Contents 17

Alternate Map Creation

First, prepare a stack of index cards and
permanent markers. Hand 1 or 2 to each
player, then ask each to draw an image. It
could be something fantastical (a floating
city, a dragon’s den), mundane (gorges,
mountain peaks, lakes) or simply represent a
feature you might see on a fantasy map
(ancient ruins, temples, a city on a hill).
These are meant to inspire you and the
The image’s view angle can be top-down, from the
players as you build your world map.
side, super zoomed in, or even way zoomed out!

Next, choose two or three of the index cards

and lay them down in the middle of the table. You can then begin the adventure, building
They shouldn’t be touching; leave a little bit out the map as the players move through the
of space between. Pick one that you feel is world. If they need to cross a treacherous
appropriate (an image of a dark forest, the territory on the way to defeat a great evil,
city docks, a mountain cave) and mentally place an index card image that best illustrates
designate it as the starting point of the the danger! It could be a rickety bridge
adventure. Use it to help set the scene! between two mountain peaks, or a dark
forest, brimming with creatures of dark
intent. Use what the players give you!
Attributions
Additionally, don’t feel limited by what
you’ve got: you can always move the existing
index cards apart and insert a brand new one
between them! You or the players can also
draw new locations as the story progresses!

Work with your players to figure out what these

cards represent. They could be the player character’s
hometown, an overlord’s fortress, or an artifact of
the landscape.

When you’ve finished the session, keep

the index cards. You can use them in
future sessions, however you like!

Some players may not feel comfortable drawing.

That’s OK! After a few sessions, you’ll develop a nice
pile to draw from!
16 Mini Settings Introduction 1

The Tsavni Host

One Shot World is a hack of the excellent Dungeon
• A city of nomads settling down for the night; the smell of fire, meat and manure. World that removes most of the long-form mechanics
• Children are laughing; adults stare at strangers curiously from multi-colored tents. and replaces them with simple rules designed to
• The sounds of men arguing over a game; they stand guard before a chained woman. facilitate one-shots and short campaigns.

Hrakkan's Pass I’m an experienced GM; why is this worth my time?

• Stone cockroaches the size of horses scattered and half buried along the valley floor. If you run a lot of one or two-shot games, you know
that setting up one-shots can be frustratingly slow,
• A dense and acrid fog that never completely dissipates.
especially if the players are unfamiliar with the rules or
• The sound of shuffling and whispering cuts off whenever you stop to listen. role-play in general. One Shot World shortens the time
players spend creating characters, learning rules, and
Gárgola Apex
creating the world, so you can get right to the fiction. If
• A city situated between two peaks; grand bridges as act entrances on both sides. you want to run a pick-up game, introduce new players function. Rations and encumbrance are gone, and
• Sits on a massive rotating disc that spins slow enough to accommodate foot traffic. to the hobby, or have a quick off-the-cuff session, One wealth and equipment are simplified. Racial moves
• Purple-robed guardians are overheard warning that the disc has been erratic lately. Shot World can help. have been removed in favor of a playbook-specific
backgrounds, which provide a package of ability
Borsa River Mine I’m new to this, is this game right for me? score bonuses, moves and starting equipment.
• Partly submerged stone buildings hint at a large network of structures underwater. Yes! One Shot World is as easy to pick up and play as
Dungeon World. It doesn’t require any special RPG How do I handle race, alignment or encumbrance?
• Flies buzz around statues of strange frog-like creatures erected on dry patches of land.
knowledge or experience; if you can have a You’ll figure this out at the table, as a group. There
• Fresh humanoid footprints appear in the mud seemingly at random and then disappear. conversation with others, you can run this game. may be fictional benefits to a particular race or
Medina At Beyt Kvora background, but there is no built-in mechanical
benefit. For instance, you may decide that Dwarves
• A massive city with gothic architecture and spires rising as far as the eye can see. What’s Changed? can see in the dark, or that Elves do not need sleep.
• Dead rise unless proper rites and rituals are used during burial. Playbooks have been simplified down to just a few At the start of the session, players should answer
• Graveyard “districts” built around moats separate the living city from the dead. background and core moves, as well as a few optional the questions on their playbooks to determine their
advances. One Shot World uses the standard Dungeon character goals, their relationships to the other
The Fallen Maharib World basic moves, though some have been tweaked player characters, NPCs & so on. The GM Moves and
• A hidden bay shelters an enormous, collapsed statue from ancient times. to facilitate a shorter game. Alignment and Bonds are the fiction can easily handle load & encumbrance.
replaced with questions that serve a similar For the rest, just use your best judgement!
• Desolated beaches made of dark sand surrounded by bleak, imposing cliffs.
• Only the sounds of tranquil waves washing ashore and distant birds can be heard.
The Pitch
The Swamp of Paráxenos Because One Shot World is a hack of be able to do it! One Shot World them to your liking. Finally, you
• A fetid stench hangs in the far-too humid air. Dungeon World, it comes with many makes things very simple: state don’t need to do any prepwork;
• Ruins of an ancient civilization lie half-sunken in green, slick mud. of the game’s perks: ease-of-play, what you’re trying to do, pick a the story should flow from the
• Howling, recognizable (or familiar) speech can be heard at night. simple but flexible rules that always move, and roll the dice! conversation between the GM
support the narrative, and simple, and the players. Remember, you
fast-paced combat. Put simply, Also, it’s important that you play to find out what happens!
Wahah, Jewel of the East
Dungeon World is what you thought pitch the game you’re planning
• A desert city of magic, glass, and wonder hidden by faint mirage. Fantasy RPGs were supposed to be to run. First, start with the tone:
• Men & women fill bustling streets with slippered feet and veiled faces. like when you first heard of them: will it be fun & light, where the
• There are whispers that the magic is drawn from something deep below. grand heroics, adventure, and Good Guys vanquish the Big
fantastic storytelling! Bad? Or will it be dark and gritty,
The Sleeping Burj with danger at every turn? Try to
• A fallen silver tower atop a small hill. As such,, One Shot World doesn’t relate it to a TV show, novel or
• Round doorways that open when you approach them, revealing right-side up rooms. bog the players down with rules, video game you like.
especially when it doesn’t support
• Tables and desks are covered in knobs and lights which unexpectedly react to the touch. Remember that the rules are
the narrative. You shouldn’t need to
Littlewit Manor worry about exactly how many feet there to both support a fun
you are from an enemy, or if your game experience as well as an
• An ornate old mansion, colorful, orderly, and beautifully decorated & empty. interesting story. If they get in
class explicitly states that you can or
• Blood stains the carpets and leads up the staircase to the higher floors. cannot do something. If it makes the way, don’t be afraid to adjust
• An exquisite painting of a many-tentacled abomination hangs prominently in the lobby. sense in the fiction, then you should
2 GM Overview Additional Questions For Players 15

