Shadowdark General Thread [+]

[Reynard]

I've looked through the free preview.
Overall, it is very to understand.


How different (if at all) is the full version of the game from the free preview?

It's a huge amount of the game. It's only missing higher level spells and monsters. You could go up a few levels with this to find out if you like the game or not.

There are only 10 levels, and I think that this covers you up to about half way?

in addition, the full game includes a lot of extra tables and things, making it even easier to run on the fly.

 

[Argyle King]

in addition, the full game includes a lot of extra tables and things, making it even easier to run on the fly.

It's something I'll probably try. A bit lighter than I usually like, but it looks easy enough to add in some complexity in places where I would want more.

 

[THEMNGMNT]

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!

 

[Reynard]

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!

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.

 

[Elvish Lore]

But if it works for you.

Silmarily, I think SD and lethality of OSR make for a terrible introduction to fantasy rpgs. I'm trying to teach my kids the power of imagination and magical empowerment, not dying in a dank dungeon without having done anything of note. Feels like older millennials and Gen X trying to recapture their own experiences as a kid rather than a good experience for a kid nowadays.

And, hell, even as a kid my friends and I endured the short, brutal lives of old D&D characters and then quickly got into playing games with a lot more friendly flare such as Palladium Fantasy rpg and Marvel.

 

[overgeeked]

Silmarily, I think SD and lethality of OSR make for a terrible introduction to fantasy rpgs. I'm trying to teach my kids the power of imagination and magical empowerment, not dying in a dank dungeon without having done anything of note. Feels like older millennials and Gen X trying to recapture their own experiences as a kid rather than a good experience for a kid nowadays.

And, hell, even as a kid my friends and I endured the short, brutal lives of old D&D characters and then quickly got into playing games with a lot more friendly flare such as Palladium Fantasy rpg and Marvel.

Maybe. But it’s such and easy fix to make. If the only thing holding you back from enjoying the game is the lethality, remove it.

But if you dislike the entire OSR scene and Shadowdark specifically, it’s kinda weird you’re posting in a thread about Shadowdark and OSR-style play.

 

[Scribe]

Feels like older millennials and Gen X trying to recapture their own experiences as a kid rather than a good experience for a kid nowadays.

Yet, if it was a good experience for us as kids...kids are still kids, why would it be a bad experience now?

 

[Elvish Lore]

But if you dislike the entire OSR scene and Shadowdark specifically, it’s kinda weird you’re posting in a thread about Shadowdark and OSR-style play.

My first post in this thread and it's "kinda weird"?

I mean, I'm expressing an opinion about lethality in the game and it's an open forum. I don't think I'm threadcapping. Is this thread limited to positive only?

 

[overgeeked]

My first post in this thread and it's "kinda weird"?

I mean, I'm expressing an opinion about lethality in the game and it's an open forum. I don't think I'm threadcapping. Is this thread limited to positive only?

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.

 

[DarkCrisis]

While I like "Deadly" D&D, IE make good choices and dont just charge into every situation, First thing I did with SD was make it a tad less lethal. Though like most OSR once you get a character to about level 3 its less lethal anyways.