choice. Spurring a wolf into a frenzy
to attack the eagle lord circling above
doesnt do any good, the wolf doesnt
have a way to attack it.
An Ear for Magic

Acting on the answers can mean acting against them or taking advantage of
them. Either way you take +1 forward.
100
Cleric
Commune
41
Commune
If you like you can prepare the same spell
more than once.
Cleric
101
Guidance
42
Cleric Spells
Cleric Spells
Guidance
Its up the the creativity of your deity
(and the GM) to communicate as much
as possible through the motions and gestures of you deitys symbol. You dont
get visions or a voice from heaven, just
some visual cue of what your deity would
have you do (even if its not in your best
interest).
Magic Weapon
Casting Magic Weapon on the same
weapon again has no effect. No matter
how many times you cast it on the same
weapon its still just magic +1d4 damage.
Magic though is nothing to be scoffed at.
Having a magic weapon may give you an
advantage against some of the stranger
beasts of Dungeon World, ghosts and the
sort. The exact effects depend on the
monster and circumstances, so make the
most of it.
Animate Dead
Treating the zombie as your character
means you make moves with its ability
scores based on the ction, just like always. Unless its brain is functioning on
its own the zombie cant do much besides
follow the last order it was given, so youd
better stay close. Even if its brain works
its still bound to follow your orders.
102
Fighter Moves
43
Fighter
Moves
Signature Weapon
Signature Weapon
The base description you choose is just
a description. Choosing a spear doesnt
give you Close range, for example. You
could choose a spear as the description,
then Hand as the range. Your spear
is something special, or your technique
with it is different, just describe why
your weapon has the tags youve chosen.
Heirloom
The exact nature of the spirits (and therefore what knowledge they can offer to
you) is up to you and the GM to decide.
Maybe theyre dead ancestors, or echoes
of people youve slain, or a minor demon.
Up to you.
Armor Mastery
Armor and shields that are reduced to
0 armor are effectively destroyed. Youll
pretty much be paying for a new one anyway, so you might as well drop them and
haul out some gold instead.
103
Evidence of Faith
44
Paladin
Moves
104
Paladin Moves
Evidence of Faith
Your +1 forward applies to anything you
do based on your knowledge of the spells
effects: defying it, defending against it,
using it to your advantage, etc.
Ranger Moves
45
Command
Command
Your bonuses only applies when your animal is doing something its trained in.
An animal not trained to attack monsters
wont be any help when youre attacking
a otyugh.
Ranger
Moves
105
Backstab
46
Thief Moves
Thief Moves
Backstab
Reducing armor until they repair it
means that they lose armor until they
do something that compensates for your
damage. If youre ghting an armored
knight that might mean a fresh suit of
armor, but for a thick-hided ogre its until theyve had time to heal up (or protect
the wound you left).
Poisoner
In order to make more doses of your chosen poison you need to be reasonably
able to gather the required materials. If
youre locked up at the top of a tower
youre not going to be able to get the materials you need of course.
Wealth and Taste

In order to use this move its really got to
be your most valuable possession. Its
the honest value you place on it that
draws others, no lies.
Disguise
Your disguise covers your appearance
and any basics like accents and limps.
It doesnt grant you any special knowledge of the target, so if someone asks you
what your favorite color is youd better
think fast. Defying Danger with Cha is a
common part of maintaining a Disguise.
106
Wizard Moves
47
Wizard
Moves
Prepare Spells
Prepare Spells
You can prepare the same spell twice if
you like.
Empowered Magic
Maximizing the effects of a spell is simple for spells that involve a roll: a maximized Magic Missile does 8 damage.
In other cases its down to the circumstances. A maximized Identify might
result in far more information than expected. If theres no clear way to maximize it you cant choose that option.
Likewise for doubling the targets. If
the spell doesnt have targets you cant
choose to double them.
107
Dispel Magic
48
Wizard
Spells
Wizard Spells
Dispel Magic
The exact effects depend on the circumstances. A goblin orkasters spell might
just be ended; a deitys consecration is
probably just dimmed. The GM will tell
you the likely effects of Dispeling a given
effect before you cast.
Fireball
"Nearby" means a few paces at most, depending on the circumstances.
Polymorph
In some cases the GM may choose the
last option more than once to list each
unexpected bene t or weakness.
Summon Monster
The exact type of monster you get is up
to the GM, based on your choices. If you
want a non-reckless swimming creature
you might get a water elemental, a 1d8
damage +2 Str creature might be a barbed
devil. Whatever the creature is you still
get to play it.
108
Making Moves
49
Making
Moves
Starting Points
At some point youll likely want to make
your own moves. You might want to
create moves to re ect some particular
threat ("When you go alone into the Unhallowed Halls . . . "). You might create
moves to cover something thats particularly important to you setting ("When
you swim in the dark waters . . . "). You
might create moves to expand a class, or
create your own class entirely.
This chapter covers how to create moves
and more importantly why to create
moves.
Moves are the simplest way to modify
the game, but you can go beyond that.
Maybe you have a cool idea for an entire
class, or you want to change how monsters work, or even mess with the entire
GMing structure. Well get to those topics too, but rst: moves.
Starting Points
Where do moves come from?
You can start a move with the trigger. Some actions will just feel like they
should be a move. This is the most common starting point for moves. Youll see
some action coming up and feel like its
different enough from existing moves
that it needs its own rules.
You can start with the effect. This is
particularly useful for class moves. You
know that casting a spell is something
that the Wizard does, so what triggers
that effect?
Rarely, you can even start with the
mechanics. Sometimes youll think of
something cool, like a tamed demon
whos happiness is a constantly varying
stat, and go from there. Be wary of any
idea thats entirely mechanical. Since
moves always start and end with the ction, a mechanical idea is the least important bit of the move.
A nal starting point is someone elses
move.
Between Apocalypse World,
Dungeon World, Monsterhearts, and the
dozens of other games using moves there
are many great ideas out there. If
you plan to use a borrowed move for
anything beyond your personal gaming
group, its a good idea to ask the author
rst. Theyre usually pretty cool about
it.
Types of Moves
What role the move is ful lling determines what kind of move youre creating.
Moves for dealing with the environment
or special features youve added to Dungeon World are special moves. These
moves are usually the GMs domain, a
place to make parts of the world stand
out. Since moves are always triggered by
the players most moves like this should
be written or printed somewhere everyone can look them over unless the move
covers something that the player characters wouldnt have any idea about.
Moves that re ect some special competency or power, or something the players do, are usually class moves. If the
move is clearly tied to a speci c class,
add it to that class. If the move is tied
to some concept that multiple classes
might have access to, like a move only
accessible to those that have seen beyond Deaths Black Gates, you can create
a Compendium Class for those moves. A
Compendium Class is like a mini-class,
its a collection of moves around a ctional theme. Well deal with them in
more detail later.
If your move is something the players
do but isnt associated with any speci c
theme or class its probably a basic of
special move. If it comes up all the time
its a basic move, if it comes up more
rarely its a special move.
Moves made by the players in response
to monsters, such as the effects of a disease or pressing on despite a focused
blast of wind from an air elemental, are
player moves associated with that monster. Player moves associated with a
monster are fairly rare, most of the ways
a player will interact with a monster are
covered by the basic and class moves.
Moves made by monsters against the
players arent player moves at all.
Theyre monster moves, simple statements of what the monster does. Trying to make every monster move into a
player move will seriously hamper your
creativity.
World Moves
Your Dungeon World is full of fantastic
things, right? Youre likely to nd that
some of those fantastic things deserve or
demand custom moves to re ect exactly
what they do. Consider this one from
Chris Bennet:
When you open a sewer hatch roll+Str. On
a 10+, choose 3. On a 7-9 choose 1.
You avoid being covered in feces and
rotting animal entrails from the sewers above.
You avoid having a gelatinous cube
land on you.
You nd a secret back entrance to
where the merchants daughter is being held.
This move is strong because it is tied
strongly to a particular place at a particular time. This move was written
by request for Jason Morningstars Dungeon World game as the players entered
some particularly horrible sewers to nd
109
Class Moves
a powerful merchants daughter. Two of
the options here are very directly tied to
that precise situation.
Why would you write this move instead
of just using Defy Danger? You wouldnt,
always. Opening a pressurized sewer
hatch is certainly dangerous, you could
use Defy Danger. This move does have
the advantage of setting up the choices
ahead of time. This is actually a very
strong technique: if theres a particular
situation that is likely to cause Defy Danger, you can write a custom move that
describes the tough choice to be made to
save the GM some thinking in the moment.
The other strength of moves like this is
they call out something as important.
By making the trigger "when you open a
sewer hatch" instead of "when you act despite an imminent threat" the move calls
out that these sewers are always dangerous.
Class Moves
Each class has enough moves to take
it through tenth level but that doesnt
mean you cant add more. Adding moves
to a class can demonstrate your idea of
Dungeon World. Take this one, for example:
When you claim a room for you deity, mark
every entrance and roll+Wis. On a 10+ the
room is peacebonded: no one can take action to cause physical harm within it. On a
79 the room is peacebonded, but the show
of divine power draws attention. You can
dismiss the peacebond as you see t.
This move presents a slightly different
side of Dungeon World, one that can
demand peace (something that usually
doesnt come easily to PCs). This may not
be every Dungeon World game, but its
a great way to show how your Dungeon
World looks re ected in the characters.
When adding a move, look carefully at
what class it belongs to. Avoid giving
a class moves with infringe on another
classs areas of expertise. If the Thief
can cast spells just as well as the Wizard
the Wizard is likely to feel marginalized.
This is why the multiclass moves act as
one level lower, so that each classs niche
is somewhat protected.
Be careful with any move that provides
the same bene t as an existing move
even if the trigger is different. +damage
moves in particular should be avoided
for the most part unless carefully crafted
with interesting triggers. +armor too
can be problematic if given too freely.
The classes at present have damage and
armor increases the re ect the overall
danger of Dungeon World, giving them
more can negate potential threats.
110
Making Moves
New Classes
Creating a new class is more than just
writing some new moves. Your rst consideration should be how the class relates
to the existing classes. No character exists in isolation, so you should think carefully about why this class is different.
An excellent rst step to creating a new
class is to think about what ctional
characters youd like to task an inspiration. Dont slavishly follow what that
ctional character can do (after all, they
werent in Dungeon World) but use them
as a guide for whats cool about being that
person.
The inspirations for the classes in this
book are fairly clear, and made clearer by
the notes in the margins. Note that not
every inspiration is taken entirely: the
wizards of Discworld inspired slightly
pompous style of the Wizard, but the
Wizard is far more competent and casts
spells differently than the typical Discworld character. The inspiration is one
of style, not an attempt to recreate what
a certain character could do in a certain
book.
in starting Bonds.
Look is largely left to your imagination.
This is an excellent spot to think about
your ctional inspiration: what did they
look like? How could they look different? Including at least one choice
about clothes helps establish style without making the player think about buying clothes.
The equipment choices should always
include at least one weapon option and
one armor option unless the class is
clearly non-martial and lacking in ghting skill. Dungeon Rations are also
pretty much required, a starting character without food going into a dangerous
area borders on stupid.
Alignments are your place to show the

