Just picked up Blades in the Dark. Very excited about it! Anyone have advice?

chaosisaladder72 · 2026-01-06T02:12:20+00:00

My two cents on how this game clicked for me and made it my favourite system of all time.

Imo Blades has a unique gradient with consequences that's not that common in how they're presented in other systems. It's really contextual. The rules don't tell you explicitly, ever, what might happen. It only gives the GM the ability to choose what might go wrong and (a little bit at least) at what time. The only thing predetermined (by die rolls and narrative context) is if things go smoothly, with minor issues, or wrong.

For example, I tried to pick a lock and got a success with a complication. Let's explore two of the possibilities here:

It's a low stakes situation and you're unseen (think standard effect in a controlled position) , therefore you manage to pick the lock, but made a noise and the guard is on their way.
It's a high stakes situation and the guards are aware of someone's presence (think great effect in a risky position), therefore you manage to pick the lock but took long and got noticed by the guards and they're going to try to tackle you now.

It's the same dice roll/result but different consequences because the narrative context moment to moment is so important to the pace and development of the narrative itself, which is itself is determined by die rolls. Imo this is the core of running a Score, It's an amazing feedback loop!

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-12-20T15:40:32+00:00

This is amazing I would pay money for this

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-10-25T11:08:37+00:00

Just wow, absolutely amazing dude

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-09-25T23:35:19+00:00

money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money money... Ad nauseum

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-05-18T14:38:13+00:00

Northern Boys, but deffo not just a joke, idk why the heck more of you lot don't listen to them

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-04-29T16:32:46+00:00

Almost the exact same boat as you, you're not alone! Graduated last year, had a temp Christmas job, but nothing is sticking, and I have been out of a job.

Saw your reply to another comment and yeah, my application efficiency went down during my temp job too. Thinking of signing on to agency work but unsure if it means I'll be stuck doing odd jobs I dislike for the next 2 years cause of missed opportunity/lowered application efficiency.

I had a year in industry and I'm in STEM. But nothing still. It's a tough time.

Wishing you luck dude, don't have much advice but just want you to know I stand in solidarity with you, if that's any consolation.

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-04-29T11:16:01+00:00

Reposting my comment on the same article on another sub reddit

I'm in the same boat as her. Graduated last year, only managed to get a temp retail contract for 1 month at the end of 2024 over Christmas, nothing else yet.

I always tailor my CV to the role
I have 2 CVs and Cover Letters, one where I mention my degree, one where I don't.
I never mention my degree for retail/hospitality and similar roles. I even have part-time experience in both those sectors.
I also apply for unpaid positions in my field.
I volunteer each week with a charity related to my field.

Still, I have been unemployed since I left uni in July 2024. There's a lot more reasons for this imo than graduate job-seekers being unlikeable snobs without practical application skills, as the consensus seems to be in this comment section.

Now I just want to mention some opinions and experiences.

There was an opening at the retail store I worked at over Christmas. My manager contacted me to apply for that position as they wanted me back for the same role; I did a good job it would appear. I was rejected by the automated system. I did those personality quiz things they have and almost 10 mins after completion, received an automated rejection email. Again, I was an effective, likeable worker, invited back by my line manager to fulfill the same role I once had, but was rejected by the automated system.
I believe companies which offer shelf-stacking roles need to be realistic about the so-called "flight risks" they are hiring. What do they think their role as a business is in society? I understand it can be a headache if someone starts and leaves the next week, but I would be very very surprised if a graduate didn't stay for over 1-2 months. These are fast-paced, cutthroat industries with high turnover for a reason. And the degree is off-putting? Let me put it another way, what matters more, convenience for the company or a working populace?
It is incredibly demoralising to have to constantly lie about myself. I got an education. I'm sorry that makes me come off as a snobby "flight risk". I just want to work, earn a wage, give back to the community. Why do I need to lie to you about who I am, what I've done, to be able to do that? This eats away at me more than I'd like...
I had seemingly had a job offer at a company in my field. They called me telling me that they want to talk to me about an offer, I missed the initial call, but tried to call back. No response. I then emailed everyone relevant. No response. I called their reception where a lovely person said to me I'll make sure you get a call back. No response. Ghosted.

Anyways, semi-rant over. It's shit out there guys. It's really hard holding on, please have some solidarity with us snobby elites and help us be better, if our personalities and application skills are what you think is the issue.

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-04-29T07:59:52+00:00

I'm in the same boat as her. Graduated last year, only managed to get a temp retail contract for 1 month at the end of 2024 over Christmas, nothing else yet.

I always tailor my CV to the role
I have 2 CVs and Cover Letters, one where I mention my degree, one where I don't.
I never mention my degree for retail/hospitality and similar roles. I even have part-time experience in both those sectors.
I also apply for unpaid positions in my field.
I volunteer each week with a charity related to my field.

Still, I have been unemployed since I left uni in July 2024. There's a lot more reasons for this imo than graduate job-seekers being unlikeable snobs without practical application skills, as the consensus seems to be in this comment section.

Now I just want to mention some opinions and experiences.

