09/26/2025

One of the joys of Shadowdark RPG is how lean its spell list is. Spells feel powerful, dangerous, and flavorful—but that small list also means most wizards end up feeling the same. Once you’ve played a few levels of a caster, you’ve probably seen most of the spell options at your table. Expanding the spell list adds more variety, fresh tactics, and unique character identities without breaking the game’s balance.

Whether you’re borrowing a favorite spell from Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC), Old-School Essentials, or even 5E, the trick is making sure it slots smoothly into Shadowdark’s framework. Every system builds its magic with different assumptions about power level, pacing, and risk. Shadowdark’s design leans toward scarcity, danger, and fast play, so when you bring in outside spells, you’ll want to trim excess reliability, adjust damage or duration, and keep the spell’s edge sharp. The goal isn’t a perfect conversion—it’s making sure the spell feels like it belongs in Shadowdark’s world of flickering torchlight and deadly dungeons.

You can also explore third-party Shadowdark supplements, which often introduce new spells written specifically for the system. These can be an easy way to expand your table’s magical options—but as always, a gasmemaster should review them first to make sure nothing is “broken” or unbalancing for your game.

---

Step One: Matching Spell Levels

In Shadowdark, spell levels only go up to Tier 5. Characters max out at level 10, so the progression of spell power is tighter than in systems like 5E, where spell slots stretch all the way to 9th level.

Here’s a rough conversion guideline when pulling spells in:

• Low-level magic (1st–2nd in 5E / Level 1 in DCC): Usually fits comfortably as Tier 1 or Tier 2 Shadowdark spells.
• Mid-level magic (3rd–4th in 5E / Level 2–3 in DCC): Translate these into Tier 3 or Tier 4 spells.
• High-level magic (5th–9th in 5E / Level 4–5+ in DCC): These need pruning. Most of these are closer to Tier 5 in Shadowdark, but you may need to tone down their scale (e.g., limiting range, duration, or number of targets).

The key is that Shadowdark’s magic is scarcer and swingier. Don’t worry about perfect math conversions—focus on the vibe and how deadly you want a spell to be in play.

---

Step Two: Preserve Risk and Mystery

Spells in Shadowdark are dangerous. Casting always carries risk thanks to the spellcasting mechanic—fail your check, and you lose the spell until your next rest. When converting spells from other systems, don’t forget to keep that knife-edge tension.

For example:

• A DCC spell that allows multiple outcomes based on the roll fits perfectly in Shadowdark.
• A 5E spell that’s too reliable might need tweaks—add concentration, shorten its duration, or make it loud and obvious in the dungeon.

---

Step Three: Optional Rule—Heightened Success

If you’re inspired by Dungeon Crawl Classics’ wild spell tables, try this house rule for Shadowdark:

Critical Spellcasting (Optional Rule):
When you cast a spell, roll your Intelligence (or Wisdom, for clerics) check as normal. If you succeed by 5 or more over the DC, you cast a heightened version of the spell. It is as if you are able to score the results of a Natural 20 more often.

Examples:

• Magic Missile might fire an extra dart.
• Sleep might affect an additional target.
• Bless might last an extra round.

This rule works similarly to upcasting in 5E, where a spellcaster can spend a higher-level spell slot to make a spell more powerful. In Shadowdark, instead of using a higher slot, the caster’s check result determines the enhanced effect. This naturally favors higher-level wizards: as their spellcasting modifiers increase with level, they’re more likely to roll high enough to trigger a heightened effect. It creates a satisfying progression where higher-level casters feel more potent and capable, while lower-level casters still have a chance to shine when luck is on their side.

This mechanic preserves Shadowdark’s risk and unpredictability, while adding occasional “big moments” that feel magical and exciting.

---

Final Thoughts

Borrowing spells from other games is a great way to expand Shadowdark without bloating it. Just keep the tiers in mind, pare down the most overblown effects, and lean into the danger. If you want to spice things up, the optional “heightened success” rule adds extra chaos and creativity to spellcasting.

Magic should feel unpredictable and wondrous. With a few tweaks, you can raid other spell lists—including third-party supplements—and still keep your Shadowdark games fast, fun, and deadly.

Keep on gaming!