Dungeon World
OSR-INSPIRED FANTASY TABLETOP RPG (2012) by SAGE LATORRA + ADAM KOEBEL — applies the POWERED BY THE APOCALYPSE (PbtA) engine (from Vincent Baker's Apocalypse World) to a D&D-style dungeon-crawling fantasy setting. Signature: 2d6 + STAT resolution with 3 outcome tiers (6-, 7-9, 10+); GM never rolls; NARRATIVE MOVES describe what characters can do. Highly praised for streamlined fiction-first play; teach GM's to 'FILL THE CHARACTERS' LIVES WITH ADVENTURE'. Creative Commons license makes it hugely hackable + adopted.
Quick facts
Category
Tabletop Role-Playing
Type
Team sport
Players
2–6
Duration
~180 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
2012 Kickstarter; Creative Commons license; considered flagship PbtA fantasy game
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Cooperative narrative fantasy adventure — dungeon delving, dragon slaying, mystery solving.
Rules
Basic rules
PLAYER-FACING: PLAYERS roll all dice; GM NEVER rolls
Signature player-facing resolution.
MOVES: specific narrative actions like HACK & SLASH, DEFY DANGER, SPOUT LORE — trigger 2d6 + stat roll
Signature move-based resolution.
OUTCOMES: 10+ = full success; 7-9 = success with cost; 6- = GM has hard move (GM gets to hurt you)
Signature 3-tier outcomes.
GM MOVES: gm's have list of narrative responses to 6-: 'reveal an unwelcome truth', 'deal damage', 'introduce new element', etc.
Signature GM move list.
PLAYBOOKS: each class is a specific playbook with unique moves + advancement
Signature playbook character creation.
FRONTS: GM prep tool — countdowns of impending threats that advance if PCs don't stop them
Signature GM Front prep.
Scoring
Cooperative narrative; success measured by story arcs + XP.
Win condition · Campaign objectives fulfilled.
Equipment
Dungeon World rulebook + 2d6 + character playbooks (Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Thief, Bard, Druid, Paladin, Ranger)
Signature 2d6 + playbook system
Terminology
- Move
- Specific narrative action triggered by fiction (Hack & Slash, Defy Danger, etc.).
- Playbook
- Character sheet/class combined; player picks 1 playbook per PC.
- Player-Facing
- Players roll all dice; GM never rolls (a PbtA hallmark).
- Front
- GM's prep organization: dangers with countdowns advancing if unaddressed.
- PbtA
- 'Powered by the Apocalypse' — Vincent Baker's engine that Dungeon World popularized in fantasy.
- Sage LaTorra + Adam Koebel
- American designers; Adam later became notable actual-play GM on Roll20.
Where it is played
Sources & provenance
- Dungeon World SRD— Dungeon World (Sage Kobold Productions)
- BoardGameGeek— BGG RPG