File ID
01_CORE_CONCEPTS
Core Concepts
Core Concepts defines the universal mechanical rules used throughout Viva La Dungeon, including dice, Checks, Target Numbers, Critical Success, Critical Failure, Kaos, Reroll Tokens, status modifiers, healing, gaining, Event Rewards, adjacency, and core timing.
Viva La Dungeon Official Rules Reference
A Zontco board game created by The Lich, featuring art by Greedmaw Coffin.
Source metadata
Canonical definition
The Core Concepts document is the official rules source for universal mechanical rules used throughout the Viva La Dungeon board game unless another active rules document explicitly overrides a specific rule.
Purpose
Defines the universal mechanical rules used throughout Viva La Dungeon.
Dependencies
Used by
- 02_GAME_STRUCTURE — Game Structure
- 03_SETUP — Setup
- 04_PLAYER_STRUCTURE — Player Structure
- 05_ACTIONS — Actions
- 06_COMBAT_ENCOUNTER — Combat Encounter
- 07_DUNGEON_BOMBS — Dungeon Bombs
- 08_LOOT_AND_INVENTORY — Loot and Inventory
- 09_DEATH_AND_VICTORY — Death and Victory
- 10_RANDOM_ENCOUNTERS — Random Encounters
Notes
Rules defined in this document apply globally unless explicitly overridden by a later system document.
Rules index
- Variables
- Dice
- Checks
- Final Result
- Target Number
- Stat Checks
- Perception Checks
- Contested Checks
- Critical Success
- Critical Failure
- Kaos
- Damage
- Repeating Turn Actions
- Reroll Tokens
- Goblin Balls On Ya
- Dungeon Haunted
- Goblin Balls On Ya and Dungeon Haunted Interaction
- Heal vs Gain
- Event Reward
- Adjacency
- Core Timing Principle
SECTION_ID: VARIABLES
Variable
Rule
When this document references a Variable by name, use the value listed in this section unless another rule specifically states otherwise.
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
CRITICAL_SUCCESS_REWARD |
1 Kaos |
CRITICAL_FAILURE_REWARD |
1 Reroll Token |
CURRENT_EVENT_REWARD |
The rewarded Player may draw 1 Common Magic. |
SECTION_ID: DICE
Dice
Rule
Viva La Dungeon uses the following dice:
- d4
- d6
- d8
- d10
- d20
Rule
The d20 is used for Checks.
Rule
The d4, d6, d8, and d10 are primarily used for damage, rewards, penalties, and special effects.
SECTION_ID: CHECKS
Checks
Rule
A Check is a d20 roll made to determine success or failure.
Formula
d20 + applicable modifier
Success condition
Final Result >= Target Number
Rule
A Check succeeds if the Final Result is equal to or greater than the Target Number.
Rule
A Check fails if the Final Result is lower than the Target Number.
SECTION_ID: FINAL_RESULT
Final Result
Definition
The Final Result is the value of a Check after all allowed rerolls, modifiers, and Kaos spending have been resolved.
Formula
d20 roll
+ applicable Stat modifier
+ Kaos spent
+ other applicable modifiers
Rule
Only the Final Result determines whether a Check succeeds or fails unless a rule specifically states otherwise.
SECTION_ID: TARGET_NUMBER
Target Number
Abbreviation
TN
Rule
A Target Number is the number a Check must meet or exceed to succeed.
Examples
- Perception Check vs Target Number
- Check vs a component's printed Target Number
- Check vs Defense
SECTION_ID: STAT_CHECKS
Stat Checks
Rule
A Stat Check is a Check using one specific Stat.
Formula
d20 + specified Stat
Example
A Brawn Check uses d20 + Brawn.
SECTION_ID: PERCEPTION_CHECKS
Perception Checks
Rule
A Perception Check is a Check using Intellect or Charm.
Formula
d20 + Intellect
OR
d20 + Charm
Rule
When making a Perception Check, the Player uses whichever of their Intellect or Charm modifiers is higher.
