# Xcrawl tags: #game/rpg/xcrawl ![[XCRAWL (cover).jpg|400]]![[XCRAWL SE (cover).jpg|400]] ## XCrawl: Because Regular Dungeon Crawls are for Casuals **XCrawl** takes the classic dungeon crawl and throws it into a hyper-commercialized, televised bloodsport. Imagine **[[Dungeons and Dragons|Dungeons & Dragons]]** meets **American Gladiators** with a dash of **Running Man** and you're starting to get the picture. Forget about saving princesses and collecting gold; in **XCrawl**, you're here for fame, fortune, and sponsorship deals. Just try not to die in the process, because in this game, death is often permanent and _always_ entertaining for the viewers at home. ### Rolling the Bones (and Dodging the Explosions) The core mechanic in **XCrawl** revolves around the d20, but with a few twists that make it decidedly more… _extra_. - **Skill Checks:** When you attempt an action, you roll a d20 and add your relevant modifier. If the result meets or exceeds the target number, you succeed. Pretty standard so far, right? But wait, there's more! - **Critical Successes and Failures:** Rolling a natural 20 is always a critical success, and rolling a 1 is always a critical failure. Because obviously, even highly skilled adventurers sometimes trip over their own feet (or get eaten by a mimic disguised as a treasure chest). - **Exploding Dice:** This is where things get interesting. If you roll a natural 20, you get to roll again and add the new result to your total. And if you roll _another_ 20, you get to keep rolling! This can lead to some truly epic successes… or spectacular failures if you're trying to, say, disarm a trap. **Editions:** XCrawl has seen a few iterations, each with its own quirks: - **Original XCrawl (d20 System):** This is the edition that started it all, published by Wizards of the Coast in 2003. It used the d20 System and leaned heavily into the over-the-top, gonzo tone. - **Xcrawl Classics (DCC RPG):** Goodman Games revived XCrawl in 2023, using their **Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG** system. This edition keeps the core concept but adds a layer of old-school grit and lethality. Essentially, if you're tired of traditional fantasy and want to embrace the chaos of a televised deathmatch with swords and sorcery, **XCrawl** might be just the game for you. Just remember to smile for the cameras! ## References - [Xcrawl (d20 System) - RPGnet Game Index](https://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/classic/rev_7654.phtml) - [Xcrawl: The Bastard Child of DND and WWE! - Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/dtwosy/xcrawl_the_bastard_child_of_dnd_and_wwe/) - [Goodman Games - Xcrawl](https://goodman-games.com/store/product/xcrawl-classics-core-rulebook-dj-skull-edition/) - [Xcrawl PhoenixCrawl - Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Xcrawl-PhoenixCrawl-Jason-Little/dp/0980129109)