Shadowdark Shadowdark General Thread [+]

[Kromanjon]

I wouldn't say so. The idea of flux space is to abstract away the detailed exploration of "samey" large exploration - one turn is exploration of multiple hours. Regarding time abstraction and torch timer it is similar to wilderness exploration in SD - where you don't use the torch timer because one turn represents multiple hours of narrative time. You just don't use torch timer in flux space as you wouldn't in classic SD hex exploration. But, as defined in the blog article about flux space - the moment you "zoom in" to explore a point of interest in flux space you do classic exploring with map and key. Thats the moment you bring back the torch timer. When the game mode switches to detailed exploration of space.

So, I think I get what you're saying. However looking at the adventure I've written, each "zoom-in" is such a small part that bringing in a 1 hour timer would be superfluous for these small landmark sites. Also it begs the question that if you chart hex space for say two hours, then zoom in, and after 15 minutes you go back to hex space again, will those 15 carry over or will they start a new torch at the next zoom in.

What I'm trying to get across is that the abstraction of hex space, though very helpful for simulating large , maze-like environments and the resource spending of those adventures, takes away from the dread/anticipation that a real time torch is supposed to evoke.

Also this doesn't really take away from what I stated at the beginning that I have to keep this in mind while reading the adventure. If nothing else I would have to add a section explaining how to combine the abstract turns of flux space with the real time of SDs standard crawling turns. Wilderness exploration in SD, though similar, doesn't take into account these quick zoom ins apart from the PCs reaching an adventure location at which point the expectation is for that to represent an entire map of its own.

All that stated, I have to concede that you are, in fact, correct. It can be done. Flux Space and SD can be combined successfully. I still think that if you're writing a scenario using Flux Space, Shadowdark might not be your first choice of system.

 

[Fenris-77]

Flux Space isn't sci-fi, rather it's a way to handle exploration of a large dungeon in a simplified way. I think it's pretty great and works with most ttrpgs, just not with one who uses real time mechanics. Check it out.

Ahh, well that might complicate the real time torch thing, sure.