Shadowdark - Player-Driven Death Mechanics
published:I love that the Shadowdark RPG is deadly and character creation is fast; players can rejoin almost instantly. But sometimes you want to follow a character's story longer or give them one last heroic moment before death takes them. So here are some alternative death rules:
☥ Player-Driven Death Mechanics
Optional death rules that give some agency to the players, adapted from the Daggerheart RPG.
Replaces death rules (p. 89 core rulebook). No death timer or stabilization.
At 0 HP, choose one of the following options. All rolls are flat (no ADV/DISADV, modifiers or luck). If your max HP or any of your stats is reduced to 0, you die instantly.
Unyielding End. Take one final action, then die. This action is always a critical success.
Fate's Coin. Flip a coin. Negative: die. Positive: instantly regain HP (lvl 1-4: 1d4, lvl 5-8: 1d6, lvl 9+: 1d8).
Endure. Fall unconscious until healed. Roll on the Close Call table. The Pit Fighter class (CS2) gets +1 to this roll.
Close Call (1d12)
1: Lop. You lose a limb. 1d4: 1. Leg, 2. Arm, 3. Foot, 4. Hand
2: Blinded. You lose an eye (DISADV on sight-based checks)
3: Torn Muscle. You permanently lose 1 point of STR
4: Nerve Damage. You permanently lose 1 point of DEX
5: Organ Damage. You permanently lose 1 point of CON
6: Brain Damage. You permanently lose 1 point of INT
7: Trauma. You permanently lose 1 point of WIS
8: Scars. You permanently lose 1 point of CHA
9: Festering Wound. You permanently lose 1 HP
10: Shattered. One random piece of gear you wield is destroyed
11: Stupor. You stay unconscious
12: Unbroken. You instantly regain 1 HP
(inspired by the Enduring Wounds table in CS2)
☥ Download
shadowdark_player-driven-death-mechanics_v.1.0.pdf
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