starting outlook of the class. Most classes
will have Neutral as an option, since only
the most dedicated classes are so tied
up to an ideal that the self cant come
rst. A good alignment move is something that happens with some regularity and requires the player to take action
they might not otherwise take. An alignment that happens as part of the normal course of play, like "When you gain
With a clear idea in mind you have a few treasure . . . ," doesnt really show the
basic steps that arent a concern when characters ideals. Adding some requirewriting single moves: HP, Bonds, Look, ments, maybe "When you gain treasure
through lies and deceit . . . ," adds an elequipment, alignment, races.
ement of ideals. Now the alignment
AclasssHPisusually somebase+Constitution.
says something about the character (they
Base HP is almost always 4, 6, 8, or 10. prize pulling a con on the unsuspecting)
Having more HP than the Fighter and and requires the player to think about
Paladin might make those classes obso- how they play.
lete unless youre careful. Having less
HP than the Wizard is probably character suicide. 4 base HP makes for a class Compendium Classes
that is deliberately fragile, theyll need A Compendium Class is a class only
help from others when the swords come available to higher level characters who
out. 6 base HP is for classes that arent meet speci c requirements. Theyre
ready to ght, but can at least take a hit. called Compendium Classes because
8 base HP is enough to take some hits they rst appeared in the Compendiand get into combat a little, while 10 base ums for Dungeon World Basic. A ComHP is for skilled warriors and those who pendium Class is the way to go for a concept that can be layered onto multiple
have no fear of battle.
Damage is chosen from the dice avail- other classes.
able: d4, d6, d8, d10. The classes presented here all use a single die with no
static bonus, but theres no reason not to
experiment with other options: 2d4 or
1d6+2, for example. High HP and damage tend to go together, as you usually
need one to make the other worthwhile.
Bonds are where the classs outlook

shines through. Its the place where
you, the designer, will most clearly interact with the player at character creation. Unless the class is particularly social or antisocial, write four bonds. If the
class is very connected to others, add a
Bond, if theyre cloistered remove one.
Avoid bonds that dictate alignment but
dont be afraid to say something about
what the class is or does. You can use the
rules for writing new Bonds as a starting
point, but avoid including proper names
The basic structure of a Compendium

Class is to have a starting move that is
available only to characters who have
had a certain experience, like this:
When you enter the bodily presence of a god
or their avatar the next time you gain a level
you can choose this move instead of a move
from your class:
Divine Bond
Making Moves
When you write a new Bond instead of using
the name of another character you can use
the name of a deity youve had contact with.
Anytime a Bond with a deity applies to the
current situation you can mark it off (as if it
was resolved) to call on the deitys favor in a
clearanddecisivewaythattheGMdescribes.
At the end of the session you then replace the
marked off Bond with a new one, with a deity
or player character.
Note that the move is only available after
the character has done a speci c thing,
and even then only at their next level.
Compendium Classes are best when they
rely on what the character has done, not
stat prerequisites or anything that happens without the players action. A Compendium Class that is available to anyone
who just gained 5th level doesnt stand
for much, one that only applies if youve
been to Deaths Black Gates and lived to
tell the tale is more interesting.
A Compendium Class also usually has
23 moves that can be taken only if the
starting move is taken. These are just
like normal class moves, just with the
requirement that you have to have already taken the starting Compendium
Class move.
Compendium Classes are ideal for concepts that dont quite inspire a full class.
If you cant think of what the class looks
like or how much HP it has, or if the class
overlaps with existing classes, its probably better as a Compendium Class.
Adventure Moves
Adventure moves deal directly with the
adventure underway. They can move the
action along, change the rewards, or let
you jump into a bigger adventure.
If youre running a short game, maybe at
a convention or game day, you may nd
that you want to front load the experience a little more. Heres a move that
covers "the adventure so far" so that you
can get straight into a short game in media res.
Stalwart Fighter: As if the bandits werent
bad enough! As if all the sword wounds,
bruises and batterings at the hands of
your enemies were insuf cientnow this.
Trapped underground with your adventuring companions when all you wanted was
to return to the town and spend your wellearned bounty. No such luck, warrior.
Sharpen that sword! Certainly, the others will need your protecting before safety is
found. Just like last time. Once more into the
breach, right? I swear, one of these fellow
must owe you a favor or two by now . . .
Adventure Moves
Have a look around and roll+Cha. On a
10+ choose two party members, on a 7-9
just the one, on a miss youre surrounded by
ingrates. At a moment of need, you can cash
in an owed favor. A PC must change their
action to one of your choosing, once. As long
as this action doesnt involve them directly
taking damage, giving up a magic item they
already own or coming to immediate harm,
its fair game. Use it to make them agree with
you, or give you that extra ration you want,
or giving you their slot in the loot lottery.
Leverage is sweet.
The most important part of this move is
not the roll or the effect, but the information and tone. It sets the stage for
a quick adventure and gives the player
reading it a starting point to work with.
The roll and result here are interesting,
but dont greatly change the ow of the
game. Handing out a set of these, one to
each player, along with a playbook, is a
great way to run a con game.
You can also adapt the End of Session
move to re ect the adventure youre running. When doing this its key that you
show the players the new End of Session
move. The goal isnt to keep them in the
dark about what earns XP, but to make
the XP awards tie directly to this adventure.
When you end the session, instead of using the normal end of session questions, use
these:
Did we learn something about the
Cult of the Scaled God?
Did we rescue a captured villager or
help defend the village of Secor?
Did we defeat a major agent of the
Cult of the Scaled God
Move Structure
Moves always follow a similar structure. The most basic parts of a move
are the trigger ("when . . . ") and the effect ("then . . . "). Every move follows this
basic format.
Triggers
Triggers are always ctional actions undertaken by the player characters. Note
that a trigger never deals with precise
units of time. Dont write a move that
begins "When you start a round adjacent
to a dragon." Theres no rounds (and adjacent is maybe not the best phrasing,
as it sound removed from the ction of
standing next to a damn re-breathing dragon
). Prepare Spells isnt "When you spend
one hour studying your spellbook" for
good reason. Time in Dungeon World
is a bit uid, like in a movie where pacing depends on the circumstances. Dont
rely on concrete units either around the

table (rounds) or in the ction (seconds,
minutes, days).
Here are some broad types of triggers:
When a character takes action .
Examples: Discern Realities, Fascinate [Bard], Command [Ranger].
When a character takes action
under speci c circumstances .
Examples: Hack and Slash, Gladiator
[Fighter], Backstab [Thief].
When circumstances dictate, no
character action . Examples: Order Hirelings, End of Session, Saving
Throw.
When a character uses a thing
. Examples: Magic items, Heirloom
[Fighter]
From now on . Examples: Serenity
[Cleric], Poisoner [Thief]
Effect
Moves effects can be anything you can
think of; they are as limitless as your
ideas. Dont feel constrained to making rolls, +1 bonuses, and swapping stats.
Since all moves ow from the ction, a
ctional effect like "They treat you as a
friend" is just as powerful and useful as
+1 forward, maybe more so.
Here are some broad types of effects, any
given move may use more than one of
them:
Roll . Examples: Defy Danger, Cast a
Spell [Wizard], Called Shot [Ranger].
Substitute stats . Examples: Precise [weapon tag].
Trigger another move . Examples: Charm Person [Wizard spell],
Envenom [Thief].
Give a bonus or penalty, forward
or ongoing. Examples: Quarry
[Ranger], Beacon of Good [Paladin].
Deal or heal damage . Examples:
Volley, Backstab [Thief], Called Shot
[Ranger].
Choose options . Examples: Spout
Lore, Discern Realities, Ritual [Wizard].
Hold & Spend . Examples: Dominate [Wizard spell], Trap Sense
[Thief].
Ask & Answer . Examples: Charming and Open [Bard], Spout Lore.
Change circumstances . Examples: Ascetic Freedom [Cleric], Sins
of the Flesh [Paladin].
Mark experience .
Examples:
Alignment moves.
Call for more information . Examples: Parley, Ritual [Wizard].
Add options . Examples: Survivalist [Ranger], Eye of Riches [Thief].
111
Changing the Basics
Changing the Basics

