When it was released in December 2020, Cyberpunk 2077 was glitchy as hell. Five years later, we’re still playing it … but why?

Chapters

00:00 The Allure of Cyberpunk 207701:53 Cyberpunk's Reflection of Reality04:24 Exploration and Discovery in Night City06:55 Game Mechanics and Play Styles09:43 Updates, Mods, and Community Engagement12:36 Emotional Storytelling and Character Impact17:54 The Evolution of Cyberpunk 207722:37 Realistic Dialogue and Player Choices24:32 Interweaving Storylines and Lore26:39 Bittersweet Endings and Moral Compromises32:00 Gameplay Mechanics and Character Development36:31 Future of Cyberpunk

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Show Notes

Huge, Immersive World

We want to discuss how Cyberpunk feels oddly familiar…like, even with all the over-the-top-ness of the ads, the violence, etc, the concepts are familiar because we are sort of living in it right now. I have THOUGHTS on this.  ( we were raised on Star Wars, or Trek, Or Harry Potter, and Cyberpunk. Which of those actually gives you a blueprint for today?)

Exploration of the sights, sounds, and in world storytelling is deep. I have played several times and still discover something new when I have another playthrough.

Ignore the main quest, focus on the small stuff

THe main quest is pretty great, but there is SO MUCH small stuff that it is a lot of fun on replayed to focus on different small sidequests and details. 

One criticism: you can max out your level and such fairly early by doing this. I’d love a mod that lets you keep levelling up. 

Multiple starts

Latest editions of the game added some RPG lines specific for each start, which was good. I’m not sure they made a difference in the overall story plot, but it was good from an immersive RPG standpoint. 

Great being able to play the game for the 4th? 5th? time and still get a new experience when going the Corpo route.

Multiple endings

Yep, and even the ones for Phantom Liberty are noteworthy. 

And can be very noir – endings that are not tidy. Or even truly happy. 

So Many Toys…

So Much Lore

The texts you find, the documents you read in the side quests, they often reference other sidequests or jobs. 

There is a ton of lore you can learn if that’s your thing. 

The old just won’t leave us.

It tells a good story. It brings into question what we are here for and how we leave this life.

When I think about this game, I think a lot of the joyful/rageful defiance that informs Punk.  The question “How does one live when all signs point to being trod upon and powerless?” comes up, and Cyberpunk (fiction in general) often answers this with that defiance, usually in the scenery or side characters.  Usually it means breaking the law, but in this situation where the law is corrupt and unjust, it is easy to see why that decision is made. 

I believe this dovetails into my earlier thoughts about CP being familiar on a level. 

Mods:

Dark Future mod for Cyberpunk 2077

DayDream Gaming Night City Videos

36 Streets

Featured Image Meta

Edgerunner artwork from Cyberpunk 2077.

In between shoveling out from snow storms, we took the time to talk about cozy video games. We delve into the expected (Animal Crossing, Tiny Bookshop, Planet Crafter) and the not-so-expected (Fallout, Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky, Red Dead Redemption 2).

Chapters

00:00 Defining Cozy Games02:35 Exploring Popular Cozy Games05:16 The Role of Objectives in Cozy Gaming07:44 Unique Cozy Game Experiences10:16 The Impact of Gaming Platforms on Cozy Experiences12:53 Crafting and Terraforming in Cozy Games15:41 The Whimsical World of Slime Rancher19:49 The Thrills of Open-World Exploration21:22 Cozy vs. High-Risk Gaming Experiences23:36 The Importance of Homesteading in Games27:07 The Comfort of Building and Community30:17 Cozy Survival in The Long Dark32:16 Artistic Expression in Gaming33:20 Finding Comfort in Cyberpunk 2077

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Watch Cozy Games - Campaigns & Coffee on YouTube.

Show Notes

Definition of what is a cozy game.

From Wikipedia: A cozy game (cosy game in Commonwealth English) is a video game which emphasizes non-violence and relaxation. Initially derived from the life simulation genre, cozy games commonly include activities such as gathering and growing plants and nurturing other characters. They often have open-ended goals that encourage self-expression.

