Shadowdark rpg

This is a big deal for me. I’m a diehard Dungeons and Dragons fanboy from back in ’89. 2nd edition Thac0 purist who learned 5th edition so he could teach his kids. So playing a different system was a stretch for me. When my old buddies wanted to get the band back together and play The Curse of Strahd, I was in. When Robert, the DM and one of my oldest friends, suggested we use Shadowdark rules, I was skeptical.

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We tried DCC (Dungeon Crawl Classics) and it was too hardcore. With much coaxing, I got the Shadowdark handbook and read it. The system was created by Kelsey Dionne as a simplified version of D&D 5e. Check out the handbook!

It has just a handful of classes, and the power was turned way down. We rolled 3d6, one set, in order. Brutal! The hit dice are lower compared to D&D and you cap out at level 10. When you cast a spell you don’t roll to hit, you roll to succeed in casting it. If you fail, you can’t use that spell again until after a long rest. But, if you pass, you can keep using it. I didn’t think I like that, but I do. I’m thinking of adding it to my Shadow of the Dragon Queen 5e campaign.

Robert loves GrimDark and is a tough DM. We are about eleven sessions in and I have no idea how we are going to beat Strahd.

I have 18 hit points, lol. But I’m playing Morwen, the brave priest of Lathander and only one of his followers to display divine magic. SHHH! Don’t tell Strahd. Maybe I’ll do a full bio on him and some pics of his chubby little miniature soon.

We’ve fought Interplanal cats, hags, evil druids, and vampires. We aren’t mighty, but are having a blast. The tough nature of the game system makes us very careful. No running toward the archer tower because you have 70 hit points. One shot can kill my character at 5th level. We spent about three hours on week discussing how to enter the hag’s marsh. That’s really the point for this group, and the main reason we agreed to play Shadowdark. Death is real. We have to be smart and it makes for some great roleplaying opportunities.

Whether you are a hardcore rpg’er or looking to start your first game, go check out this amazing system: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/products/shadowdark-rpg

Check out this related article – https://authorjackadkins.com/how-to-introduce-kids-to-roleplaying-games/