Everyone at the table will need something to write

with and some six-sided dice (two minimum). You’ll Barbarian Paladin
Agenda
also need at least one four-sided, eight-sided, and
Have you brought anyone from your home with
ten-sided dice. Portray a fantastic world: It’s your job to What are you looking to atone for, personally?
you? What, if anything are they fleeing?
participate in that by showing the players a
Choose one person to be the Game Master (GM); world in which their characters can find Who would you most like to see again? Recent attacks were led by someone you knew
everyone else will take the role of the characters in adventure. from the war. Who are they? What side were
the game (player characters, or PCs). What nearly impossible task could repair your they on?
Fill the characters’ lives with adventure: Work reputation among your people?
As you play, the players say what their characters with the players to create a world that’s Why is your armor so banged up?
say, think, and do. As the GM, you describe and engaging, actionable, and dynamic. Bard
control everything else in the world, from NPCs Ranger
Play to find out what happens: The entire What legend drew you here? What do you hope
(non-player characters) to monsters, terrain, the to see while you are here?
weather, etc. table shares in the fun of finding out how the Why is this quest so important that you're willing
characters react to and change the world to brave civilization?
Why did you have to flee the last place you
While the players get to describe what their you’re portraying. settled in?
characters think, feel and do, you get to play What resides here, and why does it require
everything else. You can accomplish this by setting How did you come by your instrument? Who
protection?
the scene, following your Agenda, upholding your crafted it? What makes it special?
Principles, and make your Moves. What did you lose that now you seek, out here in
Cleric
the wilderness? Who took it?
What did you do before dedicating your life to
your deity? Thief
Principles Have you ever failed your deity? What did you
What’s the biggest score you’ve ever taken?
do to atone?
Never speak the name of your Begin and end with the fiction Ask questions and use the answers
move When the players make a move, If you don’t know something, or you What prophecy are you trying to fulfill or thwart Why did you return the last thing you stole?
Your moves are prompts to you, not they take a fictional action to trigger don’t have an idea, ask the players here? Who is meant to play an important role?
things you say directly. Never show it, apply the rules, and get a fictional and use what they say. You recognize someone shady here from your
the players that you’re picking a effect. The same applies to your Druid past. Who are they, and how do you know them?
move from a list. moves. Make a move that follows
When you make a move, you are What happened to make you close to the land?
Wizard
Give every monster life Draw maps, leave blanks taking an element of the fiction and
Monsters are fantastic creatures Any time there’s a new location bringing it to bear against the What problems forced you to leave your lands
and venture into the unknown? How commonplace are the arcane arts?
with their own motivations. described, make sure it gets added characters. Moves should make
Describe them by the details that to a map; leave room for the sense within the fiction as well as What is the greatest entity actively threatening Why do you collect parts of rare creatures?
bring them to life: their smells, unknown! the rules. the natural world?
sights, and sounds.
Address the characters, not the Be a fan of the characters Why do you need protection when you travel?
Name every person players You’re not here to push the Fighter
Anyone that the players speak with A good reminder that moves are characters in any particular
has a name. They have a personality always based on the actions of the direction, merely to participate in What foe escaped your wrath? How?
and some goals or opinions too, but character, not the players portraying fiction that features them and their
you can figure that out as you go. them. action. Cheer for their victories and Who do you spend the most time fighting?
lament their defeats.
Think offscreen too Embrace the fantastic
Who once wielded your signature weapon?
Just because you’re a fan of the The characters are interesting Think dangerous
characters doesn’t mean everything people, empowered by their gods, Whenever your eye falls on
happens right in front of them. their skill at arms, or by mystical something you or the players have
Sometimes your best move is in the training. The world should be just as created, think how it can be put in
next room, or another part of the engaging. danger, fall apart or crumble.
dungeon, or even back in town.
14 Inspiration For Opening Scenes GM Moves 3

