Shadowdark Shadowdark Discussion Thread [+]

[zottel]

Western Reaches Update time!
The most important bit:

I won't bury the lead: We need a bit more time. It looks like we'll ship in the second half of this year. I think I need about 2-3 more months of production time, and then the material takes a 3-month sea voyage to our warehouses.

Can't say I am surprised, but good to know for sure. Makes it easier to commit running to another campaign in the interim, at least.

 

[Argyle King]

I may have asked these in the other thread, but I don't remember:

•Is Shadowdark a stripped-down 5E with OSR sensibilities? I've heard it described that way, but I'm curious to hear what others think. I'm trying to better understand what makes SD a different experience from what WotC is currently putting out (and from other OSR games).

•How difficult is it to add some complexity back in in areas where I want more detail? While I appreciate streamlined rules, there are some areas of gaming where I like more detail.


Things that I'm pretty sure that I haven't asked about before:
•I recently supported Titanbound on Backerkit.

Titanbound - Climb and Slay Titans in Shadowdark RPG

Hunt, climb and slay colossal Titans in TITANBOUND, designed for use with Shadowdark RPG. New kaiju-slaying classes, magic, gear and ancestries will help you bring down the biggest monsters ever imagined!

www.backerkit.com

While I do not currently play SD, the concept seemed cool (such as the giant dice) and things included (like maps for climbing onto kaiju-like creatures) seemed as though they may be useful even when playing other games. For you personally, what do you feel has been the most useful SD product that you own?

•I also recently learned that one of the local gaming stores has a group running Shadowdark. I know some of the folks in that group. What's something that you feel someone playing SD for the first time should be aware of? ...any misconceptions that may be born from a D&D mindset that may not translate into SD?

 

[DarkCrisis]

I may have asked these in the other thread, but I don't remember:

•Is Shadowdark a stripped-down 5E with OSR sensibilities? I've heard it described that way, but I'm curious to hear what others think. I'm trying to better understand what makes SD a different experience from what WotC is currently putting out (and from other OSR games).

•How difficult is it to add some complexity back in in areas where I want more detail? While I appreciate streamlined rules, there are some areas of gaming where I like more detail.


Things that I'm pretty sure that I haven't asked about before:
•I recently supported Titanbound on Backerkit.

Titanbound - Climb and Slay Titans in Shadowdark RPG

Hunt, climb and slay colossal Titans in TITANBOUND, designed for use with Shadowdark RPG. New kaiju-slaying classes, magic, gear and ancestries will help you bring down the biggest monsters ever imagined!

www.backerkit.com

While I do not currently play SD, the concept seemed cool (such as the giant dice) and things included (like maps for climbing onto kaiju-like creatures) seemed as though they may be useful even when playing other games. For you personally, what do you feel has been the most useful SD product that you own?

•I also recently learned that one of the local gaming stores has a group running Shadowdark. I know some of the folks in that group. What's something that you feel someone playing SD for the first time should be aware of? ...any misconceptions that may be born from a D&D mindset that may not translate into SD?

I liek to describe it as 5E rules lite. And yes its easy to add and subtract things.

 

[Reynard]

I may have asked these in the other thread, but I don't remember:

•Is Shadowdark a stripped-down 5E with OSR sensibilities? I've heard it described that way, but I'm curious to hear what others think. I'm trying to better understand what makes SD a different experience from what WotC is currently putting out (and from other OSR games).

The designer Kelsey Dionne describes it as B/X with 5E inspired modern mechanics.

•How difficult is it to add some complexity back in in areas where I want more detail? While I appreciate streamlined rules, there are some areas of gaming where I like more detail.

Shadowdark is infinitely hackable, not least because it is lean and does not overly concern itself with "balance."

•I also recently learned that one of the local gaming stores has a group running Shadowdark. I know some of the folks in that group. What's something that you feel someone playing SD for the first time should be aware of? ...any misconceptions that may be born from a D&D mindset that may not translate into SD?

You squishy.

 

[UnplayedRanger]

Western Reaches Update time!
The most important bit:

Can't say I am surprised, but good to know for sure. Makes it easier to commit running to another campaign in the interim, at least.

So thanks to discussions here, and the Glass Cannon podcast, I'm finally dipping my toes into Shadowdark. I guess this is a good sign to just go ahead and get the corebook instead of waiting for the new hard covers to also be out.

I do have a question though, looking at the updated Diagram in the new update. How crucial are the few items that won't be included in the hardback books? Oaths, Pit Fighting, Enduring Wounds and the backgrounds? I was hoping the hardbacks would help to avoid having to buy the individual scrolls.

 

[Scribe]

So thanks to discussions here, and the Glass Cannon podcast, I'm finally dipping my toes into Shadowdark. I guess this is a good sign to just go ahead and get the corebook instead of waiting for the new hard covers to also be out.

I do have a question though, looking at the updated Diagram in the new update. How crucial are the few items that won't be included in the hardback books? Oaths, Pit Fighting, Enduring Wounds and the backgrounds? I was hoping the hardbacks would help to avoid having to buy the individual scrolls.

