Shadowdark: Trolls are Dangerous Again

 If you were paying attention to this blog (unlikely) then you know that both of my Dungeons & Dragons campaigns stopped abruptly a little over three years ago. The two groups were using 5th edition D&D, one group in a homebrew world, transitioning to Ptolus, and the other already in Ptolus. I am now preparing to start a new campaign using the Shadowdark RPG. 

There is an interesting mechanic for driving activity in the game by giving light an even greater importance to survival than in many other games, especially 5e D&D. Torches burn out after about an hour of real time, with variance and depending on other factors. Delving is risky in the light, but becomes terrifying in the dark. Characters have limited encumbrance and space meaning choices of what to carry and how much can be the difference between life and death. Characters in Shadowdark do not have darkvision, unlike almost all of the species in Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition. When they run out of light sources the real fight for survival begins.

This is where trolls enter the discussion. We all know that fire is one of two certain ways to finish off a troll and prevent their regeneration. Acid is the second method, but it comes with the risk of exposure and damage if the vessel it is carried in breaks. Fire is therefore the most likely resource at hand for combatting trolls. Using up torches battling trolls depletes that very valuable resource. Now trolls aren't just deadly in combat, they're deadly afterward as well. 

Many of the creatures inhabiting dungeons will make an extra effort to douse light sources and trolls have more reason to snuff torches. So, when your players chuckle at the thought of trolls, smile and watch their expressions when the light goes out.