Moves can also change the basic structure of the game. Consider this one, to
avoid the use of damage dice:
When you would deal damage, instead of
rolling the dice, substitute each dice with the
listed number. d4 becomes 2, d6 becomes 3,
d8 becomes 4, d10 becomes 5, d12 becomes 6.
Moves like this change one of the basic
features of the game. Be very careful
with moves that muck with the fundamentals. Any move that contradicts the
GMs principles or agenda, or any move
that breaks the basic "take the action to
gain the effect" rule, should be seriously
rethought.
There are some parts of the game that
are exceptionally easy to change. The
amount of XP to level re ects our view,
but you can easily make leveling more
or less rare. The way stats are assigned
by the class is a way of making the game
easier for new players and re ecting the
concept of each class but there may be
a place for a 17 Constitution Wizard.
If youve played enough to know what
youre doing with each stat feel free to
assign them however you like.
Another basic thats occasionally asked
for is a way to make, say, ghting a
dragon harder. The best answer here is
that ghting a dragon is harder because
the dragon is ctionally stronger. Just
stabbing a dragon with a normal blade
isnt Hack and Slash because a typical
blade cant hurt it. If, however, that isnt
enough, consider this move from Vincent Baker, originally from Apocalypse
World (reworded slightly to match Dungeon World rules):
When a player makes a move and the GM
judges it especially dif cult, the player takes
-1 to the roll. When a players character
makes a move and the GM judges it clearly
beyond them, the player takes -2 to the roll.
The problem with this move is that the
move no longer re ects anything concrete. Instead, the move is a prompt for
the GM to make judgement calls with no
clear framework. If you nd yourself
writing this custom move, consider what
dif culty youre really trying to capture
and make a custom move for that instead.
That said, this is a valid custom move, if
you feel its needed.
Development of a Move
Lets look at how one move developed
over time. Hack and Slash was one of
the earliest Dungeon World moves, originally written by Tony Dowler. The rst
version looked like this (this version has
112
Making Moves
been reformatted and edited for grammar only):
When you wade into combat, attacking your
enemies, deal damage to the enemy youre
attacking, take that enemys damage, and
roll+Str. On a 10+, choose 2. On a 7-9
choose 1.
Prevent one ally from taking damage
this round
Kill one enemy of lower level than
you or deal max damage to otherwise
Put an enemy right where you want
them (drive them off, prevent them
from eeing, etc.)
Divide your damage amongst any
number of targets you can reach with
your weapon
The rst problem with this move is that
one of the options, preventing damage, is
far less useful than the others. Being able
to outright kill an enemy is nearly always
better than preventing that enemy from
doing damage. The rst major revision
was to drop that option:
When you wade into combat, attacking your
enemies, deal damage to the enemy youre
attacking, take that enemys damage, and
roll+Str. On a 10+ choose 2. On a 7-9 choose
1.
Kill one enemy of lower level than
you or deal max damage to otherwise
Put an enemy right where you want
them (drive them off, prevent them
from eeing, etc.)
Divide your damage amongst any
number of targets you can reach with
your weapon
This left only three options which is a
great number of options to have when a
10+ lets you pick two. The player making
the move always had to not choose one
option. All of the options are also clearly
useful. But theres still an issue, easily
the biggest issue with this move: the ctional action doesnt tightly relate to the
outcome.
Consider this situation: Gregor attacks
an eagle lord with his mighty axe. He
describes his ctional action: "I swing
my axe right down on his wing with a
big overhead chop." Then he rolls the
move, gets a 10, and makes his choices.
Max damage is a clear choice and comes
right from the ction. The other options,
however, dont make much sense. If he
chooses to divide his damage, how does
that ow from his one ctional attack?
How did that one chop also hit the treant
behind him?
Scoping down the ctional effect of the
move lead to his version:
When you attack an enemy who can defend

themselves, roll+Str. On a 10+, you deal
your damage but your enemy does not get
to deal theirs to you. If you choose, you can
take your enemys damage and deal double
damage to the enemy. On a 7-9, you take the
enemys damage and deal your damage.
Here the move now has only the effects
that could clearly follow from a single
attack. Any action that couldnt reasonably lead to a counter-attack isnt Hack
and Slash, so now the trigger matches
the effects. Unfortunately double damage was a bit much, so we changed it to
this:
When you attack an enemy in melee,
roll+Str. On a 7-9, you deal your damage
to the enemy and take their damage. On a
10+ you deal your damage to the enemy. You
can choose to also take the enemys damage
to deal +2 damage.
+2 damage is a clear advantage, but not
a game-breaker. The only problem here
is that it reduced the effects of an attack
to taking damage. Monsters do so much
more than just take away your HP; monsters hurl you about the room and destroy the ground you stand on, why cant
they do that in response?
When you attack an enemy in melee,
roll+Str. On a 10+ you deal your damage
to the enemy. You can choose to let the enemy make an attack to deal +2 damage. On
a 7-9, you deal your damage to the enemy
and the enemy makes an attack against you.
This version (the nal one) allows a monster to "attack" not just deal damage. That
opens up a whole host of interesting
monster moves to be used. Now even
the 7-9 result has choices to make and
unpredictable outcomes.
Making Moves
Agenda, Principles, and GM Moves

Changing the GMs side of the rules is an
entirely different beast from writing custom player moves. Writing GM moves
is the easy part. Since a GM move is just
a statement of something that ctionally happens, feel free to write new ones
as you please. Most of the time youll
nd theyre just speci c cases of one of
the moves already established, but occasionally youll come across something
new. Just keep in mind the spectrum of
hard to soft moves, your principles, and
your agenda and youll be ne. Removing a GM move is also kosher, but youre
probably better off keeping the move and
just not using it. The players wont know
anyway.
Changing the GMs agenda or principles
is one of the biggest changes you can
make to the game. Changing these areas will likely require changes throughout the rest of the game, plus playtesting
to nail it all down.
Play to nd out what happens is the
least changeable part of the GMs agenda.
Other options, like "play towards your
set plot" or "play to challenge the players
skills" will be resisted pretty strongly by
the other rules. The moves give the players abilities that can change the course of
an planned adventure quite quickly; if
youre not playing to nd out what happens youll have to resist the moves at
every step or rewrite many of them.
Fill the characters lives with adventure could be rephrased, but its
hard to really change. "Fill the characters lives with intrigue" might work, but
intrigue just seems like a type of adventure. Removing this agenda entirely will
require major reworking since the move
structure is based on this. The effects of
a miss and the GMs soft moves are all
there to create a life of adventure.
Make the world fantastic is maybe
the easiest to change, but it still requires considerable rewriting of the class
moves. A historical world, a grim world,
or a utopian world are all possible, but
youll need to carefully rethink many
moves. A historical world will require
magic, equipment, and several other sections to be nearly entirely rewritten or
removed. A grim world can only survive
if the players moves come with darker
costs. A utopian world wont need many
of the moves as written. Still, this is the
easiest part of the agenda to change, since
it requires changing the moves, not the
basic structures of the game.
The GMs principles are more mutable than the agenda but still can seriously change the game with only minor modi cations. Address the characters, not the players; Make your
move, but misdirect; Never speak
Agenda, Principles, and GM Moves

the name of your move; Begin and
end with the ction; and Be a fan of
the characters are the most important
principles. Without these the conversation of play and the use of moves is likely
to break down.
Embrace the fantastic; Give every
monster life; Name every person;
Think Dangerous; and Give them
something to work towards are key
to the spirit of Dungeon World and fantasy exploration. These are changeable,
but they amount to changing the setting
of the game. If you want to change any
of these, you may have to make changes
to all of them.
Leave Blanks; Sometimes, let them
decide; and Ask questions and use
the answers are important to running
Dungeon World well. They also apply to
many other games in the same style. The
game will be diminished without them,
but the conversation of play will continue. These are also some of the most
portable principles, applicable to many
other games. They may even work in
games with very different play styles.
World more about indiscriminate killing

of monsters that deserve it you might
rewrite some of the questions, maybe
adding this:
The monster is Evil through and through. Choose

one to re ect why its evil:
Its an intrusion of the Old Ones Beyond The Walls: Planar, +5 damage
Its a product of the Old Wizards of
the Red Tower: Construct, +5 HP
Its from The Time Before Man: Primordial, +5 damage, +5 HP
When creating new monster questions
you can either reinterpret existing monsters by answering the questions for
them again or only use the new questions
for new monsters. If the new questions
you add or change are key to your vision of Dungeon World its best to redo
all the monsters you use, if the question
only applies to a speci c kind of monster anyway you can just use it for new
monsters.
An additional principle that some people

prefer to add is Test their Bonds . This
principle is entirely compatible with the
others and with all the moves, but it
changes the focus of the game somewhat.
Fronts need to be rethought to work fully
with this, and you might need to add
moves that speak to it.
Monsters
The easiest place to modify monsters is
in the questions used to create them. The
simplest changes have to do with adjusting lethality or randomness to your liking. You could easily change just one
question to add random damage to the
game (if you use random monster damage you might consider having the players roll it so that you dont have to manage dice just for damage).
How does it usually hunt or ght?

