For context, just finished a two year dark fantasy/horror game last week. I agree with almost all of this, just one point of caveat. I tend to not associate moral grey with dark fantasy in the way you describe, I instead associate that more with “gritty” fantasy. I have found what is quite effective in dark fantasy is to have evil and good as extremely apparent, it’s just that the relationship in power between evil and good is not night and day, it’s a dark storm approaching a candle. Now, the candle can flare up. My players actually turned the tide of the world, but it was a result of a campaign ending natural 20, beating a 30 DC to purge the corruption. Two of my three epilogues were quite tragic, but the dice favored them that day. But that was not the likely outcome. Moral ambiguity is really what I would call a grey fantasy world, not a dark fantasy world.
bro I was literally just going on a fantasy forge binge and you happened to upload 😂in regards to the video, it intrigued me because I was a part of a short campaign called the end is just a start, it was a dark academia murder mystery and needless to say, it was dark. very dark. every moment was intense, and if there was a light moment, it quickly took a sharp turn. it was all very intense and the roleplay was very heavy, something about the fate of the world being determined by killing each person that holds a deadly sin, one of the players being doomed, etc. it was fun at times but mostly nerve-wracking and exhausting. probably not the game for me 😅
Yes!!! Thank you!!! I am currently preparing for a dark D&D campaign. This couldn't have come at a better time. Please make a series of this or something.
@@TheFantasyForge please do. I feel like there could be several videos ranging from worldbuilding, story, and character to help players and GMs prepare for these sort of campaigns.
Just started Lovecraftian horror campaign I wanted to run so bad for so long, your new video is just what I needed. Thank you a LOT! Your content is always of highest quality. I'd add that the feeling of unknown might be a nice touch for maintaining an intense atmosphere, e.g. not knowing where the escape is or who you're fighting right now. Or the feeling that the mob you're fighting is too strong and it's better to flee and save yourself than playing heroes, so players would feel that they are helpless, not typical almighty fantasy characters. Felt this first by playing Curse of Strahd, it was devastating
I'm currently walking the line between dark fantasy and heroic fantasy. The characters are more or less being forced to be the good guys, but they keep getting complex moral choices thrown at them. Watching them navigate this has been a lot of fun - when you've been chosen by a god to save the world, but you live in a world that is (literally and figuratively) dark, how do you navigate the divine expectations with the brutality of daily life?
Two things my players reported as being positive were: - add moments for comic relief so they don't get overstrained - add some characters that are just unadulterated evil or pure good and have their lives path depend on the parties action. Will the goodie-2-shoes be corrupted, or the evil dude be imprisoned. Ambiguity is important, but you can just have a dickwart-character.
I left a lengthy comment on the last video, so I just want to say a) I'm currently prepping for a game with some dark themes and b) I found this video really helpful. Thank you!
I’ll be starting a dark campaign in the fall. Session zero already planned and still writing out the documentation for it. The hardest part so far in prepping parts of the homebrew world is keeping it scary while not going over the line. Gotta throttle the pedal just enough.
3:25 THIS! IS! TOBIAS!! I love running dark fantasy games, and these are all excellent tips. My most recent dark fantasy game is set in the Dark Sun campaign setting, and the players have definitely felt the DARK side of the adventures they've been on. I've given them many personal connections to the quests they've been on so far, so the stakes have been high. Most have lost something, and few have gained anything.
I have been waiting for a video like this for so long! Love the content, keep it up! Also if Tobias (3:26) was there at the Battle of Thermopylae, things would have gone very different for the persians.
I’d love to see a full video on dscryb, how best to use it and how people set up their scenes. I feel I’m pretty tech savvy but the interface just frustrates me and I feel I could be better optimizing scenes.
Definitely coming soon! I made one a little bit ago on how I use it to run a session, but I'll be releasing a video of a real session using dScryb asap
3:26 Watch out not to fall in there, Tobias. If you did, i hope you've got some torches and flame butterflies with you, The Gutter is irritating enough when it's already well lit
I run comedic, heroic games that get their suspension from DARKness hitting you in the face once or twice a year. More darkness and some players would disconnect.
I can’t find Tobias since I listen and don’t watch. You should do subliminal messages for us to catch. Kind of like Disney in the 90’s, but positive DM advice instead of inappropriate
For context, just finished a two year dark fantasy/horror game last week. I agree with almost all of this, just one point of caveat. I tend to not associate moral grey with dark fantasy in the way you describe, I instead associate that more with “gritty” fantasy. I have found what is quite effective in dark fantasy is to have evil and good as extremely apparent, it’s just that the relationship in power between evil and good is not night and day, it’s a dark storm approaching a candle. Now, the candle can flare up. My players actually turned the tide of the world, but it was a result of a campaign ending natural 20, beating a 30 DC to purge the corruption. Two of my three epilogues were quite tragic, but the dice favored them that day. But that was not the likely outcome. Moral ambiguity is really what I would call a grey fantasy world, not a dark fantasy world.
