Live Play Example: Shadowdark RPG

🦇 A live play example of Shadowdark RPG! You can jump in on the fully funded Kickstarter here: www.kickstarte...
In this video, I take four gamers of various experience levels through a foray into the Eroding Isle of the Executioner. I include a few notes of GMing advice, too!
🔥 We didn't have occasion to light a torch in this session; the focus this time was on the initiative, exploration, and combat rules. If we'd lit a torch, there might have been a few fun opportunities to "attack the light" in such a watery place.
What would you have done to threaten the characters' torchlight? Let me know below!

[@jarrodjanuary5486]

What a fun group. As an old gamer (50+) Shadowdark feels like 1e D&D without all the confusion. Love how Doc’s characters kept dying! Too fun!

[@robertwinslade3104]

As someone who recently starting GMing for the first time with 5e and now understands exactly what other people complaining about OP player characters, power creep, and rules bloat were going on about, I am so looking forward to Shadowdark as a more stripped back, low power alternative! I might try to find some way of incorporating more of the gonzo DCC style weirdness in my games though; DCC seems to take it too far IMO with massive complicated effects tables for every spell, but my players have been loving the odd weird random effect table in my 5e game

[@Dyundu]

Dave’s character was giving me strong Hondo Ohnaka vibes, and I’m 100% here for that.

[@Pokayte]

I am very glad I am not the only person who immediately made that connection ;D

[@Kalstir515]

Im just coming into learning about Shadowdark, but it gives me such nostalgia for the 1e DnD games i played with the old school players 20 years ago. Havent DMed in years have preferred playing, but this makes me want to get a group together. ❤

[@Metal_Horror]

The beauty of the persistent initiative/always-on turn system suddenly dawned on me early on in the video. When the players are used to always playing in intervals, I think it will be a graceful way of handling party splits. You can have each member in a different room (maybe even a different town!) without things being overwhelming or chaotic. It's often the case that party-splitting can be groan inducing, since you can often expect an event to take a long time, leaving other players with nothing to do. I really think this style could potentially lead to an elegant way of adding flexibility to this sort of thing. Not to mention the obvious benefit of giving each player their fair share of the limelight. Anyway the game is very exciting. I love it all. And the aesthetic is awesome! Congratulations.

[@MarkCherkowski]

I can't wait until my second ShadowDark game. This is filling the void for now.

[@Mankcam]

Let's not kid anyone, this is D&D. It's just 100 times better than WotC's current D&D Definatly supporting Shadowdark on KS Great gameplay video, thanks for posting!

[@thehoundsoftindalos8456]

I started playing D&D/RPGs 42 years ago. I SO WANT TO BACK THIS! It looks and feels like OD&D/AD&D.

[@thehoundsoftindalos8456]

I backed it!

[@ariodemien6150]

Love that you're using Owlbear Rodeo!

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Such a magnificent VTT!

[@bensdecoypoondummy1189]

Owlbear is such a fantastic tool. Easy to learn and powerful enough for most needs

[@duncanmacphail2532]

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[@duncanmacphail2532]

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[@duncanmacphail2532]

Any Design Principle that Allows to His style of Multiversl Threat cause YO unever Can Precinctly Define a Single Principle Design is younger have to guess the prXX.

[@fingersmalone7683]

An absolutely great GM and a stellar take on the boiled down basics of what we are all used to playing. Bravo!

[@EruditeDM]

“Arnatho” sounds like Triumph the insult dog! Nice job on the role-play! Really helpful sample of shadowdark play for newbies here! Thanks all! 👍🏼

[@dirtactual]

I have not been this excited for a TTRPG since 5e came out in 2014!

[@BearBronson]

Real talk, this will be fighting Mörk Borg as the main TTRPG to run on our game nights every month.

[@harmonicaman79]

Nice video. Are there any videos that demonstrate the move-near rules in Shadowdark? I'm having a tough time trying to figure out complex examples of it.

[@PrehistoricLizard]

Hope to see more examples of live play. David calming the shadows and Laurin bringing them back for vengeance were both great moments. And of course Doc's character croaking immediately haha.

[@Hellvector]

This was a blast to watch! Thank you Doc for doing my dear little Wibbly Wicket justice, he met a glorious end! Kelsey, thank you so much for bringing this game to life, and you were all wonderful!

[@kotieerwee2593]

This looked INSANELY fun. Ordered a hard copy from your website yesterday and have allready been reading through the pdf. Cant wait to play this with my group.

