Best D&D-like RPG for BUSY People!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Videos like this (non-official D&D) are only possible with Patreon! ➡Consider joining here: www.patreon.com/bobworldbuilder

[@humblegallipot]

Would you cover Legend in The Mist? It's perfect for people who intimidated by number heavy games. One dice mechanic handles everything

[@wouterlangkemper2739]

Booklet to the face immediately made like the video. That was just good old-fashioned hilarity.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Slapstick comedy? Slapbook comedy✅

[@willmendoza8498]

Same

[@josephpince4716]

I’m here for it! I’ve “tricked” several people into playing a game simply by rolling up a character against their will. 😁

[@CheeseWyrm]

Yeah, but I think the D&D5e'24 PHB across the face would've had more impact! ;)

[@heyyitskelvi]

You're my hero. I've been looking at Shadowdark for a while, and I think this video has finally convinced me. It's going to make it easier on my wife, who is intimidated by the 5e of PF2e character sheet.

[@CaseyWilkesmusic]

Everything about shadowdark is pretty great honestly. Trying to figure out how many extra points to to give to your half-orc barbarian of the totem class blah blah blah “Bruh I’m a fighter. Let’s go”

[@Grey_Pete]

do it, you will not be dissapointed.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Happy to help! Remember, that quick start PDF is free, but if you're already familiar with 5e and PF, springing for the core SD book while it's in stock will give you lots of other tight resources to pull from.

[@CausticCatastrophe]

Its very elegant, and well worth the hype. :)

[@Beholderguitars]

I've been using Shadowdark to teach new players for a year now. It's perfect for new players. And grizzled, rules-weary veterans, too.

[@bullseyeonline]

I've been playing D&D at least once a week since 1979. I've run just about every edition and similacrum out there. In my opinion, the Shadowdark quick start is the absolute best way to get into "the game". Great video Bob! For those of you reading this that haven't tried Shadowdark, stop what you're doing and go order the quick start!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Haha now that's a testimonial! Thank you

[@Dysfunctional_Reprint]

I beyond adore Shadowdark. I've been trying and struggling to run DND for a group of my students who all had limited gaming experience and some what limited literacy skills. It was such a travesty that I was in the process of making a D6 stripped down game. After watching some of your videos about Shadowdark I gave it a try and let me tell you it's a night and day difference! Just ordered the big core book after running with the quickstart for a while.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

That is excellent! Love to hear how trying something new made it work!

[@norcalbowhunter3264]

Shadowdark is the way. I’ve been trying to find a system to plant my flag in for a while and after running a handful of sessions in Shadowdark I’m done looking. It offers what i need and is very concise.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Well done for exploring other games! I shudder to think of how many people try dnd once or twice, don't jive with it, then just abandon RPGs forever!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

What a timely video! We started our ShadowDark session zero last night. Sending this to the group. Thanks Bob!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Wonderful! :) Thanks for commenting, man!

[@dustincoopermusic]

I love how your answer to D&D is always Shadowdark (lol). I totally agree! ;-) I had already been running Shadowdark for a Library Tweens club, but now that I am officially the GM for the same library's Teen D&D club, I might start them off on Shadowdark too (unless they are more experienced, and then I'll run D&D).

[@jessedotson5998]

I’ve been running a shadowdark campaign for almost two years, and it’s been a blast!!!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

That's awesome! Many people still think it's only good for dungeons or shorter games, so spread the word far and wide!

[@jessedotson5998]

@@BobWorldBuilder yes commander 🫡

[@Grey_Pete]

I picked up SD 3 weeks ago, I read the starter set in a couple hours, built a small adventure and ran a game for my group the same weekend. We have had 2 sessions since then. It's a HIT!! I highly recommend it!!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Bingo!

[@NocturnalPeacock]

Freaking cool video! Shadowdark is such a fun system, ran it dozens of times already. Mixing Shadowdark & DCC stuff is especially fun. You are doing the Dark Gods work , Bob, thank you

[@bathtubmafia2042]

Dude, we switched from 5e to SD a few months ago. Changed our table; breathed new life into it. This game is so well designed, more than you would assume at first glance. The way the mechanics interact and bounce off each other create incredible and dramatic sessions!

