Dungeon World vs Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Compare Dungeon World and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Dungeon World | Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy | Fantasy |
| Play Style | Fiction-First, Narrative, Playbook-Driven, Classic Fantasy, Beginner-Friendly, Rules-Light, Fast-Paced, Collaborative, Heroic, Open Source, Hackable, GM-Friendly | Gritty, Deadly, Career-Based, Dark Fantasy, Roleplay-Heavy, Atmospheric, Low-Fantasy, Investigation, Corruption, Lore-Heavy, Licensed Setting, Random Character Creation, Roll to Cast, Grimdark |
| Core Mechanic | Roll 2d6 + ability modifier. On a 10+, you succeed. On a 7–9, you succeed but with a complication, cost, or hard choice. On a 6 or less, the GM makes a move (something bad happens) and you mark XP. Moves are triggered by fictional actions — describe what your character does, and the rules tell you when to roll. | Roll d100 under skill or characteristic. Success Levels measure degree of success by comparing the tens digits of the target and the roll. Advantage accumulates during combat, adding +10 per point to attack tests. |
| Dice | 2d6 | d100 |
| Complexity | Very Low | Medium |
| Accessibility | Very High | Medium |
| Community | High | Medium |
| License | Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 | No open license |
| Cost | $ | $$$ |
| Publisher | Sage Kobold Productions | Cubicle 7 |
| Year | 2012 | 2018 |
| Best For | Groups who want D&D-style fantasy adventure (dungeons, monsters, treasure, classes) but with fiction-first PbtA mechanics that keep the pace fast and the spotlight on the narrative. | Groups who want dark, gritty fantasy where ordinary people face extraordinary dangers in a richly detailed setting. The career system creates unique character arcs from rat catcher to witch hunter. |
| Highlights | Full text available free under Creative Commons, playbooks let new players start playing within minutes, GM chapter provides structured principles and moves for running the game, large library of third-party playbooks and supplements | Detailed grimdark setting, career system creates varied character arcs, combat carries real consequences |
| Considerations | Combat lacks tactical positioning or grid-based options, long campaigns can expose repetitive move structures, damage dice are class-based rather than weapon-based which limits gear choices, no longer actively developed by its creators | Tightly bound to the Old World setting, Success Level math can slow play, expensive supplement line |