10 Reasons to Play Shadowdark RPG

Рет қаралды 21,837

Жыл бұрын

The Shadowdark Kickstarter is going live on February 28th, 2023. In this video, I share 10 more reasons why I am absolutely stoked for the full release of the modern OSR-adjacent tabletop rpg, Shadowdark!
Please note the screenshots of the book in this video were given with permission from @TheArcaneLibrary and they are subject to change before the end of the Kickstarter.
The first reason to play Shadowdark RPG is because its awesome. But in all seriousness, this game has everything from rules for 0-level play called The Gauntlet to simple character creation, to tons of random tables. As a 5e refugee, this has quickly become my go-to system and I haven't looked back since.
If you enjoy this content, please throw me a like as it helps this video reach a larger audience. Thank you kindly!
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Пікірлер: 176

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Shadowdark is a FANTASTIC alternative to 5e Dungeons and Dragons. In my humble opinion, it's the best bridge from 5e to the OSR I have experienced yet. The Kickstarter begins on 2/28 and the books are gorgeous! Don't miss out like the ICRPG ME Collectors Edition. Cheers!

@adrenalin7716 Жыл бұрын

Absolute agreement

@Smittumi Жыл бұрын

I wasn't gonna worry about Shadowdark (too retroclone-y) until I watched this video. It seems like I was wrong and there is some real innovation there. That spider story is chef's kiss.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Incredible. It's currently my go-to system and I plan on using it for the foreseeable future. Glad you enjoyed that story; told from the heart.

@MrPsyren99 11 ай бұрын

There really isn't, everything done in here has been done already and better by other osr games. Check out basic fantasy if you want a good osr game that is updated for modern audiences

@davidnelson456 Жыл бұрын

One of the reasons I am going to play this game: My group is partly old ass dudes in their late 60s. They are NOT going to pour through the 1701 rule books, 20000 classes and races in 5e. Simple is is order of the day.... and this is simple while not losing it's vitality. When I was younger I may have been happy with all the books available.... but now we just want to sit our asses down on Thursday... have a 3 hour session, eat snacks, kill shit and not think about it again for a week.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Love it and totally agree. This book is going to be gorgeous too!

@brianfroeschner6644 Жыл бұрын

Play what us other old ass players are using DCC or OSE. You get more punch per minute with DCCs spell system.

@keithmathews4605 Жыл бұрын

Gonna be honest... sold, sight unseen. Been playing D&D since the early 80's, and I absolutely LOVE supporting the new stuff from new creators. Really looking forward to getting it!

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Yeah I started with 5e dnd and LOVE the OSR movement. This game is such an elegant combination of the two and has been a blast to play. So stoked for my physical books to show up!

@PaulBeel-kl9of Жыл бұрын

Yes, it would be interesting to know how you run your Gauntlets. I'm looking forward to the Shadowdark Kickstarter!

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Thinking of building two: 1 just how I would do it and 2 using the random dungeon table generator in the book itself 😉

@MegaRazaele Жыл бұрын

1. 0:05 Shadow dark is Awesome 2. 0:15 Rules for beginning level 0 (The Gauntlet) 3. 1:02 Simple Character Creation 4. 2:01 Modifiers not added to damage 5. 2:28 Random Characters Generation 6. 2:48 Light Tracking Systems (real life) 7. 3:42 Carousing event for spending gold 8. 4:48 A lot of random tables (maps, monsters etc) 9. 5:50 Monster Stat Blocks (simplified to DND) 10. 6:47 Utilises inside covers

@marccaron6008 Жыл бұрын

Here is my light story: I recall in 1981 (BX) I used to light the basement with candles only when we played. After several sessions that had become very short. They burned out one by one. The last one was next to me (DM). At one point I said: 'Suddenly...' but was cut short because the last candle had gone out at that exact moment. We were all in the dark, it was great!