Rule
If the Player has neither Intellect nor Charm, use +0.
SECTION_ID: CONTESTED_CHECKS
Contested Checks
Rule
A Contested Check is a Check made by two or more Players against each other.
Rule
Each involved Player rolls the specified Check.
Success condition
Highest Final Result succeeds.
Tie rule
The initiating Player wins ties.
Rule
Kaos may not be spent on Contested Checks.
Rule
Natural 1s and natural 20s do not automatically fail or succeed on Contested Checks.
Rule
Natural 1s and natural 20s still trigger Critical Failure and Critical Success rewards unless rerolled or otherwise prevented.
SECTION_ID: CRITICAL_SUCCESS
Critical Success
Rule
A natural 20 on a d20 is a Critical Success.
Rule
On a non-contested Check, a Critical Success automatically succeeds.
Rule
When a Player rolls a Critical Success on a Stat Check, Perception Check, or Attack Check, they gain CRITICAL_SUCCESS_REWARD.
Variable value
CRITICAL_SUCCESS_REWARD: 1 Kaos
Rule
If the Player rerolls the natural 20, they do not gain the Critical Success reward unless the new roll is also a natural 20.
SECTION_ID: CRITICAL_FAILURE
Critical Failure
Rule
A natural 1 on a d20 is a Critical Failure.
Rule
When a Player rolls a Critical Failure on a Stat Check, Perception Check, or Attack Check, they gain CRITICAL_FAILURE_REWARD.
Variable value
CRITICAL_FAILURE_REWARD: 1 Reroll Token
Rule
If the Player rerolls the natural 1, they do not gain CRITICAL_FAILURE_REWARD unless the new roll is also a natural 1.
Rule
If a Player spends Kaos to increase a natural 1, they forfeit the Critical Failure reward.
SECTION_ID: KAOS
Kaos
Rule
Kaos is a Player resource.
Rule
Kaos may be spent after a d20 Check is rolled.
Rule
Kaos adds +1 to the Final Result for each Kaos spent.
Rule
A Player may spend any amount of Kaos on an eligible d20 Check.
Rule
Kaos may only be spent on d20 Checks.
Rule
Kaos may not be spent on Contested Checks.
Rule
Kaos is not capped.
Rule
Kaos may be spent to increase a natural 1.
Rule
If Kaos is spent to increase a natural 1, the Player forfeits the Reroll Token reward from that natural 1.
SECTION_ID: DAMAGE
Damage
Rule
Damage reduces Health.
Rule
Damage may be dealt by Players, Loot, Dungeon Bombs, Random Encounters, Cube Room End Effects, Statuses, or other game effects.
Rule
The Damage Dealer is the Player, card, rule, or game effect credited with dealing Damage.
Rule
The Player who rolls Damage dice is not automatically the Damage Dealer.
Rule
When a non-Combat effect deals Damage to a Player and requires a Damage roll, the Player to the damaged Player's left rolls that Damage unless the effect specifically states otherwise.
SECTION_ID: REPEATING_TURN_ACTIONS
Repeating Turn Actions
Rule
A Player may spend 1 Kaos to take the same Turn Action more than once during the same Turn.
Rule
This rule applies only during a Player's Turn.
Related rules: Actions.
SECTION_ID: REROLL_TOKENS
Reroll Tokens
Rule
If a Player would gain a Reroll Token and no Reroll Tokens are available, that Player does not gain a Reroll Token.
Rule
A Player may spend 1 Reroll Token after they roll dice and before the result is resolved.
Rule
Spending a Reroll Token allows the Player to reroll all dice rolled for that roll.
Rule
The Player must keep the new result.
Rule
A Player may spend only 1 Reroll Token per roll.
Rule
If a roll includes multiple dice, reroll all dice included in that roll.
Rule
Kaos may be spent only after all rerolls for that Check are complete.
Rule
If a Player rerolls a Critical Success or Critical Failure, the original critical result does not grant its reward.
