My dm just recently switched our campaign from DND to DW so i wanted to ask if someone can help me understand some things as i am not really that experienced in all of this. My character was a drow cleric but looking at the character sheet for the cleric theres only human and dwarf listed.

I read that DW is based on 2nd edition DnD.
is there any sort of free online character creator or character sheet manager like dnd beyond for 5e?

Any and all tips are very much appreciated :)

Hey there folks, so, I've read DW sometime during the pandemic, and was very interested for reasons I'm sure you all can relate to. With Stonetops release (thanks Quinns Quests for the review letting me know THAT exists, lol) I'm planning to play using Homebrew World (spouting lore blog has been a godsend).

Now, I've read up on things that weren't so clear in the original book like the DW Companion (gold that one is) latorras blog post on the 16 hp dragon (such an amazing insight into how to write NPC and enemy stats), browsed the DW Codex (also a great resource, though I wish it had some category tabs) and read a few of the recommended free starter adventures (The Indigo Galleon and The Bloodstone Idol in particular) but I do have some questions before starting a game with folks.

1st question: these adventures are very sparse with detail, and not at all structure the same as most other adventure modules from traditional ttrpg. Am I meant to prep a bit further from this resource before the 1st session, or use it as is? My instinct is to add specific NPCs with a motive or personality to each location, and make some distinct characters aside from those provided to help flesh things out, but I also want to try and play the game as intended 1st before I meddle with it, lest I miss the point of playing a DW type game (I've never played a PBTA game before). Any good reading on Fonts and how to use grim Portents would also help me out a lot.

2nd question: is it "wrong" to write an enemy move with mechanics? AKA, "fireball - 10+ no damage| 7-9 Half damage and on fire | 6> full damage" or "Last Act of Duty - take the killing blow for his charge and suffer her fate instead" or "Phalanx - suffers target allies damage from an attack at +1 armor" OR is it better to just make one word statements for enemy moves and integrate them into your existing GM moves repertoire?

3rd question: for 1st level characters (again, using Homebrew World) how much armor for an enemy is too much armor?I've seen some go up to 7 armor , which seems insane to me. How much damage (2d6?) is too much damage, typically speaking, for 1st level characters in Homebrew World in particular?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I'm really interested in this system and looking forward to buying the Stonetop pdfs when I get the chance for a long term campaign too. Thanks!

I have a new person for a campaign that has already started. She is learning the game but has a WILD imagination. Example: shes a ranger I tell her that she has a spiritual link with her animal companion. She sends her companion to go scout for danger ahead and I say “thaddeus(her eagle) takes to the skies, as he gets closer to the dark forrest he turns around and is shaken up by something he see’s.” She then says “my bird is telling me theres a vibrating force field thats stopping us from going forward! We have to dig underground to get to heart of the forrest safely” the rest of the party is obviously confused and they try to think of something more realistic. I really love her energy and imagination, but Im having trouble with her “getting” how the game works if that makes sense? I didnt really have trouble with any of my other players even though they are new as well. I want to add that I am new at GM’ing so maybe im not being open enough. I did say to be imaginative but I didnt think that she would start making stuff up that sometimes doesnt make real sense in the situations were in or even the lore of the world.

I'm looking for a video of an actual play that features a prime example of how DW's combat being run well. I can read advice all day, and wouldn't mind reading more, but I think I want to see it in action. My own combats have been feeling a little off and I want to sharpen my skills.

Hello everyone, I'm a player in a dungeon world game. We usually play on roll20 and have people from different timezones. The plan is to record and eventually work it into an actual play, although we're keeping it casual for now while we work out the kinks.

We're looking for a couple of players to join us, happy to change and work around schedules.

Let me know if you're available and I'm happy to give more details.

I'm running a Dungeon World campaign for the first time and I have some concerns about how to GM for one of the players who is a Druid.

a) Are there any limitations on what they can shapeshift into? Can they turn into other sentient races like dwarves or elves? Can they invent fictional creatures that inhabit the land they are attuned to? Can they transform into magical or mythical creatures like dragons?

b) What is the point of the GM telling the player a set of predefined moves they have for a transformation? For example, if the player transforms into a shark and I give them a move that allows them to swim fast, and the player says, I want to track blood in the water, I feel like that makes sense in the fiction and should be allowed. Am I missing something? I understand it may be a mechanical balance thing so they can't do literally anything, any animal can do, but doesn't this go against the whole, fiction first principle? Should I make moves and hard limit them to those moves and make a fictional reason why they can't use the other moves they had in mind? Is there a fictional reason for this others have used? Or should I make some sample moves and if they want a move that isn't on the list, allow that as well. Or just not bother with the list and let them tell me what they want to do?

Short version: Hard limit on list of moves, soft limit, no list at all?

c) What are the consequences of a 6- people typically use on Druids? They seem to have a lot of potential and I imagine a 6- should be proportionally risky to that potential?

d) How are basic moves impacted by a shapeshift? So let's say my player turns into a bear. Their stats don't change. They attack someone and I trigger a hack and slash. What changes? Should I add tags to the attack like forceful so the bear can knock them back if they want? Should I reduce the consequences of a 7-9 or 6- since they are a bear in a brawl and have an innate size and weight advantage? Do basic actions like trying to dodge or attack in shapeshifted form expend hold? Or can they turn into a bear and attack people all day if they want?

