Shadowdark Review 

I forgot to post my substack with the links to all my other stuff. thebasicexpert.substack.com/

LOL, you had me f'd up there for about the first 10 seconds

When I clicked on the video, I felt a brief moment of confusion, and then I was laughing for nearly a minute straight. I like how simple and straightforward Shadowdark is, it seems like it would be ideal for a pickup game

0:13 C'mon if your going to parody Pundit you got to have your own books relentlessly in focus on the desk.

The pipe is a nice touch.

Top-tier parody & satire

I've played a LOT of roleplaying games since 1978. Shadowdark is my favorite version of D&D, and the one that makes me excited to run classic adventures like Caverns of Thracia. Really you can run old school adventures run straight from this book. Shadowdark comes with most of the stat blocks you need for these old modules. In a pinch you can use the old statblocks by subtracting the old AC from 20 to get new AC and halving hitpoints for creatures over 3 hitdice. Plus right from level one PCs feel like their classes - Fighters can fight, Thieves can thieve, Wizards and Priests can do their things too.

That was a good bit. "Currently smoking, cope" was the nail in the coffin. Had me laughing.

There's a way to open a new hardback book to protect the spine and get to open more easily / flatter. 1) set the book down on a table in front of you. With the book still closed, stand it up so that the spine is on the desk. 2) let the front cover down 3) let the back cover down 4) take about ten pages from the front of the book and flatten them down onto the table. Run your hand along the inside of the book to flatten them down. 5) take the last ten or so pages from the back of the book and do the same. 6) keep alternating between opening a few pages from the front and the back until you get to the centre of the book. 7) Repeat this a couple of times and you're good to go.

didn't know I needed that shot of humor until you delivered it..... very funny intro... cudos

I really appreciate the larger font size as one of those 'Grogs' myself. Whenever I get around to typesetting my own Fantasy Heartbreaker I'll also use a large sized font.

Hilarious intro. Been running a campaign since January. No idea why anyone would think it’s not ok for campaign play.

CHOMP CHOMP! *Laughing* Absolutely fantastic video, Jon! Your parody of Pundit had me roaring in laughter! OMG! So on point! Excellent review of ShadowDark as well! I run two ShadowDark games per week. The ShadowDark game is just awesome! I think the book is a pleasure to read, and certainly the players instantly fall in love with the ShadowDark game. As a DM, damn, you know? The ShadowDark book is so beautiful and crafted to be *USED* at the table. There are so many tools that are provided to make the DM's job of running a game easier, but also always fun! Semper Fidelis, SHARK

This is simply awesome!

The Lazy GM aka Sly Flourish crossed his 40th session playing ShadowDark. Still going.

This is the kind of video I love. A bit of humor and valid points. I do think she could have been more verbose but she got the PHB, DMG, and MM all in one so being succinct was necessary. Good observation

In my opinion, all of the Shadowdark-hate coming from the so-called OSR is ugly and jealous. I don't care to play Shadowdark myself, but I think it serves the important function of providing an off-ramp for 5e normies to get into other better games, as 5e continues its downward spiral of corporate ensh*ttification and pandering.

I hate that I'm nerdy enough to instantly know exactly who you're clowning on 😂

SWEET MOTHER OF GOD HAHAHAHAHAHAH

Good review. Great product. Any DM worth his salt can easily use this for the world at large, not just dungeons. I intend to run B2, G1-3, and everything in the Dread Domain with this game. Maybe Desert of Desolation, too. Yes, I could use D&D or AD&D, but I've already beaten that dead horse to mush. This is lighter on rules and less cumbersome. In addition, this seems like a possible contender to knock Wazi down a peg. I look forward to the potential content that may be created for this game (such as modules and campaign settings). I'm an old gamer. Kelsey did a great job. She definitely deserves her awards and our general support.

Thanks for the giggles. Love me some Shadowdark.

I actually had to scroll down and check the channel. Got me

Shadowdark seems like it's probably not my thing because I already play B/X and AD&D and don't feel like I need a transitional system like that, but it's cool that other people seem to like it and have fun with it.

Spread the word, share the video! Buy my books! ... But no, really, buy Shadowdark.