Not critical. Scroll 6 is mighty thin now though. The rest at least have Adventures.

I do like this list of Expanded stuff, even if the delay kills me.

The New Additions
Since the start of this project, I've added more than 150 pages in new material to the hardcovers that I didn't initially plan for. This happened over time because I want these books to be the pinnacle of what I can do.

Since the beginning of the Kickstarter, we've added:

Warband rules
Bastion rules
Siege weapon rules
Camping rules
Fast Travel rules
Many more NPCs with learning downtime mechanics
Lawful, neutral, and chaotic alignment spells for priests
Two new factions (still secret, I want these to be fun surprises!)
Lots of new gear
9 more patrons
New monsters
24 more pages to the Scarlet Minotaur premium edition
Revised Core Game Master Screen

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Is Shadowdark a stripped-down 5E with OSR sensibilities? I've heard it described that way, but I'm curious to hear what others think. I'm trying to better understand what makes SD a different experience from what WotC is currently putting out (and from other OSR games).

I think it splits the difference. You can argue about whether it's 5E stripped down to the chassis or whether it was built from the ground up from basic parts, but at the end of the day, it's a game that's very recognizable for both OSR and 5E folks.

How difficult is it to add some complexity back in in areas where I want more detail? While I appreciate streamlined rules, there are some areas of gaming where I like more detail.

Extremely easy. Probably even easier than with C&C, since it uses a standard d20 resolution system, rather than the SIEGE Engine.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I do have a question though, looking at the updated Diagram in the new update. How crucial are the few items that won't be included in the hardback books? Oaths, Pit Fighting, Enduring Wounds and the backgrounds? I was hoping the hardbacks would help to avoid having to buy the individual scrolls.

For someone with the money to just go for the Western Reaches books, that's probably a very reasonable way to go, unless the adventures in one of the Cursed Scrolls really speaks to you.

But if you just want more rules and a setting and will run your own adventures (or randomly generate them) in the Western Reaches, the Cursed Scrolls are very easy to skip.

In contrast, if you know you just want to run the Gloaming and have no interest in some of the other flavors, or the wider setting, just grabbing a Cursed Scroll and rolling with it makes a ton of sense as well.

 

[zottel]

I may have asked these in the other thread, but I don't remember:

•Is Shadowdark a stripped-down 5E with OSR sensibilities? I've heard it described that way, but I'm curious to hear what others think. I'm trying to better understand what makes SD a different experience from what WotC is currently putting out (and from other OSR games).

•How difficult is it to add some complexity back in in areas where I want more detail? While I appreciate streamlined rules, there are some areas of gaming where I like more detail.


Things that I'm pretty sure that I haven't asked about before:
•I recently supported Titanbound on Backerkit.

Titanbound - Climb and Slay Titans in Shadowdark RPG

Hunt, climb and slay colossal Titans in TITANBOUND, designed for use with Shadowdark RPG. New kaiju-slaying classes, magic, gear and ancestries will help you bring down the biggest monsters ever imagined!

www.backerkit.com

While I do not currently play SD, the concept seemed cool (such as the giant dice) and things included (like maps for climbing onto kaiju-like creatures) seemed as though they may be useful even when playing other games. For you personally, what do you feel has been the most useful SD product that you own?

•I also recently learned that one of the local gaming stores has a group running Shadowdark. I know some of the folks in that group. What's something that you feel someone playing SD for the first time should be aware of? ...any misconceptions that may be born from a D&D mindset that may not translate into SD?

I think I remember you asking, and that you were less than impressed witch Shadowdark. Honestly, I am kinda surprised you still read about it, from what I recall of that thread. Maybe I misremember, though.
Regarding the complexity, I reckon it would be quite fickle. Easy to do, but easy to go to far. That's very subjective to my preference, to be clear! I just want to point out the value of simplicity, as in no complexity for complexities’ sake.
Coming from 5e, lethality is the obvious one. It is often overstated, but obviously differs from table to table. For me, the main point is simple OSR stuff, like player skill over character skill. To me, pretty much, I run it much like 5e, but the characters are no superheroes. Probably, my 5e tables lean rather OSR, if that makes sense.

So thanks to discussions here, and the Glass Cannon podcast, I'm finally dipping my toes into Shadowdark. I guess this is a good sign to just go ahead and get the corebook instead of waiting for the new hard covers to also be out.

I do have a question though, looking at the updated Diagram in the new update. How crucial are the few items that won't be included in the hardback books? Oaths, Pit Fighting, Enduring Wounds and the backgrounds? I was hoping the hardbacks would help to avoid having to buy the individual scrolls.

Honestly, you only need the free quick starter to get gong. The core book, in my opinion, could last you a lifetime. You do NOT need anything more ruleswise. That said, I think all the rest is amazing value. I do not know where else you can get a better deal.

 

[UnplayedRanger]

Honestly, you only need the free quick starter to get gong. The core book, in my opinion, could last you a lifetime. You do NOT need anything more ruleswise. That said, I think all the rest is amazing value. I do not know where else you can get a better deal.

At least the extra classes will end up on Shadowdarklings, because I know my group will grow weary of the base 4 pretty quick.