Orcish Takeover: Beginner-friendly Level 1-4 SHADOWDARK Campaign
Monstrous orcs are making incursions into Red Leaf Vale. Forge desperate alliances, claim forbidden treasures, and carry the fight to the darkness!
$10.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Thursday - 4:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
Campaign Length / 12–16 Sessions
3 / 5 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
3/5
About the adventure
You've heard the shadowy whispers of an old-school game with deceptively simple mechanics: Shadowdark RPG. I, your Game Master—equal parts supportive sage and impartial arbiter—dare you to confront the perils in this level 1-4 campaign by ELVEN TOWER. Step into Red Leaf: a town of fewer than 2,000, surrounded by farmlands, forests, and hills. A new threat has crept from the uncharted southern lands: a threat to all in Red Leaf Vale, from the thick Oakhelm Forest, to the pastoral Torren's Square, and even to the mystical Portal of Ages. ORCS. You must slow their relentless advance, forging desperate alliances, claiming forbidden treasures, and carrying the fight to the heart of their darkness! Four classes are all that stand against the horde: Fighters, Priests, Wizards, Thieves. Death comes swiftly, yet your next incarnation is only a few dice rolls away. We adhere to a "rulings not rules" ethos, delivering tense and occasionally brutal game experiences focused on player enjoyment. If you've played D&D, you already know how to play. If not, the award-winning design of Shadowdark RPG makes the simple character sheet a breeze to pick up. Pack your torch to stave off the encroaching darkness, take a deep breath, and step into the Shadowdark with me!
Game style
Rules as Written (RaW)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(14)
3 years on StartPlaying
15 games hosted
Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Sets the Mood, Creativity
Average response time: 10 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hi folks, I'm Dwayne, aka Joorrekiin: a game master, editor, and educator who loves RPGs for both their collaborative elements and the ability of mechanics and random chance to inspire a world of imagination. People who play in games with me say my style is immersive, engaging, and centers the player experience. I'm skilled at running Shadowdark and D&D 5e and 5.5. ABOUT ME: As a Gen Xer, I was there for the Satanic Panic and can appreciate the nostalgia of Stranger Things. After stepping away from RPGs for a time, I returned to the hobby in 2019 - just in time for the pandemic boom in online play. My skills were shaped by hundreds of hours in VTTs and Discord. That's where several of my close adult friendships were forged. I use technology to enhance gameplay while also ensuring everyone feels welcome and engaged. Step into a world of adventure with me and let's make some memories!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We will go over character creation in session zero. If you want to get start early or have played before, create your character using the Player Quickstart Guide (provided or download FREE here: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/products/shadowdark-rpg-quickstart-set-pdf) The game is about playing the hand you're dealt and striving against the odds, so it's fitting that it starts with stats rolled 3d6 down the line. Shadowdarklings.net is the official character creator from the Arcane Library, publisher of Shadowdark RPG. You can easily make any number of backup characters with a few clicks. Select "Create a character." See this video: https://youtu.be/0VRuHOtz-Ks?si=EoLe8Gl5iw2bjji_&t=31 and this link: https://shadowdarklings.net/settings/sources=SD&ancestries=1,2,3,4,5,6&classes=1,2,3,4 Active Ancestries: Dwarf, Elf, Goblin, Half-Orc, Halfling, Human Active Classes: Fighter, Priest, Thief, Wizard *LEVEL 1 HOUSE RULE*- at level 1, characters begin with their max hit die instead of rolling, and dwarf characters add an additional +2 at level 1.
SHADOWDARK = old-school vibes + sleek new hotness! Font of Inspiration = Beginner-friendly, inclusive, player-focused. As a Game Master who is equal parts supportive sage and impartial arbiter, I invite you to experience this series of story-connected delves of this level 1-4 campaign through the modern, simple mechanics of Shadowdark RPG. Don't forget your torch!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Please have: -stable Internet connection -computer and browser -microphone and headphones. Speakers cause echo. -webcam (no issue if you prefer not to be on video.) -discord account (or Google Meet, by player consensus) -the Player Quickstart Guide (provided, or download FREE here: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/products/shadowdark-rpg-quickstart-set-pdf) These services can be used without a login. OPTIONALLY, create a free tier account for portability. - Owlbear Rodeo account: owlbear.rodeo - Shadowdark account: shadowdarklings.net You may also print a pencil and paper character sheet for the authentic old-school feel!
What Joorrekiin brings to the table
Webcam and microphone Digital maps and tokens Michael Ghelfi Sonic Library / dScryb 5 years of GM experience including running RPGs for teens to adults
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Pen & Paper
Platforms used
Safety
How Joorrekiin creates a safe table
It's an old-school imagining of a world where the dark places of the world are full of malicious intent, and the players are fragile beacons of light. But just honoring old-school aesthetics doesn't mean we can't learn from the mistakes of the past. My games are inclusive and respectful of both the players and the source material. Before any player joins a campaign, I offer an optional Short Session Zero. Stars and Wishes are anonymous and done after a game session. Anyone can take a break during a session and their character will be shielded from harm. If you have an aversion to one of the possible topics, please let me know so I can adapt to deliver the experience the players are seeking.
Content warnings
Safety tools used