[@johnweatherman5685]

Haven't had time to watch this till now, though I did support the Kickstarter. This was so much fun, and so much more like what my games have always looked like than so many of the live plays that seem to be on KZbin these days. Can't wait for the games to be out! This actualy makes on-line TTRPGs look a little more manageable, may have to get in contact with some old gaming friends who have scattered to the 4 winds these days. And YES, if any player bursts out in song at the table, they SO deserve success!

[@MarkTarsis]

Great actual play. 1 hour was about right for the time, made it easy to digest and see all the rules in play. I can see that this game is going to be very very good for first time and newer players. Not a lot of rules to explain, roll to cast is easier than spell slots. Luck tokens + stabilize rolls seems to take the edge off BX's too harsh death. Glad you highlighted reaction rolls and morale, which is new for 5e players. I can see this game not appealing to those wanting tactical combat. Though it would be easy to house rule in AoO, flanking, and so on. But the system seems like it works best just keeping it free flowing and lax.

[@gameram6382]

I love its back to basics, so players can just play rather than stats and all the other rubbish. Bought the book and screen. ❤

[@mikemcd15]

When using a VTT I found that the easiest way to keep initiative straight is to just put a note box on the screen in an unused section of the map - and type the names of all the characters in order of their turn (including the GM as well, of course)

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Excellent idea!! I’m going to for sure use that going forward!

[@nschoenwald]

@@TheArcaneLibrary You could also duplicate the involved character and monster tokens and then just drag them in one line according to the initiative in some corner of the screen or map - whatever works best for you :)

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

@@nschoenwald Good call! That's a nice visual way to do it!

[@Tusitala1967]

Good times! Happy to see Owlbear Rodeo getting used here. Fun Fact: The green coloration on brass and copper is called verdigris.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

I am entirely self conscious about the fact that I think I will pronounce that wrong, haha!

[@michaelmorrissey8983]

@@TheArcaneLibrary Easy Peasy! It's like "Vair - degree" or Ver - degree more or less. Enjoyed the live play and an opportunity to see Owlbear Rodeo in play, which I will be looking into. Congratulations on the success of Shadowdark & the Kickstarter there seems to be no stopping this train. Next stop...1 Million Dollars!

[@Tusitala1967]

@@TheArcaneLibrary You wrote a game. Somehow I think you've got this. ;-)

[@sleadaddy]

I'm running my first Shadowdark adventure this weekend, for at least one player entirely new to TTRPGs! I have been stressed, but seeing this video has made me so much more confident.

[@hesketh7085]

How did it go?

[@sleadaddy]

@@hesketh7085 It went relatively well! There were a bunch of people who joined at the last moment, so we had 7 total, but we had a good time. Ran Slime Lord.

[@danthegamerkhan]

Wow first time ive watched shadowdark and i have to say the absolutely elegant blend of oldschool and new school mechanics whilst playing an old school ethos is truly amazing! I will have to keep an eye out for this in australia

[@EricAyala-ot]

So far, this is one of the best actual plays! Great RP!

[@gameram6382]

This is the dungeons and dragons i remember playing in early 90s

[@samchafin4623]

That final frame! What a great group! I would love to see them again, not even as a proper continuation - just a completely new adventure, and no explanation of the rest of the action of this adventure 😆

[@MotherScreng]

Gotta love that the dangers were food, music, and (floor) architecture. Props to Jessie for all the phat lewtz!

[@jerihoneywellart]

I just got around to seeing this! I also have my copy of Shadowdark RPG and i am in love with every aspect of it, the art, the writing, the mechanics, its everything I never knew I always wanted. Is it surreal to be playing a game you made?

[@toddrohrer8680]

It looks like shadow dark is written in such a way DMs csn create new classes

[@1AngelAlita]

I like watching live plays of RPGs on KZbin but this is probably the most weird one I've seen.. ;)

[@ThomasHerlofsen]

Good game everyone. Gonna up my Kickstarter pledge based on this.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

That is so kind of you, thank you!

[@billcedarheath387]

Well done. Videos like this show those who only know 5e, that fun can be had outside the realm of D&D. ShadowDark rolls a nat 20 for casting light. The TTRPG world is illuminated for all to see.

[@DeusMachina71]

Personally this feels more to me like the D&D Gygax, Arenson and other earlier writers of the game envisioned than current Corperate WotC 5e D&D. It's definitely a more spiritually connected game to B/X and the OSR scene than 5e despite the marketing but I understand why she sold it in that manner. Plus the modernization of some of the rules isnt a bad thing at all, I think she cleaned it up nicely and added the right stuff. If I had one complaint I like a little more definition, it's extremely streamlined and I'd really like to see a bit more nuanced Advanced Shadowdark some day, either way it's it's easy fix at least for me.. I'm just happy to see a decent game get a good kickstarter reception

[@billcedarheath387]

@@DeusMachina71 I started playing D&D back in 1978. Modern D&D is too bloated for my taste. There was a time where homebrew was making your own classes up because they didn't exist in the rules. You used this thing called imagination and creativity to design your own world and the dungeons in it. Nobody called making a dungeon a "homebrew" like it is now. I'm glad to see Shadowdark as it feels like the days of old. It takes me back to the days of my youth and all is right in the dice rolling, monster slaying, dungeons are dangerous and they don't care about your feelings world.