@mebarber74 Жыл бұрын

I backed it with the "Crawling Group" pledge so that I can yoink my home group in all at once. I happen to love almost all RPGs, mainstream or otherwise. I have a soft spot for retro-clones too. This game has that Dark Souls sort of vibe that I think would fit into pickup games, nights where you just want to enjoy a game for enjoyment's sake, or traditional campaign play. I am very much looking forward to this being in my library, and I bet we have a TON of fun with it. Timer set...

@TheBrutumFulmen Жыл бұрын

Loved that spider story! Makes me think, with light working on a real-world timer, there's a good chance it'll go out during combat, since combat often takes up a disproportionate amount of real-world time. (evil DM laugh)

@MemphiStig 12 сағат бұрын

This is something I really love about games. It's not just different means to the same ends. Different goals, rules, mechanics, etc, result in unique experiences unavailable with other systems, even if they're all in the same genre.

@waza987 Жыл бұрын

I am not sure a torch would go out immediately. I imagine it would dim and give off sparse light for at least a minute if not a few as it dies. However getting out a new torch and lighting it in the middle of a combat could be challenging….

@asafoetidajones8181 Жыл бұрын

Right. I'd be very frustrated as a player by that happening. I think a five minute warning would be fair - at least a two minute warning. Timer set for 58m then 2m.

@thereisn0m0re Жыл бұрын

I got to play in my 3rd Shadow Dark session this weekend. It was a lot of fun - the system seems like a great balance between simplicity, choices, and risk.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hell yeah! This is the way.

@TellenWyrm Жыл бұрын

I already had backed this at the level with the single books and all the core stuff in print. After this video I bumped it to the highest tier. I am very stoked for this now!

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hell yes! Also backed at the highest tier. Had to go in and add on another premium book though lol.

@EvilArtifact Жыл бұрын

Praise Memnon!

@darinlagarry3091 Жыл бұрын

Grew up on AD&D back in the late 70's. Shadowdark sounds very much like that version of D&D. I'm definitely in.

@stillmattwest Жыл бұрын

I'm really excited about this system. I've never seen a system support the idea of adventurers who are constantly finding treasure and yet constantly broke and needing to seek out the next adventure so well. From the Beta and Quickstart rules it seems like you could convert material from Labyrinth Lord and Swords and Wizardry pretty easily. You'd have to ignore treasure rewards, though. But I'm looking forward to seeing more of Kelsy's adventures for this system.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Same same! And yeah its a pretty compatible system with B/X modules too. I've even meshed some of Deathbringer mechanics into my current game, its great!

@TonyHulk Жыл бұрын

I loved d&d when I started back 35+ years ago and have supported Kelsey for years. That being said, I now like crunchy lol

@sonic_gloom Жыл бұрын

Beautiful video. Thank you!!

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much and thanks for watching!

@Retrofun69 6 ай бұрын

It combines Dungeon Crawl classics funnel with the dangers of Mork Borg and the old school feeling of Wizardry/Ultima games.

@Hellvector Жыл бұрын

I would love to see any more videos you decide to make about Shadowdark, but I’m absolutely interested in a video about your ideas on the Gauntlet.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

100%. Going to work on that for my next video. Cheers!

@arkeonox9058 Жыл бұрын

I'm 100% stealing this light system for my homebrew campaign. Awesome!

@jessedotson5998 Жыл бұрын

So excited! Loved the part with the spiders

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jesse! There will be more stories to come in the days ahead.

@tabletopbro Жыл бұрын

Great breakdown! Someone recommended Shadowdark to me earlier and this gave me a great idea what to expect!

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

It my go-to right now. It’s designer, Kelsey, put her heart and soul into it and it shows.

@nikolaosalexandroskaloumen1693 Жыл бұрын

I feel that Shadowdark is really close to what a TTRPG would looked like if you were putting all of your advices from your videos into a game!

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

You make a really strong point here. Maybe thats why I like the game so much lol.

@ZurielRedux Жыл бұрын

I am really interested in gauntlet/funnel play. I would love to see a video on this.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

I'd be excited to make one! Definitely will have this in the works. Thanks for watching ZurielRedux!

@jessedotson5998 Жыл бұрын

Same

@sw33n3yto00 Жыл бұрын

Sounds epic!