[@JKevinCarrier]

Just ran my first Shadowdark session this past weekend, and it lives up to the hype. Lightning-fast, and full of great nail-biting moments of suspense. It's D&D with all the rust scraped off.

[@jonathansmith2791]

Trying Shadowdark in my next campaign!! This gives the boost I needed to start! Thx Bob as always!

[@Beholderguitars]

Thanks, Bob. I've been running Shadowdark on and off for a year now, and my main gaming group of stalwart 5th edition players are now favouring Shadowdark for our game sessions. As the DM, I prefer the rulings over the rules approach, and we love this game. Tellingly, we all have the 2024 D&D rules, but we haven't even cracked those books open yet. We're too busy having laughs and thrills, keeping the torches lit in the depths of the shadowdark. I loved this video, thanks!

[@davidhoward4955]

Shadowdark is one that has slowly won me over. I’m looking forward to really trying it out.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Give it a go!

[@billdefranza4927]

Bob, you and your channel are an absolute delight.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

I really appreciate that! :)

[@Avenger222]

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! Always happy for more ShadowDark love. Also as a bonus tip for others! d4 Caltrops has a d100 table for "Priesthood Penances & Cleric Contritions". It makes failing as a priest all the more fun!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Sounds like a great resource! Thanks for mentioning it

[@pez5767]

Thank you for the link. I'm going to check this out right now.

[@SortKaffe]

Amazing resource! Thank you so much for sharing it!

[@Areka_Sadaro]

Boy I need that "As Crom Intended" T-shirt.

[@langwaters9653]

After 45 years of DnD, it's Shadowdark for me.

[@joshabel6157]

Thanks for the great video, Bob! I am starting a new ShadowDark campaign this Friday and shared this with my players. Looking forward to running this for the first time.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing! :)

[@deep_fried_bread]

My partner wants me to run a dnd campaign again with some people who haven’t played before and I’ve honestly been dreading going through character creation again. Even with experienced roleplayers it takes more than an hour the first time… Just playing Shadowdark instead is a great idea! Thank you

[@f.a.santiago1053]

MOAR SHADODARK!!! MOOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!! Also, I think the stoneborn are my favorite ancestry.

[@easternshorescreenprinting5426]

Shadowdark is my game of choice at the moment.

[@ingjaldsleikestove]

Shadowdark and your presentation of it, is some of the best in the RPG community now.

[@red_wullf]

Shadderdark and OSE (inc Dolmenwood) are hands down my favorite D&Ds.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Maybe "Torch Game" would be easier to rattle off.

[@red_wullf]

@ I’m reminded of that Family Guy episode where Stewie can say “cool” and “whip” correctly, but always emphasizes the “h” when saying “coolwHip.” 😅

[@francoisdumont4105]

I play shadowdark online and it has renewed my interest as a player. I'm looking forward to the french version coming soon.

[@ryanduddleson1806]

Great job promoting a great system.

[@fki788]

I liked the tone and the straight to the point attitude. Thanks Bob, let's have more fun playing DnD together.

[@OdinsKeyGaming]

Those are some amazing practical effects Bob! Shadowdark is awesome! I haven’t had the opportunity to play yet but I have made a couple of characters and own the book. Everyone praises it so much about how fun it is, and easy to get into.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Thanks a lot! It was not so easy to rig up the book/string haha

[@MylonPruett]

This is the best opening of any of your videos ever. The low-budget floating booklet into a booklet to the face! Incredible; I literally laughed out loud!

[@HorizonOfHope]

Shadowdark is the greatest RPG ever. I highly recommend getting the book (hard copy or PDF) - it's the entire thing for players and DMs, monsters and items the whole bit.

