Has anybody tried running Dungeon World stuff with other PbtA systems?

Has anybody tried running Dungeon World stuff with other PbtA systems?

Has anybody tried running Dungeon World stuff with other PbtA systems? Like, I’ve got a bunch of DW starters/setting materials that I’d like to use with my daughter, but for some reason the direction the DW moves push you doesn’t really do it for me (probably the emphasis on combat), so I was thinking of running DW material with Legend of the Elements. On first glance that doesn’t seem particularly difficult, but am I missing some potential stumbling points?

16 thoughts on “Has anybody tried running Dungeon World stuff with other PbtA systems?”

  1. Most DW material out there is actually fairly system-agnostic. There might be monster stats or whatever, but that would be really easy to translate (on the fly) to something that has a simpler harm mechanic.

    So, yeah, my guess is it would be super-easy.

  2. Most DW material out there is actually fairly system-agnostic. There might be monster stats or whatever, but that would be really easy to translate (on the fly) to something that has a simpler harm mechanic.

    So, yeah, my guess is it would be super-easy.

  3. I agree with others in the thread that most GM facing DW material is pretty system agnostic because most of what the GM does is system agnostic & about improvisation & reacting to your players.

    I can also recommend Fellowship if you want a fantasy PBTA game that is less D&D, and more lord of the rings or weird, whimsical fantasy.

  4. I agree with others in the thread that most GM facing DW material is pretty system agnostic because most of what the GM does is system agnostic & about improvisation & reacting to your players.

    I can also recommend Fellowship if you want a fantasy PBTA game that is less D&D, and more lord of the rings or weird, whimsical fantasy.

  5. Also (this is a small thing, but worth pointing out): DW doesn’t have to be combat-heavy. The system is quite sturdy for doing more exploration or mystery-type sessions. I myself run DW a fair amount and I do combat…maybe once per session?

  6. Also (this is a small thing, but worth pointing out): DW doesn’t have to be combat-heavy. The system is quite sturdy for doing more exploration or mystery-type sessions. I myself run DW a fair amount and I do combat…maybe once per session?

  7. This is really interesting Jeremy Downey. I hope we’ll hear back about what you decided to do and how it worked for you. I agree with Jason Cordova that DW is really flexible and doesn’t need to drive toward combat but I really like the idea of mixing systems and content for new homebrewed flavors. Please report back after!

  8. This is really interesting Jeremy Downey. I hope we’ll hear back about what you decided to do and how it worked for you. I agree with Jason Cordova that DW is really flexible and doesn’t need to drive toward combat but I really like the idea of mixing systems and content for new homebrewed flavors. Please report back after!

  9. Conversion between PbtA systems is easy to do on the fly. Check this out:

    You have some control over the power lingering in your body. When you force them out to twist the world around you, roll +X. On a hit the energy bursts free and does roughly what you wanted, but on a 7-9 there are unintended side effects described by the GM.

    When you try to mislead, distract, or trick someone, roll with X. On a hit, they are fooled, at least for a moment. On a 10+, pick 3. On a 7-9, pick 2:

    » You create an opportunity

    » You expose a weakness or flaw

    » You confuse them for some time

    » You avoid further entanglement

    Both of these are from different games with the stat removed.

  10. Conversion between PbtA systems is easy to do on the fly. Check this out:

    You have some control over the power lingering in your body. When you force them out to twist the world around you, roll +X. On a hit the energy bursts free and does roughly what you wanted, but on a 7-9 there are unintended side effects described by the GM.

    When you try to mislead, distract, or trick someone, roll with X. On a hit, they are fooled, at least for a moment. On a 10+, pick 3. On a 7-9, pick 2:

    » You create an opportunity

    » You expose a weakness or flaw

    » You confuse them for some time

    » You avoid further entanglement

    Both of these are from different games with the stat removed.

  11. I’d second what Adrian Thoen​ said – Fellowship has a lot more inherent whimsy in it than DW does. This hasn’t stopped me from running a dark af game, but like Jason Cordova​ said, it’s all about how you approach the material. Anyways, I’ve used several Dungeon Starters as the basis for some of my Fellowship adventures – it works really well. The only thing I ended up needing to rework were the enemies and that was pretty easy.

  12. I’d second what Adrian Thoen​ said – Fellowship has a lot more inherent whimsy in it than DW does. This hasn’t stopped me from running a dark af game, but like Jason Cordova​ said, it’s all about how you approach the material. Anyways, I’ve used several Dungeon Starters as the basis for some of my Fellowship adventures – it works really well. The only thing I ended up needing to rework were the enemies and that was pretty easy.

  13. I just played Dungeon World for the first time with my 7 year old daughter a couple of days ago (I made a post about it in the Dungeon World Tavern (actual play section) if you’re interested). We used Perilous Wilds to build the world ourselves, there was no fighting – just chasing things, making friends, falling out of trees, getting lost and coming home again. I’m happy to share some other thoughts with you if you’d like. Either way, Good Luck: I hope you guys have fun together! 🙂 L

    The Dungeon World Tavern

  14. I just played Dungeon World for the first time with my 7 year old daughter a couple of days ago (I made a post about it in the Dungeon World Tavern (actual play section) if you’re interested). We used Perilous Wilds to build the world ourselves, there was no fighting – just chasing things, making friends, falling out of trees, getting lost and coming home again. I’m happy to share some other thoughts with you if you’d like. Either way, Good Luck: I hope you guys have fun together! 🙂 L

    The Dungeon World Tavern

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