@brads2041 Жыл бұрын

Grabbed the quick start. Will check the Kickstarter

@FDGRonin Жыл бұрын

I backed the Kickstarter because Kelsey creates good stuff. The Torch Light mechanic seems exciting but feels like a way to keep the party from slowing down too much and there are some better ways to do that IMO. I know my group will be lighting torches 20 min apart from each other to avoid ever being in the dark and this game will turn into monsters vs. torches. About the gauntlet (DCC Funnels). I really dis-like when players try to protect a character during a funnel. Most of my group feel shame if they try to keep a character back while everyone else dies, they usually want a good starting story for their character, not a story of hiding behind the guy with 7 STR. Even haunted one character until he made amends to the families of all those that died while protecting him at 0-level.

@windmark8040 Жыл бұрын

Liking what I'm seeing!

@jordanrudd5110 Жыл бұрын

Stop. You had me at "dorkvision".

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hahaha! Glad to have you here!

@Axiie Жыл бұрын

I would very much like to see your "The Guantlet" video. I have been toying with that very idea, inspired by the boardgame 'Escape from the Dark Castle', by having the four/five 0-level characters captured and imprisoned, the goal being to escape. A sort of 'Legend of Grimrock' meets reverse-dungeoncrawl. Look forward to seeing your take.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hell yeah! I have 2 ideas in mind. I’ll probably only build/record one of those ideas and then the 2nd will be randomly generated using SD’s random map generator 👍🏼 it’s in the works!

@mateofantasma Жыл бұрын

Your gameplay story was great, thanks for sharing it! Backed this game

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks for saying that! Told from the heart. Thanks for watching!

@dwarvesanddragons6948 Жыл бұрын

Level 0 characters are fun, maybe not to start always like that but it's a good experience to do that al least one time. I run I game with this idea of 4 lvl 0 characters per player inspired by the DCC funnel, was fun to set a survival and dangerous campaign who lasted 8 months.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Yeah it really depends on what the table wants 👍🏼

@txmetalhead82xk 4 ай бұрын

Sounds like an awesome game! I will definitely look at it and introduce it to my small group of foolish adventures lol.

@tmbacz Жыл бұрын

Reason 11. So the OSR never dies, it just gets multiplied. Colors!

@MARSHALLTHELAW Жыл бұрын

I'm very interested in the additional PC classes you were talking about. Where will those be available?

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hey Marshall! They are available to my patrons only at the moment. Details are in my video notes. Love to have you join!

@adrenalin7716 Жыл бұрын

Good job. I love OSR

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Me too!

@tw7086 Жыл бұрын

This reminds me of DCCRPG and FIve Torches Deep.

@RetroMythologist Жыл бұрын

A lot of this sounds like Dungeon Crawl Classics. Especially the character creation and Zero Level Funnel.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Yes, Shadowdark pulls a lot of inspiration from games like DCC and OSE. It is very well made 👍🏼

@dorkyorc4441 Жыл бұрын

Sounds dope AF

@GenuineMattyC Жыл бұрын

Wait wait wait... Did anyone survive the giant spider battle once the touches went out?! I must know how the story concludes 😱🙏

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hahaha classic DM cliff hanger. I think I’ll continue the story in my next Shadowdark video 😉

@BradDaeda Жыл бұрын

Nice breakdown! I backed Shadowdark. I think it will serve well to entice my 5e gaming friends to get into an OSR mindset.

@bigeye6606 Жыл бұрын

don't get your hopes up. to me it feels like the book is what DMs/GMs are looking for in a roleplaying game especially ones who have grown weary of the 5e grind, but not what 5e players crave, which is character building options turned up to 11.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

There's a ton of 3rd party support for additional classes so I think your 5e players will enjoy those additional options. Plus more simplicity and the core rules means you can add complexity through magic items. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have been! Sounds like big eye over here hasnt read the quickstart just yet.