Chris' definition: "Cozy game is any game that evokes that cozy feeling within you"

Our Big list of Cozy Games

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Strange Horticulture

Strange Antiquities

Tiny Bookshop

The Planet Crafter

Slime Rancher 2

Red Dead Redemption 2

Fallout 4

No Man’s Sky

Dystopika

Lightyear Frontier

The Long Dark – Pilgrim Mode

Aloft

Lonely House 

Outside the Blocks

Cyberpunk 2077

Featured Image Meta

Cover art from Animal Crossings video game for Nintendo Switch.

Our cozy Saturday morning coffee and games show returns to answer the question … what is cozy? Reading a book while sleet pounds the windows on a winter night? Putting your phone in a Faraday cage so you can get a few minutes of non-digital peace?

We give a couple of definitions cozy can be … and then talk about what we personally find to be cozy.

Chapters

00:00 Defining Cozy02:21 Personal Cozy Rituals and Experiences05:01 The Role of Sensory Input in Creating Cozy Atmosphere07:50 Cozy Games and Downshifting in a Digital Age10:20 The Importance of Cozy Practices

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Watch Defining Cozy - Campaigns & Coffee on YouTube.

Show Notes

Defining Cozy

Hygge (/ˈh(j)uːɡə/, H(Y)OO-gə; Danish: [ˈhykə]; Norwegian: [ˈhŷɡːə]) is a word in Danish and Norwegian that describes a cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality. As a cultural category with its sets of associated practices, hygge has more or less the same meaning in both places and in both languages;[1] however, the emphasis on hygge as a core part of Danish culture is a recent phenomenon, dating to the late 20th century. In the 21st century, the concept has also been familiarized abroad.

Gluggaveður (GLOO-ga-veth-ur): Weather that looks appealing from inside but would be unpleasant to be outside in.

What is cozy?

No wrong answers ... but here are ours.

Ken:

Hockey jerseys

Coffee, comfortable mugs, and good books (or comic books)

Cold, dark winter nights with Christmas trees and chill music

Lo-fi listening

Cabin camping in winter /Hammocks on the Lake

Snuggling puppies

Chris:

Storms, sitting on the porch or in the garage with the door open in a storm

Reading

Cooking and listening to 1920-1940s music and radio

Coffee & coffee shops

Coding while listening to music

Sipping bourbon hot cocoa w/ the Xmas lights on in the dark

Being off the internet

David:

Rain on the roof as I head to bed

Reading a good book on the couch or in a comfy chair while warm and cozy

Laying out under an umbrella on the beach, sometimes with a book, sometimes looking at the surf

Music around the house while puttering around and doing minor chores

Sitting out on the porch in the predawn hours with a cup of coffee

Cozy Links

Darth Vader Yule Log

Nick Offleman drinking scotch

 Star Trek: Titan LCARS display

Feedback

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Featured Image Meta

A yellow Labrador retriever puppy snuggles with an older Labrador retriever.

Join us to explore the growing world of solo role-playing games, from zines (Thru-Hiker, Hope is Not a Plan) to journaling games (Thousand-Year-Old Vampire, Be Like A Crow) to full-fledged systems like Ironsworn and Star Trek: Captain's Log.

We discuss the appeal, challenges, and deeply personal nature of solo gaming, emphasizing discovery, immersion, and the freedom to explore without an audience. Along the way, we share favorite titles, philosophical insights, and unexpected parallels to acid trips and corporate burnout.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Solo Role-Playing Games02:51 Types of Solo RPGs05:03 Reasons for Playing Solo RPGs09:06 Exploring Specific Solo RPGs18:12 Adapting Traditional RPGs for Solo Play27:22 Solo Mode Board Games28:17 The Value of Solo Play in RPGs30:36 Mindset and Preparation for Solo Gaming34:16 Exploring Narrative Flexibility in Solo RPGs38:21 Understanding the Complexity of Game Mechanics44:43 Successes and Challenges in Solo RPG Experiences49:12 The Importance of Immersion and Aesthetics in Gaming

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Watch Solo Role-Playing Games on YouTube.

Show Notes

What are Solo Role-Playing Games? And why do we play them?