SECTION_ID: GOBLIN_BALLS_ON_YA
Goblin Balls On Ya
Rule
Goblin Balls On Ya modifies a d20 Check.
Effect
Roll 2d20 and use the higher result.
Rule
If the Player spends a Reroll Token on a Check affected by Goblin Balls On Ya, reroll both d20s.
Rule
A Player cannot have more than one Goblin Balls On Ya effect at a time.
Rule
If a Player who already has Goblin Balls On Ya gains another Goblin Balls On Ya effect, ignore the new effect.
Rule
Goblin Balls On Ya may apply to Contested Checks.
SECTION_ID: DUNGEON_HAUNTED
Dungeon Haunted
Rule
Dungeon Haunted modifies a d20 Check.
Effect
Roll 2d20 and use the lower result.
Rule
If the Player spends a Reroll Token on a Check affected by Dungeon Haunted, reroll both d20s.
Rule
A Player cannot have more than one Dungeon Haunted effect at a time.
Rule
If a Player who already has Dungeon Haunted gains another Dungeon Haunted effect, ignore the new effect.
Rule
Dungeon Haunted may apply to Contested Checks.
SECTION_ID: GOBLIN_BALLS_AND_DUNGEON_HAUNTED
Goblin Balls On Ya and Dungeon Haunted Interaction
Rule
If a Player has both Goblin Balls On Ya and Dungeon Haunted, the two effects cancel each other.
Rule
When these effects cancel each other, remove both effects before rolling.
SECTION_ID: HEAL_VS_GAIN
Heal vs Gain
Rule
If a Player heals Health, they restore lost Health up to their Health Cap.
Rule
Healing cannot increase Health above the Player's Health Cap.
Rule
If a Player gains Health, they increase their current Health by the specified amount.
Rule
Gaining Health may increase Health above the Player's Health Cap.
Related rules: Player Structure.
SECTION_ID: EVENT_REWARD
Event Reward
Reference
Rule
The possibility to earn an Event Reward is displayed on the card through an Event Reward Indicator.
Reference
Rule
When a Player resolves an Event Reward, that Player resolves CURRENT_EVENT_REWARD.
Variable value
CURRENT_EVENT_REWARD: The rewarded Player may draw 1 Common Magic.
Rule
The card, rule, or game effect that grants the Event Reward determines which Player receives it and when it is resolved.
Rule
If an Event Reward is tied to the success of a Check, resolve the Event Reward only after the Check succeeds.
Rule
If the Check fails, the Event Reward is not resolved.
Rule
If the Check is rerolled, use the final resolved Check result to determine whether the Event Reward is granted.
SECTION_ID: ADJACENCY
Adjacency
Rule
Two Rooms are adjacent only if they are connected by a direct Connection.
Rule
Viva La Dungeon does not use distance, measurement, or line of sight.
Rule
Only Room connectivity matters.
SECTION_ID: CORE_TIMING_PRINCIPLE
Core Timing Principle
Rule
If multiple effects need to resolve at the same time, resolve the active Player's effects first unless a specific rule states otherwise.
Rule
If timing is unclear, resolve effects in the order that creates the fewest additional unresolved effects.
Official attribution
This reference is designed to define rules precisely. It is not a step-by-step learn-to-play guide and does not replace the official game components. These rules define the core systems but do not include the full commercial game contents, cards, art, components, or final product materials.
Official rules for Viva La Dungeon, a tabletop dungeon-battle-royale board game created by The Lich, featuring art by Greedmaw Coffin, and published by Zontco. Viva La Dungeon is a Zontco product.
© 2026 Zontco. All rights reserved. Please credit: Viva La Dungeon Board Game Rules Reference v1.0. Created by The Lich. Art by Greedmaw Coffin. Published by Zontco.
Preferred citation
Viva La Dungeon Board Game Rules Reference v1.0. Created by The Lich. Art by Greedmaw Coffin. Published by Zontco.