@Wesley_Youre_a_Rabbit Жыл бұрын

@@HouseDM But isn’t the simplicity of character classes one of the hallmarks of OSR play? Simple, broad classes that the players can then “specialize” or “flavor” based on the items that they use or HOW they choose to play. If we added a bunch of class options, well it would be little different from 5e in terms of “options here, options there, options options everywhere”. I don’t know, It just seems like that kind of thing is sliding the game back into 5e territory.

@BradDaeda Жыл бұрын

@@bigeye6606 I see Shadowdark as not an "instead of 5e" RPG, but an RPG that is a different gaming style of RPG that does dungeon crawling well and is also quick, simple, and easy to play. 5e doesn't lend itself to dungeon crawl style gaming very well. Shadowdark hits the center mark. I feel Shadowdark fills a niche that will compliment well with 5e style gamers.

@BradDaeda Жыл бұрын

@@Wesley_Youre_a_Rabbit As long as those options remain "3rd party", I think it will be fine. Besides, Shadowdark is so simple that it's really easy for DMs to house rule anything they need to satisfy their particular gaming group.

@mrgunn2726 Жыл бұрын

Best video to date! What are your thoughts on Five Torches Deep supply system? Also, I assume this is Shadow Dark 1 not the new Kickstarter version?

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Thank you! The screenshots in this video are from Shadowdark which is going live on Kickstarter tomorrow. The full physical book, not just the QuickStart. And yeah I like the 5TD supply system but the rolls felt like they slowed the game down as opposed to adding something interesting. So I ended up scrapping it. I got the supply idea from the Black Hack. But I think 5TD got it from there too. Not 100% sure.

@wbbartlett Жыл бұрын

You can't leave us hanging like that! How many made it out? Loving your content btw. You have a great presentation style with a smooth confident delivery that makes your vids very watchable. Hope the channel grows & you continue to make vids.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Wow thank you so much Warren! That really means a lot to me. I’m trying my best to keep improving my production quality. As for how many got out, I think thats best left to your imagination right? Thanks for watching!

@grumpyinbrooklyn6347 Жыл бұрын

The first video I see of this guy, but he had me at "THE GAUNLET!" 😅🤣😂

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Haha glad you liked that bit! Cheers and welcome!

@Wiseblood2012 6 ай бұрын

Lol. I started the #4 about a year ago. Als also removed bonus HP from con and made darkvision monster or spell only.

@spamman6369 Жыл бұрын

I just Kickstarted the book and Zine 3.

@convicsik Жыл бұрын

I really like that they adapted the DCC meat grinder.

@amanofnoreputation2164 Жыл бұрын

"Imprison the goblet in the city sewers." "Rescue the killer of the evil wizard." "Shrine of the dead ghost."

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Yes, the goblet is an evil sentient item known as Pox-Aturak. It can’t be destroyed, only subdued by placing it within a magic circle beneath the city sewers in the depths of the rat kings layer. Mmm yes, the legendary evil wizard slayer was captured. We must free him before the corruption sets in! The shrine of the dead ghost. Visions infiltrate your dreams showing you what happens when you die as a ghost? Is there another dimension beyond death? The soul of one of your dead family are trapped there. Free them!

@David-su4is Жыл бұрын

Pushing my group (and GM) in that direction. We're working on DCC right now, I'm finding it a little rules (check the book) heavy.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Yeah DCC is really cool and has a ton of awesome rules, mechanics, etc. but it’s a super dense book that is quite unwieldy for me to run. It’s excellent for people who want a “crunchier” game, but that’s just not me and my play group. Shadowdark strikes a solid balance between simplicity and complexity and its perfect for me.

@JamesEck9095 Жыл бұрын

I am very anxiously awaiting the launch of the Kickstarter! I know that it hits on 2/28/2023....but does anyone know the exact time it goes live?

@TheArcaneLibrary Жыл бұрын

3:30am Pacific / 6:30am Eastern! :D

@JamesEck9095 Жыл бұрын

@@TheArcaneLibrary Alarm Set

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Lol healthy competition for first I see.

@Qaephlym Жыл бұрын

Great video! Do you feel Shadowdark would work well also with wilderness encounters, or is it mainly dungeon-focused? Is the darkness/time limit cool mechanic still useful for such scenarios?

