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Orcish Takeover: Beginner-friendly Level 1-4 SHADOWDARK Campaign
Monstrous orcs have made incursions into Red Leaf Vale. Forge desperate alliances, claim forbidden treasures, and carry the fight to their stronghold!
$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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Meet your party members
3/5
About the adventure
This classical heroic journey starts as you approach Red Leaf, a walled town of fewer than 2,000, surrounded by farmlands, forests, and hills. A new threat creeping from the uncharted southern lands poses a threat to all in the Red Leaf Vale, from the thick Oakhelm Forest, to the pastoral Torren's Square, and even to the mystical Portal of Ages. ORCS. You and your allies must slow their relentless advance, forging desperate alliances, claiming forbidden treasures, and carrying the fight to the heart of their darkness! 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 1-5 campaign. Six classes rise to the challenges of the Orcish Takeover: Fighters, Priests, Wizards, Thieves, plus Rangers of the forest and the inspirational Bards. Death comes swiftly, but your next incarnation is only a few dice rolls away. We'll be using core content Plus Ranger and Bard I adhere closely to the rules, delivering tense and occasionally brutal game experiences focused on player enjoyment. If you've played D&D or similar games, you already know how to play. 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
(16)
4 years on StartPlaying
17 games hosted
Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Teacher, Creativity
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. 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. Let's collaborate to make a memorable story together!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We will go over character creation in session zero or 1-on-1 call. If you want to get started early or have played before, create your character using the Player Quickstart Guide (provided on my discord channel) 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: STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA. It’s normal for characters to have some negative modifiers; we are only mortals, after all! 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: https://shadowdarklings.net/settings/ancestries=1,2,3,4,5,6&classes=1,2,3,4,5,6 Select "Create a character" and disable all optional settings for this introductory campaign. See this video: https://youtu.be/0VRuHOtz-Ks?si=EoLe8Gl5iw2bjji_&t=31 Active Ancestries: Dwarf, Elf, Goblin, Half-Orc, Halfling, Human Core Classes: Fighter, Priest, Thief, Wizard Expanded Classes: Bard, Ranger *LEVEL 1 HOUSE RULE*- at level 1, characters may 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. Join: https://discord.gg/xQZagfaX -the Basic Hero's handbook: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vHuALsIpA-Ou3up5tELz-YSm0opwaWMI?usp=sharing -character sheet: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vHuALsIpA-Ou3up5tELz-YSm0opwaWMI?usp=sharing OPTIONALLY, create a free tier account for portability. -Owlbear Rodeo account: owlbear.rodeo -Vagabond digital character sheet: vgbnd.app You may also print a pencil and paper character sheet for the authentic old-school feel!
What Joorrekiin (Dwayne) brings to the table
Webcam and microphone Digital maps and tokens Michael Ghelfi Sonic Library / dScryb 6 years of GM experience including running RPGs for teens to adults
Homebrew rules
Shadowdark follows the OSR ethos of Rulings, not Rules. Any deviations from RAW that become standardized will be shared in my discord server, which you're receive a link to upon joining the game.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Pen & Paper
Platforms used
Safety
How Joorrekiin (Dwayne) creates a safe table
It's true that old-school games were a product of their time. We're in a renaissance that brings modern sensibilities to these classic tropes. Honoring the fantastical adventures of the 1930s-80s 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. If anyone has an aversion to one of the possible content listed, please let me know so I can adapt to deliver the experience all players are seeking. BEFORE any player joins a campaign, I offer an optional Short Session Zero. DURING a game, we can pause for a minute to discuss above the table any potentially problematic actions by the characters and either get consent or change the narrative. Anyone can take a break during a session and their character will be shielded from harm. AFTER the session, Stars and Wishes can be posted publicly in the discord or privately by direct message. Either way, I read them between game sessions and use them to refine the experience.
Content warnings
Safety tools used