File ID
Core Character Cards
The Viva La Dungeon Core Character Cards define the seven core Characters used in the board game, including each Character’s printed Stats, Health Cap, Starting Defense, Starting Kaos, quantity, and component ID.
Viva La Dungeon Official Rules Reference
A Zontco board game created by The Lich, featuring art by Greedmaw Coffin.
Source metadata
Canonical definition
This page is the official component reference for the Core Character Cards used in the Viva La Dungeon board game. Each listed component is a Character Card unless another rule specifically states otherwise.
This document is intended to be plug-in-play. The Core Character Cards can be used on any map or ruleset unless a specific rule says otherwise.
Dependencies
Dependency
00_ONTOLOGY
Defines Character Card, Character, Portrait, Printed Stat, Starting Attribute, Health Cap, Starting Defense, and Starting Kaos.
Dependency
01_CORE_CONCEPTS
Provides the universal Stat Check rules that use a Character’s current Stats.
Dependency
04_PLAYER_STRUCTURE
Defines Characters, Portraits, Stats, Stat calculation, Starting Attributes, Health Cap, Defense, and Kaos.
Dependency
06_COMBAT_ENCOUNTER
Defines how a Character’s current Defense is calculated during a Combat Encounter.
Used by
03_SETUP04_PLAYER_STRUCTURE05_ACTIONS06_COMBAT_ENCOUNTER09_DEATH_AND_VICTORY10_RANDOM_ENCOUNTERSRANDOM_ENCOUNTERS_LEVEL_ONERULES_EXTENSION_01_ZOMBIES- Future Character-specific documentation
- Future Setup and Level Box documentation
Scope notes
This page defines Character Card identity and printed gameplay values. Character selection, matching Portraits, Stat calculation, Starting Attribute setup, Health tracking, Defense calculation, Kaos tracking, Death, and Victory are controlled by their respective rules pages.
Character names do not create game effects by themselves. Another rule or component must specifically refer to a Character name to create an interaction.
None of the Core Character Cards in version 0.2 has a printed card-specific game effect beyond its listed Stats and Starting Attributes.
Core Character Card rules
Rule
Seven Core Character Cards
The Core Character Card list contains seven Character Cards. Each has a name, component ID, component quantity, printed Stats, Health Cap, Starting Defense, and Starting Kaos.
Rule
Unlisted Stats are +0
Only nonzero printed Stats are listed on a Character Card. If a Stat is not listed, that Character’s printed value for the Stat is +0.
Rule
Use printed Stats in calculations
A positive printed Stat is added and a negative printed Stat is subtracted when calculating the Character’s current Stat.
Rule
Starting Attributes
Health Cap, Starting Defense, and Starting Kaos are Starting Attributes displayed on the Character Card and used to establish the Player’s initial game state.
Important rule
Do not add Vitality again
Vitality is already included in each Character Card’s listed Health Cap and Starting Defense. Do not add Vitality to either value during Setup or play unless another rule specifically says otherwise.
Rule
Character Cards are not Loot
A Character Card is not Loot, is not part of a Player’s Inventory, is not Equipped, and does not occupy an Equipment Slot or Backpack Slot.
Setup rule
Selection and matching Portrait
Character Cards are selected and associated with Players according to the core Setup and Player Structure rules. Each Core Character Card has a matching Portrait.
Core Character Card list
A dash in a Stat column means that Stat is not printed on the Character Card and is treated as +0. Each row has a stable HTML ID for direct linking, citation, and rules-reference use.
| Character | Component ID | Brawn | Quickness | Vitality | Charm | Intellect | Health Cap | Starting Defense | Starting Kaos | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarven Bookseller | CORE_DWARVEN_BOOKSELLER |
−1 | — | — | +1 | — | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| The Grub Hunter’s Brother | CORE_GRUB_HUNTERS_BROTHER |
— | — | +1 | −1 | — | 21 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Unicorn Rancher | CORE_UNICORN_RANCHER |
— | +1 | — | — | −1 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Wedding Bard | CORE_WEDDING_BARD |
— | −1 | — | +1 | — | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Three Gnomes in a Trenchcoat | CORE_THREE_GNOMES |
−1 | — | +1 | — | — | 21 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Elven Cordwainer | CORE_ELVEN_CORDWAINER |
+1 | — | — | — | −1 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Huffling Cheesesniffer | CORE_HUFFLING_CHEESESNIFFER |
−1 | — | — | — | +1 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Quick reference
Card count
7 Character Cards
One copy of each Core Character Card is included in the list.
Starting Kaos
5 for every Character
Every Core Character Card in version 0.2 has a Starting Kaos value of 5.
Vitality +1
21 Health Cap and 6 Starting Defense
The Grub Hunter’s Brother and Three Gnomes in a Trenchcoat have +1 Vitality, already reflected in these Starting Attributes.
All other Characters
20 Health Cap and 5 Starting Defense
The other five Core Characters have no printed Vitality modifier.
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.