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

So I would probably not utilize the light mechanics for nighttime wilderness. Believe it or not, but unless it’s a new moon, it’s pretty easy to see at night. I plan to shift all of my campaigns to Shadowdark once I get the physical book. And with my campaigns, I tend to have them set in lots of locations, not only dungeons. So yes, I think it works great for wilderness settings. The cursed scroll zones contain a bunch of additional content for SD that actually take place outside of dungeons, if that’s any consolation.

@RBBanner 11 ай бұрын

It is an amazing RPG and an amazing OSR. I instinctively did not like the 1-hour real time torch mechanic and immediately put in a Black Hack usage die. I don't know why, I just did it that way. This last adventure we were on, I decided to try the official way, and let me tell you... It is one of the absolute BEST ways to deal with torches. It becomes abstract immediately, and the players (an me) forget all about it. And then, like in the story, at a critical moment... It goes out.

@HouseDM 11 ай бұрын

YAS! This is the way. I love it. Also the Black Hack usage dice system is clever, but I found it a bit too clunky for my tastes in practice. Especially for tracking ammunition. But I like the concept!

@gstaff1234 Жыл бұрын

Yes for the gauntlet. Show how it is similar but different from DCC

@dittrich04 Жыл бұрын

I love the idea that both players AND characters can easily forget about the torch timers. Oooohhhh, but they'll all learn!

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Heheh it was such a highlight! An hour can fly by real quick 😅

@davinci451 Жыл бұрын

I wanna see that gauntlet.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

I’m working on it! It’s a bit of a beast right now 👍🏼

@zaddyzeeseburgnutz Жыл бұрын

Was the randomized dungeon stuff from the actual book, or did I miss it in the quickstart pdfs?

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

It’s from the actual book. I don’t believe it’s available in the QuickStart.

@WolfHreda 2 ай бұрын

I'm putting together a Shadowdark campaign for my group and I'm going to commit the cardinal sin of having a DMPC accompany them. His name is Glursnar , a Half-Orc Fighter. Big, brawny, strong and confident. Glursnar has 1 HP. 😂

@HouseDM 2 ай бұрын

Classic. Live well & live long Glursnar!

@batesjl Жыл бұрын

I’m a 5E player, if I were to switch would you suggest shadowdark or ICRPG to start with?

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hi Jason! I think I need a bit more information to really give you proper guidance. I think ICRPG is incredible and is a time of great knowledge for all things dnd. But Shadowdark is special because of its minimalist terminology and ease of use and how it helps bridge the gap from 5e to OSR. What aspects from 5e did you enjoy the most and why are you considering switching to these 2 other systems?

@BearBronson Жыл бұрын

As a forever DM of 30+ years, I pretty much gave up on D&D as a whole in favor of games like Forbidden Lands and Mörk Borg. This game definitely feels like old school D&D with some cool mechanics. Definitely want to get in on this Kickstarter.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hell yeah! Thats why I backed it. Cheers!

@xer0vi 4 ай бұрын

Oh yeah. ShadowDarkRpg will eventually become my main game.

@HouseDM 4 ай бұрын

This is the way 💪🏼

@robot7759 11 ай бұрын

"The only rule is that you make the rules." My kind of game 😃

@HouseDM 11 ай бұрын

Hell yes! And that rule has already become relevant in my current campaign 🤘🏼

@jcraigwilliams70 Жыл бұрын

Is the game focused entirely on Explore the Dungeon--> spend coin/ buy stuff--> Repeat? Is there any support for wilderness, towns, etc? Is it more roll-play than role-play?

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

There's definitely support for wilderness, towns, etc. Its meant to be a streamlined and modernized OSR system.