[@brokenmeats5928]

I love ALL Bob World Builder videos!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Thanks for commenting :)

[@KnicKnac]

Honestly this system sounds so fun. Might just look into it for short games. Thanks for covering how to make a character

[@Shiyaku93]

Thanks Bob. The Shadowdark system is top notch and the community on the official discord is really helpful 👌

[@Hellvector]

The value packed into the Shadowdark quick start booklets is astounding, and was the thing to finally pull me into playing independent RPGs before we even knew how incredible the full game was going to end up.

[@sirguy6678]

Great video! What do you mean “make one up”? There has to be RULES! And RULES about RULES! Without 500 pages of rules, gaming is just chaos.

[@SortKaffe]

I read your comment twice before deciding that your funny! 🤣

[@Triceratopping]

"How will I know a fireball does fire damage unless the rulebook tells me!?"

[@HamiltonIsLife]

Baddie, make one up and choose the benefits for an existing race

[@Atmoseeker]

Love me some Shadowdark... so good

[@CausticCatastrophe]

I love that you are making videos about shadowdark (shadowdarkings is just pure fun to do, i make characters when on the train!). Very excited to see you are making a book too! Cant get enough of this shadowdark stuff. :)

[@BarbarosaAlexander]

Bob World Builder, always making gaming better for everyone.

[@GuillotineWit-t4c]

Sitting around a table with friends creating characters during campaign 0 is an experience in itself.

[@spaceghostohio7989]

Our first Shadowdark session is on Saturday ! Looking forward to it !!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Have fun!!

[@spaceghostohio7989]

@@BobWorldBuilder Thanks brother !

[@ScenesByOmnic]

Love the more casual feel in your videos. Not sure I needed another Shadowdark themed video... but the personality can sell a lot, and why I've considered the Patreon. Cudos to the authenticity!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Thanks very much! And yes Patreon is why I can publish videos about games like this :)

[@Grimlore82]

Thirty seconds in and was going to suggest Shadowdark RPG 😉

[@seaborgium919]

I am so excited for Delve. Especially since I'm starting a new game soon and I know that at least one monster in there is gonna be very useful for me

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Thank you!! The monsters alpha PDF should be going out to backers today! More parts coming soon before the full PDF is done in Feb!

[@jonhaynie1987]

Shadowdark: all of the fun and none of the fuss. Peak TTRPG.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Well said!

[@tylerhathaway7896]

Sounds like a fun system. The magic rules sound fun

[@HowtoRPG]

Shadowdark is my new favourite game. Thanks for talking about it.

[@TheWintersoldier84]

Shadowdark is the reason my group actually plays regularly.

[@willmendoza8498]

Shadowdark has been great for getting me back to the feeling of playing DnD Basic when I was a kid, but without all the non-intuitive weirdness that came with it. Looking forward to Delve as well.

[@kevindonville8185]

@BobworldBuilder - Character creation is one of my favorite parts of gaming. In Rolemaster ( a VERY !!! crunchy game system) I actually created my own "module" by consolidating all of the 12 books needed to create characters into a consolidated flip book I nick-named "Character Law".

[@GameMastersWorkshop]

The three pillars of D&D are Combat, Exploration and Roleplaying... Wizards kind of forgot that, and just trippled down on combat, with pages and pages of combat feats, spells, and abilities, all to sell books and make players feel powerful. Meanwhile roleplaying gets four general skills and a page and half of text that most DMs don't even read, and Exploration has been pretty much forgotten. Shadow Dark remembers the three pillars. It keeps the rules light and the characters moderate in power, so they can't just bulldoze their way through every encounter, and actually have to roleplay and think to survive. Shadowdark is prime example what D&D is supposed to be.

[@timothymason7008]

I love all Bob World Builder videos!

[@broke_af_games9661]

Alright alright alright, thanks Bob, i'm sold!

[@jeffreykershner440]

Thanks for showing the quick start. Seems like a good way to go!

[@doctorsethjones]

We need a behind the scenes for this video. How many times did Grace hit you with the book before you got the shot? Did she ever "forget" and throw the new Player's Handbook at your face instead?

