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Four Against Darkness

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Four Against Darkness is a solitaire dungeon-delving game.

No miniatures are needed. All you need is the book, a pencil, two six sided dice, and grid paper.

You choose four character types from the classic classes (warrior, wizard, rogue, halfling, dwarf, barbarian, cleric, elf), equip them, and start adventuring in dungeons created by dice rolls and by your choices. When you enter a room, you generate its content on a series of random tables. You will meet monsters, fight them, hopefully defeat them (or decide that discretion is the better part of valor!), you'll manage your resources (healing, spells, life points, equipment), grab treasure, dodge traps, find clues, and even accept quests from the monsters you meet. Your characters can level up and become better at what they do, but it will not be easy.

 

What the game is not:

It is NOT a miniature game. You may use miniatures to remember your characters' marching order if you wish, but that's it.

It is NOT a roleplaying game. You may run it as a simple cooperative, GM-less game if you want.

It is not a game-book or a choose-your-own-adventure book. There is no prose to read or numbered sections to go to, even if we could do something like that in a supplement.

The PDF is 90 pages with plenty of black and white illustrations, plus a color cover and a flowchart. The download also includes mini-booklets for those who want to print the charts and other essential info in pocket-size. The main pdf is indexed so you can click on a rule in the table of contents and the link will lead you to the rule.

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Reviews (16)
Discussions (39)
Customer avatar
December 31, 2023 3:44 am UTC
PURCHASER
I own the PDF, fun game. I would like a printed copy as I introduce others. Lulu and Amazon say publication dates of 2017. Has there been updates to the main pdf that is not from Lulu or Amazon? Should I print it myself or go to a printer so I have the most up to date copy? Any plans for a POD here at DrivethroughRPG? Thanks!
Customer avatar
Robert O November 22, 2023 5:33 pm UTC
High time for a new revised edition of the core rules to be released. Even better - one volume for 4AD, FF & 4ATA. Anyone else agree?
Customer avatar
Joshua S October 28, 2023 8:50 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Is there any way to have the rule book not in a zip file. It's a huge pain on the android app as I have to transfer from a PC or browser instead of opening it directly through the drivethrurpg app
Reply
Customer avatar
Simon B January 18, 2024 3:15 pm UTC
PURCHASER
With a decent file program like, say CX File Explorer, that I personally use, you can extract zip files even on Android.
Customer avatar
Thierry P August 16, 2023 5:21 pm UTC
Hi, can we print the pdf version in A4 size with sufficient quality. My eyes are not very young ;)
Customer avatar
Lesley N May 26, 2023 4:01 am UTC
I have since my previous posted comment, gone all in with Four Against Darkness.

Many books to suggest, but I pcked up the core book plus Four Against The Abyss (for higher level play) Twisted Minions and Twisted Final Fights (for more interestng Bosses). All four books are barely an inch in thickness. The average price is usually 15 bucks for the meatier tomes. I'm intending to invest in several additional titles.

Added together, yes, it adds up. The truth though, is this design in 1 spot one tome would be a sale at 100 bucks to me without a single bit of hesitation.

I strongly suggest gettng the small item to allow you to get use of D&D adventures. I have numerous modules all lined up to go.
Customer avatar
Ehud S April 28, 2023 6:05 pm UTC
Will there ever be a 2nd edition? is there any eta to that?
I'm asking as I'm considering buying a paperback copy
Reply
Customer avatar
Lesley N May 26, 2023 3:51 am UTC
Lulu has some hardback options for some of the titles, but most books are simply too small in page count to be worth the effort. The increase in price plus shipping is brutal.

They all come in digest size. You won't have trouble enjoying paper back versions. And you heard that from a person with a hard core preference for hard cover items.
Customer avatar
Lesley N December 06, 2022 12:19 am UTC
I'm a sucker for a good basic fantasy design solo product.
I didn't originally understand the associated cards products made with 4AD in mind (I was just hunting for poker card using products at the time).