@luisenriquesalastobias6610 Жыл бұрын

Hi! i have a question about magic in this system, Is it unlimited? No matter how much I look in the quick guide, I don't see how much magic you can use per day, or is it just the latent danger of 1 on the dice? I mean, it's dangerous, a friend had a spell go off, it was funny to watch and sad... nah, that was really fun.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

So if you’re casting a 1st tier spell, and your total check is less than 11 (dc=10 +spell tier) the spell fails and it is lost until you take a rest. If you roll a 1, then the spell is lost AND there is a mishap/penance. So yes, to answer your question, it’s technically unlimited as long as you keep succeeding on the check 😉

@nonya9120 5 ай бұрын

So in fact, my teenager is max level for shadow dark. I am and have witnesses. They are max level "Pizza Devourer".

@BW022 Жыл бұрын

Other reviews also look interesting. Part of me likes the idea of Basic updated to remove the mixed class-race system, but without making it so complex. Yes, I remember how darkness was important with early editions, but I don't see making it that important is useful. While I'm glad you have fun in your game... the real-time timer is a bit silly. The fact different things in roleplaying take different amounts of time. You can spend 30 seconds of real time having to players move a mile overland in the dark (even though it takes hours in game time) and spend 30 minutes of real time in a combat (even though it only represents 30 seconds of in game time) with the result being that the torch is 600 times more likely to go out during the combat. Doing such things just has players gaming around the system to avoid the stupidity of it. (i.e. we light two torches -- are you really saying both torches go out at the exact same time?) I'm fine with light just being a consideration and having the DM tell you went an hour has passed. If a DM wants to make it important, they can without trying it to something which is unrealistically more likely to go off during exploration or combat.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Interesting thought. So how would you do it? A 6 slice circle timer that you fill in every 10 min of game time? Or something else?

@EricVulgaris Жыл бұрын

Sounds really cool and i love the diversity of OSR games out there, but why would I pick shadowdark over something like DCC? I'm gonna back shadowdark regardless but it seems like both games sing from the same heretical hymn sheet

@chaosgyro Жыл бұрын

I feel the same way. They both seem to be shooting at the same target, with Shadowdark remaining a little more 5e adjacent and focusing on the "real time torches" thing.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Have you held DCC in your hand before? Its a massive book. SD is not nearly as unwieldy and its MUCH more streamlined than DCC. Dont get me wrong, DCC is sick, but I can't be bothered with the complexity of the rules. I want a more streamlined system and SD accomplishes this VERY well.

@chaosgyro Жыл бұрын

@@HouseDM I hope it doesn't prove to be too difficult to port over some DCC modules to SD because I'm also looking for a rules light experience, but I love the old school, anything goes, "weird fantasy" vibe DCC has going for it.

@mrgunn2726 Жыл бұрын

Pledged this AM! w00t... shhh don't tell wifey 😬 she thinks I have too many gaming books. Pshaw, am I right!

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Haha I wont say a word. Also pledged this morning! Getting that crawler bundle. Might do a giveaway of a spare book or 2.

@RyanWBL Жыл бұрын

I'm interested in this but just bought DCC a few weeks ago. Seems like a lot of overlap. I also have ICRPG. I wonder if its worth getting yet another OSR book at this point. I've been having plenty of fun with DCC which has tons of modules out already. Anyone else in this position?

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

This is tricky. I really like DCC but I am looking for something more “minimalistic” and easy to both teach new players and jump into quickly without having to do a ton of research. DCC has incredible options but damn that book is dense. If you like the crunch, then SD might not be best for you. But if DCC feels unwieldy, then I’d say SD will make you very happy.

@RyanWBL Жыл бұрын

@@HouseDM I'm trying to get away from crunch of 5E and PF, so compared to those DDC doesn't seem so bad. But I've only played in low level games, the high level content seems a bit crunchy. We'll see. I'll check out a friend's book when he gets it and decide, thanks for the feedback! Definitely looks like a cool book and I'm all for streamlining this hobby.

@andykaufman7620 Жыл бұрын

Why roll for initiative if initiative is 'always on' or is the order of the party set, and the roll off is really between 'party' vs 'opponents' so any die would work, but then there is no variation, and compansions, minions and mounts all go when the player (and their character-s) go.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Yup. And it keeps things real simple. I really like the “Chaos Mode” option where during combat, you reroll initiative each round.

