Ethos and House Rules
These rules enhance core ShadowDark gameplay without penalizing players or increasing difficulty. Developed through live playtests, they support rewarding long-term, semi-episodic campaigns in a semi-open table where many characters may experience brief or concluded adventures.Real-Time Passage: It's Alive
- Always Active World: Uses a 1:1 time system, mirroring real time.
- Time Pressure: The world advances even when you're absent.
- Organic Changes: Factions, NPCs, and villains pursue goals.
- Rival Competition: Player-led and NPC groups constantly hunt for treasure.
- Consequences of Absence: Uncleared dungeons may be looted; ignored threats intensify.
- Real-Time Effects: Training, healing, and progress occur over actual time.
Lifestyle/Upkeep Costs: Nothing's Free
- Daily Cost: Each character must choose and pay a daily cost of living.
- Rest Requirement: Rest in town for 7 days to earn a boon.
- Meager (1d4 cp/day): Lifestyle: Bare minimum; Boon: None.
- Established (1d6 sp/day): Lifestyle: Comfortable; Boon:
- "Well Rested" – temporary HP = 1 per level.
- Wealthy (1d10 gp/day): Lifestyle: Luxurious; Boon:
- "Prepared" – temporary HP = 2 per level, +1 to attack/spell rolls, +1 damage.
Note on Temporary HP:
- Added to current HP (can exceed max).
- Cannot be healed or regained.
- Represents a peak state that fades once depleted.
Character Stables: It's Fun with More Than One
- Minimum Requirement: Maintain at least two characters in the game world.
- Initial Setup: Create two distinct characters before the first session.
- Diverse Gameplay: Multiple characters offer varied experiences and strategic choices.
- Realistic Scenarios: Characters may be sidelined by death, illness, training, or narrative events.
Class Options: Unlocking New Potential
- Unlocking Mechanism: Additional classes (official and homebrew) unlock through in-game interactions.
- Finding Mentors: Discover and befriend contacts who can train your characters.
- Starting Selection: The core game starts with four basic classes.
- Example Unlock: The Witch class, unlocked by Character Horjak (Player Will).
Ancestries: Society of Diversity & Struggle
- Humans: Dominant and influential in The Prelacy.
- Dwarves: Displaced from southern mountains, now integrated with distinct cultural traits.
- Elves: Renowned for beauty and knowledge, contributing culturally and intellectually.
- Halflings: Small, often underestimated, yet resilient and resourceful.
- Half-Orcs: Born of tragedy, blending human intellect with orcish traits while facing harsh challenges.
- Goblins: Marginalized and distrusted, with few overcoming societal bias.
Note on Society and Ancestries:
- This structure reflects The Prelacy’s human centric complex dynamics, encouraging exploration of diverse backgrounds and challenges.
Game Modes: Enhancing the Grit
ShadowDark core rules & Cursed Scrolls in use- Deadly Mode: Death timers are set to 1; DC 18 INT to stabilize dying.
- Grinder Mode: On a successful rest, regain HP equal to one hit die roll and 1 stat damage per stat; dwarves roll with advantage; spellcasters regain 1d4 lost spells.
- Enduring Wounds: Surviving 0 HP requires a DC 12 CON check or incur a wound (CS #2 pg. 26).
House Rules: No More Drop and Pop
- Instant Death: Occurs when HP drops below negative CON score.
- Exhaustion: Failing to sleep, or going without food/water or succumbing to illness, incurs stacking exhaustion effects (see homebrew table).
- Secret of the Unknown: Unpredictable, GM-created dungeons/events with random rewards—expect the unexpected.
- THE TAKE: XP is only collected at a Safehaven.
House Rule Additions
Will to Live
In Session 45, during the early exploration of the Crypt of the Whispering Sorcerers, a moment of Northern heroics inspired a change to our house rules. To better embody the classic sword-and-sorcery ethos—living and dying by the blade against insurmountable odds—we officially added the following ruleNote: The “down but stable” rule at 0 HP has been removed in this game. The Constitution check may be revised in the future if it proves too powerful.
Inheritance
Pause & Catchup Time
Table Top Escape
Established April 11th 2020
The Prelacy of Middenmark
First Session: 4/14/23
Our Vision: This living journal captures the collaborative spirit of both players and the GM in shaping the world of The Prelacy of Middenmark. It's a testament to shared creativity, documenting the significant triumphs and setbacks that etch themselves into the fabric of this realm.
Inspiration and Style: Drawing from the Northern Reaches by Greg Gillespie and the ambiance of ShadowDark, our game blends classic treasure-hunting with dynamic, modern storytelling. The world is a tapestry of both pre-written and homebrew adventures, enriched by spontaneous developments and the whims of chance.
Dynamic Worldbuilding: As time flows, The Prelacy evolves, gaining depth in history, lore, and the indelible marks left by its characters. The concept of the "Unknown" is integral, allowing for unforeseen discoveries and creations that organically shape our ongoing narrative.
Journal Starting Point: We begin documenting our journey from session 23. Earlier sessions, while not chronicled, have left their echoes across locations, ongoing plots, and the world's lore.
Join Our Adventure: If you've stumbled upon our world and wish to partake in its unfolding story, we welcome you to join our vibrant community on Discord. Our players are as instrumental to the world's vitality and creativity as the GM.
Heartfelt Gratitude: A special acknowledgment to the players who have been pivotal in establishing and nurturing this world:
- Diane
- Josh
- Josh
- Rod
- Will
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