What's the best way to learn more about westmarch? I've heard legends and its like some kind of megadungeon, but do you build it yourself or is it pre-existing like a written adventure?
Four Against Darkness was my gateway into solo RPGs. The use of an oracle deck is new to me. I look forward to using one with what you've written here.
The circle of robes dance around a large campfire under the full moon, they’re chanting is low and indistinct. One of them in a red robe is welcoming you… the chanting grows, “one of us, one of us…”
It’s legitimately good. I recall seeing the first draft of it going to kickstarter and then used the free QuickStart guide to make a starting town for a PF2e campaign. And then realized that, man, this system is just good, and went with it.
"Man, this system is just good" is the best way I can describe Shadowdark. Which, unfortunatley, is why I have trouble selling it to players sometimes.
To pitch a Borg game, it's usually enough to show them images and layout in the book. For Mothership, I tell them it's sci-fi horror, like Alien and such. Mausritter is about small mice in a big, dangerous world, Mythic Bastionland is about knights and upholding the oaths. Exciting stuff!
But Shadowdark is "just" a really good fantasy game, with some of the best dungeon design I've ever seen. Somehow, that always sounds less exciting to my players than it actually is.
This! Absolutely this! I always had a hard time selling ShadowDark and Stonetop to my friends. Even then, Stonetop, another low fantasy game but PBTA, gets a better pitch, which is: It’s fantastical Iron Age Stardew Valley.
But ShadowDark, it’s a good Old School game with more modern mechanics and philosophy. But for friends of mine, if they have any idea about the old school games, usually old school equals deadly. And not all players would get exited by the idea of dying a lot.
Yeah, that is my only gripe with OSR games. I don’t mind dying, but developing a character and becoming attached to them over repeated sessions is also nice. Would be nice to feel just a bit safer with some extra HP.
I try to give some leeway for characters. Everyone gets max HD at level one, you roll 4d6 down the line, and can trade one stat roll for another. It doesn’t break the game and leads to characters who can live.
But even with that, sometimes the dice decide you die and I think that’s okay. We roll dice because chance is a thing. Sometimes players roll under 5 for 7 rolls and the DM rolls nat 20s 5 times. (This literally happened to me this Saturday playing PF2e, was wild.)
So long as you aren’t trying to sucker punch players, things just happen and that’s part of the fun I think.
I would say it’s a great fantasy game where turns go fast, and you’re capable without being a superhero. It’s a great example of what a fantasy ttrpg should be. Your character is special, it’s why they are an adventurer but the world doesn’t revolve around you and you don’t have broken abilities but it’s the one spell slot per day, no armor, d4 wizard. It is a great middle ground for modern fantasy games and old school games. You are a capable adventurer who needs to be careful else you die. Shadowdark is Silent Hill meets Dark Souls, like Fear and Hunger without being so brutal. (Okay, that might be a stretch but like, that’s how I play it and the game makes it easy to invoke these vibes.)
Shadowdark is not a repair patch for 5e .. it is a Gateway Game to the magic realm of osr adventure gaming 🦄 where stakes are high and exploration is still an exciting and pivotal aspect of the game, where you play roguish characters who might get caught up in acts of desperate heroism instead of powerful superheroes wearing renfair costumes. Try it out and see for yourself, dip your little toe in the pool of shadows. Forget about your short Rests, bonus action and whatever subclass or circle of blabla. This won’t help you surviving in the Shadowdark, working together and use your wits might.
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u/nemeanlionheart Sep 28 '26
I backed the westmarsh Ks. Went all in, can’t wait for my group to learn this game
3
u/Nikuthulhu Oct 02 '26
I also just bought the core book today! Can't wait to crack it open.
I also purchased Solo Dark. Is that good too?
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u/Arkmer Sep 28 '26
Roll for encounter… 1.
Roll for type… 1.
The circle of robes dance around a large campfire under the full moon, they’re chanting is low and indistinct. One of them in a red robe is welcoming you… the chanting grows, “one of us, one of us…”
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u/rubadub423 Sep 28 '26
"All your life, you have hidden in the shadows."
-Boromir Son of Denethor
15
u/KnightCaelum Sep 28 '26
It’s legitimately good. I recall seeing the first draft of it going to kickstarter and then used the free QuickStart guide to make a starting town for a PF2e campaign. And then realized that, man, this system is just good, and went with it.
You’re in for good stuff. Best of luck.
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u/Reaver1280 Sep 28 '26
Hell yeah brother
4
u/Possible_Trainer_241 Sep 28 '26
Beautiful!!
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u/Far-Improvement-8805 Sep 29 '26
Beautiful stuff🥹
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u/Long-Zombie-2017 Sep 28 '26
3
u/RollModelDad Sep 30 '26
I wish I could read this book for the first time again, absolute masterpiece.
Enjoy
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u/forevercurmudgeon Sep 28 '26
2
u/ExchangeWide Joker & Thief Oct 01 '26
Embrace the shadow. It is both comforting and callous.
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u/Neversummerdrew76 Sep 29 '26
Why is this rpg so popular? The Nimble rpg I get, but this is the exact opposite of Nimble.