GM Reference
Play Order
GM Makes a Move
Hard or Soft, Following Principles, to set up the situation
End with ‘What Do You Do?’
Player(s) describe their response
What does it look like?
Is a move triggered? If so, is a roll involved?
If there is no move, go back to the top.
If there is no roll, follow the move then go back to the top.
If there is a roll, then roll what the move says.
They can Cooperate, Sabotage, and/or Push Themselves.
If the stat rolled has a condition, then they take -1 to the
roll but gain 1 XP.
Was a 10+ Rolled?
Follow the success results of the move, then return to top.
Was a 7-9 Rolled?
Follow the effect
Suffer choices or consequences given by the move
Return to top.
Was a 6- Rolled?
If the move says what happens, follow that.
If it doesn’t say anything, or says ‘In addition to what the
GM says’, then the GM makes a Hard Move
Return to top
Was a condition inflicted?
PCs and NPCs can absorb conditions from physical harm
using Armor from their worn items, as long as it isn’t
Piercing.
Some PCs might have an ability that provides Armor
against other sources of conditions.
Check if they Crumble
Return to top
Principles + Moves
Principles
• Encourage Exciting Risks
• Bring NPCs To Life
• Think Dangerously
• Leave Things Open
• Ask, Then Gloss Over the Boring Stuff
Moves
• Hit the Ground Running
• Inflict Conditions
• Throw Them Around
• Change the Environment
• Foreshadow an Ominous Force
• Set Up an Immediate Danger
• Make Them Choose
• Take Something Away
• Have It Backfire
• Sometimes, Give Them What They Want
• Introduce Something New
• Slow Down for a Bit
• Ask Them
Multiple NPCs
When fighting a group of creatures, instead of
tracking each one individually, treat the whole
group as a single stronger monster. When
multiple NPCs fight together, treat them as
one NPC using Group or Horde toughness.
When a group of different NPCs fight
together, count the highest stat among them
(Conditions, Armor, Tags, etc) as the group’s
stat.
When a group or horde of creatures all hurt
the same person together, they inflict +1
(group) or +2 (horde) conditions.
NPC Creation
1. What’s Their Name?
2. Who Are They? What Do They Look Like?
Write this freeform summary down under
their name.
3. What do they want?
Write this down by starting with ‘Wants...’
4. What notable things can they do?
Write each Method down separately. In
play, refer to this if you’re not sure how to
describe a certain GM move.
5. Can they fight?
If not, they’re usually defeated when they
take 1 condition, and you’re done.
If so, then start with 3 conditions and
continue onward.
6. How tough are they?
- Fight as a Group (3-6): -1 conditions alone,
+2 conditions in a group
- Fight as a Horde (7-20): -2 conditions
alone, +1 conditions in a group, +3
conditions in a horde
- Particularly tough in a fight: +1 condition
- Central to an Ominous Force: +1 condition
7. How harmful are they?
- Can tear or bypass armor: Piercing
- Particularly deadly in a fight: +1 Condition
inflicted. Write it down as ‘Inflicts 2’.
- Can hurt multiple targets at once: Area
- Have unrelenting strength: Forceful
- Fight in a unique or loud way: Distinctive
- Can easily tear things apart: Messy
- Inflicts harm in a unique way: Another tag
that seems appropriate (see Page 9)
8. How well protected are they?
- Cloth or flesh: 0 Armor
- Leathers or chainmail: 1 Armor
- Plate or bone: 2 Armor
- Defensive skills, magic, or special traits: +1
Armor
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Example NPCs
Wealthy Merchant
Used to letting her wealth do the talking for
her, she is nevertheless a skilled haggler and
can spot a good deal from a mile way.
Wants to grow her fortune.
• understand something’s value at a glance
• offer beneficial bribes or deals
• hire someone to handle something
The King of Knives
Having long ago learned the cost of mercy, he
built his struggling nation into a hegemony.
Wants to ruthlessly enforce his will.
• Obtain and use secrets and leverage
• Convince with his silver tongue
• Employ use of elite assassins
Grizzly Bear
Filled with territorial rage, this enormous
beast will devour anyone it encounters.
Wants to kill and devour
3 Conditions, 0 Armor
Teeth and Claws (Forceful, Piercing, Messy)
• unleash a terrifying roar
• climb a large tree
• chase any who run
Death Knight
Once a champion of justice, this fallen warrior
now serves darker masters for selfish goals.
Wants to bring death and destruction
4 Conditions, 3 Armor
Cursed greatsword (Inflicts 2, Forceful)
• unleash dark magic
• raise an undead slave
Example Wants
Goblin Horde
Wants revenge no matter the cost
Nasty creatures that hide in caves, attack
passersby, and pull vicious tricks. Wants money, and lots of it
Wants to cause pain and laugh at it Wants true freedom
6/4/1 Conditions, 1 Armor
Wants to fight for the clan
Rusty knives and ragged bows
• Steal or destroy things Wants a glorious death
• Rapidly retreat through tiny crevaces Wants to take to the skies
Wants to rebuild a broken relationship
Shadow Thief
Wants to spread the word of their god
The spirit of a legendary outlaw who died long
ago in a betrayal even they have forgotten. Wants to learn more about the world
Wants to steal treasure from the living Wants to destroy all magic
4 Conditions, 1 Armor
Ethereal knives (Piercing)
• Pass through solid matter Example Methods
• Vanish into mist Take a hostage
Leave a trail of destruction
Primordial Dragon
When her wrath is inflamed, she has burned Summon unearthly horrors
entire empires to ashes. Set things ablaze
Wants to destroy all who enrage her.
Teleport short distances
5 Conditions, 3 Armor
Enormous teeth and claws (Inflicts 2, Piercing, Change faces
Forceful, Messy) Offer a blessing, with great cost
Incinerating fire (Inflicts 2, Piercing, Fiery, Area)
Reveal another backup plan
• Summon natural disasters
• Devour someone whole Devour metal
• Demand extreme tribute Enchant someone via touch
Dive from the skies
The Solemn
These elite guards wear masks of sandstone. Hide in unexpected places
Wants to judge and execute the law. Burrow to safety
4/4 Conditions, 1 Armor Possess the weakminded
Dual Scimitars (1 Condition)
Make a binding deal
• Unleash a display of psychic power
• Detect a lie Lunge with terrifying speed
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