Shadowdark Shadowdark General Thread [+]

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Random encounter rolls or just Colville-style "orcs attack!" are also reasonable solutions.

But yeah, the combo of real time torches + how much encumbrance torches take up in SD is definitely a solid solution.

I am always prepared to roll random encounters, especially if conversations get heated and the characters might be getting loud, but in practice, the threat of plunging them into darkness in Shadowdark has meant that's not been necessary in the way it has been in other systems.

 

[Velderan]

I am always prepared to roll random encounters, especially if conversations get heated and the characters might be getting loud, but in practice, the threat of plunging them into darkness in Shadowdark has meant that's not been necessary in the way it has been in other systems.

The nice thing about random encounters in SD is my players don't yet know the mechanic behind how often they could happen or what the chance is each time I roll, beyond me telling them "if your torch goes out, the chance goes up noticeably". They just see a roll on the VTT that they can't see the result of and usually someone responds with "we probably should get moving".

 

[Reynard]

In today's episode of Between Two Cairns, the hosts answer a mailbag (moodsack) question about how to stop players from endlessly deliberating about a course of action. They immediately say, "well, in Shadowdark, the real-time torch timer solves this," and then spend 15 minutes trying to come up with a general solution for other games. (They settle on "whatever's right for your game.")

I know a lot of people are skeptical about Shadowdark's torch timer, but it solves a real problem I think most DMs have encountered at some point, sometimes in every single session. I have some deliberators who play in my Shadowdark game, and even though we're playing online, I can feel their eyes watching the clock when they start discussing what to do.

I dropped the real time torch timer almost immediately. i understand that it solves a problem some people have, but I did not have that problem so it was more of a PITA and intrusion than it was worth.

I also dropped always on initiative early, too, mostly because I felt like that actually slowed the game down.

 

[overgeeked]

In today's episode of Between Two Cairns, the hosts answer a mailbag (moodsack) question about how to stop players from endlessly deliberating about a course of action. They immediately say, "well, in Shadowdark, the real-time torch timer solves this," and then spend 15 minutes trying to come up with a general solution for other games. (They settle on "whatever's right for your game.")

I know a lot of people are skeptical about Shadowdark's torch timer, but it solves a real problem I think most DMs have encountered at some point, sometimes in every single session. I have some deliberators who play in my Shadowdark game, and even though we're playing online, I can feel their eyes watching the clock when they start discussing what to do.

Time pressure is something that I think is really key. SD Torch, and various clocks (Daggerheart) that tick on Short/Long Rest? Great tools.

Random encounter rolls or just Colville-style "orcs attack!" are also reasonable solutions.

But yeah, the combo of real time torches + how much encumbrance torches take up in SD is definitely a solid solution.

Yes all around. It doesn't matter where the time pressure is coming from, why it's there, or what it is...only that some kind of time pressure exists. Wait too long and your torch burns down is just as compelling as wait too long and monsters attack (as long as those monsters are actually frightening), the ritual is completed, the princess eats the dragon, etc. As long as the PCs/players care about the consequences, you can make just about anything into a ticking clock.