Shadowdark New Players

Useful links and resources for joining our Open Table game of Shadowdark.

It’s okay to just show up!

This is a game where rules can be taught at the table. We have pre-made characters ready to go for your first game.

Learning the rules & making your first character

Also, though totally not necessary, you are free to familiarize yourself with the rules with this FREE (emphasis on FREE) Quickstart Players Guide!

Also also (and I promise this is the last also), if you are interested in rolling up your own character using the quickstart guide and, you know, dice, go for it. I trust you. Use this character sheet from the Arcane Library

Or just come a little early (GMs will be there 15 minutes or so early) and we can roll through the character creation process. It’s super quick.

Online tools

• Shadowdarklings - Web based character creator and tracker

Guide for players used to 5e

Shadowdark has many similarities to D&D 5e. Here are some things to remember that work differently:

• Ability scores get added to to-hit rolls, but not to damage
• Constitution bonuses are only added to hit points at level 1
• There are no attacks of opportunity
• There are no skills. Describe what your character is trying to do, and the GM may ask you to make an ability check.
• There are no spell slots. Spell casters roll to use their spells. (DC = 10 + spell tier) Spell casters can continue to use a known spell until they fail a spell check.
• Luck Tokens allow you to reroll any roll you just made. You can give your luck token to a companion. You can only have one luck token at a time.
• You can carry a limited number of ‘slots’ of equipment and treasure with you. A torch takes a full slot.
• Torches once lit last 60 minutes (plus or minus some random time depending on the GM)
• No players can see in the dark. The world gets more dangerous when the lights go out
• When not fighting, we still move in initiative order. The party can regroup to a marching order and move as a group if desired.