Bill Zebub
“It’s probably Matt Mercer’s fault.”
That was one design choice where Shadowdark lost me.
Why?
Edit: here’s why I like it…
1) It moves decision-making to the moment. Not “what spells will I need for the day” or “what else might I need this slot for?” but “Is it worth the risk RIGHT NOW?” And…
2) …players tend to hope for the best, which means they think they will make the roll, so they go for it. Whereas with slots they know they will lose the resource, so they play more conservatively.
3) It adds a new dimension of excitement/unpredictability
4) It seems to be easier for new players to understand, compared to slots and spell selection.
5) On average it gives more spells/day than D&D, without guaranteeing it, so it gives casters more casting without relying on cantrips.
Maybe you have given it a shot and didn’t like it, but if you only read about it I would recommend giving it a shot.
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