What are they?

Solo RPGs are games that you plan on your own, without a gaming group. 

Approaches

Focused zine-style games (Be Like A Crow, Loner)

Dedicated full Solo RPGs (Ironsworn )

Adapting traditional RPGs to solo (Dungeons & Dragons, Shadowdark)

Journaling Games (Thousand-Year-Old Vampire, Secrets of the Vibrant Isle, Journey,)

Tools 

Dice

Cards

Block Towers (aka Jenga)

Oracles

Why?

Some assume people play solo when they can’t find a group. 

But there are other reasons:

You’re in a pandemic lockdown

Taking a break from your regular group

Playing games your regular group doesn’t want to play

Telling stories your regular group doesn’t want to tell

Learning a new system 

Used to augment a current system or setting (Ex Novo, Journey)

Engaging in something creative

Quality downtime / Alternative to low quality Youtube. :)

Solo Role-Playing Games We’ve Played

Zines

Hope is Not a Plan (Zine)

A solo journaling game in which you will document your attempts to deliver a very complicated engineering project on time and under budget.  You hope for success, but you will most likely fail, damage your reputation, and lose your job. So it goes.

THRU-HIKER: A Journaling Game of Long-Distance Hiking

a journaling game of telling stories of long-distance hiking. Using your writing instrument of choice, a pack of playing cards, and a series of writing prompts, you will create stories of the joys and challenges of being on the trail for days, weeks, or months at a time.

Mork Borg: Basilisk

A print and play dungeons scrawler, inspired by Dark Fort and Dungeonquest/Drakborgen.

See also: Dark Fort Online

Void 1680

In the queue: 

Clever Girl

Welcome to Dino Land, a dinosaur theme park ravaged by escaped predators. You don’t know what caused the incident that set the dinosaurs free, but it was catastrophic. A pack of highly intelligent and oddly fixated raptors are hunting the last surviving human in the park. Will these prehistoric predators claim one final victim, or with the cunning human survive long enough to be rescued?

Solo RPGs

Be Like A Crow

Thousand-Year-Old Vampire

Journey

Loner

Void 1680 AM

Mythic - Tools for GM-less role-playing

Gamebooks - Legendary Kingdoms

Star Trek: Captain’s Log

Solo rules for Star Trek Adventures

Ken’s currently play this one. It’s another test run for a possible real-world game, though the rules are much simpler than standard 2d20 games.

Traditional RPGs with Solo Modes

Ironsworn, Ironsworn: Starforged, The Sundered IslesIn Ironsworn: Starforged, you are a spaceborne hero sworn to undertake perilous quests. You will explore uncharted space, unravel the secrets of a mysterious galaxy, and build bonds with those you meet on your travels. Most importantly, you will swear iron vows and see them fulfilled—no matter the cost.

Forbidden Lands

Book of Beasts 

includes solo rules. 

Forbidden Lands - Solo Expansion

Expanded upon by the author in a PDF supplement.

Ken played this as a test run for his lunchtime campaign. Thought it was going to be rules light and fast, but funky dice and a fair amount of crunch made him realize it’s not.

In the queue:

Cyberpunk RED

Single Player Mode

Ken's considering using this to do a solo-run featuring the Maker Enclave, a faction from our Broken Loop campaign.

Shadowdark

Solo Rules for Shadowdark

Solo Mode Board Games

Dark Tower, Arkham Horror (board game and card game - Edge of the Earth), etc

Successes and Challenges with Solo Role-Playing Games

Ken:

Challenges:

Creating your character and universe are more fun than playing the game (Starforged,)

Realizing the game is going to be more complex than you anticipated (Forbidden Lands)

Getting stuck in the narrative (Captain’s Log)

You’re not writing a book (see mindset)

Can’t stop hacking the rules

Ken finds he wants faster advancement

AI?

Successes:

Playing dedicated zines with a focused rules framework helps.

Chris

Challenges

Finding the mindset

Give yourself permission to have fun without purpose.

NOT blogging

Settling in to learn the rules

Successes

Real immersion

Being OK with not writing a novel

Solo Role-Playing Games Tools

Solo Game Master’s Guide

All gaming is play.

