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Fans of Shadowdark can expand their game with new Cursed Scroll zines and two hardcover setting ... [+] books as part of the current Kickstarter.
The Arcane Library
In 2023, The Arcane Library crowdfunded Shadowdark, a tabletop role playing game that took the best parts of Dungeons and Dragons, remixed them and created a game that embraced an older style of play without completely soaking it in nostalgia. The Kickstarter was a massive hit, ultimately raising $1.3 million for the game at a time when D&D was at a crossroads. The Arcane Library launched a follow up crowdfunding campaign last week for the game’s first expansion, Shadowdark: The Western Reaches. of critical acclaim
The current Kickstarter blew past the original’s total in one day.
“It’s absolutely mind-boggling,” said Kelsey Dionne, creator of Shadowdark. “I almost felt like I was watching it happen to someone else. It took a few days just to mentally process the whole thing. I kept thinking I’d wake up and realize we hadn’t yet clicked 'Launch' and it was all a weird dream!”
Shadowdark has gone on to massive popularity and critical acclaim. The stripped down Fifth Edition mechanics appeal to newer fans while the fragile nature of the characters make old school players feel at home. While these distinct audiences can sometimes be at odds, Shadowdark brings them together in a way few other games do.
“I was always hoping Shadowdark would serve as a source of shared experience and understanding between the old school and newer fans of [D&D]," said Dionne. "There's a common thread that stretches all the way back through D&D's design history, and part of Shadowdark's goal was to find that throughline and bring it out in a way that was recognizable by all eras of gamers. I want those looking to the future to see their gameplay style represented, and those looking to the past to see a deep respect for what made early D&D so special.”
The community is one of the big keys to the game’s success. There are hundreds of third party expansions to the game including dozens of adventures, new player options and even unofficial adaptations of classic D&D settings. Dionne enthusiastically encourages her fans to make Shadowdark their own and often shares her favorite Shadowdark creations on social media.
“I almost feel sometimes that I’m Game Mastering a huge Shadowdark campaign,” said Dionne, “and the players in the campaign are the Shadowdark community members. When I see where they want to go in their adventures, that's what I prepare next. It's all about listening to and responding to your players at the end of the day.”
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