Five Words v3 as appropriate (e.g.

a player may invoke the

word “vampire” to take a -1 penalty to all dice
A Roleplaying Game by James D. Hargrove pools while their character is exposed to
sunlight, while a player may invoke the word
Five Words is a very simple roleplaying “strong” for their character to receive +1 die
system that I wrote in 2018 and published when performing a feat of strength).
under a CC license last year. This revision re- When a player invokes a word for a
introduces the sample fantasy setting, Land of penalty, they gain an agency point. A player’s
the Dead, also releasing this setting under a dice pool can be reduced to less than one die
CC license. Enjoy! by invoking multiple words for penalties to
gain multiple agency points but, when doing
Creating Characters so, the action automatically fails.
Write down five words that describe
your character – two adjectives and three Opposed Action Resolution
nouns (using compound words is acceptable). Opposed rolls are just what they sound
With regard to equipment, characters can like, with a roll being made by each ‘side’ of a
possess and accumulate through play any conflict (most often two characters facing off
equipment appropriate for a given game, but against each other in combat). In the case of
can only gain or lose dice (as discussed opposed rolls, the player who produces the
below) for using those things if they have most successes when rolling their dice wins
dedicated nouns to them (e.g. Ancient Sword (ties indicate a stalemate situation). This can
of the Runemasters). have consequences, as outlined below.

Action Resolution Basics Injury and Death

The Referee will decide when an Characters can sustain a number of
action outcome is uncertain. The player of the injury levels equal to the number of words
character attempting the action then rolls defining them that relate to positive physical
some six-sided dice. traits, plus two (e.g. an “agile” and “strong”
Die results of 5 are a success, while character can sustain four injury levels). When
results of 6 are a success and are re-rolled. a character sustains this number of injury
Further results of 6 are also considered levels, they are knocked unconscious. Once a
successes and are also re-rolled. One success character sustains any injury level in excess of
is required for actions of standard difficulty, this amount, they die.
two successes are required for very difficult If a player fails an unopposed roll that
actions, and three successes are required for may result in their character’s injury (e.g.
nearly impossible actions. disarming a bomb, climbing a steep cliff), the
All players roll at least 1d6. If any of a character sustains a number of injury levels
character’s words are related to the action equal to the amount of successes that they
being resolved, the player may invoke them failed the unopposed roll by.
to add or subtract to the number of dice rolled
 If a player fails an opposed roll that Agency Points
may result in their character’s injury (e.g. Every character begins every game
rolling to dodge incoming gunfire or a sword session with a pool of three agency points. A
blow, etc), the character sustains a number of player may spend one point to re-roll a die,
injury levels equal to the number of successes add +1 to a die roll result (e.g., they can
rolled by the attacker. spend all three points to add +3 to a die roll),
Injury levels can be staged down by remove one injury level from a character, or
the successful application of appropriate keep a character from dying (instead they are
treatment (magic or medical). For every only knocked out).
success rolled when attempting treatment,
subtract one injury level from the character. Character Growth
Death cannot be reversed except by magic or A character may gain additional words
sufficiently advanced technology. as a result of training pursued (e.g. computer
programming) or conditions gained (e.g.
werewolf) during actual play. Such words are
awarded by the Referee as appropriate.

Land of the Dead

Nothing stays dead anymore. The
sinister, creeping, tendrils of The Darkness
have infiltrated every stronghold of the
races of The Light, choking the life out
of the world, twisting it into a nightmare
version of its former self. When something
dies, it reanimates as a death machine that
hungers for the flesh of the living.

Sample Adjectives
Athletic, Beautiful, Calculating, Charismatic,
Destitute, Dim-witted, Eagle-eyed, Graceful, Hulking,
Indentured, Limber, Muscular, Perceptive, Resolute,
Stealthy, Tiny, Tough, Wealthy, Wise

Sample Occupations, Races, and

Skills (Nouns)
Archery, Bartering, Brawling, Dwarf, Elf, First
Aid, Lockpicking, Melee Weapons, Linguist, Mercenary,
Pirate, Priest, Riding, Sailing, Scholar, Sleight of Hand,
Smithing, Siege Weapons, Sneaking, Thief
Sample Equipment (Nouns) An elf or priest can channel this power
Animal Companion (specify type), Chainmail, once per day plus an additional number of
Crossbow, Dirk, Holy Symbol, Horse, Leather Armor, times per day equal to any additional words
Long Bow, Mace, Platemail Suit, Rope, Shield, Staff, they possess related to spirituality or wisdom
Sword, Wagon, Zweihander
(e.g. a character who is both an “elf” and a
“priest” as well as “wise” can channel The
New Rules Light three times per day).
(Armor and Races) Calling upon The Light to turn away a
A given character may only possess small group of weak creatures of Darkness or
one race word (e.g. Dwarf or Elf). If they have a single moderately powerful creature of
no race word, they are human. Similarly, a Darkness is a task of average difficulty, while
character may only possess one word turning away a large group of weak creatures
representing a suit of armor (e.g. Chainmail, of Darkness or a single powerful creature of
Leather Armor) . They may, however, possess Darkness is a very difficult task, and turning
and use a shield in addition to armor worn away a very large group of weak creatures of
when armed with a one-handed weapon. Darkness or a single very powerful creature of
Darkness is nearly impossible.
New Rules Destroying creatures animated by the
(The Darkness) Darkness works similarly. Calling upon The
When living creatures (including player Light to destroy a single weak creature of
characters) die in a Land of the Dead game, Darkness is a task of average difficulty, while
they don't stay dead. The corrupting essence destroying a single powerful creature of
of The Darkness reanimates any slain creature Darkness is a very difficult task and destroying
almost instantaneously, twisting its natural a single very powerful creature of Darkness is
form into a monstrous version of its former nearly impossible.
self that hungers for the flesh of the living.
Animals reanimated in this manner retain only
raw animal instinct, while sapient species
reanimated in this manner retain their higher
brain functions, but are driven by pure
malevolence, evil burning in their hearts.

New Rules
(Shining Through The Darkness)
Elves and priests have the unique Five Words v3 is Copyright 2020 by James
ability to channel The Light, magical energy D. Hargrove. This entire document, save for
that can turn away or destroy creatures of the art and introduction is licenced under CC
Darkness. The gift of The Light has been BY-SA 4.0. Publisher’s Choice Quality Stock
attributed to many sources, by many people. Art © Rick Hershey/Fat Goblin Games.