Shadowdark Unless I am wrong

[Bill Zebub]

Yesterday my 9-year-old did something unwise (the older kids, who all paid attention to the obvious telegraph, were shaking their heads and saying “I wouldn’t do that…”) and died instantly. No saving throw, no death rolls, no chance to revive. Nothing left but charred bones.

He was a little disappointed (mostly about losing his one magic item) but otherwise was laughing and slapping his forehead.

I LOVE his embrace of the spirit of the game.

 

[Mannahnin]

Edit: Thought I was posting in Shadowdark: General. Whoops! Moving post...

 

[Doctor Futurity]

after thinking about this further:

I am ok with 3 strength meaning nearly bedridden weakness or 3 int meaning just shy of my Chihuahua’s comprehension…

IF

I am not rolling for stats without mulligans or some way to mitigate this. In theory I am not against the old Gygaxian 18 int is “genius”or 3 str can’t lift X weight…but being forced to roleplay this when you are trying to be an adventurer is unfun generally.

I don’t mind mechanical penalties, but the meaning of these things does not square with adventuring.

And I am. Or against penalties, nor a power gamer to my mind.

There is a reason for point buy, standard array, 4d6 and assign etc.

Games like shadowdark seem to have none of these…that could be unsatisfying if I want to pretend to be minimally capable bonuses or penalties notwithstanding.

Shadowdark does have this to a degree: the rules advise if you roll and don't have 2 stats with at least a 14 in them to restart.

 

[Doctor Futurity]

My general opinion on stats and roleplaying low scores is that players should go with what's fun for them. When it comes to OSR I think there's a notion that you should use your own personal skill first and the stats will offset that. But if someone doesn't want to play an INT 3 character (and realIstically you are about as likely to get a 3 when rolling as an 18) then id just let them shuffle some points around until they are happy. But for me personally I would find an abysmal stat or two a fun challenge.

As for Shadowdark specifically I think the game deliberately refrain from any directive on interpreting stat values since only the modifiers really impact anything, which is fine with me. I'd see a -3 modifier as merely suggesting a character who is not especially clever or educated, but it doesn't mean they are a fool or idiot. A STR of 3 or 4 might mean the character is frail and thin, but not necessarily incapable of action. Stats in the 1-2 range are where I assume true frailty lies.