As part of large group, ve or more:
2d4 damage, 1 HP, Horde
As part of a small group, around 25:
2d6 damage, 8 HP
All by its lonesome: 2d10 damage, 30
HP, Unique
Note that these changes also adjust
lethality slightly, you can play with the
numbers to make it more or less random
as you please.
A more interesting change is to change
the questions being asked to present a
different view of monsters. The views
built into the questions imply that monsters are more or less like other creatures:
they can be of many alignments and
wont always be opposed to the player
characters. If you want to make Dungeon
113
Special Thanks
50
Special
Thanks
114
Contributors
51
Tresi Arvizo
Jeremy Friesen
Contributors
115
Pitch It
Guild Members
52
Guild
Members
Since youve read this book its likely at

some point youll be teaching the game to
others, either experienced roleplayers or
those new to the hobby. Throughout the
design process weve had many chances
to play with lots of different gamers from
different backgrounds and there are a
few things weve found work well for
teaching the game.
Pitch It
Before you play youll likely be explaining the game to your new players (dont
just spring it on them, thats not cool).
We call that the pitch: its explaining
why you want to play Dungeon World
and why you think theyll like it.
First and most importantly: put it in your
own words. We cant give you a script
because the best way to get people excited
about the game is to share your honest
excitement. There are, however, some
things you might want to touch on.
With rst-time roleplayers its best to focus on what roleplaying means in Dungeon World. Tell them what theyll be
doing (portraying a character) and what
youll be doing (portraying the world
around them). Mention the general conceit (adventurers and adventure). Its
usually a good idea to mention the role of
the rules too, how theyre there to drive
the action forward in interesting ways.
With folks whove played RPGs before, especially those whove played
other fantasy adventure games, you
can focus more on what makes Dungeon World different from other similar
games. Ease-of-play, the way the rules
just step in at the right times, and the
fast pace are all things that experienced
roleplayers often appreciate.
No matter the audience, dont just pitch
Dungeon World, pitch the game youre
going to run. If this is going to be a
trip into the city sewers, tell them that
right up front. If theres an evil cult to be
stopped that should be part of your description. The interaction between you,
the players, and the rules will create all
kinds of interesting secrets later on, your
pitch should honestly portray the game
you intend to run.
Present the Classes

Once everybodys on board for a game
of Dungeon World and youve sat down
to play start by presenting the character
sheets. Give a short description of each,
making sure to mention what each does
and their place in the world. You can also
read out the descriptions for each class,
those all include something about both
what the class does and how that ts into
the big picture.
If anybody has questions about the rules,
answer them, but for now focus on de-
116
scribing what the classes do in plain

terms. If someone asks about the ghter
its more useful to tell them that the
ghter has a signature weapon thats one
of a kind then to go into detail about how
the Signature Weapon move works.
Create Characters
Go through the character creation rules
step-by-step. The process of creating
a character is also a great introduction
to the basic concepts: the players will
encounter stats, moves, HP, and damage all in an order that makes sense.
Dont bother trying to front-load the
rules explanations. There arent really
any wrong choices.
Each player will encounter the rules
that are important to their class. The
Fighter, for example, will see moves
about weapon ranges and piercing and
ask about them, explain them as needed.
If the Fighter player doesnt ask you what
piercing is, dont worry about it. Theyre
happy to choose based on the ction,
which is all the stats and tags re ect anyway.
If your players are particularly worried
about making their characters right just
give them the option of changing them
later. Trying to cover every rule and give
them all the context now will just slow
the game down. In particular, dont go
over the basic moves in detail yet. Leave
them out so that the players can read
them and ask questions, but dont waste
time by explaining each. Theyll come
up as needed.
As the players introduce their characters
and start setting bonds move from answering questions to asking them. Ask
about why they chose what they did
and what that means for their character.
Ask about details established by their
bonds. Let their choices establish the
world around them. Take special note
of anything that you think you might
be able to make moves with (like an estranged teacher or a simmering war).
Start Play
Start play by concretely describing the
world around them. Keep it brief and
evocative, use plenty of details, and end
with something that demands action.
Then ask them what they do.
Ending with something that demands
action is important. Dont presume that
new players will already know what they
want to do. Giving them something
to react to right away means you get
straight to playing.
Especially for new players make sure
that the action theyre thrown into is
something they have the tools to deal
with. A ght is a good choice, as is a
tense negotiation (which can easily be-
Guild Members
come a ght). Keep it simple and let the
complexity build.
Even in a ght keep to simple monsters:
things that bleed, dont have too much
armor, and dont have piercing. Give
them a chance to get used to their armor and dealing damage before you start
using the exceptions to those rules, like
piercing and ignoring armor. Of course
if the ction dictates ignoring armor or
piercing or a certain monster, use it, but
dont lead with those.
For new players make liberal use of your
Show Signs of Doom move. New players, or those used to a different type
of fantasy adventure, may have different assumptions about whats lethal and
when theyre in danger, so make sure to
show them danger clearly. Once theyve
started to pick up on whats dangerous
you can give them a little less warning.
If youre GMing for the rst time focus on
a few moves: Show Signs of Doom, Deal
Damage, Put Someone in a Spot. Only
look at your moves sheet if youre pretty
sure none of those three apply. Eventually youll build up familiarity with
the whole range of GM moves and using them will seem like second nature.
Continuing Play
After an hour or two of play the players
will likely have everything down. As a
rst time GM you may take a bit longer to
pick up all your moves, maybe a session
or two. Just roll with it.
If you nd yourself struggling in the rst
session consider it a pilot, like the rst
episode of a TV show. Feel free to start
over or retroactively change things. If
a player decides that the Thief just isnt
what they thought it was let them switch
classes (either remaking the same character or introducing someone new). If
your rst adventure wasnt working too
well scrap it and start something new.
While Dungeon World works great for
one-shots the longer cycles of levels and
bonds dont really kick in for a bit. If
your rst one or two sessions go well
consider scheduling out enough time for
510 more. Knowing that youre planning to play that much longer gives you
some space to plan out your fronts and
resolve them.
There isnt always time for prep. People arent entirely committed to a
gameyou just want to test it out or
youve got a four-hour slot at a convention that you want to ll and youve
never met the players before in your
life. Maybe prep isnt something you
care about or you think its more fun to
just take a map and run with it. Even
better, maybe youve got a favorite oldschool adventure module and youd love
to run through using the Dungeon World
Overview
rules. In this appendix, well cover how
to convert and adapt material from other
games into Dungeon World and give you
the same exibility to run your favorite
adventures using the rules in this book.
Overview
The rst step in preparing an adventure
for use with Dungeon World is reading
through that adventure, and through the
Dungeon World rules. For this book,
youll want to be familiar with all the basic rules, as well as familiar with the section on Fronts and on the GM principles.
The former will be guiding you in adapting the framework of the adventure and
the latter will help keep your mind going
in the right directionso that gameplay
stays true to the style and rules set out
in this book. Youll want to read through
the module next, paying close attention
to the four following topics as you go.
Maps
Monsters
Magic Items
NPCs and Organizations
Flip through the adventure, make some

notes as you go, but dont feel you need
to memorize the whole thing. Areas that
focus particularly on statistics are likely
to end up ignored, and youll want to
leave blanks in the adventure for you and
the players to discover as you go.
When youve nished, youll have a
broad understanding about what the adventure is aboutthe power groups at
play in it, the special or cool monsters
the adventure contains, the threats and
dangers that its cast present to the world
and the kinds of things the PCs might be
interested in. Set aside the adventure for
now, and refer to the Fronts section of
Dungeon World. This is where the majority of your work is going to take place.
Fronts
The core of any standard adventure, scenario or game session in Dungeon World
ows outward from the Fronts to the
players; the Fronts have their Impending Dooms, the players react, and in the
space between, you play the game to nd
out what happens. The same is true
when presenting a converted adventure.
Reading through the module, youll have
noticed thingsNPCs, places of interest,
special monsters and organizations that
might have an impact on the world or
some agenda to carry out. Depending on
the size of the adventure, there may be
just one or a few of these. Take a look
through the list of Front types and create
one for each group.
Im going to convert an old adventure I love;