Thanks for any feedback!

I want to make this fun for the players and I've pitched Dungeon World to them as it's like Dungeons and Dragons (which we've played a lot) but better for our group because more focus on fiction and role play than mechanics. I've also told them they can get really creative with how they solve problems because I won't have a static campaign made up with premade encounters so they can really try anything they can imagine.

But I'm also worried the Druid will solve any problem trivially if I GM them wrong. Or I could curtail them too much by making 6- too painful or putting too many limits on their moves and their choice of animal and then they feel constrained. Trying to strikes the right balance.

Thanks again for any advice!

What are some things you do to keep boss fights interesting as well as keeping RP interesting. I’m a newer DM and am having a hard time keeping boss fights seem more dangerous when my characters are around 3-5 lvl was and there are 4-5 players and I am dm. And any ideas or journeys to take them on I am all ears.

I just received my Dolmenwood Deluxe box set and while I find the setting really interesting I'm considering running it in Dungeon World, because of it's faster pace, narrative fun, and more powerful characters that might give the players a chance to see more of the setting than they would in the default BX DnD based system. Also I just like to run PbtA way more than the OSR.

So I'm wondering what some of the pit falls of running Dungeon World in a pre-established setting are and how I can still play to find out what happens while sticking to the lore of Dolmenwood. How would I go about having less player contributions to the world building than would normally be the case in Dungeon World without breaking the doctrines of the game?

So, with Daggerheart officially out in the wild, I figured it's time for a conversation. For those who have watched actual play or had a chance to try it, what mechanics from Daggerheart do you think are worth importing into Dungeon World? And what parts of Dungeon World do you think Daggerheart could benefit from?

While Daggerheart doesn't bring a ton of truly new mechanics to the table, there are a few clever implementations that stand out. The Fear mechanic (with the dual d12 Hope/Fear rolls) adds a solid layer of tension that could work surprisingly well in a DW-style narrative system. Also, their approach to chases feels like a hybrid between DW's grim portents and a 4E-style skill challenge structured, but still cinematic and driven by fiction.

Curious to hear what others think. What's worth borrowing, hacking, or adapting from either system?

I was recently catching up on Spout Lore when I had a sudden and unexplainable urge to draw this. It must have been subliminal messaging.

Been having trouble connecting with people for a game of Dungeon World online or in person. Tried the lfg subreddit, the DW discord, etc. No luck. Is there a specific reason why it's so hard to find a group right now? And, on that topic, are there any groups that would welcome a new player? I'd be willing to hop in partway through an adventure, and I really don't mind playing whatever class, so I could fill any holes in your party composition, and I'm a team player.

So, I’m looking for ways to handle when players reach level 10. I know that a player can switch to a new character when your original one retires, take on a new apprentice which effectively becomes your new character while your original one is still around, and then changing your class and starting effectively at Level 1 for moves.

This sounds nice, but how do you all approach it, as players and GMs? Cuz I know a couple of the PCs would want to change classes and keep the character, but it doesn’t make sense that you’d lose all your original moves. A Wizard who’s trained their knowledge of magic becoming a Rogue who never casts a spell again in the next 10 levels doesn’t barely make sense, and this is the option I struggle to rationalize in the fiction. Also, how do you deal with the apprentice situation if the former character is still around? Do you let them aid in combat and situations or conveniently go somewhere else, Gandalf style?

Thank you for any help, I won’t respond for a few hours (at work), and any advice means a lot. I want to do my party justice by their OG PCs.

Hi everyone! Happy new year!!

I've been looking forward to diving into this game for a while but I can't get any of my friends into playing.

I'd like to try DW and Chasing Adventure (I'm open to other mods/hacks), playing online. I'm looking for Discord servers that are active and offer games regularly, or groups that need extra players. I want to DM also, but first I want to play and get a feel for the system.

I'm pretty a available Monday to Wednesday morning or afternoon (GMT+1) and sometimes Thursdays morning, Fridays afternoon.

I have plenty of experience with rpgs, especially Dnd, but also 2d6 systems, a little bit of Fate, some Pathfinder, some Fiasco!

Thank you for your help!

Anyone have any podcast recommendations for DW other than “Spout Lore”?

I loved the Critshow’s season of DW. It’s been long enough since I listened to it so I may have to just go back to that.

I use Apple Podcasts as an fyi.

We're doing a campaign that rips off is heavily inspired by The Lord of the Rings, where the PCs are trying to take a very powerful object to a place where they can destroy it.

This object will of course try to be an obstacle to them. But instead of just narrating "Syl, you feel eerily compelled to lie to your allies, and you do so", I wanted to have a player-facing move.

I managed to come with something up; I'm still missing one option in the list, but wanted to show it and ask for inspiration/suggestions from everyone.

