What's Shadowdark RPG?

 As I mentioned at the end of February I would be moving into my own place and hopefully running some Shadowdark RPG soon. While I'm not ready to host any games yet, this past weekend I moved into my new place. It feels good having a little place to call my own again. 

I'm sure some of you are already fans of Shadowdark RPG, but I thought I'd talk about the game for those unfamiliar.

In many ways Shadowdark RPG is a simplified version of 5e. It uses d20's with DC's for checks, has the classic six stats, and uses advantage/disadvantage. Characters pick a class, gain experience, and level up.

There are definite differences as well. Like old school games, the game focuses on exploration and gaining treasure. It's also quite deadly. The game is played in initiative order, even outside of combat. Casters don't have spell slots and must make spell checks. They can cast spells until they fail a check. Instead of encumbrance, characters are limited by gear slots. Distances are abstracted to close, near, and far, rather than measured on the battlefield. Additionally when characters level up, they randomly improve traits or gain new features. 

One of the most notable differences between Shadowdark and traditional D&D is the Shadowdark itself. No characters have dark vision in Shadowdark, but monsters do. This means that torches are a vital part of adventuring. This leads to one of the most novel features of the game, the Torch Timer. When a torch is lit a one hour timer is started in real time. While delving if the time runs out before another torch is lit the characters find themselves in total darkness, surrounded by encroaching monsters. 

Does this sound cool to you? If so you can download the Quickstart for free from The Arcane Library. It gives you everything you need to play levels 1-3 (including a really nice adventure). 

Music Monday - Earth Is The Loneliest Planet

I think Morrissey is a tool and I prefer his work with The Smiths, but this bezerkartwerk is cool.

And now for the song that inspired the art. 

Happy Easter (Night of the Living Christ)

Pardon the blasphemy but this is the most appropriate day to share this. 

Also to clarify I love Jesus, it’s his most vocal fans that I can’t stand.

Fuccubus Friday

I love this art from Justin O’Neal. You can buy a print of it from his Etsy shop.

Have really posted much this week and skipped out on A-Z because of the new job and moving, but I should be back to more regular posting soon.

Welcome to the Jungle

Invincible artist Ryan Otley shared this Atom Eve an Dinosaurus in the style of Marvel’s Savage Land pic  and it is fire.

Music Monday - Catch!!!

Yesterday I finished watching Season 2 of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. I really enjoyed it. It hit all of the major points from the manga. This season featured even more heroes from the main series, and included a three episode arc focused on Aizawa. 

The theme, Catch!!!, is great so I decided it would be a great Music Monday post. That being said I do have to admit that I still like Season 1's theme, Kekka Orai, better. 

Here's an English cover by Silver Storm.

Happy Is A Kick In The Balls Waiting To Happen

Due to the way the character has been coopted by folks that really don't get the point I don't talk about him a lot, but I like the Punisher. He's a super flawed character with pulp heritage and not a hero in the slightest. He's also not right in his mission. He is what happens with the system fails, which is why it's disheartening to see the folks that have made him their "hero." 

I've loved every screen adaptation of Frank. My first Punisher was the 90's Spider-Man animated version. While that show definitely couldn't show the gore and finality of what he does, I think it was a good representation of the character. In the late 90's I caught the Dolph Lungren movie on HBO. While it's flawed and 80's cheese, I actually think it's a good Punisher flick too. The Thomas Jane movie was good, but I feel it was the least Punisher-like Punisher flick. Yeah they took characters from the comic (and the Russian fight scene was fantastic), but Jane's version of Frank still seemed sane. Punisher: War Zone, in my opinion, is the best of the Punisher movies. It's bloody, brutal, and Frank's a real killer and broken man. This one borrowed heavily from the Garth Ennis Punisher stories and I really think that helped. Finally I love Jon Bernthal's portrayal of Frank. He has the right coldness and intensity. If there is an issue with him it's that Bernthal is so good that he makes you root for what Frank does more than you should. I'm rewatching the Punisher series now and am stoked to see Frank's Disney+ one shot and in the new Spider-Man movie.

Continuing with my DCC supers related posts I thought I'd stat out the Punisher using the soldier class from Evolved. Because of his loner nature, he doesn't attract recruits. Also chain of command isn't something he commonly uses, but in certain circumstances he could use the ability to influence soldiers that know who he is. 

The Punisher (Level 10 Soldier): Init +0; Atk +11 combat knife (1d4+1) or +10 semiauto pistol (1d8); Crit V/1d30+2; AC 13; HD 10d12+30; HP 95; Act 1d20+1d20+1d14; SQ specialty field (infantry)+11, squad tactics, chain of command, recruits; SV Ref +5; For +13, Will +4; AL N

The Real Hero Of One-Punch Man

While there are many stronger heroes in the One-Punch Man universe, in my eyes the real hero of the show is Mumen Rider. He might be naïve, but he truly believes in heroes. Though he was thoroughly trounced and obviously outmatched by Sea King, he stood up to him to protect civilians. His determination and sense of justice has made him a reoccurring ally and friend of Saitama.

Mumen Rider: Init +2; Atk +3 unarmed (1d6); Crit III/1d14; AC 14; HD 4d6; HP 14; Act 1d20; SQ +5 to bicycling, immune to fear; SV Ref +4; For +2, Will +4; AL L

The Deepest Thoughts With The Deep

I’m gearing up for the apocalyptic final season of Tge Boys. I’ve finally started watching season 2 of Gen V to prep and my excitement is building.

While this final season will be dark and brutal, the great folks at Vought have brought us a new Deep Thoughts With The Deep, something we need in these trying times.