Okay some feedback on your review: You are right that coin encumbrance isn't that hard, however I have never seen it as concisely explained as Kelsey manages to do with SD's slot system. Dungeon generator: I originally agreed with Crossface and you on this, but now I no longer do: The dungeon generator is exactly what it needs to be for the way SD is intended to run. The removal of hirelings really changes the way dungeons feel, less epic and more of a sprint to get loot. Not everyone's cup of tea, but it fits what SD is. My assumption is that Kelsey knows Appendix A is there and sees no reason to replace that, but rather provide a tool that gives a different experience that suits the style of SD. On long term campaign play, you can do it, but the lack of strong rules outside the dungeon make it difficult unless your campaign wants to stay in the dungeon every session. Excellent review despite being high on cope.

This is perfection, well done.

Freaking hilarious intro. I'm ☠️😂

shots fired

Genius parody! Love it!

I like the big font. I'm 40+ and don't have glasses. But last years I feel more comfy with bigger fonts.

Hilarious! "currently smoking cope..."

Oh no, it's the Shadowdarkening...

0:10 Okay, but this has to end with ".....but my book is better! Buy my book!"

Magma tunnels in the volcano? We're headed to the underworld, boys!

*Chef Kiss*

No cat? No cat? Where is the cat?

I love the hand held shaky camera also 🤣

I've not watched the full video yet but full marks on the hilarious parody introduction. Spot on!

I continue to be amazed that people take Pundit seriously. I thought we all already knew who and what he was a decade ago.

The opening was funny. The pundit hate and ridicule was missing, but otherwise very egotistical and pundit-ish. (Probably a good choice to leave out the hate and ridicule and personal disparagement, there is too much of that on other channels.) Cheers!

Trying to figure out how to create another internet controversy over this because there was no Meatball in the RPGPundit parody. Maybe I can get PETA to cancel The Basic Expert for not including a cat.😅

re: 1st minute of RPGpundit roast! SCORCH! LOL

LOL, funny, and then interesting! Cheers.

Congratulations on your Ennies🎉

Truly the Thomas Edison of our hobby!

I wont buy new dungeon and dragons, im out. I like this simple and slick.

Bro. All I can say is well done! Class

i eyes are much happier with the larger font. I do like the simple straight to the point descriptions. If I want large amounts of details Ill read a novel.

Fair points, valid examination and hilarious touches throughout! I'm glad you helped to defeat the sort of "anti hype" that afflicted me over this game. Is it one I'll use that often? Probably not. All the same, the game is distinct enough from its sum of influences that I can see the appeal.

STR doesn't add damage in Shadowdark either. It only increases the chance to hit.

Okay you had me rolling on that opening! Anytime someone pokes fun at that azzclown pundit I get a good laugh out of it.

Personally, I sort of knew the game Shadowdark would be pretty good but... with earlier 5e + old school + retroclone games like * Searchers of the Unknown * , * Five Torches Deep * and the very underrated and extremely affordable * Olde Swords Reign * ( 7 dollars for 265 page book, 15 bucks hardcover !! ) .... It was a hard pass for me. At the time I had just went in on the ACKS 2e Kickstarter for a crunchier OSR rule set. I sort of wished more people would talk about some of the other 5e+BX retro-clones that predate Shadowdark. PS: cool parody at the beginning. Also - great score getting an early edition of Pendragon RPG!!!

That intro gave me a good laugh

Shadowdark is great for old school DMs that want a successor to BX, but it's a hard sell for modern players that lack the old-school nostalgia. I personally would have liked something closer to 2e. There was so much great stuff from DnD in the 90s that goes completely forgotten, by the old school and the modern players.

Please tell me you bought that pipe just to troll.

You should have a rat crawl all over your books while you talk.

I ran the labrynth game for my friends & had fun. I love the various random tables.

I love the formatting. I wonder if there's a template anywhere to create pages like it.

Hahha this is great bud love the intro 👌🏻

No mention of cats in your skit, zero out of ten. 😂

great review! thanks

Bold Strategy Cotton! 😂

Goddamn. I called the cops to report a murder, Jesus wept 😂

Nailed the intro!

Not complex enough for us to design good content for, but it has a strong purpose elsewhere and I'd recommend it.