When To Make A Move

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Moves
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4 Adventure Builder 13
The Session
Character Creation
We are exploring... that lies... seeking the...
a remote ruin on an uncharted island temple of a dead deity.
an overgrown necropolis along the edge of a great swamp crypt of a forgotten hero.
the ruins of an ancient city high in the mountains vault of the last dwarven king.
a flooded settlement in a desolate wasteland prison of a bound demon.
an abandoned village in the freezing tundra lair of a legendary beast.
a twisting canyon deep in an ancient forest hideout of a notorious thief.
a lost valley in the windswept badlands cathedral of a fallen god.
a long-forgotten road among the rolling dunes monastery of a mystic order.
a legendary battle site in a tropical jungle fortress of a tyrannical warlord.
a mysterious cavern in the middle of hostile territory tower of a mad wizard.

Alternate Session
Creation

●
Worldbuilding

The Map
We are here to... and... guarded by...
find an ancient artifact an un-living lord. undead horrors
search for a cure an alien horror. crazed cultists
rescue someone in distress a fallen angel. twisted abominations
use a sacred site an ancient dragon. ruthless assassins
bring a villain to justice a powerful sorcerer. monstrous hordes
find the chosen one a despotic warrior. foul demons
recover our souls a zealous priest. deadly traps
stop the release of an ancient evil an infernal fiend. powerful constructs
seek forbidden knowledge a criminal mastermind. wild beasts
close an unholy portal the one that betrayed us. skilled warriors
12 Discern Realities: A Dungeon Starter Example Session Setup 5

Example
Character Creation
Instructions
To get started, roll 8d6 and take turns assigning
them below. You’ll have two dice left at the end:
total them.
● On 10+, open your first scene in the heat
of battle.
● On 7-9, you’re hot on the heels of
something you’re hunting.
● On 6 or less, you’re pinned down,
imprisoned or on the run.

Who’s really in control here? What is about to happen?

(1) A cabal of powerful wizards (1) A treasonous plot nears fruition
(2) A rogue spirit infecting human minds (2) A radical sect threatens the status quo
(3) Warring gods, using people as pawns (3) A despised or beloved leader lies on their deathbed
(4) A populace bent on rebellion (4) An otherworldly monster comes to take what’s theirs
(5) A maniacal genius, bent on dominion (5) An invading army camps at the border The World
(6) Something from beyond or truly monstrous (6) The forces of nature threaten annihilation

What happened here recently?

(1) A great and bloody war Opening Scene
(2) A devastating plague
(3) Famine brought by drought, flood or blight
(4) Visitors from another plane
(5) A prophecy of doom or redemption
(6) The discovery of powerful new magic or technology

What here is useful or valuable to me? What should I be on the lookout for?
(1) A holy relic in a faraway tomb (1) Roving bands of scavengers
(2) An abandoned hideout, waiting to be seized (2) Soldiers enforcing martial law Going Forward...
(3) A famous sage, offering blessings for service (3) Spies everywhere
(4) A tournament with a grand prize (4) A landscape littered with arcane traps
(5) A fugitive with a huge price on their head (5) Carriers of a nasty disease
(6) A disorganized mob, desperate for leadership (6) Tainted food and water supplies

What here is not what it appears to be?