But when I got around to hunting down the actual game, I was pleasantly surprised.
I was really taken with the D&D add in notion. It will be fun employing old modules.
Now that I can actually comprehend the cards, I'm thinking of them a bit more as well.

Mostly, role gaming just isn't any fun without role gamers. But when the product is MADE to be played solo, it tends to be just fine to enjoy.
I have a lot of hopes with this product.
Customer avatar
Joseph A March 15, 2022 4:50 am UTC
PURCHASER
I first heard about this through Stone Axe Gaming and Geek Gamers on Youtube... it looks really fun, and I love what they have done with the sense of humor in the expansions... it's a bit raunchy, but in a good way!
Customer avatar
Lachlan S March 03, 2022 6:38 pm UTC
wondering if there is a system like this but where to use 2 characters instead of 4
Reply
Customer avatar
John C April 26, 2022 12:05 am UTC
Try Scarlet Heroes. It is meant for one PC, but states in its rules that it can accommodate two PC's without a problem.
Reply
Customer avatar
Mark P October 13, 2022 7:34 pm UTC
PURCHASER
The new Tales from the Adventurers Guild supplement has rules for playing with fewer characters
Customer avatar
Marcy U February 25, 2022 4:18 am UTC
If you have a magic dagger that gives you +1 to attacks-would you get that +1 bonus or just a net +0? Light hand weapons normally have a -1 penalty.
Also, does a cleric have to wear light armor to cast their spells?
Reply
Customer avatar
Mark P October 14, 2022 3:51 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Magic light weapons have a net +0, yeah.
I think it's only elves for whom heavy armour / shields interfere with spellcasting, clerics should be OK!
Customer avatar
Chad K January 14, 2022 6:08 am UTC
Is this the newest 2nd edition?
Reply
Customer avatar
David S February 09, 2022 2:15 am UTC
PURCHASER
The 2nd Ed. is not out yet, at this time. It's my understanding though, that if you buy this edition in PDF, the 2nd edition PDF will be free upon it's release.
Customer avatar
Eike Z July 10, 2021 8:14 am UTC
PURCHASER
Would be great to have the pocketbooks in DIN A4 format.
Reply
Customer avatar
Ed S February 27, 2022 12:36 pm UTC
I just load the pdf into an editor like pdf architect and reformat it to the size I prefer.....
Reply
Customer avatar
Eike Z March 11, 2022 6:57 am UTC
PURCHASER
A Letter designed pocketbook printed on A4 can't be folded into a pocketbook without loosing content. In contrast to the other way round: An A4 designed pocketbook can be printed on Letter (scaled to fit, automatically) and still be folded into a pocketbook without loosing content.

For the pocketbooks provided here, it is just so possible to find a scaling for printing on A4 so you don't loose anything important, but it is fiddly.
Customer avatar
Lee S April 06, 2021 3:21 am UTC
PURCHASER
FYI: The previews for Four Against Ragnarok and Four Against the Titans are broken.
Customer avatar
Chad B February 26, 2021 6:33 pm UTC
PURCHASER
My new "waiting for XYZ to finish" game. :)

I love how the mapping works, and this game gives you a great sense of old school dungeon hacking with pretty much no overhead, and you get to role a lot of dice too!
Customer avatar
Daniele S November 09, 2020 1:47 pm UTC
My rewiew (Audio ITA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsBJ7phD94E
Customer avatar
Hank D August 22, 2020 2:53 am UTC
This would be awesome if someone made it in to a D20 system game with more spells.
Reply
Customer avatar
Gavin M February 13, 2022 5:10 pm UTC
PURCHASER
That's what I was thinking too...
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Product Information
Adamantine seller
Author(s)
Pages
90
Publisher Stock #
4AD
File Size:
153.06 MB
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File Last Updated:
June 23, 2020
This title was added to our catalog on April 14, 2016.