Mythic Game Master Emulator Second Edition

Engine for adapting regular RPGs to solo

Loner

A Solo RPG for Emergent Storytelling

Minimal rules. Maximum story. Play anywhere, anytime.

Thanks for joining us! Like and subscribe on YouTube and find our show notes on LairOfSecrets.com.

Featured Image Meta

Cover art from the Ironsworn RPG.

Our Fallout one-shot continues! The Eggheads -- a group of wasteland mercs -- travel to Hardscrap to re-supply and gather intelligence on the murderous, double-crossing Moose Men.

Need more Fallout?

Check out our Fallout 2d20 Actual Play Campaign!

Watch our Gore and Lore of Fallout episode on YouTube.

Learn about the game by watching d10 Reasons Fallout 2d20 is Great (S5E10).

Confused about movement and zones? We’ve got an episode for that: Fallout Zones.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Wasteland Adventure03:41 Engaging with the Mole Rats07:30 The Role of Luck and Chance09:35 Final Confrontations and Outcomes15:41 Entering Hard Scrap: A New Community17:44 Strategic Decisions and Resource Management19:40 Negotiating Trade and Repairs33:20 Explosives and Their Uses37:08 Preparing for the Journey to Sky Garden45:18 Far Garden49:09 Planning the Assault on Sky Garden57:54 Options for Infiltration01:01:31 Concluding Thoughts

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Watch Crawl Out Through the Fallout, Part 2 on YouTube.

Show Notes

The team kicks off in mid-combat, battling mole rats outside Hardscrap

Erin’s Sarge slices and dices with the buzzsaw while Sally Sun-touched takes damage but dishes out sass

Colby shows off laser efficiency; Coromir defends his queen with a vengeance (and a bat)

Post-fight, the team enters Hardscrap and barters a mini-nuke for ammo, food, dynamite, and armor

Colby gets explosives, Sarge gets repairs, Sally gets medical help, and everyone stocks up

They learn Moose Griffin has taken Sky Garden, with some raiders already making threats

Ex-sheriff of Sky Garden shares info about a secret backdoor entrance to reclaim the overpass town

The party plans a nighttime infiltration to overthrow Moose's occupation

Fallout Season 2 is out on Amazon, and the Lair is back to look at what makes the Fallout 2d20 RPG so much fun to play.

Post: Fallout 2d20 Campaign & RPG Resources

Podcast: Fallout 2d20 Campaign

Podcast: Fallout 2d20 One Shot: Crawl Out Through the Fallout

Podcast: Gore and Lore in Fallout – Campaigns & Coffee

Podcast: Fallout Zones

Chapters

00:00 Reason 1: Quick to learn03:28 Reason 2: Quick to play at the table6:48 Reason 3: Aesthetics and connection to the video Game08:10 Reason 4: Layered Systems and Optional Complexity10:15 Reason 5: Zones - the sweet spot between theater of the mind and battle maps.13:17 Reason 6: Action Point Economy15:45 Reason 7: Luck18:43 Reason 8: Special Effects21:28 Reason 9: Lots of product support23:21 Reason 10: Solid VTT Support

Listen to the Episode

Watch to the Episode

Watch d10 Reasons Fallout 2d20 is Great! on YouTube.

Show Notes

Reason 1: Quick to Learn

The 2d20 system is easy to pick up.

While all 2d20 games are a bit different from each other, Fallout has been easy to learn and start playing with

Other 2d20 games include: Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, Dreams & Machines, and Star Trek Adventures.

Reason 2: Quick to Play

With the 2d20 system, we’ve found that combat goes quickly, leaving more time for role-playing at the table.

Reason 3: Aesthetics

With Perks, Injuries, armor that covers specific hit locations, skills, tag skills, and more.

The rules for characters make it feel a lot like Fallout 3 or Fallout 4.

Fallout 2d20 feels like a tabletop version of the video game.

The only thing big that is missing is VATS, though you can aim for body parts.

Reason 4: Optional Subsystems

Scavenging, modding, settlements are available - but they're all optional.