@abstractbybrian Жыл бұрын

This is why you set your timer to 50 minutes so you leave 10 minutes to light the next torch. In case your next torch is a dud.

@jeffbrownstain Жыл бұрын

Does the ttrpg genre need more variants? 🤔

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Sure does. Tired of people telling me to play a different game when none of the “different games” are what I am looking for. SD is as close as it’s gotten for me 👍🏼

@jeffbrownstain Жыл бұрын

@@HouseDM So what are the things its missing that make it 'close' but not quite there?

@jeffbrownstain Жыл бұрын

@@HouseDM This is a genuine line of inquiry by the way; I'm making my own ttrpg but I've having a hard time justifying my monetization path when there's already a specialized set of mechanics for literally every possible setting you could want and generic mechanics for everything else. While there are some improvements, is this not just oldschool d&d with extras? Why not play 2e, 3e, 3.5, 5e.... Why not pathfinder or call of cthulu or kult or whitewolf or saga edition or any other variant? Why not use generic roll20 or d10 rules? Why not just make up your own everything? I've literally never played a ttrpg campaign longer than a single session and I have no idea how tf I got here.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

@@jeffbrownstain so you’re asking lots of really good questions that are difficult to answer. I’ve been in the hobby long enough to know MANY mechanics from other systems. Some I really like, some I don’t. I think most experienced GM’s have their own house rules they enjoy using. Every table is different as is every player. So there’s no such thing as one size fits all. I’m the type of person that looks at all these rulebooks as options I can pull from to create the type of game I want to run/play in. Perhaps I’ll make a separate video to answer your initial question.

@jeffbrownstain Жыл бұрын

@@HouseDM Basically everyone agrees that d&d is a subpar system at best, and yet every DM equally seems to agree also that they're too far invested in it to ever fully move to another system. Even your own channel is all dnd nearly all the way down... I'm just stuck trying to find my niche in a space where no one actually likes where they are but everyone is too battlescarred to want to change.

@dfwpiper1 Жыл бұрын

would it be relatively straight forward to plug a DCC module... or at least bestiary.. into a shadowdark game?

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

I believe that was the design intent. Its certainly compatible with OSR style modules but I haven't finished reading all of DCC so cant say it's "seamless". Check out the free quickstart in my video notes if you are unsure.

@johnharrison2086 Жыл бұрын

Backed

@DeusMachina71 Жыл бұрын

I like the game, I'm backing it at the $159 all in tier for the Leatherette and regular rule book. I've read both the Quickstart and the last beta release which someone passed to me so I'm pretty familiar with the changes. I really like it but a few choices she made probably means I wouldn't run this game RAW but it will definitely replace OSE for me. Everything is great with the only things that I'm not a fan of is nitpickingly small, I hate the way alignments are laid out.. Law=Good Chaos=Evil if that's the case why not just call them by that definition, I prefer the original Moorcockian idea of these ideas and that is they aren't clear cut good/evil duality paths because Law can be cruelly inquisitive, oppressive and cold and Chaos could be creative and promote freedom, I like my game where players never know if someone is good or evil except by their actions never an alignment detection spell because the devil is in the details so you can only know if they are lawful or chaotic if that. I was kinda hoping a grimmer OSR adjacent setting would address this type of thing and add a few more Grey lines into its morality system. I'm also unsure if I care about the light system because a party of 4-6 carrying Torches and a mage with a light spell is going to make actually running out of light not that common and if I have to spend the whole game every game concentrating on attacking light sources it's not that organic and its a bit gimmicky. I'm also not sure about the weapon system, a crossbow for example has the same cost and range as a longbow but has to forfit a move to reload and does less damage than the longbow, I know it's probably done for balanceand simplicity and it is easily fixed but it means I have to redo it since it defies the logic in my head and the reality of how both weapons actually work, I'd probably add +2 to the Crossbows damage roll against unarmored targrts or +1 to hit against armor (armor penetration) or something like that to even it out. Just little things like that which are too simplified for me but I'm really impressed overall by the games presentation and clean rule set so it a big thumbs up from me 😃

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Definitely don't need to spend that much time attacking light. The more prepared the party with torches and light spells, the deeper they can go. Remember, not every quest is going to begin with full hit points and gear.

