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Shadowdark Blackmoor?
#1
So for those of you not familiar. There is a new OSR styled TTRPG called Shadowdark that takes a lot from older TTRPGs and also 5e. It's really cool and has a lot of stuff you might be familiar with. Like Carousing and such. No PC can have dark vision and torches matter! 
There are four core classes but more added. 
Wizard
Fighter
Priest
Thief. 

All of it's really cool and I feel like it'd adapt the old Blackmoor stuff real well.
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#2
(08-27-2024, 06:49 PM)CawmeKrazee Wrote: So for those of you not familiar. There is a new OSR styled TTRPG called Shadowdark that takes a lot from older TTRPGs and also 5e. It's really cool and has a lot of stuff you might be familiar with. Like Carousing and such. No PC can have dark vision and torches matter! 
There are four core classes but more added. 
Wizard
Fighter
Priest
Thief. 

All of it's really cool and I feel like it'd adapt the old Blackmoor stuff real well.

I haven't been able to get my hands on it yet, but it does look interesting. 

From what I understand it is in no way a retro clone, but as you say rather a 5E game that emulates some tropes from old school gaming? I think it could be a lot of fun to use it with Blackmoor. I'd be interested in hearing about it if you develop this idea further!

-Havard
Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign
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#3
(08-28-2024, 10:19 AM)Havard Wrote: I haven't been able to get my hands on it yet, but it does look interesting. 

From what I understand it is in no way a retro clone, but as you say rather a 5E game that emulates some tropes from old school gaming? I think it could be a lot of fun to use it with Blackmoor. I'd be interested in hearing about it if you develop this idea further!

-Havard


I'll let you know how it goes,  i have a couple of people interested in the DA series being ran in shadowdark. If you'd be interested in joining that is love to have you
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#4
(08-28-2024, 11:23 AM)CawmeKrazee Wrote:
(08-28-2024, 10:19 AM)Havard Wrote: I haven't been able to get my hands on it yet, but it does look interesting. 

From what I understand it is in no way a retro clone, but as you say rather a 5E game that emulates some tropes from old school gaming? I think it could be a lot of fun to use it with Blackmoor. I'd be interested in hearing about it if you develop this idea further!

-Havard


I'll let you know how it goes,  i have a couple of people interested in the DA series being ran in shadowdark. If you'd be interested in joining that is love to have you



Thanks for the invite! Do you play by Discord or something else? I am typically too busy to commit to joining online games, but I am curious about how you would run things Smile

-Havard
Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign
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#5
(08-28-2024, 03:35 PM)Havard Wrote: Thanks for the invite! Do you play by Discord or something else? I am typically too busy to commit to joining online games, but I am curious about how you would run things Smile

-Havard


Discord is how we would communicate over VC and then I'll probably use Roll20 for the virtual tabletop which is free. I was maybe thinking foundry
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#6
IMNSHO, Shadowdark is the best iteration of D&D since Moldvay/Cook.

I should note, however, that I was a playtester of Shadowdark, and have known the designer since she was a kid, so I might be a bit biased.

You can get the Quick Start PDF rules here for free:

https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/collect...rt-set-pdf

It is one of the most complete free quick start rules sets I've ever seen.
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#7
I have a copy of the rules and extras from the KS, but have not had a chance to play. I think it's advertised as a "5E Lite" system but that's not fair because there isn't a lot of 5E in it. I think it's more like "OD&D reimagined with modern mechanics" as it uses ascending AC (first done in 3E) along with advantage/disadvantage (from 5E) and an OD&D feel, but it also does spellcasting almost like Chainmail did it with a roll for spell success. A lot of good stuff packed into the rulebook.

A friend of mine has been running an Arneson-style dungeon using 5E but is talking about switching over to Shadowdark. I will update if he does this, but I think that Shadowdark would be excellent for capture of the feel of Blackmoor.
Marv / Finarvyn
Member of The Regency Council
Visit my Blackmoor OD&D board
OD&D since 1975

"Don't ask me what you need to hit. Just roll the die and I will let you know!"
- Dave Arneson

[Image: Giladan.png]
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#8
(08-28-2024, 10:17 PM)JamesMishler Wrote: IMNSHO, Shadowdark is the best iteration of D&D since Moldvay/Cook.

I should note, however, that I was a playtester of Shadowdark, and have known the designer since she was a kid, so I might be a bit biased.

You can get the Quick Start PDF rules here for free:

https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/collect...rt-set-pdf

It is one of the most complete free quick start rules sets I've ever seen.

That's REALLY cool! 

Are you in the Arcane Library discord server? 

I'd love to have you for a short campaign of the DA series!

(08-29-2024, 03:46 PM)ooofinarvyn Wrote: I have a copy of the rules and extras from the KS, but have not had a chance to play. I think it's advertised as a "5E Lite" system but that's not fair because there isn't a lot of 5E in it. I think it's more like "OD&D reimagined with modern mechanics" as it uses ascending AC (first done in 3E) along with advantage/disadvantage (from 5E) and an OD&D feel, but it also does spellcasting almost like Chainmail did it with a roll for spell success. A lot of good stuff packed into the rulebook.

A friend of mine has been running an Arneson-style dungeon using 5E but is talking about switching over to Shadowdark. I will update if he does this, but I think that Shadowdark would be excellent for capture of the feel of Blackmoor.

ooooh! I can't wait. Hopefully it goes well!
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#9
Read through the rules. It seems perfectly playable with the Blackmoor campaign setting. However, I am not a fan of randomly rolling your level-up power. I am also unsure if it has rules for the weird stuff you might find in the City of the Gods.
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#10
CawmeKrazee Wrote: "I'd love to have you for a short campaign of the DA series!"

I appreciate the offer, but with summer ending, between our regional gaming club going gangbusters and my wife starting grad school, I have pretty much every evening planned out till the end of the year.

And after years of playing online, I am really looking forward to playing in person again!

Thanks again, though, and best of luck with the campaign!
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