Reason 5: Zones

Zones are the sweet spot between theater of the mind and battle maps.

You can use photos or screenshots of real places and easily make a map.

Check out our full episode on zones:  Fallout Zones.

Reason 6: Action Point Economy

Lets you buy more dice, which can turn into more successes (or, ahem, more failures).

Let those caps fall like rain. Encourages players to take big chances (or make up for big failures).

Reason 7: Luck

Spend a luck point, and swap out your Luck attribute value for another attribute (e.g. Luck replacing strength) for one check.

Spend luck points to re-roll dice

Reason 8: Special Effects

Did you just blow off someone’s foot with a shotgun? Cave in their chest with a baseball bat? Tear through them with a hail of bullets? All things are possible with the right weapon (and the right die rolls)

Reason 9: Lots of product support

Modiphius has released, and continues to release hardcover books to give more character options, enemies, equipment, etc.

They have also put out several Astoundingly Awesome Tales that give short campaigns

Each of the Tales is for a range of levels. So if you have a group that is level 11-16, they have you covered.

Reason 10: Solid VTT & Digital Support

Foundry

Roll20

Demiplane

Featured Image Meta

A screenshot of the Vault 111 door from Fallout 4.

Our Shadowdark RPG one-shot concludes as the adventurers confront the vampiric horror lurking in the depths of the Lost Temple.

Missed the first part? Catch up now: Raiders of the Lost Temple, Part 1/3

Get the dungeon: EnWorld – Kelsey Dionne publishes two new free Shadowdark adventures

New to Shadowdark? Get the free Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set from the Arcane Library.

Want to know more about Shadowdark? Check out our episode "d12 Reasons Shadowdark is Awesome!"

Chapters

0:00 Intro – Return to the Lair of Secrets2:10 The Vampire Dilemma – Rest or Risk It?8:00 Light, Lore & Vampire Prep19:00 Into the Darkness – Back to the Temple28:00 The Encounter Begins – Shanti Attacks43:00 Shanti Regenerates & The Party Struggles54:00 Boulder Trap & Split Paths1:06:00 Chalice Theft & Bat Form Battle1:21:00 Vampire On Fire – The Final Confrontation1:51:00 Outro – Victory, Loss, and Escape

Listen to the Episode

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Watch Raiders of the Lost Temple, Part 3/3 on YouTube.

Cast of Characters

Zorax the Unready (Chris) – Wizard

A classically trained wizard with a spell book full of utility and a knack for casting magic missile, Zorax is more scholar than adventurer—often pondering the mystical while his party dives headlong into danger. Ever curious but slightly aloof, he has a cautious presence, offering magical firepower and insightful observations from the back line.

Rilmorn (Josh) – Thief

Impulsive, chaotic, and famously unlucky, Rilmorn dives into danger with zero hesitation—whether it’s belly-crawling ahead of the group, swallowing a gem, or stabbing a snake-person mid-negotiation. He embodies the archetypal rogue with a wild streak, equal parts comic relief and terrifying wild card.

Anders (Ken) – Fighter (Sea Wolf)

A spear-wielding berserker blessed by old gods, Anders charges headfirst into combat with bravado, charisma, and minimal regard for tactics or consequences. He’s a blend of Conan the Barbarian and Thor with a concussion—smiling as he stabs and only asking questions after the bodies hit the floor.

Lila (Erin) – Priest

Wise and pragmatic, Lila serves as the moral compass and healing backbone of the group, unafraid to challenge poor decisions or channel divine wrath when undead monstrosities strike. Calm under pressure but quick to act when needed, she blesses weapons, turns the undead, and debates with bloodthirsty prisoners without flinching.

Show Notes

The party begins battered and low on resources, debating whether to rest before confronting the vampire Shanti.

Strategic torch management becomes critical as players balance light, survival, and undead lore.

A rest outside the temple gives time for planning, forging stakes, and prepping for a vampire confrontation.

Upon reentering the temple, the group is distracted by an illusory wall and a secret passage.

Shanti ambushes them in her lair, initiating a brutal, multi-phase battle involving transformation, fire, and constant regeneration.