(1) A monster in human skin
(2) A patrician in disguise
(3) A monster with a kind heart
(4) A sham religion
(5) The return of someone presumed dead
(6) A curse disguised as a blessing
6 Setting The Scene 11
Magic Items
Try to paint a vivid, specific situation and then ask;
What do you do? Captain Bligh’s Cornucopia
A brass naval horn, curled and ornate, carved with
Start the session with a group of player characters caught up symbols of the gods of Plenty. When blown, in addition to
sound, the horn spills forth food. Enough to feed a meal
in a tense situation. Use anything that demands action:
to everyone who hears its sound.
standing outside the entrance to a dungeon, ambushed in
a fetid swamp, peeking through some bushes at armed Flask of Breath
guards, or being sentenced before a powerful lord. A simple thing, but useful when you need a breath of
fresh air. The flask appears empty but cannot be filled,
Give the players a chance to think, ask questions, or take anything added to it simply spills out. This is because the
action; but when the curtain rises, they should be compelled flask is eternally full of air. If placed underwater, it will
to react (not necessarily with violence). This is also a great bubble forever. If pressed to the mouth, one can breathe
opportunity to ask questions and use the answers; let them fill normally—smoke is no concern, for example. I’m sure
you’ll find all sorts of unusual uses for it.
the world out for you.
Immovable Rod
Eventually, the players will start saying and doing things as their
A funny metal rod with a button on it. Press the button and the rod just sticks. It freezes in
characters, which means they’ll start making moves. When a place—in midair, standing up or lying down. It can’t be moved. Pull it, push it, try as hard as
move triggers let them know. Say, “It sounds like you’re trying Dangers you like, the rod stays. Maybe it can be destroyed, maybe it can’t. Push the button again and
to…” and then walk them through the move. When a player says When you speak of the it’s free—take it along with you. Might be useful to have such a stubborn thing along.
“I hack and slash him” be quick to ask, “so what are you actually dangers that lurk in the wild,
ask questions to establish
Map of the Last Patrol
doing? With which weapon? An ancient order of brave rangers once patrolled the land, protecting villages and warning
the following details, but
Are you going for his head, kings and queens of encroaching danger. They’re long gone, now, but their legacy remains.
keep one or two answers for
or simply trying to knock yourself as surprises: This map, when marked with the blood of a group of people, will always show their
him back?” location—so long as they remain within the bounds of the map.
The danger that threatens
the village. Lodestone Shield (+1 armor)
Who leads them, and what What mixed-up dummy made this? Shields are
Places & Things makes them special or meant to repel metal, not draw it in! Emblazoned
unusual (Use this to write a with a lion rampant, the Lodestone Shield has the
Answer the following prompts location move for their lair). power to pull blades and arrows to it. When you
about places and things within A valuable treasure kept in
Impressions defend against enemies using metal weapons you
the dungeon, using what has their lair.
already been established:
can spend one hold, per target, to disarm them.
When you introduce a new What they want (Choose an Also, sometimes you’ll find a handful of loose
location, describe a notable What guards the entrance, or established person, place, or change stuck to it.
impression and ask one of otherwise prevents entry? thing) and why they do.
your players to describe a An established NPC who has
What remains of this place
notable impression too:
from before? already become involved, Nightsider’s Key
How does the terrain change and how. This key unlocks any door for you, provided you don’t belong where you intend to go. So long
Sources of light
as you explore? What else is involved or at as you do nothing that would alert another to your presence (remaining unheard, unseen and
A notable feature that fits the
What mystery, puzzle, or foe stake that might cause a unnoticed) and takes nothing more than your memories out with you, the key’s magic will
location’s theme or history
cannot be defeated with distraction, a moral prevent your intrusion from ever being discovered. It’s like you were never there at all.
Ambient sounds
violence? quandary, make it personal,
Moisture and smell of the air
How can things go wrong, or or complicate things. The Sterling Hand
Natural hazards
become more complicated? What pushes the characters Crafted by dwarven whitesmiths, this mirrored-metal hand is deeply scored with runes of
What unwelcome truth or to act. power and rejuvenation. Meant to replace wounded or destroyed limbs from mining accidents,
hints of further trouble await? The location of their lair the Sterling Hand bonds to the wound, old or new, and is strong and stout. It can be used as a
(Choose an established weapon (Near range) and is made of pure enough silver to harm creatures affected by such.
place).
Tricksy Rope
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.
10 Non-Player Characters 7
Monster Examples

