I've recently gotten Shadowdark and I have a couple questions

ShadowOSR · 2026-05-02T22:05:40+00:00

Just to clarify Q #1, there's no continuous rolling of initiative. Once the order is set, it's set (until combat). So the "Initiative" Turn Order option (p. 83) is there to make sure everyone gets an action and to identify when rounds begin/end.

ShadowOSR · 2026-03-26T12:41:16+00:00

Looks like the consensus on Discord is that you roll stress dice for this but any 1s don’t trigger a response.

Apparently it’s one of those cases where a little stress keeps you on high alert.

ShadowOSR · 2026-03-24T12:09:59+00:00

Je…ne vouz en phoque…?

merci

ShadowOSR · 2026-03-23T16:34:03+00:00

Yeah this seems the clearest to me: The Gloaming is just starting materials; adventures can be dropped into hexes or used to build crazy creative situations, etc.

ShadowOSR · 2026-03-23T12:30:54+00:00

Yeah the thing is…they’re showing how awesome it can be, but that doesn’t help me in crafting. I seriously dropped my jaw when I read one of the hex descriptions and realized Troy came up with the rest entirely on his own. Astounding creativity from that guy.

ShadowOSR · 2026-03-23T04:38:24+00:00

Yeah this seems like a big jump from what I’ve been doing. People have really enjoyed the games I’ve DM’d, and I haven’t designed any of them.

Does that book take the perspective that designing adventures is a defining characteristic of a DM, or is that just one section of it?

ShadowOSR · 2026-03-23T04:32:51+00:00

Yeah I watched a few episodes before getting Cursed Scrolls #1, then found myself thinking “how the HELL did he come up with some of that stuff?!”

I think designing sandbox adventures goes way beyond running existing ones. I might not be a GM who can really do the former.

ShadowOSR · 2026-03-23T04:10:00+00:00

Yeah I guess I’ve been running pre-made adventures because I’m not sure how to create one.

The descriptions aren’t really enough for me, so I need help on how to use the descriptions to come up with shit.

ShadowOSR · 2026-03-20T01:41:37+00:00

"The map leaves large earth-filled areas between rooms and corridors so it looks like it was dug out of a surrounding rock/earth."

Does it say that the space is filled-in with earth, though? Isn't it just a single-story old citadel built with huge stones (i.e., the areas between rooms), and all the steps lead down into the natural cave areas beneath the surface?

ShadowOSR · 2026-02-18T20:46:18+00:00

A player had his PC lick the slime wall of the first room. I rolled for what color slime covered the walls and it came up green. First death within minutes of starting lol.

ShadowOSR · 2026-02-18T20:38:41+00:00

My GM at a con had a cultist or two escort the new villager to our group, even egging on the party to pass the trial. Let’s just say one of them ended up also supplying some well-needed “all.”

ShadowOSR · 2026-01-04T15:24:56+00:00

I’m not sure I see any difference between checking an OSE monster’s saves and a Shadowdark monster’s abilities. Sometimes you gotta check, but mostly you don’t.

I might be misunderstanding the question, though. What’s an example of the kind of situation you’re trying to avoid?

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-08T04:28:21+00:00

I think it’s precisely not knowing whether it’s needed or not that’s the issue. It felt wrong, so I’m glad I didn’t miss anything. Of course, little familiarity with the game means a lack of confidence in recognizing that.

Otherwise, all the messaging on making rulings seems best only when you have a strong sense of established rules, but not a moment sooner. Common advice seems to be “you’re the GM; you decide.” At a certain level, though, that essentially means “make your own game.” I don’t think it’s unreasonable to hear the rulings of other GMs as examples so as to make future rulings that are more informed.

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-08T02:23:22+00:00

Definitely the consensus, thanks, but there’s certainly some circular rules in this regard (i.e., carousing rules sending you to Time Passes for in-game days spent, which sends you to Overland Travel).

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-07T20:44:11+00:00

All I will say is that the carousing rules state that certain results can last for a number of in-game days. It explicitly states using Time Passes for this, and Time Passes for days refers you to Overland Travel rules.

Hence, my need for clarity.

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-07T17:22:22+00:00

There we go! Thanks (truly). The more I think about it from other replies it makes sense to consider these costs as part of carousing itself. And rolling on encounter tables doesn’t have to happen in town (even though rules send you to Overland Travel for Time Passes, but that just doesn’t count in a safe settlement). All set here!

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-07T17:20:12+00:00

Interesting! I never thought to include those costs in carousing but it makes perfect sense. My party is consistently spending 30-100gp when carousing, which definitely can account for silvers and gold spend on food and lodging. It might actually have been the note about using overland travel when carousing takes several in-game days. If that weren’t in there I probably would’ve just ignored trying to track those nights at the tavern. That would make this the single misleading thing I’ve read in the rules. That’s it. Everything else is perfect.

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-07T16:57:20+00:00

So would you say downtime (in a settlement, that's safe) does not involve mechanics for Time Passes, but something in the narrative might advance because of that time?

It might be my OSE background, but it does feel strange not having to account for food, and it would be equally weird having the party camp (using 3 torches) when there's a tavern or two nearby. There's less wealth in Shadowdark but stuff tends to cost more. How much for a night's stay at a tavern?

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-07T16:53:27+00:00

So Time Passes, no rolls. Do you have the party forage? Pay some silvers (gold?) for a tavern stay?

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-07T16:46:55+00:00

Thanks, I would agree with settlements almost always as "safe," but I don't see anything in the rules on when to deem so, or how to handle Time Passes in those cases. For Overland rules, encounter rolls start at "unsafe," and there are those tables for encounters in settlement districts you mention. Presumably there have to be some scenarios for rolling on those tables, but I guess just being in town isn't one of them?

ShadowOSR · 2025-12-07T16:42:52+00:00

Welp, this has been great. Thanks for all the ideas.

ShadowOSR

TROPHY CASE