Mr. Welch's Mad Musings: Shadowdark Redux

Turns out my last review was out of date before it came out. And I am loathe to tolerate imperfection. So, my channel, my rules. This is the review of the full version of Shadowdark, looking at all the rules from the corebook, in search of the answer to the one question everyone has been asking for years. Where's all the banded mail gone?

[@springheeledjackofthegurdi2117]

Oh Elric smiles you just don't want to be anywhere near him when he does it's when he's at his most melnibonian

[@Blazbaros]

BLOOD! BLOOD AND SOULS! BLOOD AND SOULS FOR MY LORD ARIOCH!

[@Snyperwolf91]

Arioch : .... but for me , it was tuesday .

[@MrPlainsflyer]

The Pinkertons didn't charge you for the black bags because they had extras.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Thank you for reviewing the final version, Mr. Welch! I appreciate your journalistic integrity.

[@DjigitDaniel]

And thank YOU for an interesting book.

[@goodbuddy7607]

He said there aren't any formatting issues but forgot to add that, on the contrary, the formatting is the most grockable formatting ever in an RPG.

[@emjtucson]

Thank you for your honest reviews. I learn so much more from reviewers who mention the good, the bad, and the ugly of games.

[@harbl99]

"The detectives didn't even charge me for the black bags." I should think not. They're reusable. It would be like charging for 'wear and tear on rubber truncheons'. Danish is the surface dweller equivalent of the Roper language, CMM.

[@uncouthboy8028]

I was honestly pretty disappointed at the beginning that you re-reviewed it but by the end that disappointment was gone. Very fair.

[@bonbondurjdr6553]

Well done!

[@mythicmountainsrpg]

Fair enough!

[@Redlurk3]

Again w the banded mail? I'm distressed theresno love anywhere for Brigandine😂

[@NefariousKoel]

Also my thoughts. Proper brigandine armor is a rarity. Not that "studded leather" nonsense - get that outta here.

[@stephenclements6158]

I was thinking the same thing, and now I've found a support group.

[@chainsawsubtlety9828]

Because good brigandine is hidden brigandine.

[@francesco3772]

The banded mail autism of the original was funnier tho

[@patrickbuckley7259]

I get it Mr. Welch find a way tp put Banded Mail in my game or expect tongue lashing if and when I have the pleasure of you reviewing it.

[@docnecrotic]

It's still not for me, but at least it looks like it has improved a lot and the creator seems decent enough as a person... I dunno.

[@PaladinDragoon]

Will you do a castles and crusaders video?

[@Mr_Welch]

If I can get a copy. Seven games in queue first

[@PaladinDragoon]

@@Mr_Welch it's rapidly turning into my go to fantasy rpg system.

[@shoplifterfpd]

@@PaladinDragoonsame here. It really hits the sweet spot in terms of ease of running smoothly and still “feeling” like AD&D.

[@MadAtreides1]

Any plan to review True20 and Blue Rose?

[@Mr_Welch]

I will review anything but first trying to get caught up

[@ForestFWhite]

Thouls!

[@DMRaptorJesus]

Whats the point of getting a treasure hoard if you don't have anything to spend it on. A robust equipment list is what every rpg needs, you have no idea how often my mallet and pliers have saved my characters life in my groups B/X games.

[@EvilDoresh]

I personally prefer DarkBad

[@Snyperwolf91]

Well ... Good thing , it was improved . Bad thing , its still D&D 5e in a goth phase .

[@BockwinkleB]

Funny how the justification of supporting SD by most people is "liking" the creator.

[@ct9564]

"Theyre my friend, he didn't pay me for a review but... 10/10" I heard it everywhere, it was disingenuous and obvious nepotism.

[@VermilionMage]

I don't see a point to Shadowdark. It doesn't do anything truly different or interesting, and the tone is identical to every other classic ruleset.

[@NefariousKoel]

Ehh.. seems like yet another d20 D&D derivative with house rules to me. It arrived on KS at a perfect time to possibly steal some of WotC's unwarranted thunder & devotees, though, so I'm glad for that. Plus the creator seems to be a nice enough person unlike the aforementioned corporate thugs.

[@stephenclements6158]

It could make money, partially because the creator is a really cute girl in a male-dominated hobby. The plan worked.

[@davidmc8478]

It puts all the good parts of 5e and osr together in one set without house rules. Yea you could do it yourself but it would be a set of house rules rather than a stand alone game.

[@Eron_the_Relentless]

Does it still think 'survival of the fittest' is an attribute of Chaos instead of Neutrality, as nature itself defines neutrality and thats a primary law of nature? I gave this game just enough attention to find I don't care for it. Its an IMHO not meaningfully playtested mess of gimmick rules haphazardly stuck together with a consistent graphic design. Like many minimalist OSRs nowadays there isn't enough 'game' there to maintain interest past a couple months. Its a one-shot game or con game or temporary curiosity, not a mainstay game. And a RPG that isn't a mainstay game is no use to me. The author was in the right place at the right time and made a million dollars. Thats a feat worthy of praise and envy. I am fully aware of that and still feel the above is true.

[@chainsawsubtlety9828]

I understand the need for misdirection, but no one should have to be A.J. Pickett. I'm sure that even he isn't happy about it.

[@markbenand]

Why? What's wrong with him?

[@chainsawsubtlety9828]

@@markbenand He sucks.

[@Mr_Welch]

@@chainsawsubtlety9828 He is a friend of mine. We've got a game together tomorrow.

[@chainsawsubtlety9828]

@@Mr_Welch Good for you. I can't stand him. Considering that you and I don't know each other, I would hazard that we don't need to agree.

[@IdiotinGlans]

Suggestion of two games you may try if you're looking for darker games: Never Going Home: World War I + supernatural horror, where you may survive but lose your humanity The Spire: You play as Drow after 200 years of being conquered by High Elves, your rebellion is doomed to fail and the real question is how big of a mark you can leave behind.

[@rynowatcher]

Still not impressed with a mediocre dungeon crawler.