A gem-eating rogue, a berserking warrior, and a nervy priestess clash with the vampire queen in the dark.

Shanti flees as a bat, feeding from a blood chalice and returning stronger than before.

Traps are triggered, light sources burn low, and a boulder nearly wipes the party.

In a desperate move, oil and fire are used to ignite Shanti, while the priestess delivers the final blow with a divine Turn Undead.

The group flees the collapsing situation—teleporting or running—leaving one ally behind as the lair claims its toll.

Featured Image Meta

Black-and-white artwork from the Raiders of the Lost Temple module.

In this one-shot actual play scenario for Fallout 2d20, the Eggheads -- a new crew of wastelanders -- finds themselves double-crossed and left for dead in a radioactive crater. They barely survive thanks to a regenerating ghoul, a rebooting robot ... and a very confused Child of Atom named Jonathan.

Need more Fallout?

Check out our Fallout 2d20 Actual Play Campaign!

Watch our Gore and Lore of Fallout episode on YouTube.

Learn about the game by watching d10 Reasons Fallout 2d20 is Great (S5E10).

Confused about movement and zones? We’ve got an episode for that: Fallout Zones.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Dicetown02:31 Meet the Eggheads04:11 Crawling Out of the Crater09:10 The Shrine of the Last Stop19:07 Dancing with Danger24:19 Is that a mini nuke, or are you just …30:45 The Nuka Grenade Threat39:52 Sleep tight, Child of the Atom50:57 Arrival at Hardscrap54:20 Mole Rat Attack!58:30 To Nuke or not to Nuke

Listen to the Episode

Watch to the Episode

Watch Crawl Out Through the Fallout, Part 1 on YouTube.

Show Notes

Fallout 2d20 actual play, one-shot scenario

Dicetown heist gone wrong: betrayal by Moose and the Moose Men

The Eggheads: Sally Sun-touched, Sarge, Colby Brokenpen, and Coromir

Crater recovery and unexpected assistance from Child of Atom zealot, Jonathan

Deadly loot: RadAway, mini nukes, a gamma gun, and a pile of stim packs

Chaotic moral quandaries: diplomacy via smooches and buzz saws

High-stakes mini-nuke juggling

Tension and hilarity at the Shrine of the Last Stop

Arrival at Hardscrap and new threats: mole rats incoming!

Tease for next session: what happens when you have a nuke and no self-control?

Featured Image Meta

A screenshot of a radioactive crater from the Fallout 4 video game.

We talk with Derek White, one of the minds behind DarkSpace, a science fiction rules hack for Shadowdark. Together with his co-creator Than Gibson, they created and released the basic rules through DMing the World and DriveThru RPG

Now they’ve got a Kickstarter for an expanded version that quickly blew past their $15,000 goal and just crossed the $70,000 threshold. Join us to learn more about the 200+ page Shadowdark hack, new sci-fi rules and options, and the Kickstarter.

DMing the World - DarkSpace homepage

Kickstarter: DarkSpace - Sci-Fi Rules for Shadowdark

New to Shadowdark? Get the free Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set from the Arcane Library.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to DarkSpace and Its Inspiration05:42 Design Philosophy: Rules Light and Player Collaboration11:16 Archetypes vs. Classes: A New Approach to Character Creation16:41 Psionics and the Triad Powers19:52 Kickstarter Success and Future Plans23:00 Challenges in Running Sci-Fi Games25:42 Kickstarter Stretch Goals and Community Engagement28:13 The Role of Light in Gameplay32:09 Surprises in the Kickstarter Journey

Listen to the Episode

Watch to the Episode

Watch DarkSpace Interview: Sci-Fi for Shadowdark on YouTube.

Show Notes

Intro to DarkSpace and its pitch: “Rules light. Play sci-fi your way.”