[@BobWorldBuilder]

I regret not taking a picture or something, but that was actually me lowering, raising, and even throwing the book lol, rigged it up around a pull-up bar, and I think might be able to see my hand in the corner during the toss xD

[@demetrinight5924]

I like the simplified spell casting. Knowing the spell until you fail a spell roll could take care of the spell slot economy. I will need to check out Shadowdark.

[@theotherwoman7314]

This is awesome. Just what i was looking for. Ive been wanting to run a second game for awhile but have been wary about how I could prep and have figured id need to develop a lite version. Looks like theyve already thought that out. My games are almost exclusively low level as well so the leveling system seems like a perfect fit. Super exicted to try this out. The world of ttrpg is large and intimidating to explore at times so I really appreciate you making this content!

[@Bluecho4]

I've heard a lot of folks mention Shadowdark. But I never knew it was this easy or, well, this agreeable. I might need to give it a try sometime.

[@jonsturgill6508]

Thank you for this vid; some folk got really mad on another channel when I said creation shouldn't take more than ten minutes. 🙃

[@mechlordomega]

I've been using Shadowdark for a bit, love the simplicity of it, For my character i have a Necromancer Vampire that uses a elixir potion to stay in day light for a few hrs a day ,we don't use spell checks tho, I have it where if they have basic spells they can keep using them if there more powerful they can only use them every 5 turns. & I do the forbidden & sacrilege DMPC, since there's only 2-3 in total usually in my games. One of campaigns my party were comically fighting over who would get a Silver Dagger has advantage over undead, after a Boss fight, Good Times.

[@JesseSteinfort]

Lol...that intro. Hilarious 😂

[@briankelly1240]

Love the intro, you have such a fun sense of humor

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Thanks very much!

[@trynda1701]

Bob, beware low flying pamphlets in future recommendation videos!

[@donwebster9292]

Trying to get into it this weekend.

[@hcpookie]

"Delve is coming soon" >> "Delve is coming not soon enough" :D

[@JMEPatterson]

This was a great video - thanks!

[@blakespangler3111]

This sounds really fun. I’ll have to check out the system!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Yeah! Give it a shot!

[@markbittinger4066]

Looking forward to Delve. I backed the Shadowdark version, natch.

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Thank you! The alpha PDF of the monsters should be going out to backers TODAY!

[@ronwingrove683]

"Throwing a book at Bob" was definitely a highlight of Grace World Destroyer's day.

[@GKahla]

Excellent intro to this cool game! Thanks for sharing. 🍪☕

[@dantherpghero2885]

4D6 drop the lowest forever! And I Love ALL Bob World Builder videos!

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Haha thanks for commenting!

[@josephbradshaw6985]

Kickstarted this one. Money well spent.

[@richardrdotson]

This sounds very cool. May look at simple systems next.

[@dganim9196]

Great video Bob, Thanks.

[@DMTalesTTRPG]

Love Shadowdark.

[@yvindheilo229]

Shadowdark is great. Running two campaigns with it atm.

[@Taro4242]

My table and I have been having fun playing Olde Swords Reign. It's based on a slimmed down 5E ruleset and best of all you can download it for free to try it out. The print versions are $5 for the player version and $7 for the GM version so it's very budget friendly. Our table has a very "less crunch is better" view and this game has become one of our mainstays. Also for a REALLY light ruleset you may want to take a look at The Fantasy Trip from Steve Jackson games which is actually older than GURPS. Cheers and keep up the great content!

[@noahghent8431]

Well done timing the spellcasting section EXACTLY one minute after you said "literally one minute" 😂

[@MemphiStig]

If I didn't know better, I might think that all those "official" 300+ page books are nothing more than a desperate money grab, rather than a useful set of rules, guidelines, and play-aids. But of course, I know as well as you do that anything a big corporation does is 100% trustworthy and always in the best interests of its customer base.

[@RojaAlego]

Great video!

[@SanJacintoArtGuild]

This gave me more interest in checking out ShadowDark than any other video I have watched!