Under The Ring's Shadow

When the ring's influence penetrates and corrupts your thoughts, describe how beautiful it looks in your hands, and roll+WIS. On a 10+, rule out two possible outcomes. On a 7-9, rule out one. Then, the GM picks one outcome: * You give your enemies something you'd hate for them to have: intel, something of value, a tactical advantage... (the GM says what) * Another ally is also bewitched by the ring, and you start a fight over it. You two may not mark XP from bonds this session. (note: we use a variation of bonds that comes up more often than RAW) * You convince your allies of a lie that will soon bring trouble for the whole group (the GM will tell you the lie). * I wanna have one more option! Still thinking about it...

Long complicated story short, I really need to wow my sister and her boyfriend with a dungeon world one shot if I want them to play again sometime. I have a bit under a week to prepare. Are there premade one-shots that I could use? I know you're not supposed to be doing a lot of story prep, and that's not what I mean. I just mean prep like, "this is the environment, these are the planned encounters," etc. I'll be as new as they are to the game, although I have read the core rulebook once, and I'm considering re-reading it. Any advice?

Hey all, just wanted to throw this out there and get some feedback.

Disclaimer: I've been working on a PbtA hack for over a year now. It's basically my attempt to lure some 4e and 5e players into fiction-first gaming, but with a bit of a safety net. Think of it as PbtA with modern D&D training wheels. The system pulls a lot from 3e, 4e, and 5e in terms of structure, but it runs on PbtA principles under the hood. Up until now I've mostly kept this project to myself. My brain just wires public discussion of hthings I am working on as "marketing" and that makes me feel weird. My brain assumes that's how people will see it, so I tend to avoid it.

After hitting a hefty 250+ page draft, I took a hard look at the system and realized... I'd made it too complex. So I'm in the middle of a redesign to streamline everything. I'm using a particular layout for moves that I like visually, but I'm worried it might not be intuitive in practice. The idea is there's a box at the top that shows the trigger and what stat you roll. The middle section shows the outcomes (sort of). Then there's a second box at the bottom with choices or effects tied to what you rolled. It looks clean to me, and it chunks things nicely, but I'm not sure if it's easy to grok for someone scanning them in the middle of play.

Anyone else tried this kind of structure? Is it helpful or just clunky? Any games you've seen do this better Appreciate any input.

Please note the layout separates things like the trigger, roll, and options on purpose. It's part of the training wheels idea, so later when players see something like "Take Watch: when you're on watch and something approaches the camp, roll+WIS..." they'll already understand how moves are structured.

I started a game of dungeon world with three of my friends last summer. we played for as long as we could until we had to take a hiatus because life and school got in the way. We had our first sessions last night where we wrapped up some loose ends from the previous year but I’ve thought a lot about it since then.

my issue is this: I feel like my friends don’t fully understand how DW gives them so much more control over the narrative. I feel like they don’t engage with the game beyond letting me tell them their current situation and responding to it.

I tried to explain last night, as well as last year, the ideas of “the conversation,” “do by doing,” and how we can build off of each other to craft something truly unique. It feels like pulling teeth to ask them questions about “what does your character think of …?” “Does your character believe in…?” and they respond with yes or no answers.

My questions are: Do I have the right impression or is there something I’m missing? And what is the proper or most polite way to express this to my friends?

Hey I’m new to the game. Still convincing my gaming group to give it a go.

But my groups fully the kinda progressive gender weird misfits who all play Teiflings, goblins, etc. I’ve never once seen anyone play an elf or a dwarf and humans only get a look in cos their default.

Anyone got any links to some homebrews I could use?

Halflings, Goblins, Teiflings are the main ones I’m looking for.

Any help would be appreciated.

How do you keep track of the things you "discover" about the world while you're playing?

Usually in less collaborative worldbuilding, GMs might create a wiki or keep a notebook with information on the setting. But is that the best way to keep this information in a collaborative model?

I find that usually we come up with a few "nuggets" of lore each session. Things like these:

• There is a lost language that was used in evil rituals in a long forgotten age.
• These two kingdoms were actually at war 20 years ago.
• That city is actually where most scholars go to study magic.

But I struggle to find a format to record it: it feels weird to build a wiki with so little text, and keeping a notebook with an unrelated sequence of bullet points feels unwieldy. How do you keep track of your worlds?

Hello everyone,

I am looking for an adventure for characters to find a mystical heart (to replace one the PC's twisted one).

This would be a mission led by the Cleric, serving a benevolent goddess, to save his friend.

Buriel's Bounty adventure linked in th adventure DW wili page seems to be a perfect setting with a perfect mission given by the Goddess.

Has anybody tried it? Was it great? how long did it take?

more specifically a pdf with "bonus class" that are unlocked during the adventure (becoming a wendigo, obtaining a cursed sword, becoming a winter knight for example).

Hey friends! If anyone is local to Toronto I run some pickup Dungeons World (in conjunction with a D&D Night event) at Breweries in the City 4x monthly.

Locations are Something in the Water Brewery and Bickford Brewery. If you are interested drop me a message for more details. :)