Yeah, the other problem with discovering a torch is that (if you stick to the original source) grues cannot abide light at all. Choosing the torch automatically negates the threat.

This is tougher than I thought. Thanks, all!

Based on the feedback I received, here's a rewritten move:

When you unexpectedly find yourself in pitch blackness, roll+WIS. On a 10+, choose 2. On a 7-9, choose 1.
•   You discover an unlit torch in a little-used pocket or pouch.
•   While groping in the dark, you discover something interesting.
•   A gurgling grue does not approach you.

FWIW, Zork is about as old-school fantasy as you get; it was one of the original text adventure RPGs. There were lots of things that could kill you outright. (Context for the "eaten by a grue" thing here: knowyourmeme.com/memes/you-are-likely-to-be-eaten-by-a-grue)

But, of course, the point is whether the move works for DW, and I agree with your other criticisms.

If it was reworded as "you feel the breath of a grue" (and assuming for the sake of the discussion that there WOULD be a situation in which a character was lacking adventure gear), would it work then?

I'm planning to run DW for the first time in the not-too-distant future, and was mulling over a possible dungeon-specific move. I want to run an adventure that's deliberately old-school, and came up with this, inspired by the classic text adventure Zork:

When you find yourself in total darkness, roll + WIS. On a 10+, choose 2. On a 7-9, choose 1.

• You recall to your delight that you stuffed a torch into a little-used pocket or pouch, and light it.
  As you grope around in the dark, you discover a hidden feature or object.
  You are not eaten by a grue.

Does that work? The penalty for a 6- is thematically appropriate, but it's also extreme...essentially a save vs. death. And, of course, if you roll a 7-9, you really don't have a choice unless you like being eaten by a grue. Would it be better to make it "choose 3" on a 10+ and "choose 2" on a 7-9; or to change the last option to "A grue does not attempt to eat you?"

I'm tentatively planning to run my first DW session sometime during the holidays, but am still uncertain about a few things.

When do you inform players about custom moves? Take, for example, the "When you open a sewer hatch..." move on page 347 of the rulebook. Would you tell them about that when they enter the sewers, or when they first attempt to open a hatch?

When creating a custom move, may I assume that the only time I need to worry about coming up with a list of 10+, 7-9, etc. results is if the move would be triggered by a character's deliberate action?

With that out of the way, could you tell me whether the following might be a valid custom move? I'm thinking of running a session based loosely on the old D&D B1 module "In Search of the Unknown," and I thought the Room of Pools would be a good place for one.

When you drink from one of the pools, roll + WIS (not sure if it should be WIS or CON). On a 10+, choose 1. On a 7-9, choose 1, but the water has a secondary effect that the GM will tell you about. On a miss, the GM will tell you what happens.

• Heal 1d6 damage.
• Take +1 ongoing to hack and slash until the next time you make camp.
• See in your mind's eye the location of the nearest treasure.

(These are just placeholders. There may be more/other options.)

Does that work? What if someone else drank from the same pool? (The pools in the original module had different effects, but they weren't random.) Would you need a "When you drink from the same pool..." move?

Will Dungeon World be represented at Gen Con Indy? I just bought my four-day pass, and was hoping to be able to try out the game there. Doesn't look as if there are any scheduled events.

Upgraded my Kickstarter support to the $25 level. Looking forward to the softcover and all of the other goodness!

Just learned about Dungeon World yesterday, and have been looking over the Beta document. I like much of what I've read so far, but am seeking clarification on one thing.

Spellcasters prepare spells whose total levels equal their own level+1. So, just to be clear, if a 9th Level Wizard selects a 9th Level spell, he/she also may take only one 1st Level spell? Is that the trade-off for not (necessarily) forgetting spells? Or is the intention that a spellcaster can prepare spells multiple times per day? I'm looking at this through an old-school D&D prism, and so I'm trying to wrap my head around what seems at first glance like a wizard with far less firepower than even the Vancian casters of old.

Not a criticism, just trying to get a feel for the material.