[@steelmongoose4956]

Perhaps, but that light goes out after an hour of real time. 😃

[@dragon11c]

There seems to be a water theme here (?). I would make d4 timer for a check to see if the torch is put out by dripping water from above. Probably a DC 10-12 and if it goes out DC 15 to relight it. Provided they have flint and steel or a tinderbox, otherwise DC 18 for any other way that may have to be tried with possible bonus points for ingenuity. This is mainly because of the damp conditions that seem to be present.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

I like that! :D

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

Love this. Just started an Old School Essentials campaign and am loving it. Will be pulling in the “always” on initiative for exploration (I like to leave it more Freeform in town, etc, but it’s still a helpful framework for me to keep in mind) and will be using ALL the tables. We’ll see if we want the real time torch. I like the less reliance on ability scores that B/X has, but this will be what I use as a “5e player’s first OSR” and may move to a roll to cast system if people want that.

[@Boyboy-ox5ck]

Is there a follow up to this session? I LOVED this. Your group are all excellent role players. I’m reminded of the first adventures I played with the red box set. Full disclosure; this is the first Live Play of any role playing game that I watched in its entirety!

[@scottendicott7970]

Finally the YT algorithm sent me something I want!

[@damienfeymont3433]

Yes same!!! So exited for this.

[@AndrewGarofalo]

The roll high d20 system seems to run very smoothly. And makes it easy for the GM.

[@briandavison7033]

I run a lot of games online. It is great to get the added tips like initiative order.

[@ericfiszelson4303]

I just made my pledge on Kickstarter. So psyched about this project and looking forward to receiving my books 😊

[@MirskCragmaw]

49:18 Made me remember Fernando Martinez from Vice City.

[@geoffreynelson6413]

Omg…Kelsey “the only one tall enough to LOOK INSIDE the vessel…” The DM’s clue bat. “Not much for blunt objects” indeed.

[@sectorbob]

I call that "being hit by the clue by four!"

[@TheWintersoldier84]

Kelsey's organ honking noise is S tier. Great foley.

[@Gorehaven68]

Never split the party.

[@aureliomanalo]

Final frame, what a great idea!

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Genius technique I learned from Hankerin Ferinale over at Runehammer Games!

[@Yosherful]

"Does anyone have a hammer?" Hah.

[@patrickcreson7722]

I love seeing the live play. The only aspect of Shadowdark that I am a little fuzzy on is the XP distribution. Should I set an gp theshold for the XP? I see you gave 1 XP for a 100g gem, so is that a good rule of thumb? give 1xp whenever the party aquires an additional 100gp value? I realize that it is meant to be a bit abstract. I plan to run every premade adventure that I can find before I start creating my own or going off the cuff. I have run the adventure in the starter rules and I have to say that I love it! This is the only aspect that I have questions about.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Totally fair question since it's kind of a new concept! Pretty much all treasure except for the most fantastical stuff is worth 1 XP. If the characters find something that is super magnificent (like a magic sword), I'd give them 3 XP for it. So it's not really tied to exact numerical values, but more the overall importance of the treasure. I'd say 90% of treasure falls into the 1 XP category.

[@patrickcreson7722]

@@TheArcaneLibrary thanks for the clarification! I’ve been a fan for a few years now and I LOVE seeing all your hard work paying off. It was also nice to see Jesse on the stream! I don’t think I’ve seen her since you posted the wedding pic lol. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this book!

[@adam19722]

Awesome video! I got the kickstarter and love it. Everyone has their own playstyle so I don't have a word to say about that. I wish I was as trusting as you though haha, too many nat 20's! I'm the type that wants those rolls on camera or digital dice gosh darnit, too many "trusted" friends in my past freely manipulated them rolls! 😱😱🤪🤪🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dreamleaf6784]

Can't wait to play. I want to make a rag tag group with my 6 yo daughter and my wife. I hope I can find two more to make a four person group

[@Grimlore82]

Kick ass!! Homies from the Discord!

[@stefans.8850]

If it’s natural sparkling water in that spring is going to smell like rotten eggs and taste a bit like Iron or blood😂. Because it is highly mineralized, usually with sulphur and iron. It takes 2-3 days until the fowl smell goes away.

