Shadowdark Shadowdark Discussion Thread [+]

[Scribe]

For those more in the know about Shadowdark, how much of a pain would it be to run both Shadowdark and OSE player characters in the same game?

You would just have to account for the leveling difference (Gold Rates, XP) and then off the top of my head it wouldnt be too bad?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

For those more in the know about Shadowdark, how much of a pain would it be to run both Shadowdark and OSE player characters in the same game?

It wouldn't be, although Shadowdark doesn't have saving throws, so the GM would either need to do some conversion on their side of the screen or essentially be running Shadowdark and OSE at the same time for some classes. (Spellcasting across the board works differently, for instance.) But for fighters, it would be trivial.

But converting OSE characters into Shadowdark or vice-versa is pretty simple and could be done in about 10 minutes before play started, which is a pretty reasonable amount of time, even for a one-time guest.

 

[Mannahnin]

Yeah, the baseline mechanics (d20 checks vs d6 checks or % Thief skills, ability checks vs old school saving throws, more, rolled to cast spells vs fewer, automatic spells [although with possible saves]) are sufficiently distinct that the character classes are built on almost entirely different underlying rules.

If I were doing it I'd be inclined to take a few minutes each and and convert the characters.

 

[Lidgar]

Had some time to look through the Western Reaches GM Guide this weekend. Below is my 5-word review:

Every GM needs this book.

Can’t wait for the print copy.

 

[Fenris-77]

Had some time to look through the Western Reaches GM Guide this weekend. Below is my 5-word review:

Every GM needs this book.

Can’t wait for the print copy.

The map-wide faction mechanic is pure gold.

 

[Fenris-77]

I'm going to be doing a weekly blog on my Discord, to start it's going to be about designing urban spaces for RPG play, and it's called Visible Cities, with apologies to Italo Calvino. The blog is here and an invite to the Shadow Cabal server is here. There is a separate thread for commentary. You guys are awesome, so I hope you come and drop wisdom.

 

[The Firebird]

Had some time to look through the Western Reaches GM Guide this weekend. Below is my 5-word review:

Every GM needs this book.

Can’t wait for the print copy.

What did you like about it? Haven't looked through it in detail yet.

 

[Lidgar]

What did you like about it? Haven't looked through it in detail yet.

Well, in a nutshell, lots. I can post more later, but for now the highlights are 1) it consolidates all the rules options from the Cursed Scrolls Zines (old and new), 2) provides additional suggestions on what rules options to use when running a WR campaign, including using longer downtime (even real time = downtime) as a way to have players run multiple characters in parallel campaigns (love this idea BTW), and 3) having all the campaign setting details in one location, including maps, monsters, and encounter tables.

It’s a fantastic achievement.

 

[Retros_x]

The map-wide faction mechanic is pure gold.

huh? I just skim read it first, so I overlooked that one - can you point me to a page?

I personally love the training special NPCs that every region has - its a bit videogamey, but I love it.

 

[Fenris-77]

huh? I just skim read it first, so I overlooked that one - can you point me to a page?

I personally love the training special NPCs that every region has - its a bit videogamey, but I love it.

Fragile Civilizations, p 48-49