Ive run it a dozen times in a bunch of different systems and I think itd be a blast
to run my Dungeon World group through.
Ive given myself a quick read through to remind myself what the adventure is all about.
In this case, theres a town being menaced
in secret by a wicked cult who worships a
squamous reptile god. Sounds like fun! The
adventurehasasecretdungeon, acorruptreligious order, a bunch of smelly troglodytes
and some very helpless adventurers. Ive decided that the Fronts in this adventure are
The Cultists and The Troglodyte Clan
Now, I could make the sorcerous Naga that
livesinthecavernsherownFront, ifIwanted
to, or I could add in a Campaign Front for
the Reptile God itself, but I think Ill only
be running this game a few sessions, so Im
going to stay focused. The two Fronts I have
work together in some ways, but are unique
and operate independently, so Ive separated
them.
Create these Fronts like you would normally, choosing dangers, impending
dooms, and grim portents. Ask one or
two stakes questions but be sure to leave
yourself lots of roomthats where you
can really tie in the characters. Normally, youd be pulling these things
straight out of the inspiration of your
brain, but in this case, youve got the
module to guide you. Think about the
Fronts as themes, and the Dangers as
elements from the pages of your module. Look at the kinds of things your
Fronts are said to be doing in the adventure and how that might go if the PCs
were never there to stop it. Whats the
worst that could happen if the Fronts
were able to run rampant? This kind
of reading-between-the-lines will give
you ammunition for making your hard
moves as you play through the adventure. This step is where youll turn those
stat-block NPCs into either full- edged
dangers themselves, or members of the
Fronts cast.
If there are any traps, curses or general effects in the adventure youd like to
write custom moves for, do it now. A lot
of old adventures will have elements that
call for a saving throw to avoid some
noisome effectthese can often simply
be a cause for a Defy Danger roll, or can
have whole, separate custom moves if
necessary. The key here is to capture the
intent of the adventurethe spirit of the
thingrather than translate some mechanical element perfectly.
When youre done, youll have a set of
Fronts that cover the major threats and
dangers the characters will face.
117
Monsters
Monsters
Most published adventures contained
one or two unique monsters not seen
anywhere elsecustom creatures and
denizens of the deeps that could threaten
players in some way they hadnt encountered before. Take a look through the
adventure and make sure youve caught
them all. Many monsters will already
have statistics noted in Dungeon World
and you can, if youre happy with them,
just make a note of what page theyre on
in your Fronts and move on from there. If
you want to further customize the monsters, or need to create your own, use the
rules to do so. In this step, try to avoid
thinking about balancing the monsters
or concerning yourself too much with
how many HP a monster has or whether
its armor rating matches what you expect. Think more about how the monster
is meant to participate in the adventure.
Is it there to scare the pcs? Is it there to
bar their way or pose a riddle? What is
its purpose in the greater ecology of the
dungeon or adventure at large? Translating the spirit of the thing will always
give you better, more engaging results. If
the monster has a cool power or neat trick
you want to write a custom move for, do
so! Custom moves are what make Dungeon World feel unique from group to
group, so take advantage of them where
you can.
In my adventure, the monsters run the
gamut. Ive got a scary naga with some
mind-controlling powers, an evil priest with
divine snake-god magic, a bunch of ruf an
cultists, a dragon turtle and a few miscellaneous lizards, crocodiles and snakes. Most
of these I can pull from the Monster Settings,
but Ill create custom stats for the Naga and
the cultist leader, at least. I want them to feel
new and different and have some cool ideas
for how that might look. I use the monster
creation rules to put them together.
Direct Conversion
If you run across a monster that you
havent already created and which you
dont know well enough to convert using the monster creation rules you can
instead convert them directly.
Damage
If the monsters damage is a single dice
with a bonus of up to +10 keep it as-is. If
the monsters damage uses multiple dice
of the same size roll the listed dice and
take the highest result. If the monster
uses multiple dice of different sizes roll
only the largest and take the highest result.
HP
If the monsters HP is listed as Hit Dice
118
Guild Members
take the maximum value of the rst HD
and add one for each additional hit dice.
If the monsters HP is listed as a number
with no Hit Dice divide the HP by 4.
Armor
If the monsters AC is average give it 1
armor. If the monsters AC is low, give it
0 armor. If the monsters AC is high give
it 2 armor, 3 armor for beasts that are all
aboutdefense. If itsnearly invulnerable,
4 armor. +1 armor if its defenses are
magical.
Moves and Instinct

Look at the special abilities or attacks
listed for the monster, these form the
basis for its moves.
Maps
One of the biggest differences between
Dungeon World and many other fantasy
RPGs is the concept of maps and mapping. In many games, youll see a squareby-square map denoting precisely what
goes where, often presented to give as
much detail as possible and leave little
to the imagination save the description
of the location in question. Dungeon
World often leans the opposite directionmaps marked with empty space
and a one or two word description like
blades or scary. To adapt an existing adventure for use in Dungeon World,
simply keep in mind your Principles and
Agenda. Primarily, keep in mind that
as the GM, its your job to draw maps,
leave blanks and to ask questions and
use the answers.
To that end, its often best to re-draw the
map entirely, if you have time. Dont
copy it inch-by-inch but redraw it freehand, leaving spaces and drawing out
new rooms, if youd like. Dont stick to
the map exactly as written, but give yourself some creative license. The idea here
is to give yourself room to expandto
allow the players reaction to the adventure to surprise and inspire you. If youve
got the whole map nailed down in advance, theres nowhere to go you dont
already know about, is there? Pick a few
rooms that dont interest you and wipe
out their inhabitants. Draw a new tunnel
or two. This will give you some space to
play around once you get into the game
itself.
If you dont have the time or inclination
to re-draw the map, dont worry. Just
take the original map, make a few notes
about what might go where and leave the
rest blank. When the players go into
that room marked 4f dont look it up,
just make a guess at what might be there
based on your notes and what else has
been happening. Youll nd a comfortable balance between freely playing out
what happens and consulting your prep
as you go along.
The maps that come with my adventure are

a good mix of fun and cool and sort of boring uff. Ill keep most of what the dungeon describes under the citythe lair of the
troglodytes and the secret caves where the
captive villagers are being keptbut Im going to throw away a lot of the stuff about
the village itself and just leave blank spaces.
Itll give me room to use the answers to questions like who do you already know, here?
and who lives in the abandoned hut up the
road? Ive made some notes about where
the map and my Fronts intersect, but mostly
Ive just given myself room to explore.
Magic & Treasure

Two things that are, traditionally, a big
deal in published modules are treasure
and magic items. This is less relevant
in Dungeon World (as the reward cycle for characters is more about doing
than about having) but its still fun to
drudge through a dungeon or explore
lost ruins and come up with cool magic
items and piles of gold! Like the map,
its useful to get an idea of the kinds of
stuff that might be found in the adventureanything particularly called out in
the text as relevant to the adventure itself (a magic sword that can be used to
wound the golem on level 4, or a pendant
belonging to the prince captured in room
3) is particularly important. Like monsters, its better to look at magic items in
terms of what purpose they ful ll: what
theyre for rather than the damage or
armor bonus they might give. Dungeon
World isnt built on balancing treasure
against character level, for example, so
just look through the adventure for items
that seem cool or fun or interesting and
create new magic items (with custom
moves as necessary) wherever you think
its needed. This is possibly the easiest
step of conversion. Again, you can leave
yourself exploratory room, here. Make
notes to yourself like the wizard has a
magic staff, what does it do? and nd
that out in play. Ask the players about it,
see what they have to say. Let Spout Lore
do some work for you. Youve heard
that the wizard here has a strange magical staff. What rumors have you heard
of its origins?
Guild Members
Introductory Moves
This step is entirely optional, but can
be really useful when running through
an adventure for a convention group or
other group whererunningthrough a full
rst session process just isnt possible.
You can take variables of the adventure
and create hooks for that adventure,
writing custom moves to be made after
character creation but before play starts.
These moves will serve to engage the
characters in the ction and give them
something special to prepare them or
hook them into whats about to happen.
You can write one for each class, or bundle them together, if you like. Heres an
example:
Fighter, someone who loves you gave you
a gift before you left for a life of adventure.
Roll + CHA and tell us how much they love
you. On a 10+ pick two heirlooms, on a 7-9
pick one . On a miss, well, good intentions
count for something, right?
a vial of antivenom
a shield that glows with silver light
arusted old key inthe shape of a lizard
These sorts of moves can give the players
the sense that their characters are tied to
the situation at hand, and open the door
for more lines of question-and-answer
play that can ll the game world with life.
Think about the Fronts, the things they
endanger, the riches they might protect
and their impact on the world. Let these
intro moves ow from that understanding, creating a great kick-start to the adventure.
Sometimes the players will come across
someone who becomes important in the
moment. When the ritual goes wrong
and a poor captive gets the power cosmic
what does that villager do with it? Who
were they?
When you need a quick NPC all you need
is an instinct and some way to pursue it.
We call that a Knack, it can be anything
from a skill to a title to a debt owed. Combine the two and you have an NPC who
has something they want and a way to
try to get it, youre ready to go.
100 Instincts
1. To avenge
2. To spread the good word
3. To reunite with a loved one
4. To make money
5. To make amends
6. To explore a mysterious place
7. To uncover a hidden truth
8. To locate a lost thing
9. To kill a hated foe
10. To conquer a far-away land
11. To cure an illness
Introductory Moves
12. To craft a masterwork
13. To survive just one more day
14. To earn affection
15. To prove a point
16. To be smarter, faster and stronger
17. To heal an old wound
18. To extinguish an evil forever
19. To hide from a shameful fact
20. To evangelise
21. To spread suffering
22. To prove worth
23. To rise in rank
24. To be praised
25. To discover the truth
26. To make good on a bet
27. To get out of an obligation
28. To convince someone to do their dirty
work
29. To steal something valuable
30. To overcome a bad habit
31. To commit an atrocity
32. To earn renown
33. To accumulate power
34. To save someone from a monstrosity
35. To teach
36. To settle down
37. To get just one more haul
38. To preserve the law
39. To discover
40.To devour
41. To restore the family name
42. To live a quiet life
43. To help others
44.To atone
45. To prove their worth
46. To gain honor
47. To expand their land
48. To gain a title
49. To retreat from society
50. To escape
51. To party
52. To return home
53. To serve
54. To reclaim what was taken
55. To do what must be done
56. To be a champion
57. To avoid notice
58. To help a family member
59. To perfect a skill
60. To travel
61. To overcome a disadvantage
62. To play the game
63. To establish a dynasty
64. To improve the realm
65. To retire
66. To recover a lost memory
67. To battle
68. To become a terror to criminals
69. To raise dragons
70. To live up to expectations
71. To become someone else
72. To do what cant be done
73. To be remembered in song
74. To be forgotten
75. To nd true love
76. To lose their mind
77. To indulge
78. To make the best of it
79. To nd the one
80. To destroy an artifact
81. To show them all
82. To bring about unending summer

