02/12/2025

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts!

This is the final installment of the in-depth look into the Player Companion for Shadowdark. We will finish with the Plants and Poisons, Traps, and Spell Catalysts.

The Plants and Poisons section lists 20 different plants and the effects of ingesting them. This is a nice section for players who want to use poisons and other plants as a weapon. This would give the players something to spend some of their money on or allow rangers and other outdoor-focused characters something to look for while traveling.

The Trap section seems to be a little out of place in a player’s supplement. While players could set up traps, especially when setting up a more permanent campsite, traps are usually something that players encounter in a dungeon. I like the traps included in the supplement, they just seem a little out of place.

The Spell Catalyst is a very nice addition to the supplement. It lists different items that can be used with different spells to change the effects of spells. Below is an example from the supplement:

Blueberry (10). Sweet berries from thick shrubs that grow in temperate regions. If held while casting Rebuke Unholy, it consumes the item and destroys affected creatures that fail their CHA check by 7+ points (instead of the normal 10+).

This option would give spellcasters a way to add a little to their spells that will cost them money. I think the prices that are listed in the supplement might need to be adjusted. For example, the Blueberries (10) is listed as 42GP. Unless these are special blueberries, that seems like a ridiculous price for blueberries. I personally have 2 blueberry bushes next to my house that produce hundreds of blueberries every year.

Overall, the supplement is a good addition to Shadowdark. While I personally don’t like the inclusion of more races and don’t see the need for some of the new classes, I do like the expanded equipment list, the inclusion of the spell catalysts, and some of the new talents. There is plenty in this supplement to steal and use in your game.

Keep on gaming!