@danielsommerlykke9475 Жыл бұрын

Have you read it? It in no way lives up to OSE.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

@@danielsommerlykke9475 Yup. Sure have, I got an advance copy. Its great!

@danielsommerlykke9475 Жыл бұрын

@@HouseDM I was writing to Machinengott. I read it and sure it is better than 5e, but for me Shadowdark won't hold up to top tier games like OSE, Swords & Wizardry etc. It's a bit of a half measure between Knave 2e and the better OSR games.

@TheImponderables 9 ай бұрын

Wow..no arguing "The Stack" against a real timer 😂

@normie2022 Жыл бұрын

Promo SM

@Drudenfusz Жыл бұрын

I can see the appeal that the game might have for some, but it is not really in the vein of games I prefer, thus I will probably not going to spend money on it.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Fair enough.

@notreallydavid 11 ай бұрын

Say 'bestiary' (since that's the word), not 'beastiary'. Why is everyone fluffing this? (Please kill me.) Great summary - thanks for posting.

@HouseDM 11 ай бұрын

Lol I think this whole Beastiary/Bestiary discussion has gotten out of hand 😆

@notreallydavid 11 ай бұрын

@@HouseDM Thought it was just me (although there shouldn't be any discussion - cf. turmeric vs. the spoken 'tumeric'). I'll go now. Take unreasonable care.

@andykaufman7620 Жыл бұрын

Reason 1: because its awexome is a non-reason.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Ehh let’s agree to disagree 😉

@hadeseye2297 10 ай бұрын

Gauntlet is nothing else than Dungeon Crawl Classics funnel.

@HouseDM 10 ай бұрын

Heh their certainly similar but not quite the same 👍🏼

@Oraxsis Жыл бұрын

Thank you for you review. I now officially know all I need to about it. Pass.

@brianfroeschner6644 Жыл бұрын

Commit to good play and just play DCC. Spells are 1000 times better in DCC and all the cool ideas of Shadowdark came from DCC. So invest in the destination, not the rest stops.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

DCC is a cool system! I just think it’s complexity gets in the way of itself and it’s ability to become fast paced. If you prefer that style of gaming, rock on 🤘🏼

@brianfroeschner6644 Жыл бұрын

@House DM The only thing complex is the spell lists. It is OSR otherwise. Actually, Shadowdark steals so much of it, like level 0 play, I'd say that aside from spell charts, they are equally complex.

@andynonimuss6298 Жыл бұрын

Shadowdark is too simple and too rule-basic. I don't see very many people being attracted to a game with such low-level, board game-like mechanics. The cool artwork is the only thing carrying this game right now.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Sounds like its not the right game for you, and thats okay.

@Wesley_Youre_a_Rabbit Жыл бұрын

What exactly is so unappealing about a simple streamlined system? Do you NEED the game to tell you what you can and can’t do in it? Do you NEED the “bird of prey” feat in order to get advantage on ranged attacks while at a higher elevation? Or the “shield bash” feat in order to hit an enemy with your shield instead of just saying that your character is going to do that? Respectfully, it sounds like you, and many others, have gotten used to the “if its not in the rules, I can’t do it” logic from video games. Which infests the modern tabletop community unfortunately.

@The_Weeezard Жыл бұрын

Those are not "reasons". They're "stuff you can easily fix on your d&d sessions". Play Mouse Guard if you want simpler mechanics and more improvisation.

@chaosgyro Жыл бұрын

Tell me you start all of your sentences with "actually" without using those words

@The_Weeezard Жыл бұрын

@@chaosgyro If I was wrong you would point something of relevance. Do you start all your sentences with bad memes? You'll grow out of it once you finish HS.

@HouseDM Жыл бұрын

Hey Weezard, idk if you had a rough day or what but if you didn’t watch the whole video, I think you’d actually really enjoy it! Let me know what you think.