83. To y
84. To nd the six- ngered man
85. To wake the ancient sleepers
86. To entertain
87. To follow an order
88. To die gloriously
89. To be careful
90. To show kindness
91. To not screw it all up
92. To uncover the past
93. To go where no man has gone before
94. To do good
95. To become a beast
96. To spill blood
97. To live forever
98. To hunt the most dangerous game
99. To hate
100.To run away
100 Knacks
1. Criminal connections
2. Muscle
3. Skill with a speci c weapon
4. Hedge wizardry
5. Comprehensive local knowledge
6. Noble blood
7. A one-of-a-kind item
8. Special destiny
9. Unique perspective
10. Hidden knowledge
11. Magical awareness
12. Abnormal parentage
13. Political leverage
14. A tie to a monster
15. A secret
16. True love
17. An innocent heart
18. A plan for the perfect crime
19. A one-way ticket to paradise
20. A mysterious ore
21. Money, money, money
22. Divine blessing
23. Immunity from the law
24. Prophecy
25. Secret martial arts techniques
26. A ring of power
27. A much-needed bag of taters
28. A heart
29. A forti ed position
30. Lawmaking
31. Tongues
32. A discerning eye
33. Endurance
34. A safe place
35. Visions
36. A beautiful mind
37. A clear voice
38. Stunning looks
39. A catchy tune
40.Invention
41. Baking
42. Brewing
43. Smelting
44.Woodworking
45. Writing
46. Immunity to re
47. Cooking
48. Storytelling
119
100 Knacks
49. Ratcatching
50. Lying
51. Utter unremarkableness
52. Mind-bending sexiness
53. Unde nable coolness
54. A way with knots
55. Wheels of polished steel
56. A magic carpet
57. Endless ideas
58. Persistence
59. A stockpile of food
60. A hidden path
61. Piety
62. Resistance to disease
63. A library
64. A silver tongue
65. Bloodline
66. An innate spell
120
Guild Members
67. Balance
68. Souls
69. Speed
70. A sense of right and wrong
71. Certainty
72. An eye for detail
73. Heroic self-sacri ce
74. Sense of direction
75. A big idea
76. A hidden entrance to the city
77. The love of someone powerful
78. Unquestioning loyalty
79. Exotic fruit
80. Poison
81. Perfect memory
82. The language of birds
83. A key to an important door
84. Metalworking
85. Mysterious benefactors

86. Steely nerves
87. Bluf ng
88. A trained wolf
89. A long-lost sibling, regained
90. An arrow with your name on it
91. A true name
92. Luck
93. The attention of supernatural powers
94. Kindness
95. Strange tattoos
96. A majestic beard
97. A book in a strange language
98. Power overwhelming
99. Delusions of grandeur
100.The wind at his back and a spring in
his step
Index
53
Index
1 7
1 Choose a Class 7
1st 18, 33
1st Level Spells 18, 33
2 7
2 Choose a Race 7
3 7
3 Choose a Name 7
3rd 18, 33
3rd Level Spells 18, 33
4 7
4 Choose Look 7
5 7
5 Choose Stats 7
5th 18, 33
5th Level Spells 18, 33
6 8
6 Figure Out Modi ers 8
7 8
8 8
8 Choose Starting Moves 8
7 Set Starting HP 8
7th 19, 34
9 8
9 Choose Alignment 8
9th 19, 34
10 8
10 Choose Gear 8
11 8
11 Introduce Your Character
8
12 8
12 Choose Bonds 8
100 119, 119
100 Instincts 119
100 Knacks 119
(cabal) 52
(cha) 12, 13, 23
(choir 52
(choose 67, 68
(dark 52
(from 35
(int) 30
(str) 20
(wis) 25
& 55, 118
a
Adding Steadings 60
Address 42
Address the characters not
the players 42
Adept 64
Advanced 13, 16, 21, 24, 26, 29,
31
Advanced Moves 13, 16, 21,
24, 26, 29, 31
Advancement 6, 55
Adventure 47, 48, 51, 111
Adventure Moves 111
Aegis 24
After Death 54
Agenda 41, 113
Agenda Principles and GM
Moves 113
Aid 9, 16, 16, 63, 96
Aid or Interfere 9, 96
Aim 29
Alchemist 29
Alignment 8, 12, 16, 21, 24, 26,

28, 30, 55, 56
A LittleHelp FromMyFriends
13
Ally 27
Always Say 41
Ambitious 49, 49
AmbitiousOrganizations 49
An Ear For Magic 13
An Ear for Magic 100
An Example Front The Opening of the White Gate 52
Angels) 52
Animal 25
Animal Companion 25
Animate 102
Animate Dead 102
Anointed 16
Answers 42
A Port in the Storm 12
Apply) 67, 68
Arcane 12, 31, 31, 49, 49
Arcane Armor 31
Arcane Art (Cha) 12
Arcane Enemies 49
Arcane Ward 31
Arcanists 52
Argent 52
Arm 29
Armor 17, 21, 31, 36, 103, 118
Armored 20, 21, 23
Armored Perfection 21
Armor Mastery 21, 103
Art 12
A Safe Place 26
A Safer Place 26
Ask questions 47
Ask questions and use the answers 42
Attack 68
Augmentation 32
Authority 24, 24
b
Backstab 28, 106
Backtrack 45
Bamboozle 13
Bard 1, 12, 100
Bardic 12, 100
Bardic Lore 12, 100
Bard Moves 100
Bars 20
Basic 9
Basic Moves 9
Basics 41, 112
Be a fan of the characters 42
42
Belly 26
Bend 20
Bend Bars Lift Gates (Str) 20
Big 67
Blacksmith 21
Blanks 42, 47
Blast 13
Block 14
Blood 21, 21, 53
Blood and Guts 53
Bloodthirsty 21
Bloody 24
Bloody Aegis 24
Blot 26
Blot out the Sun 26
Bolster 11, 60
Bonds 8, 13, 16, 21, 24, 26, 29,
31, 55, 55, 55, 55
Breath 10, 97
Brewer 29
Bribes 37
Buildings 37
c
Cacophony 13
Called 25
Called Shot 25
Camou age 26
Camp 10, 97
Campaign 48, 62, 62
CampaignandAdventureFronts
48
Cantrips 33
Capture 63
Carouse 10, 59, 97
Cast 15, 30, 50, 52
Cast a Spell 15
Cast a Spell (Int) 30
Cautious 29, 29
Cavern 68, 70
Cavern Dwellers 68, 70
Challenge 45
Chance 47
Change 44
Change the environment 44
Changing Alignment 56
Changing the Basics 112
Chaotic 13, 26, 28, 56
Character 7, 8, 47
Character Creation 7
Characters 42, 42, 45, 116
Charge 24
Charming and Open 12, 100
Cheap 29
Cheap Shot 29
Choose 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8,
113
Choosing a Move 43
Chord 13
Chorus 13
Chosen 16
Chosen One 16
City 62
Clash 63
Class 7, 110
Classes 110, 110, 116
Class Moves 110
Cleric 1, 15, 18, 101, 102
Cleric Spells 18, 102
Closest 35
Collapse 62
College 52
Command 25, 105
Common 68
Commune 15, 101
Companion 25
Compendium 110
Compendium Classes 110
Con 14
Connections 29
Consequences 44
Continuing Play 117
Contributors 115
Conversion 118
121
Index
Cost 44
Costs 64
Counter 31
Counterspell 31
Create 116
Create Characters 116
Creating Dangers 48
Creating Fronts 48
Creating the world 59
Creation 7
Creature 44, 44
Creatures 53
Cursed 50, 50
Cursed Places 50
Custom 50, 52
Custom Moves 50, 52
d
Dabbler 13, 17, 21, 99
Damage 5, 44, 53, 53, 54, 118
Damage and HP 5
Damage From Multiple Creatures 53
Danger 9, 43, 94
Dangerous 42
Dangers 48, 49, 52
Dark 69
Dead 102
Deal 44
Deal damage 44
Death 16, 54, 54
Deaths 21
Debilities 54
Defend 9, 94
Defender 24, 24
Defense 30, 67
Defenses 61
Defy 9, 94
Defy Danger 9, 94
Deity 15
Denizens 69, 73
Denizens of the Swamp 69
Depths 69, 87
Describe 47, 68
Description 50, 52
Description and Cast 50, 52
Detail 93, 98
Details 47
Development 112
Development of a Move 112
Devious 13
Devoted 16
Devoted Healer 16
Dice 3
Direct 118
Direct Conversion 118
Dirty 29
Dirty Fighter 29
Discern 9, 95
Discern Realities 9, 95
Disguise 29, 106
Dispel 108
Dispel Magic 108
Divine 15, 16, 16, 16, 17, 24, 24,
24
Divine Armor 17
Divine Authority 24
Divine Favor 24
Divine Guidance 15
Divine Intervention 16
Divine Invincibility 16
122
Divine Protection 16, 24