[@hobbitonman]

This was so much fun to watch! I do wish we got to see an example of a "Near sized cube" because I too intend to use a vtt or minis with SD. lol

[@demongustavditters7150]

Lol I d never heard such a happy and sweet voice bodying an entire party for 1.5 hrs 😂

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Hahahahahahaa, I view success as connected to how many gameplay rounds we can fit into one session! 😂

[@demongustavditters7150]

@@TheArcaneLibrary 😂 I love it! If you sit down for OSR your asking for intensity!

[@guzimirHR]

You is evil young lady- I watched a bunch of old guys trying your game and they were dying before even meetig the monsters. 😄 I really wish you the best of luck and wish I could support your cause- you're one helluva lady.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Hahahahaha, this makes my day! :D Thank you!

[@marionponteville7630]

French players waiting for this game too !

[@MarkCMG]

Thanks for the video! This is coming along great!

[@daitopc]

Congrats on your success Kelsey! I have a question if anyone knows about how random encounters work. You're rolling every couple of rounds to check for an encounter based on danger level, but when an encounter happens do you just choose a random monster to appear, or are you rolling on a table to decide the monster as well? Is the encounter always a monster or is it a trap / hazard sometimes? Is the monster predetermined in the adventures guide and only has a chance of being 'awoken' based on the rolls?

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

There is usually a random encounter table included with the adventure! :) And if there's not, I have a bazillion of them in the core book so you can fall back on those. :)

[@daitopc]

@@TheArcaneLibrary phenomenal! It's apparent how much effort was put into this, y'all have thought of everything. Thanks for the response 😊

[@vaultofphantasms]

Thanks for this! It's great to see the game in play.

[@sentino68]

Can't wait to get my copy/ KS rewards!!

[@grantdixon6556]

So excited to be backing this kickstarter!

[@kgadventuresttrpg]

I’m running this tonight I reworked it to fit into the gloaming. I’m changing my the sink hole to have an underground lake instead of the black dragon.

[@michaelkeith7991]

Awesome great job everyone, last week I crafted sum HP color from space/FEY pieces and sum had pearls, and have plans to craft a organ, this way too cool

[@michaelkeith7991]

@@Dungeoncraft01.. thx pass the gift to a library or community project please

[@spencercoker4077]

I was REALLY looking forward to this, but I was hoping for a more "tactical" live play showing of the mechanics. Hopefully the in the next event, more of the rules can be shown off, with not so much hamming it up from the players. I am really considering pledging, but I would like to see a more tactical demonstration to show off the rules.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

We'll do more of them with various groups of players and play styles! Tenkar's Tavern also just posted a live play video that is very classic "old school" style and has a great demo of combat mechanics. I thought they did a wonderful job!

[@spencercoker4077]

​@@TheArcaneLibrary saw the live play on Tenkar's Tavern; loved it. Also watched live play on d20play and Grablag Gamers.

[@ryanwiedeman5635]

fun to watch and listen for sure 🤩🙏

[@mikec6111]

Have I been watching too many Shadowdark videos if I understood the hammer reference?

[@DanielForrester]

I asked the discord and then they had a link to the initial event.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Yes and good. ;D

[@Eucrid]

GRUMBY BILLOWS!!

[@colerape]

Ex-goblin union worker...that is a lot of built up rage!

[@Diablofan100]

Oh, like you wouldn't believe.

[@thehermitthetower1126]

Kell-SEEEEEEE WOOP WOOP

[@ronaldlegere]

What's with the hammers? Looking forward to reading (and playing) the game!

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Hhahhahaaaa, I removed hammers from the basic equipment list a long time ago during beta testing (they just take up a gear slot and serve no real purpose), and it became a long-standing joke! xD #HammerGate

[@ronaldlegere]

@@TheArcaneLibrary Makes sense, in my house we use everything BUT hammers to hammer things. Wrenches, spoons, rocks, "... weapons or other iron spikes" LOL

[@Grimlore82]

The shadows would mob onto the torch bearer, definitely.

[@JimmiWazEre]

I'm only a few minutes in, but I don't get why you bother rolling for initiative at the start if you're not going to enforce that initiative order? If it doesn't matter, why not just wait until it matters before you enter initiative?