bro I was literally just going on a fantasy forge binge and you happened to upload 😂in regards to the video, it intrigued me because I was a part of a short campaign called the end is just a start, it was a dark academia murder mystery and needless to say, it was dark. very dark. every moment was intense, and if there was a light moment, it quickly took a sharp turn.
it was all very intense and the roleplay was very heavy, something about the fate of the world being determined by killing each person that holds a deadly sin, one of the players being doomed, etc. it was fun at times but mostly nerve-wracking and exhausting. probably not the game for me 😅
the fact that you binged my content 😍thanks for the love
Yes!!! Thank you!!! I am currently preparing for a dark D&D campaign. This couldn't have come at a better time. Please make a series of this or something.
glad it helped! A series on dark campaigns? I might just have to do that
@@TheFantasyForge please do. I feel like there could be several videos ranging from worldbuilding, story, and character to help players and GMs prepare for these sort of campaigns.
Just started Lovecraftian horror campaign I wanted to run so bad for so long, your new video is just what I needed. Thank you a LOT! Your content is always of highest quality. I'd add that the feeling of unknown might be a nice touch for maintaining an intense atmosphere, e.g. not knowing where the escape is or who you're fighting right now. Or the feeling that the mob you're fighting is too strong and it's better to flee and save yourself than playing heroes, so players would feel that they are helpless, not typical almighty fantasy characters. Felt this first by playing Curse of Strahd, it was devastating
I'm currently walking the line between dark fantasy and heroic fantasy. The characters are more or less being forced to be the good guys, but they keep getting complex moral choices thrown at them. Watching them navigate this has been a lot of fun - when you've been chosen by a god to save the world, but you live in a world that is (literally and figuratively) dark, how do you navigate the divine expectations with the brutality of daily life?
Two things my players reported as being positive were:
- add moments for comic relief so they don't get overstrained
- add some characters that are just unadulterated evil or pure good and have their lives path depend on the parties action. Will the goodie-2-shoes be corrupted, or the evil dude be imprisoned. Ambiguity is important, but you can just have a dickwart-character.
SOLID advice, especially the thing about comedy relief, you realllly need that
I left a lengthy comment on the last video, so I just want to say a) I'm currently prepping for a game with some dark themes and b) I found this video really helpful. Thank you!
Happy to help! Let me know if there's any video I can make in the future that would help you out more! Thanks for leaving some love :)
I’ll be starting a dark campaign in the fall. Session zero already planned and still writing out the documentation for it. The hardest part so far in prepping parts of the homebrew world is keeping it scary while not going over the line. Gotta throttle the pedal just enough.
3:25 THIS! IS! TOBIAS!! I love running dark fantasy games, and these are all excellent tips. My most recent dark fantasy game is set in the Dark Sun campaign setting, and the players have definitely felt the DARK side of the adventures they've been on. I've given them many personal connections to the quests they've been on so far, so the stakes have been high. Most have lost something, and few have gained anything.
Tobias @ 3:26. He looks awfully pleased with the execution - fitting for a dark video theme. But worrying!
I have been waiting for a video like this for so long! Love the content, keep it up! Also if Tobias (3:26) was there at the Battle of Thermopylae, things would have gone very different for the persians.
3:25 Tobias, one of the brave 300
3:25 Tobias is always at the pivotal moment.
3:26 Tobias is a true Spartan. Although he better watch his step around that pit.
3:26 Who knew Tobias was a Spartan?
I never noticed the twitch in Jaime's hand when it's cut off. Nice touch
omg I had to go back to see that cuz I missed it too!
(3:28) Tobias is a good cat
Hell yeah brother! I’m beginning to DM CoS with MandyMod’s additions in the coming weeks and this will be a huge help.
3:26 spartan kitty
3:25 Tobias! Be careful! Oh right, displacer kitty... ;)
I’d love to see a full video on dscryb, how best to use it and how people set up their scenes. I feel I’m pretty tech savvy but the interface just frustrates me and I feel I could be better optimizing scenes.
Definitely coming soon! I made one a little bit ago on how I use it to run a session, but I'll be releasing a video of a real session using dScryb asap
3:26 Watch out not to fall in there, Tobias. If you did, i hope you've got some torches and flame butterflies with you, The Gutter is irritating enough when it's already well lit
3:28 THIS IS TOBIAS!!!!
3:25 Madness? THIS. IS. TOBIAAAASSSS!!!
This made me chuckle thinking about a little paw print on the front of the chest as they get yeeted into the pit
3:25
This
is
TOBIAAAAAAAAAAS!
Good video. Good topic.
~EKF
I run comedic, heroic games that get their suspension from DARKness hitting you in the face once or twice a year. More darkness and some players would disconnect.
Great video! Thank you
Nah, I don't need an advice. I'll just use berserk manga as a core for my campaign 😅💀
Sure my players can handle some Japanese comics. Piece of cake
Under hour
“Take inspiration from history”
See those dwarves over there? Adolf the Elf says they’re evil…
I can’t find Tobias since I listen and don’t watch. You should do subliminal messages for us to catch. Kind of like Disney in the 90’s, but positive DM advice instead of inappropriate
first