Doom 43, 51
Draw 42
Draw maps leave blanks 42
Duelists 13, 14
Duelists Block 14
Duelists Parry 13
Dungeon 1, 36, 44
Dungeon Gear 36
Dungeon Moves 44
Dungeon World 1
Dwarf 15, 20
Dwellers 68, 70
e
Ear 13, 100
Effect 111
Eldritch 13, 13
Eldritch Chord 13
Eldritch Tones 13
Elements 60, 66
Elements of a Monster 66
Elements of a Steading 60
Eleven 13, 100
Elf 12, 20, 25, 30
Embattled 63
Embrace 42
Embrace the fantastic 42
Empathy 26
Empower 16, 17
Empowered 31, 31, 107
Empowered Magic 31, 107
Enchanter 31
Enchanters 31
Enchanters Soul 31
Encumbrance 10, 97
End of Session 10
Enemies 49, 49
Envenom 29
Environment 44
Equipment 5, 35
Escape 29
Escape Route 29
Establish 47
Establish details describe 47
Ethereal 31
Ethereal Tether 31
Evasion 29
Ever Onward 24
Evidence 24, 104
Evidence of Faith 24, 104
Evil 16, 21, 21, 29, 31, 56, 113
Evil Eye 21
Example 57
Expanded 31
Expanded Spellbook 31
Experiments 69, 85
Expert 28, 65
Exterminatus 24
Extremely 29
Extremely Cautious 29
Eye 21, 22
Eye for Weaponry 22
Eyes 21
f
Face 13
Faction 44, 44
Facts 47
Faith 24, 104
Familiar 26
Familiar Prey 26
Fan 42
Fangs 26
Fantastic 42
Favor 24
Fiction 42
Fight 67, 113
Fighter 1, 20, 29, 103
Fighter Moves 103
Figure 8
Finery 37
Fireball 108
First Aid 16
First Session 46
Flexible 28
Flexible Morals 28
Flow 4
Folk 91
Folk of the Realm 91
Follow 26
Follow Me 26
Forces 49, 49
Form 68
Fount 31
Fount of Knowledge 31
Friend 26
Friends 13
Front 51, 52
Fronts 48, 48, 48, 48, 51, 62, 117
Fronts on the Campaign Map
62
Furthest) 35
g
Gate 52, 52
Gates 20
Gear 8, 13, 16, 21, 24, 26, 29, 31,
36
Getting Started 46
Gifts 37
Gifts and Finery 37
Give 42, 47, 47
Give each character a chance
to shine 47
Give every monster life 42
Glossary 35
Gm 41, 49, 49, 49, 50, 50, 113
GM Moves for Ambitious Organizations 49
GM Moves for Arcane Enemies 49
GM Moves for Cursed Places
50
GM Moves for Hordes 50
GM Moves for Planar Forces
49
Gnarled 79
Gnarled Woods 79
God 26
God Amidst the Wastes 26
Good 12, 16, 21, 24, 26, 30, 56
Greater 16, 17, 31
Greater Empower 17
Greater Empowered Magic
31
Greater First Aid 16
Grim 50, 52, 52, 52
Grim Portents 50, 52, 52, 52
Growth 62
Guidance 15, 16, 102
Guild 116
Guild Members 116