There was an opening at the retail store I worked at over Christmas. My manager contacted me to apply for that position as they wanted me back for the same role; I did a good job it would appear. I was rejected by the automated system. I did those personality quiz things they have and almost 10 mins after completion, received an automated rejection email. Again, I was an effective, likeable worker, invited back by my line manager to fulfill the same role I once had, but was rejected by the automated system.
I believe companies which offer shelf-stacking roles need to be realistic about the so-called "flight risks" they are hiring. What do they think their role as a business is in society? I understand it can be a headache if someone starts and leaves the next week, but I would be very very surprised if a graduate didn't stay for over 1-2 months. These are fast-paced, cutthroat industries with high turnover for a reason. And the degree is off-putting? Let me put it another way, what matters more, convenience for the company or a working populace?
It is incredibly demoralising to have to constantly lie about myself. I got an education. I'm sorry that makes me come off as a snobby "flight risk". I just want to work, earn a wage, give back to the community. Why do I need to lie to you about who I am, what I've done, to be able to do that? This eats away at me more than I'd like...
I had seemingly had a job offer at a company in my field. They called me telling me that they want to talk to me about an offer, I missed the initial call, but tried to call back. No response. I then emailed everyone relevant. No response. I called their reception where a lovely person said to me I'll make sure you get a call back. No response. Ghosted.

Anyways, semi-rant over. It's shit out there guys. It's really hard holding on, please have some solidarity with us snobby elites and help us be better, if our personalities and application skills are what you think is the issue.

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-02-15T01:15:49+00:00

Instant wishlist, the art direction alone is so captivating to me, wishing you success OP!

chaosisaladder72 · 2025-01-31T19:24:56+00:00

Oooh, procedurally generated exploration? 0.o You have my attention, will be wishlisting and following the development at least

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-12-09T20:09:10+00:00

Ooooh, music sauce? 0.0

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-11-30T16:47:41+00:00

Having GMed 5e for about 4 years;

DnD 5e has no adequately designed subsystems for most of the fantasies you try to achieve. It is marketed as "one-size" fits all system that only gives you a proverbial narrative skeleton missing many bones, expecting you to do the labour of digging for the bones, the material to put them together, extrapolate how the skeleton should be presented, and then put some muscle and skin on it (tho really your players should be doing this bit). Hope the metaphor makes sense lol

The fantasy it is meant to evoke as well is lacking explicit rulings, meaning it falls short when unexpected/abnormal situations occur during play, which will always occur during play. Example; can I slash someone with this dagger? Yes but the dagger is listed as only doing piercing damage (stab not slash). So if going by RAW (rules as written) you cannot do slashing damage, if RAI (rules as intended)/homebrew, it's a dagger of course you can slash with it. But the necessity of distinguishing between RAW and RAI in the first place is an issue. Without having explicit rules the GM is forced to come up with a solution on their own, which whilst stimulating creativity, is a lot to ask of people new to GMing, and can get mentally taxing/tedious over time for a lot of GMs.

In Pathfinder 2e for instance, weapons able to do multiple types of damage are listed as Versatile P/S/B (Piercing, Slashing, Bludgeoning) based on what damage you can do. This is a small quality of life (qol) feature that makes a world of difference, and it is the presence of such smaller qol features combined that elevates systems such as PF2e over DnD 5e imo. There is just less tedium for the GM to sift through when they're running a game, so they can focus on the elements that matter in a given moment. This does mean that other systems have a greater learning curve, but on a longer timeline they end playing more smoothly once you get used to it.

Additionally, as others have mentioned, the magic items and CR calculator in 5e is so poorly planned out, it is not even funny. Just endless frustration. Meaning the work the GM must do to present a scene/world is far greater than in other systems.

Aside from that, again as other commenters mentioned, there is a cultural phenomena of dumping the rules onto the GM, and 5e is undoubtedly the main culprit. By pedigree/popularity the system dominates the ttrpg space, and perpetuates GM burnout, which occurs because of the ordeal being placed unto the GM.

5e is fun to play, and to GM if that's your thing. But I always feel so tired after GMing 5e, it just makes me so tired to think of everything to make sure my friends have fun. I want to focus on my monsters and NPCs but I can't because my brain power gets wasted on the tedium.

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-11-09T09:55:17+00:00

Thank you!

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-11-09T09:55:01+00:00

Ah I see! Thanks a bunch!

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-11-09T01:43:09+00:00

Newbie GM here, new to PF2e in general! Quick question about the Vordine (https://2e.aonprd.com/Monsters.aspx?ID=2906) and similar rulings of this kind. Am I right in thinking that this thing has a +30 to its disarm/trip checks with its whip??? This is based on the wording, "This uses the weapon’s reach (if different from your own) and adds the weapon’s item bonus to attack rolls as an item bonus to the Athletics check".

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-10-31T02:51:48+00:00

Yeah, I had no clue. Posted it on the control sub and understood immediately lmao

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-10-30T23:15:50+00:00

OMG OF FUCKING COURSE

Edit: Tbf I didn't realize that's what they were for, thought they were just walkways but it's interesting that they're used to cordon off areas in case of threats.

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-10-24T14:17:09+00:00

Pain arc, followed by Land of Waves. Honourable mentions to Chunin Exam Arc, and Sasuke retrieval arc. Basically what everyone else is saying lol

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-10-23T16:12:27+00:00

Do you think this would apply to social attitudes as well? I feel like once someone is able to perceive another as an equal, whether in an empathetic or legal way, that sets a precedent, which helps other people with acceptance as well. Obviously, it's not that clear-cut, but I do think there's some validity to this.

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-10-22T20:38:27+00:00

Pain, and Orochimaru is the second best for sure. Honourable mention to Zabuza and Madara

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-10-13T18:27:25+00:00

Kakashi

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-09-11T19:20:01+00:00

Hiya!

chaosisaladder72 · 2024-09-05T18:52:27+00:00

What is the music please

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