[Darker Dungeons] tries to bring it up to date by replacing many of the disparate game mechanics with a unified system (although it is careful to keep the probabilities of success/failure of actions the same to within +/-5%, so the feel of the game is very similar to Dark Dungeons).
Additionally, Darker Dungeons takes advantage of the fact that it does not need to stick to its source material as closely by including other changes, including:
- Ability Scores and hit points no longer being randomly generated.
- Changes to classes (the human Mystic has been replaced by the demi-human Lupine, the Mountebank has been added, and the Magic-User and Elf have been swapped).
- Removal of Alignment.
- The ability for clerics and magic-users (and elves) to specialise in one or more types of spell at the cost of being less good with other types.
- Shields no longer giving a flat bonus to armour class, but instead characters spending Proficiency slots on them to get their bonuses, just like weapons.
- The removal of Shield Weapons (Knife Shield, Horn Shield, etc.), and the addition of Flails and Morning Stars.
You can download a free pdf copy of Darker Dungeons (or the original Dark Dungeons) from the Gratis Games page. You can also purchase a printed copy from Lulu (at cost of printing and shipping).
I haven't had a chance (yet) to really look through Darker Dungeons, however, I'm very impressed with the original Dark Dungeons.
And the Darkest is yet to come :)
ReplyDeleteI have only had a minute to look at the revision but the fact that he released this material PD is amazing. What a contribution to the community. Make certain you name check the OGL in all the right places and you are free to work with this to your hearts content.
ADD Grognard: I doubt I'll be a fan of Darkest as it sounds like it to going to incorporate "cloned material" from the early Arms Law/Claw Law stuff -- back when it was intended as an AD&D addon rather than a separate RPG. I was never a fan as I'm not that interested in detailed combat.
ReplyDeleteDark Dungeons is public domain as well. If I recall what Blacky has said, Darkest will also be public domain.
Yes, the 'Dark' trio are all PD. Unbelievable. And an excellent job on presentation, especially making various versions for printing out. I have followed the project since I first heard about it last year(?).
ReplyDeleteDo you get the feeling I'm a Jazz fan? I love variations on a theme, the ability to study the mechanics from different angles and learn new things every time I read it. It is why I'm such a fan of your work. I think I finally understood what someone said the other day about the 'writer's voice' missing from modern rule sets. Your work has the 'voice'. I guess that really does make a difference :)