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Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set

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Shadowdark RPG 

Experience the world's greatest roleplaying game in a whole new light. Lift your torch, draw your blade, and enter the Shadowdark! 

The FREE Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set is the perfect way to introduce you to the game!

The Quickstart contains two 68-page, digest-sized booklets that give you all you need to play and run thrilling Shadowdark RPG adventures for 1st-3rd level characters.

The set also includes eight 1st-level characters with gorgeous, full art on one side and game statistics on the other. 

Inside the Player and Game Master Guides, you'll find:

  • Lost Citadel of the Scarlet Minotaura 1st-3rd-level dungeon crawl where characters can delve for legendary loot... but where pushing their luck might result in an encounter with the infamous scarlet minotaur!
  • A classic, hand-drawn adventure map + player-safe JPEG for virtual table tops
  • 36 spells, 19 magic items, and 52 monsters
  • The four core classes: priest, fighter, thief, and wizard
  • Full character creation rules for making custom crawlers
  • A form-fillable character sheet PDF

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ShadowDark_Character_Card.jpg

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What is Shadowdark RPG?

Classic gaming with elegant execution.

Shadowdark RPG is what original DnD would look like after being redesigned with 50 years of innovation and new ideas. It's our "sixth edition!"

The game is fast, familiar, intuitive, and deadly. It’s built for sword-and-sorcery adventures where fell monsters slither in darkness and frosty gems glint upon forgotten thrones, waiting to be discovered.

In Shadowdark RPG, real time comes into play. A torch only holds back the looming darkness for one hour of actual game time! There isn't a moment to spare when your only light source is guttering low...


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Reviews (11)
Discussions (11)
Customer avatar
Gilson R June 27, 2023 12:33 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I sent an email about publishing in other country.
Customer avatar
Annette S June 03, 2023 4:20 pm UTC
I'm a really new GM and I'm going to try and run the Quickstart adventure for my (very experienced group). How many sessions should I estimate for it?
Customer avatar
Joel D May 31, 2023 10:03 pm UTC
Is there a player version of the Lost Citadel Map?
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Customer avatar
dire T June 04, 2023 5:50 am UTC
Yes, https://www.reddit.com/r/shadowdark/comments/1290k3y/the_lost_citadel_of_the_scarlet_minotaur_redrawn/
Customer avatar
Jonathan B March 16, 2023 12:03 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi Kelsey. On the Arcane Library website the physical copy of the Quickstart Set is now out of stock but it states "The next print run will be part of the Shadowdark RPG Kickstarter on Feb. 28!" but I can't see it mentioned on the Kickstarter page? I am definitely going to back this as it looks fantastic but could you please clarify if a physical copy of the Quickstart Set is included with the Print 'Complete' or 'Legend' bundles (apologies in advance if it is there and I am not seeing it)? Thank you.
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Customer avatar
Reid M March 17, 2023 3:33 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi, Jonathan. I recently discovered the Kickstarter. I think the print copy of the Quickstart is available as an add-on to any pledge (but a print copy of the Quickstart is not automatically included in any pledge).
Reply
Customer avatar
Jonathan B March 17, 2023 7:47 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi Reid. Thanks so much for that - I have just been through the Kickstarter and you are 100% correct about it being available as an add-on to a pledge.
Customer avatar
Joseph C March 15, 2023 4:18 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I grew up playing 1E, 2E, and BECMI, and I'd never heard of this or Kelsey Dionne until about 48 hours before the kickstarter went live. This is really cool! It plays using mechanics 5E players will be familiar with, but this ain't 5E! It plays way faster, characters can be rolled up in literally a minute, and that's good because you're likely to be doing it in the middle of your play session possibly more than once if you're not both lucky and clever. Which means when you character survives to level 2 and even level 3, you feel like you've *earned* something!

The realtime torch mechanic seems like no big deal until the torch goes out right as the monsters get their turn… Mhahaha!

If you don't insist that your old-school game be yet another rehash of B/X rules, or that you spend an hour carefully crafting a character that's too special to risk a glorious and gruesome death, give this a shot!
Customer avatar
Gary C March 13, 2023 11:07 am UTC
Good Morning,
I just backed the complete set and I am super excited.
Does Lost Citadel of the Scarlet Minotaur adventure come in the kickstarter?

thanks!
Reply
Customer avatar
dire T June 04, 2023 5:51 am UTC
Yes, it's in the pdf "Shadowdark Game Master Quickstart - Digital"
Customer avatar
Mark P March 06, 2023 6:06 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Is there an official Roll20 character sheet coming (or VTT support of any kind)?
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Customer avatar
Kelsey D March 09, 2023 6:06 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Yes! Some really wonderful folks in the Arcane Library Discord are working on support for a variety of VTT systems. I know for sure that we have Fantasy Grounds and Foundry support, and I'll get clarity on whether anyone has been looking at Roll20, too. I'd love to get VTT support onto those big three as soon as possible.
Customer avatar
Jay W March 02, 2023 1:29 am UTC
PURCHASER
Do PCs get any starting funds cause I don't see any in the Quickstart?
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Customer avatar
Paul M March 05, 2023 1:12 pm UTC
PURCHASER
On p13 of the Player Guide under "1st-Level Characters" it says they get 2d6*5 gold pieces to buy gear.
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Customer avatar
Jay W March 07, 2023 7:21 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks.
Customer avatar
George F November 11, 2022 8:02 pm UTC
PURCHASER
As this is a 'quickstart' set, is there going to be a full version released later?
Also, I'd love to have print copies of these two books.
Reply
Customer avatar
Kelsey D November 18, 2022 3:19 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi George! Yes, the full book is going to Kickstarter this March. :)

And I do sell print copies of this on The Arcane Library’s website, if that would ever be of interest!
Reply
Customer avatar
George F November 18, 2022 12:44 pm UTC
PURCHASER
purchased
Customer avatar
Joseph A October 23, 2022 5:18 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Arcane Library really needs to continue to support this line, the flavor and feel sets it apart from both osr and 5E enough to justify it's existence in this niche, I really hope she converts her earlier adventures to this style (yes B&W art versions would be awesome!).
Reply
Customer avatar
Kelsey D October 24, 2022 4:30 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Thanks so much, Joseph! :) Lots more material coming down the pipe for Shadowdark RPG (and an already flourishing third party publishing scene). A lot to look forward to! :)
Reply
Customer avatar
Joseph A January 25, 2023 5:54 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hey Kelsey, I love what you are doing, best of luck with the OGL thing, you are one of my favorite creators in this space... I'm just not a huge fan of 5E or Pathfinder 2E content... it's just too much and it feels like a salsa bar... plenty of options, but so tied to the clunky and messy rules vomit, that it isn't Knave, Index Card RPG, Ryuu tama, Forbidden Lands, or Shadow of the Demon Lord; none of which use the OGL and all are amazing in their own right... May Shadowdark RPG find its place in my pantheon...
Customer avatar
Rod N October 18, 2022 2:40 am UTC
PURCHASER
Highly recommend this product, and you should definitely pick it up! The adventure included is Aces, and I just finished running it. What are you waiting for, download it now!
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File Last Updated:
July 13, 2023
This title was added to our catalog on October 17, 2022.