As the GM, you may find it helpful to generate interesting, memorable NPCs on the fly.
Ogre
Bandit All that’s required are some memorable Traits, an Instinct, and a means to pursue it.
Some NPCs have Knacks (a special ability) as well. Here are a few tables you can pull
from to quickly build a new character:
●
● ●
●
● Traits
Disfigured Emaciated Clean
Bandit King Well-dressed Skeptic Allergic
Iron Golem
Kind Paranoid Asthmatic
Caring Easygoing Diseased
Scrawny Peaceful Rude
Ghoul Naive Awkward Alienated
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● Bloodshot Eyes Spendthrift Antisocial
● ●
● Artistic Dreamer Absentminded

●
Banshee ●
Instinct to __________
Minotaur
Spread religion Save someone Pillage
Make money Teach Indulge
● Goblin
● Seek payback Settle down Make the best of it
Question authority Preserve law Find love
● Lord over others Discover Destroy an artifact
● Act impulsively Keep quiet Show off
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● ●
● Be cautious Die gloriously Entertain
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Defy death Reunite with a lover Restore their name
Basilisk Skeleton

Goblin Orkaster

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Knacks
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● ● Criminal connections Special destiny Inventive
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Skilled warrior Balance Baking
● Hedge wizardry Speed Writing
Werewolf Local info An eye for detail Cooking
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One-of-a-kind item Heroic A tie to a monster
Cave Rat Hidden knowledge A hidden entrance An innate spell
Magical awareness A powerful lover A way with knots
Muscle Speaks to animals A catchy tune

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8 Non-Player Character Examples Monster Creation 9

A monster is any living (or undead) thing that stands in the characters’ way.
Shevaral the Unclean They exist to illustrate what a dangerous awful place the world can be, and
how it will remain if the heroes don’t step in. You shouldn’t be rooting for
the monsters to win, but they may challenge, and even sometimes defeat,
the heroes.

The way you describe the monsters and adversaries the characters face can
be a tool to help you fulfill your agenda of portraying a fantastic world.
Describing those creatures and people in vivid detail will bring them to life.
Baldric

Making a Monster
To make a new monster on the fly, use one of Likewise, a monster that just sits there
these templates to start: waiting for the PCs to come and vanquish it
● It appears as a horde (6 or more): 3 HP, 0 Armor, isn’t dangerous. Like any other NPC,
Freya d6 damage monsters have desires and instincts. Act on
Lim ● It appears as a small group (3-5): 6 HP, 1 armor, them to make them feel more real.
d8 damage
● It appears by itself, or a leader: 12 HP, 2 Armor,
d10+2 damage

Give each monster an instinct that describes what Elements of a Monster

Wesley it wants, a move to describe its favorite tactics,
Willa Tags describe how it deals damage, including
and another move that shows why it is dangerous.
the range(s) of its attacks.
● If the monster has any of these properties, give
Damage is a measure of how much pain the
them the listed tags or apply the listed
modifiers to the monster’s stats: monster can inflict at once. Just like player
● It doesn’t have organs or discernible anatomy: damage it’s a die to roll, maybe with some
amorphous, +1 armor, +3 HP modifiers.
Genesai Seldar the Wise ● It’s as smart as a human or thereabouts:
intelligent HP (hit points) are a measure of how much
● It’s kept alive by something beyond simple damage it can take before it dies. Just like
biology: +4 HP players, when a monster takes damage it
● It’s armaments are vicious and obvious: +2 subtracts that amount from its HP. At 0 HP it’s
damage dead, no last breath. When a monster with
● It wields spells and magic: magical, write a armor takes damage, it subtracts its armor
move about its spells from the damage done.
Munos Prince Illian ● Armor doesn’t help with the damage it deals
(due to magic, size, etc.): ignores armor Instincts describe its goals at a fundamental
● It possesses exceptional strength or level. Some monsters live for conquest, or
endurance: +2 damage, +2 HP, or both
treasure, or simply for blood.

Make your monsters smart and proactive, not just Moves describe a monster’s behavior and
punching bags full of HP. A razor boar that does abilities. Just like the normal GM Moves,
Milo Syla they’re things that you do when there’s a lull
1d10 in damage doesn’t feel like a threat. A razor
boar that cuts through armor like paper and can in the action or when the players give you a
mangle limbs with its tusks as it chases the party Golden Opportunity.
through the forest will.