I thought for a second I had tapped on the wrong video. Lol

It reminds me more of Black Hack 2E but similar to original BX.

Honestly, to me, ShadowDark RPG provides the rules skeleton to play a great game of D&D. Yes, there are some things I would like to homebrew, but I feel like the rules of the game are clear enough that I could do so without inadvertently breaking the game. I also like how it does away with some of the elements of D&D that add unnecessary complexity and/or unnecessary levelling treadmill effects to the game. THAC0 isn't needed, anymore. Saving throw categories aren't needed, anymore. XP for gold at a 1 to 1 ratio isn't needed, anymore. Rules for the sake of rules aren't needed, anymore. Building monsters and NPCs shouldn't be a chore and shouldn't take a long time (3.X/PF1/5E/PF2E, I'm looking at you). To me, ShadowDark RPG takes the best of 5E and distills it down to a game that is similar in scope to B/X. And, it eliminates unnecessary rules from B/X, too. This makes the actual game engine so simple that it can be mastered in little time and it gives room for all those wonderful tables in the book. Yes, there's plenty of room to expand ShadowDark RPG. But, the framework is solid enough that each table can do that, themselves. And, a GM with a decades of experience in other systems might feel like they've been given super powers when they get used to running and building adventures for ShadowDark RPG. Things that got in the way are now gone and probably won't be missed. And, they are easy to add back, if really wanted.

Ho-lee-shit. Well played. 👏🏻

More than the sum of its parts seems to describe Shadowdark. Taken individually, most aspects of this game are okay, or even a little innovative, but not earth shattering. Adding it all up, I think that I see why Shadowdark is getting the positive traction it enjoys. Picking it apart and being critical of a single aspect of Shadowdark is rather too easy as much of it is derived from other games, but play it at the table and I think it works nicely. It's been overhyped, but that doesn't mean it's not a solid game. Shadowdark informs its players about an "old school" play style without being too in our face about it. It's more subtle than most of the OSR competitors. Oh, and I found the book's binding loosens up as it's used more. My first copy is lying flat nicely now. (I picked up a second copy for the table and it's definitely stiff!)

Now that I've seen it, I can say that I don't "get" the hype. There isn't anything new, it's got a "look" you can like and collect (I love a cool looking book). I'd love to have it on my bookshelf, but in the end it has an "art skin" on a collection of some ideas that you could just assemble yourself from all the material that is already out there. OSE has a similar take but is so dense and compact with a great art composition that it tips it over into the must own category for me. It condenses the old stuff and clarifies so I can use it without any effort.

Haha, so many great inventions there.

Nice intro.

Hoohoo! What's this I hear about you being wanted for a hit-and-run in Canada, Mr. Pungent? :3

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XD I am dying

Pungent?! LMAO

lmfao this is awesome

Needed more duck butt, to truly shill product.

Fantastic intro sir. Well done.

Down voted for lack of cat walking in front of the camera.

That intro lmao.

Can't tell which is his worst look... Swami or Reactionary Curmudgeon. I do like the title "Final Boss of Internet Shitlords" though. If anyone ever called me that I would repeat it ad infinitum just as he does.

I think the GM tools are good enough for anyone to use. They have an evocative flavor to them and are excellent for the purpose of generating a dungeon, practically speaking.

Great review!

Is that a Dr. Grabow?

Top kek opener

every time you say Macahuitl fast it keeps sounding to me (with poor hearing) like Muckweasel and I now realize I REALLY want to play a game called Muckweasel.

What OGL has to do with "races"?

LOL Killing it 🤣

Cute.

lmaoooo

HAHAHAHA 😂😂😂

can i get some copain too?

lol

😂😂😂😂

the problem with the size of the font and the layout is that it hides the fact that this $55 book, only has enough content to fill about half that many pages, if everything were standard. We have to send a message that we won't fall for these kind of tricks or we will only see more of it. The game is ok, but nothing special. Deserved it's four Ennies like Obama deserved a Nobel Peace Prize.

I see a lot of RPG Tubers claiming to be friend's with her. Ok, get "your friend" on your channel.

Whats going on about Shadowdark is wrong, yes, but man do i find that game completely unappealing.

Milking pundit for views STILL?😮