Shadowdark General Thread [+]

[Elvish Lore]

As you wish.

The [+] is to keep things positive and prevent the same tired old arguments about the OSR scene and OSR-style play. There are plenty of other threats to hate on games and play styles you don’t like.

Point taken though I don't think I'm hating and I don't think my OP was some kind of hate on the play style. I think you're overreacting.

 

[Arilyn]

You can start characters with max hitpoints. Use the pulp mode, which gives characters more luck tokens. And you absolutely don't have to play in dank dungeons.

 

[Bae'zel]

Time to introduce my 8 year old daughter and 6 year old son to D&D. I wanted to wait for the new Starter Set to come out...but I've decided to jump in with Shadowdark. Excited to get started later this month!

Advice: be easy on them. Have 0HP mean "knocked out" or "captured by the baddies" not dead as a doornail.

 

[Bae'zel]

You can start characters with max hitpoints. Use the pulp mode, which gives characters more luck tokens. And you absolutely don't have to play in dank dungeons.

This is what I did with my kids. Went really well.

I mean, any RPG is about tone. Are the antagonists Rated R grimdark Game of Thrones? Or Adventure Time whimsical goofs? You can run Shadowdark as the latter just fine (see the Reaction Tables, for example).

 

[Bae'zel]

As you wish.

The [+] is to keep things positive and prevent the same tired old arguments about the OSR scene and OSR-style play. There are plenty of other threats to hate on games and play styles you don’t like.

Perpetually insisting that Shadowdark and OSR games MUST be played as ultra lethal misery tourism is just as tired though.

We all love this game, despite our playstyle differences, so let's leave it at that.

 

[SlyFlourish]

Kids love it when they die totally unfairly!

You'd be surprised...

 

[DarkCrisis]

Kids love it when they die totally unfairly!

I know SD is simple, but as a parent myself I don't get it's status as the universal new basic set. Those first couple levels are punishing. And while there are fewer options, they are still beyond your average 8 year old I think.

But if it works for you.

In all of my years playing/running RPGs I can’t think of a time a character died “unfairly”.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

In all of my years playing/running RPGs I can’t think of a time a character died “unfairly”.

Grimtooth has entered the chat

 

[darjr]

Last time I ran a game for kids under 12 they both said at one point they were trying to get their PCs killed.

Understand that it was not the norm, but not that far off. Most times I find kids are used to character death.

 

[Bae'zel]

In all of my years playing/running RPGs I can’t think of a time a character died “unfairly”.

My first 4e game. My lvl1 character peered around the corner in a dungeon; got one-shotted by waiting bandits. GM reprimanded me for not using a small mirror to look. They were very "OSR", despite the system, ie, punishing player choice not character choice.