Shadowdark Shadowdark General Thread [+]

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Went to the Western Reaches KS to spam refresh...found this.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bobworldbuilder/helfast-spire-shadowdark/description

Leaving aside the Goodman Games of it all, didn't people complain that his last Shadowdark project was basically a 5E project with only minor changes?

 

[Scribe]

Leaving aside the Goodman Games of it all, didn't people complain that his last Shadowdark project was basically a 5E project with only minor changes?

Yes, I think so, but I'm going to check the preview when I get home.

Seems like he's casting a wide net, Daggerheart on there too.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yes, I think so, but I'm going to check the preview when I get home.

Seems like he's casting a wide net, Daggerheart on there too.

Yeah, I have a lot of doubt that someone can make a 5E/Shadowdark/Daggerheart product that won't just feel like a 5E product, not without a lot more staff with demonstrated expertise in each system.

 

[Scribe]

Yeah, I have a lot of doubt that someone can make a 5E/Shadowdark/Daggerheart product that won't just feel like a 5E product, not without a lot more staff with demonstrated expertise in each system.

OK back now, and it looks like the Adventure is SD, the other stuff jumps around to other RPGs.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

OK back now, and it looks like the Adventure is SD, the other stuff jumps around to other RPGs.

That's better, then.

 

[Fenris-77]

I'm working up an alternative encounter mechanic for the Ashalom city supplement, partially because the torch timer in SD, which I do love, is a bit od square peg when it comes to wilderness or urban adventuring. So I'm converting the Meatgrinder mechanic from His Majesty the Worm. I'll also be doing a Wilderness version, and a dungeon version for use if people want unified mechanics and no torch timer. Anyway, here's the precis (copied form a post on the HMtW Discord). This is the Wardgrinder:

The city is divided into Wards, each with its own themes, types of inhabitants, locations, factions, and NPCs (as one would expect). The WG applies to active adventuring in the city (so not normal downtime shopping or whatever. The WG content are directly tied to those themes, inhabitants, factions, and NPCs. The short version is this (roman numerals are d20 results):

Flickers of Notice (I-V) Represent the locals noticing you poking about where you're not wanted. Each Ward has a Notice threshold, which, when reached, triggers a Ward Encounter (usually with some version of powers that be). The trigger will usually be between 2 and 5(?). Flickers here are all different and so will be marked off the Grinder when they occur.

Curiosities (VI-X). These are evocative moments that serve to flesh out the feel and theme of the Ward. These provide possible inspiration for a role playing moment, inject local colour, or hint at the nature of the Ward.

Minor Encounters (XI-XV). Direct encounters with the denizens of the Ward, some friendly, some unfriendly, and some just weird or unsettling. Few of these directly index a combat encounter, but there's always room for the old ultraviolence in a pinch. Mostly these should be more inconvenient than deadly.

Ward Encounters (XVI-XX). These are encounters with officialdom, the factions that control and police the Ward. These might not be combat encounters, but they are serious. The Watch very much wants to know what you're doing poking around the back of that warehouse. Think combat, or If you'll just with me sir we can get this all sorted out down at the watch house. Either way, these are much bigger disruption to whatever shenanigans the players had planned.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I like the idea, but it might be easier to just go with a Grand Theft Auto-style system and have escalating amounts of trouble. Maybe make it a d6 system, where they have to roll above their current alert level to avoid an encounter, and make the levels 1 through 5.

And, like you've got it, the maximum level determines what the encounter is. If the entire city is out looking for you, the PCs are not going to be worrying about a pickpocket.

 

[Fenris-77]

I like the idea, but it might be easier to just go with a Grand Theft Auto-style system and have escalating amounts of trouble. Maybe make it a d6 system, where they have to roll above their current alert level to avoid an encounter, and make the levels 1 through 5.

And, like you've got it, the maximum level determines what the encounter is. If the entire city is out looking for you, the PCs are not going to be worrying about a pickpocket.

No no, it's all done by city ward, not the city entire. Ther are like 10 city wards. I'm quite sold on the general format of the mechanic, but I'm entirely unsure of the exact implementation. I will be tying it to a basic reputation mechanic, also done by ward.

There's a lot of room in the notice mechanic, especially as the PCs will have several ways to mitigate or avoid it.

 

[Scribe]

(I just wanted to use that gif, as it looks like my old dog.)

 

[Fenris-77]

OK, the playtest doc for my new Wardgrinder urban adventuring mechanic for SD is ready to stress test. It's got an explanation of the new mechanic, plus a sample city ward from my upcoming city book and a Wardgrinder build from that ward as exemplar. Read it, use it, let me know what you think.