[@matthewmcguigan4293]

Love the Shadowdark system. Looking forward to your Delve products to add to my game.

[@EricAyala-ot]

Bob, finally able to watch your video right before work, within an hour of posting. Hard to do when posting during work day. When is your audience available to watch within an hour?

[@BobWorldBuilder]

Thanks! I've always stuck with morning Eastern Time because it's when I uploaded while I had my other job, and I feel like other US timezones (most of my viewers) see it throughout the day. With the way KZbin has been changing though, might be worth tinkering with upload time...

[@jaybakata5566]

What spell did you use to levitate the Shadowdark quickstart rules? I love all Bob World Builder videos! Shadowdark is great however, I would love to see videos about your game Delve. Would really love to see some live play games of it as well. I keep searching the KZbin but have not seen any yet.

[@heathentongue]

Great video! Now I want to play it! Random spells should be the norm! I started playing AD&D back in 79 and I thought they had just forgotten to put numbers by the spell lists! I made my own!

[@urdinaran]

Great Video! Love Shadowdark and I can't wait to get my hands on Delve!

[@JasonWickham-k2z]

This game looks so boss. I think I'm going to have to spring for the hardback. And I haven't been interested enough in an RPG product to spend money on the hobby in... well, years.

[@strelitziengewachs6362]

Ive gotten to play in 2 one shots and have been playing a bit of Solodark (Using the Glooming Hex map from the Cursed Scroll #1) over the past few weeks and i adore the system. I genuinly adore the layout and simplisity of it? Like it never feels like theres a word thats unnecessary or too much. (also: as someone who only ever used online tools or the Dnd books. Zines are so so great for ttrpgs, its so fun and easy to take like 3 of em with me and play without having to cary a big ol book around)

[@j.rinker4609]

I like the idea that magic users can lose confidence in a particular spell, meaning they won't be able to cast it again for a while after failing once.

[@macoppy6571]

0-level ShadowDark characters are not guaranteed to start with weapons! This created a TPK when I ran two against the Forgotten Forge adventure from 3.5 Eberron Campaign Setting.

[@Heritage367]

Did you make any significant adjustments? Forgotten Forge is designed for 1st level 3.5 characters, who are much more powerful than 0 level SD characters.

[@GryphonDes]

SD is fantastic! Smooth rules, easily digestible and approachable, but all the FUN of its elder siblings :D

[@tonygonzales726]

Best opening EVER!!!!!!

[@TrojanManSCP]

Spellcasting is the same ruleset at Five Torches Deep, another rules light fantasy system I’ve had a lot of great times with. 5TD is a bit less ‘heroic,’ more hazardous, so look into it and choose what you like.

[@mattbartee8454]

Now if only my FLGS would start carrying Shadowdark. Do they even distribute the zines/core rule books?

[@heyyitskelvi]

Have you asked if they can order it for you?

[@mattbartee8454]

@@heyyitskelvi I've been hoping as it gains in popularity they would start carrying it. I think it is time to ask next time I go by

[@CaseyWilkesmusic]

If you have the book, maybe offer to run a game and they can try to sell some inventory that day

[@BobWorldBuilder]

I don't think I've seen it in a store yet. I'd ask the store owners or maybe ask around in the SD discord. If anyone's managed to get the store stocking it, it'll be someone in that server!

[@hcpookie]

Did that very thing with my SD character - hit "random", saved PDF, and have enjoyed one of the better characters I've ever played - Hrogar the Half-Orc ranger :)

[@hjorhrafn]

Any OSR that dumps vancian magic is a winner in my book,.especially if it also makes race as class optional as well.

[@jeffyork4021]

Great Open!

[@kelborn40k84]

Late to the party, great vid. We (wife, kid and I) want to run the Humblewood adventure but all the 5e rules and books are a bit intimidating and difficult to keep an overview. Would Shadowdark be a good and more simple alternative to use as rules or would it make things more complicated? :)

[@terrencemiltner1005]

"Well that'll never happen..." Bwah ha ha ha. Well played.