[@MarkTarsis]

My guess is that Kelsey does a lot of in person play and, for combat, rolling init, highest goes first and then round the table works the fastest and she seems to like fast, smooth systems. But once you start doing that it becomes an easy idea to apply it to outside combat and have a "unified" concept of rounds. Rounds in combat and rounds outside of combat for exploration. The "go around the table outside of combat" is also useful at in person tables to make sure everyone has a chance to take part in the exploration part of the game. So, if she started doing that then unifying things like encounter rolls based on "rounds outside of combat" start to make a lot more sense. So basically, the game has some design elements for "track rounds outside of combat", but the game also doesn't break down if you don't enforce it. And that sort of relaxed, flow with it style of game also seems like an important part of Shadowdark's design. I'll also say that what works for Kelsey at her table may not work well for you and your group. For example, I may use Foundry VTT and "round the table" doesn't work well with there is no table. I'd likely just use the built in initiative tracker, everyone rolls and go in order of the rolls. That'd be easier and smoother. I also may do stricter rounds outside of combat, but that's because my brain likes more order/strictness and it's easier to accidentally skip over asking people "what is your character doing" when you're not with them in person. But everyone should play the game how it best works for them.

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Well said! :)

[@francoisdumont4105]

Will there be a localized french version of this game? I can speak english fluently but as a game master, I find it a hassle to translate games.

[@DarkBath]

Damn, Kelsey is a lucky woman i see

[@stefans.8850]

Does anybody know what is the app where they play called?

[@L3monsta]

Owlbear rodeo

[@shotcallercos]

I'm going to play the FUCK out of this game

[@rontalkstabletop]

Owlbear Rodeo!

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

Ain't it the best? I love it! Didn't even get to show off that is has a built-in time where you can visibly track the torch.

[@corybuckner9030]

Fantastic I love this... keep it going

[@fchrisb804]

You all are hilarious! Great Job!

[@zionich]

I am happy to give this a watch. I was looking for a live play of it yesterday when I was considering backing it.

[@WilliamLee_Exalted]

Love ShadowDark! Per the book it doesn't seem that there's any push or threat of time involved in this session. One of the great things about ShadowDark is "how much time is left on that torch, we better hurry". The woman seems to be taking the game more seriously than the dudes. Like you can have fun and still take it seriously. As I'm watching (only the 1st 30 mins) and can't help but roll my eyes when the guys speak lol. But as she said in the beginning 'these players are all different levels of experience'. It's a win if they all had fun though! Good video though!😊

[@mateofantasma]

Nice vibes at the table, good stuff!

[@nemooh]

This is fantastic!

[@skrzynkapanamarcina]

Great heroes, great, beauty GM, great adventure :)

[@dreamleaf6784]

What do you use to play dnd online? Discord? And how to do that map like that?

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

I ran this with a mixture of Zoom (voice/video chat) and the online platform Owlbear Rodeo! They have great KZbin videos for getting set up and how to use their system.

[@OneFootWall]

Most excellent game, folks!

[@trollishmc2920]

I love how the group has just decided to aggro the entire dungeon. Get it out of the way lol!

[@Diablofan100]

Old Goblin Mine ClearingTrick - why wander aimlessly through the mine, when you can let the mine come to you?

[@trollishmc2920]

@@Diablofan100 Efficient and practical - got to love it!

[@couchchannel]

Muffins! Hafling MVP

[@lukejackson3901]

Finally!!! ❤

[@SERGIOBOUBA]

this is GREAT !!

[@matthewmccloud4777]

Hi Kelsey! This looks amazing! I sent you an email a week or so ago about Origins, please let me know if I need to resend.

[@toddrohrer8680]

I have a question will there be additional classes coming for shadow dark like paladin or ranger

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

The Kickstarter just hit a stretch goal where I'm going to design a new class, and ranger is taking a distant lead right now! :) I'll also be putting more classes out in Cursed Scroll zines (supplements for the game).

[@lukejackson3901]

Awesome characters lol

[@mcdo0gal1985]

It’s mid-jan any update on physical drop?!

[@carlplesner2498]

Can you play solo and be your own dungeon master?

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

You would want to use an oracle system to help with that, but yes! I'm planning to do solo gameplay with Shadowdark using the Mythic GM Emulator! :D

[@argentryins1472]

I tried to give this a like 15 times. Only worked once though.

[@Skelfi]

What program is here used to play online?

[@zindarafalaraax3349]

Owlbear Rodeo.

[@CScott-wh5yk]

KZbin

[@BradDaeda]

Fun game!

[@DanielSmith-mi6gk]

Is this a Gauntlet?

[@TheMatticuslong]

Where can I buy this now?

[@TheArcaneLibrary]

It's not yet out for sale, but I'm going to open up late pledges on the Kickstarter on April 18th or 19th! :) You'll be able to pledge for any of the tiers and get the associated digital PDFs right away. 👍

[@fluidfox1436]

Good.