Guts 53
h
Hack 9, 93
Hack and Slash 9, 93
Half-Elven 26
Half-elven 26
Hal ing 20, 28
Hands 23
Healer 16
Healing 54
Healing Chorus 13
Healing Song 13
Heirloom 21, 103
Heist 29
Help the players understand
the moves 47
Hide 21, 21
Highly 31
Highly Logical 31
Hirelings 64, 64, 64
Hoards 37
Holy 24, 24
Holy Protection 24
Holy Smite 24
Hordes 50, 50, 69, 82
Hospitaller 24, 24
How big is it 67
How does it usually hunt or
ght 67, 113
HP 53, 118
Hp 5, 8, 53, 118
Human 12, 15, 20, 23, 25, 28,
30
Hunt 25, 67, 113
Hunt and Track (Wis) 25
Hunters 26
Hunters Prey 26
Hurlant 13
i
I Am the Law 23
Impending Doom 51
Impervious 24
Impervious Defender 24
Important 67
Improved 21
Improved Weapon 21
Indivisible 4
Indomitable 24
Initiate 13, 21, 99
Instinct 118
Instincts 119
Interfere 9, 96
Interrogator 21
Intervention 16
Introduce 8, 44, 47
Introduce a new faction or
type of creature 44
Introduce NPCs 47
Introductory 119
Introductory Moves 119
Invigorate 16
Invincibility 16
Iron 21
Iron Hide 21
Items 38
It Goes To Eleven 13, 100
Index
j
Journey 10, 97
k
Knacks 119
Knight 24
Know-It-All 31
Know-it-all 31
Knowledge 31
l
Land 37
Land and Buildings 37
Last Breath 10, 97
Law 23
Lawful 16, 24, 56
Lay 23
Lay on Hands (Cha) 23
Leave 42, 47
Leave blanks 47
Legions 69, 76
Legions of the Undead 69, 76
Level 10, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 33,
33, 33, 34, 34, 55
Level Up 10, 55
Life 16, 42
Lift 20
Location 43
Logical 31, 31
Look 12, 15, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30
Look for interesting facts 47
Lore 9, 12, 95, 100
Lower Depths 87
m
Magic 13, 31, 31, 38, 100, 102,
107, 108, 118
Magic & Treasure 118
Magic Items 38
Magic Weapon 102
Make a move that follows 42
Make Camp 10, 97
Make them backtrack 45
Making a City 62
Making a Hireling 64
Making a Keep 62
Making a Town 62
Making a Village 61
Making Monsters 67
Making Moves 109
Making your Move 43
Mans 26
Mans Best Friend 26
Map 62, 62
Maps 42, 118
Martyr 16
Master 14, 29, 31, 99
Mastery 21, 103
Meals 36
Members 116
Merciless 21
Metal 13
Metal Hurlant 13
Minstrel 65
Modi ers 8
Monster 42, 43, 66, 67, 68,
108, 113
Monsters 66, 66, 67, 67, 113,
118
Monster Settings 68
Monsters Without Stats 67
Monster Tags 67
Morals 28
Move 42, 42, 43, 43, 43, 43, 111,
112
Moves 4, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15,
16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28,
29, 30, 31, 43, 44, 47, 49, 49,
49, 50, 50, 50, 52, 59, 93, 97,
98, 99, 100, 103, 104, 105, 106,
107, 109, 109, 109, 110, 111, 113,
118, 119
Moves and Instinct 118
Moves Are Indivisible 4
Moves in Detail 93, 98
Move Structure 111
Multiclass 13, 13, 14, 17, 21, 21,
99, 99, 99, 99
Multiclass Dabbler 13, 17, 21,
99
Multiclass Initiate 13, 21, 99
Multiclass Master 14, 99
Multiclass Moves 99
Multiple 51, 53
Multiple Adventure Fronts
51
Mystical 32
Mystical Puppet Strings 32
n
Name every person 42
Names 12, 15, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30,
61
Neutral 12, 21, 26, 28, 30, 56
Never speak the name of your
move 42
New Classes 110
Npcs 47
o
Observant 27
Offer 44
Offer an opportunity with or
without cost 44
Offscreen 43
Onward 24
Open 12, 100
Opportunity 44, 63
Order 64
Order Hirelings 64
Organization 67
Organizations 49, 49
Organization Tags 67
Orison 16
Orison for Guidance 16
Other Tags 61
Other Updates 63
OutstandingWarrants 11, 60,
97
Overview 117
p
Paladin 1, 23, 104
Paladin Moves 104
Parley 9, 95
Parry 13
Penitent 16
Perfect 24, 24
Perfect Hospitaller 24
Perfection 21
Perfect Knight 24
Perilous 10, 97
Person 42
Pitch 116
Pitch It 116
Place 26, 26
Places 50, 50
Planar 49, 49, 69, 89
Planar Forces 49
Planar Powers 69, 89
Play 4, 116, 117
Players 42, 47
Point 44
Points 109
Point to a looming threat 44
Poison 29
Poisoner 28, 106
Poison Master 29
Poisons 36
Polymorph 108
Population 61
Port 12
Portal) 52
Portents 50, 52, 52, 52
Powers 69, 89
Prep 46
Prepare 30, 107
Prepare Spells 30, 107
Present 45, 45, 116
Present a challenge to one of
the characters 45
Present riches at a price 45
Present the Classes 116
Prey 26, 26
Price 45
Priest 65
Principles 42, 113
Problems 67
Prodigy 31
Pro t 63
Prosperity 61
Protection 16, 24, 24
Protective 31
Protective Counter 31
Protector 65
Providence 16
Puppet 32
Put 44
Put someone in a spot 44
q
Quest 23
Questions 42, 47
Quick 31
Quick Study 31
r
Race 7
Range 35
Ranger 1, 25, 105
Ranger Moves 105
Range Tags (From Closest to
Furthest) 35
Ravenous 69, 82
Ravenous Hordes 69, 82
Realities 9, 95
Realm 91
Reaper 16
Recover 11, 60
Recruit 11, 60
Red 21
Re ect 113
Replaces 55
Reputation 13
Reputation (Cha) 13
Requirements 44
Requires 55
Requires & Replaces 55
Resolving a Front 51
Resolving Bonds 55
Resources 44
Results 4
Reveal 43
43
Riches 45
Ritual 30
Rolls 4
Rolls and Results 4
Rotes 18
Route 29
s
Safe 26
Safer 26
Scales 16
Scent 21
Scent of Blood 21
Seeing Red 21
Self-Powered 32
Self-powered 32
Seraphim 52
Serenity 16
Serious Underdog 29
Services 36
Session 10, 46
Sessions 6
Set 8
Settings 68
Setting Up 3
Setup 24
Setup Strike 24
Shine 47
Shoot 29
Shoot First 29
Shot 25, 29
Show 43
Show signs of doom 43
Signature 20, 103
Signature Weapon 20, 103
Signs 43
Size 67
Size Tags 67
Skills 64
Slash 9, 93
Smaugs 26
Smaugs Belly 26
Smite 24, 24, 24
Song 13
Soul 31
Speak 42
Special 10, 27, 97, 114
Special Moves 10, 97
Special Thanks 114
Special Trick 27
Speech 26
Spell 15, 30, 30, 32
Spell Augmentation 32
Spellbook 30, 31
Spell Defense 30
Spells 18, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 30,
33, 33, 33, 33, 34, 34, 102, 107,
108
Spot 44
123
Index
Spout 9, 95
Spout Lore 9, 95
Stakes 51, 52
Start 116
Started 46
Starting Moves 12, 15, 20, 23,
25, 28, 30
Starting Points 109
Start Play 116
Stats 5, 7, 12, 15, 20, 23, 25, 28,
30, 67
Staunch 24
Staunch Defender 24
Steading Moves 59
Steading Names 61
Steadings 59, 60
Steading Tags 61
Steel 21
Steel Hide 21
Storm 12
Strider 26
Strike 24, 24, 26
Strings 32
Strong 29
Strong Arm True Aim 29
Structure 111
Study 31
Stun 54
Stun Damage 54
Summon 108
Summon Monster 108
Sun 26
Superior 22
Superior Warrior 22
Supply 10, 59
Surplus 63
Swamp 69, 73
Swamp Denizens 73
t
Tag 35
Tag Glossary 35
Tags 35, 61, 61, 67, 67, 67
Take Watch 10
Tandem 24
Tandem Strike 24
Taste 21, 29, 106
Taste of Blood 21
Tell them the requirements or
consequences and ask 44
Terminology 5
Tether 31
The Argent Seraphim (Choir
of Angels) 52
The Bard 1, 12
The Basics 41
The Cleric 1, 15
The College of Arcanists (Cabal) 52
The Dark Woods 69
The Fighter 1, 20
The First Adventure 47
The Flow of Play 4
The GM 41
The Lower Depths 69
The monster is Evil through
and through Choose one to
re ect why its evil 113
The Paladin 1, 23
The Ranger 1, 25
The Scales of Life and Death
124
16
The Thief 1, 28
The White Gate (Dark Portal)
52
The Wizard 2, 30
The world 59
Thief 1, 28, 106
Thief Moves 106
Think Dangerous 42
Think offscreen too 43
Threat 44, 44
Through Deaths Eyes 21
Tones 13
Town 62
Track 25
Tracker 65
Trade 28, 63
Trained 26
Transport 36
Trap 28
Trap Expert 28
Treasure 68, 118
Trick 27
Tricks 28
Tricks of the Trade 28
Triggers 111
True 29
Truth 43
Turn 15
Turn Undead 15
Twisted 69, 85
Twisted Experiments 69, 85
Type 44, 44
Types 49, 109
Types of Dangers 49
Types of Moves 109
u
Undead 15, 69, 76
Underdog 29, 29
Understand 47
Undertake 10, 97
10, 97
Unforgettable 13
Unforgettable Face 13
Unnatural 27
Unnatural Ally 27
Unwelcome 43
Updates 63
62
Use a monster danger or location move 43
Use a threat from an existing
faction or type of creature
44
Use up their resources 44
Use what they give you 47
Using Dice 3
Using Monsters 66
v
Vicious 13, 13, 16
Vicious Blast 13
Vicious Cacophony 13
Village 61
Vipers 26, 26
Vipers Fangs 26
Vipers Strike 26
Voice 24
Voice of Authority 24
Volley 9, 93
w
Want 63
Ward 31
Warrants 11, 60, 97
Warrior 22, 65
Wastes 26
Watch 10
Wealth 29, 106
Wealth and Taste 29, 106
Weapon 20, 21, 102, 103
Weaponry 22
Weapons 35
Well Trained 26
What does it want that causes
problems for others 67
What is it known for (Choose
all that apply) 67
What is it known to do 67
What is its most common
form of attack 68
What is its most important
defense 67
When to Make a Move 43
Which of these describe it
(Choose all that apply) 68
White 52, 52
Why 6
Wild 26, 26
Wild Empathy 26
Wild Speech 26
Wizard 2, 30, 33, 107, 108
Wizard Moves 107
Wizard Spells 33, 108
Woods 69, 79
World 1, 59, 59, 109
World Moves 109
Writing New Bonds 55

Dungeon World Book

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Dungeon World

Dungeon World is a world of fantastic adventure. A world of magic, gods,

Your friends may carry blades of forged

Nobody. Get going.

These city-born folk you travel with.

Guide. Hunter. Creature of the wilds.

To play Dungeon World, youll need to

The Flow of Play

Playing Dungeon World is a conversation of sorts; I say something, then you

Moves Are Indivisible

he makes the Defy Danger move because

Rolls and Results

The Flow of Play

adds them together, and adds two. Easy.

Strong hits and weak hits are both hits

The basic stats are:

There are also a few special stats:

Every adventurer needs stuff: weapons,

The Flow of Play

I sit down with Paul and Shannon to play a

6. Figure Out Modi ers

6. Figure Out Modi ers

8. Choose Starting Moves

10. Choose Gear

11. Introduce Your Character

12. Choose Bonds

Hack and Slash

Hack and Slash

. . . by powering through, +Str

On a 10+, you do what you set out to,

, roll+Int. On a 10+ the GM will tell you

What happened here recently?

When youre dying you catch a glimpse

When you have downtime (hours or

Undertake a Perilous Journey

If your new level is 3, 6, or 9, you also

You befriend a useful NPC

If you have a useful reputation around

Sure, an adventurers life is all open roads

Heal 1d8 damage

On Spells and Magicks

When you rst encounter an important

Charming and Open

17 (+2), 15 (+1), 13 (+1), 11 (+0), 9 (+0), 8 (-1)

A Port in the Storm

Your base damage is d6.

Arcane Art (Cha)

When you weave a performance into a

Avoid a con ict or defuse a tense situation

Adventuring Gear (1 weight)

When you gain a level from 2-5,

Replaces: Vicious Cacophony

Replaces: Eldritch Tones

A Little Help From My Friends

When you hear an enemy cast a spell the

long before I ever met them in person.

Fill in the name of one of your companions in at least one:

When you heal with Arcane Art, you heal

When you shout with great force or play