10/17/2025 Magic in Shadowdark RPG is thrilling — and dangerous. The “roll to cast” mechanic turns every spell into a gamble. Fail, and your spell fizzles, leaving… Read more “High Stakes Magic: Why Failure Makes Shadowdark Spellcasting Fun”
Tag: rpg
Translating OSR Elements: What Shadowdark Keeps, What It Fixes
10/10/2025 The Shadowdark RPG wears its old-school roots proudly. Torches burn out after an hour, hit points are precious, and death lurks behind every flickering shadow. But… Read more “Translating OSR Elements: What Shadowdark Keeps, What It Fixes”
Expanding Shadowdark: Bringing in New Spells from Other Fantasy RPGs and Third Party Supplements
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… Read more “Expanding Shadowdark: Bringing in New Spells from Other Fantasy RPGs and Third Party Supplements”
Running Deadly Dungeons: How to Marshal Threats and Tension
09/19/2025 The Role of the GM in Deadly PlayDungeons should feel like more than just a collection of rooms and monsters. When players enter a dangerous delve,… Read more “Running Deadly Dungeons: How to Marshal Threats and Tension”
Deadly But Fair: Balancing Encounters in Shadowdark
09/12/2025 The Shadowdark Philosophy of DangerUnlike many tabletop RPGs that cushion the consequences of failure, Shadowdark embraces the full weight of danger. From the very first session,… Read more “Deadly But Fair: Balancing Encounters in Shadowdark”
Making Monsters Scary Again using Shadowdark
09/04/2025 In many TTRPGs today, monsters often feel like stat blocks rather than genuine threats. Shadowdark changes that. Its mechanics, from limited resources to lethal combat, make… Read more “Making Monsters Scary Again using Shadowdark”
Running Gritty Wilderness Travel in Shadowdark
08/27/2025 Why Wilderness Matters in ShadowdarkThe dungeon may be the centerpiece of Shadowdark, but what happens between dungeons is just as important. Travel should feel uncertain, risky,… Read more “Running Gritty Wilderness Travel in Shadowdark”
Creating Memorable NPCs Without Extra Prep Using Random Tables
08/22/2025 Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Every Game Master knows that the best NPCs are the ones players remember—sometimes for their quirks, sometimes for… Read more “Creating Memorable NPCs Without Extra Prep Using Random Tables”
Why Every Shadowdark GM Should Be Robbing Basic Fantasy
08/20/2025 Happy Wednesday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts! Today, I released another YouTube video about stealing an adventure from Basic Fantasy RPG and using it in… Read more “Why Every Shadowdark GM Should Be Robbing Basic Fantasy”
How to Adapt Basic Fantasy Content for Shadowdark
08/14/2025 Look Before You Steal Before borrowing content from Basic Fantasy to use in Shadowdark, it’s important to understand the key differences between the two systems. While… Read more “How to Adapt Basic Fantasy Content for Shadowdark”
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