Shadowdark RPG (Hardcover Book + PDF)

Couple of things to point out:

BOOK DESIGN
- Making the book looked like a mad wizard's tome is an amazing choice, gives it a presence wherever you put it. People say don't judge a book by it's cover but I disagree, people that saw the book would immediately assume something malicious in it and it didn't disappoint.

- Contents are on point, saying it's simplistic is an understatement, I could just open a page and all of it's content are in one line of sight aside, from the super important parts like spells and monsters of course.

THE GAME
- System is simplistic and on point, if I were to recommend one TTRPG for beginners without having them warping their heads around tons of books, I would very much recommend this, where have ShadowdDark been all my life when I need it as a beginner DM. (I'm a forever DM I never get a chance to play as a player TwT).

- Rules are loose enough to make improv and alternatives viable, it's encouraged even, gotta love that as well.

- Gameplay is a bit deadly though, but it fits pretty well with the tone of the game, makes players rethink their actions without screwing around too much in a session like in other TTRPG where they could do so many stupid stuff without ever thinking about the consequences of their action for delaying the game, my players still have nightmares playing this game the first time because I accidentally wiped them all out on the very first area they ever stepped in, and I'm not even trying to xDD

- Thank god the magic system is as easy as cast-watch consequences-repeat without giving players worry about their arcane capacity, my players often refrain themselves from casting magic in other game because they refuse drain their magical resources, now they just blast everything on sight and not worrying about resources at all.

I play mostly with kids and having a simplified system like this makes it easy for me to explain to them (given that they can't read English and I have to explain every single thing to them). And it's makes my work as a DM way easy than ever.

It’s the perfect rule set that can be as simple or as crunchy as you want it to be.

I was reaching a point where I just wanted something fresh. I love 5e, but after years of running it and dealing with it's mind numbing amount of crunchy player options (PF being even crunchier) I longed for something that was a little more simple without losing it's substance.

A lot of 'Rules Light' rpgs go a little too hard in that direction, but Shadowdark rpg feels like the perfect in-between. It has structure and rules, but whereas other rpgs say they leave things up to the Game Master, Shadowdark actually does, to the point you even decide yourself what conditions do!

It's very thematic and opens up for more freedom at the table. You're players play with their creativity, not from their sheets. A very good addition to anyone's table and opened me up to the OSR.

I've been playing tabletop role playing games for over 47 years. When I first heard about Shadowdark, I was a bit skeptical. But, having played it with multiple groups, both in person and online, I can honestly say that this is a great game. It is streamlined, simple, and fun. The book itself is a masterpiece of layout, design, art, and writing. It is simply elegant and accessible.

I am extremely pleased with my purchase and I give my full endorsement of this product.

A, perhaps unintentional, rejection of the Marvel-fication of TTRPGs, Shadowdark presents a dangerous world where you feel vulnerable, and the kind of things often resolved with a throw-away dice in modern games instead turn into tense moments of roleplay, where you truly feel as fragile as your character would in that space.

Dionne gives you a reason to never pick up another fantasy TTRPG again.