Shadowdark Finally Played Shadowdark

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Many of the replies to the OP sounded like it is their own damn fault for even getting into combat however, that they should have known better than to do that and that failure at a check is basically the default, so they should find foolproof ways around things rather than relying on rolls they are likely to fail anyway. If those replies accurately represent SD play, then I won't have much interest in that

Who is saying people are going to fail rolls anyway? (Do I have a big portion of this thread on ignore?) Anyway, RAW, that just isn't likely to happen. Just like in 5E, it's trivial to get advantage on many rolls.

I also just haven't found combat to be that deadly. I've run a lot of games and as long as people don't treat their characters like 5E characters, they're fine. It doesn't take a dramatic amount of additional caution.

 

[TiQuinn]

Well, we all can only speak for ourselves (despite me seeing folks try to strengthen their arguments by claiming a bunch of people agree with them), but personally I expect I'm in a niche group.

Guess how much that affects my opinions?

I don't know what your point is.

 

[TiQuinn]

Sounds like fighters are pretty important then. Good thing SD made one.

Sure. If you say so.

 

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

Either you came up with alternative tactics to hack & slash (scout, talk, bribe, use hireling meatshields, etc.), or you changed the mechanics to make the PCs more durable (or "unofficially" did the latter by the DM fudging rolls like crazy).

I imagine a lot of people who say "we didnt play that way!" tended to do the latter.

 

[SpellObjectEnthusiast]

I would say that’s the definition of a niche, and i find people don’t like being called part of a niche group

If SD is a niche, its a pretty big one, considering the kickstarter numbers and the con game numbers it has.

It's not going to appeal to everyone (no game will), but it clearly appeals to a lot of people.

 

[TiQuinn]

If SD is a niche, its a pretty big one, considering the kickstarter numbers and the con game numbers it has.

It's not going to appeal to everyone (no game will), but it clearly appeals to a lot of people.

I agree.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't know what your point is.

That the popularity of one's opinion is of little relevance.

 

[TiQuinn]

That the popularity of one's opinion is of little relevance.

The sky is blue.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The sky is blue.

If you agree with me, why do we keep hearing about what "most players" want? A lot of people liking something doesn't make it better.

 

[Retreater]

I've consumed a lot of the OSR media out there. I've read the Alexandrian blog (and Justin Alexander's book). I've read and watched Ben Milton (Questing Beast). I've read Matt Finch.
The concepts of the OSR aren't new to me. But they get to be tedious, and I find them impractical.
Sure, you can sneak past the bandits on the road who have prepared an ambush. But the 10 rooms of identical goblins in a classic dungeon of 10' corridors that go into 30 x 30 rooms? You're going to get caught by one of them - and you will die.
And is it fun to sneak past all the fights, avoid all the combats (and probably also a good amount of the treasure/XP)? Is it fun to ignore the majority of your class abilities and the rules of the game you just paid $60 to play? Is it fun to turn the game into a "mother, may I?" with the GM?