Derek’s motivation: burnout from fantasy and a return to sci-fi roots

Challenges with other sci-fi RPGs and love for risk and danger in space

Why species and archetypes replaced traditional races and classes

Collaborative worldbuilding through trait-based character creation

Triads: body/mind/soul psionic system and Force-like mechanics

Expansion content teased: GM guide, monsters, hacking rules, chase mechanics, and ship building

Use of timers and light mechanics adapted from ShadowDark for sci-fi tension

Kickstarter surprises, stretch goals, and community engagement

Legendary contributors: Mörk Borg creators, Ed Stark (Star Wars RPG), Mark Miller (Traveller), Kelsey Dion (ShadowDark)

Unique add-ons: glow-in-the-dark premium edition, custom dice, merch

Featured Image Meta

Black-and-what cover art for the DarkSpace rules hack.

When is a monster not a monster? We’re talking about those classic threats known as oozes, cubes, and puddings. These creatures appear as puddles, cubes, and rolling masses of ick ... and they're sure to challenge your players.

Want more Shadowdark?

Check out our episode “d12 Reasons Shadowdark is Awesome!”

Watch our Shadowdark actual play: Raiders of the Lost Temple

New to Shadowdark? Get the free Shadowdark RPG Quickstart Set from the Arcane Library.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Oozes and Puddings00:08 Grey Ooze05:50 Zomblob11:32 Gelatinous Cube16:35 Cran Gelatinous Cube22:18 Black Pudding23:39 Heal Cube22:45 Are Slimes a kind of Ooze?

Listen to the Episode

Watch to the Episode

Watch d6 Oozes , Cubes, and Puddings on YouTube.

Show Notes

Grey Ooze

Source: Core Rulebook, p. 223

Description: Slick puddles the color of stone 

Monster Level: 2

Notes: This ooze dissolves metal, so using swords, spears, and other metal weapons against it is risky:

At the table:

In Ken’s game, he had a gray ooze lurking in a cave, appearing to be part of the floor. He foreshadowed the ooze’s appearance by having a pseudopod lash out and snag one of the PCs’ allies. In game play, the ooze went down quickly because the PCs had help - their “allies” were cultists of the Rat-King, and they convinced them (via a charm spell) that they were also servants of the Rat-King. 

Foreshadowing - puddle of wet stone that lurks on the cavern floor … and attacks when players walk over them.

Zomblob

Source: Monthly monster - The Zomblob

Description: A sickly purple carpet of rolling sludge. Eyeballs, organs, and partially dissolved bones bubble up before being reabsorbed.

Monster Level: 3

Notes: An zombie ooze that regenerates every round. 

At the table:  

The players are summoned by the City Guard to deal with an undead infestation in the town’s catacombs, but when the PCs arrive … the catacombs are silent. There’s no sign of the undead … or even the dead. All the corpses are missing.

And then the ooze appears…

Gelatinous Cube

Source: Core Rulebook, p. 217

Description: A translucent cube of slime that silently mows through tunnels.

Monster Level: 5

Notes: An Old School classic, which inevitably has some sort of skeleton floating in its innards.

At the table:

In Ken’s game, he had a skeleton “floating” up a vertical shaft in a dungeon, surrounded by a halo of daggers and coins. The PCs assumed it was some sort of telekinetic threat … until they threw a barrel at it and hit the edge of the cube. The PCs then rain away. :) 

In David’s game, a skeleton appeared out of the darkness at the edge of the torch, a sword floating near it’s hand. Magic? Nope, gelatinous cube

Cran Gelatinous Cube

Source: Monthly monster - Cran Gelatinous Cube

Description: In the darkest bogs and chilliest swamps, a blood-red cube slurps along the muddy earth. Glistening cranberry juice beads from its sides, and leathery corpses swirl around within its towering bulk.

Monster Level: 9

At the table: It’s the holidays, so why not work something beloved (and horrible) into your game?

The Night Before Yuletide

It’s the night before Christmas (or your equivalent fantasy holiday) and a contingent of the Sewermen Guild have gone missing. One of their children begs the PCs to save their missing parent. 

Venturing into the sewers, the PCs come across strange, caustic puddles of fermenting red liquid. Zombies, soaked in the weird liquid, attack unexpectedly. And somewhere, a Mad Wizard is searching for his favorite monstrous side dish.

OR attack PCs while they venture into the bogs for fixings for the holiday?

Black Pudding

Source: Core Rulebook p. 199

Description: A black, ice-cold mass of sludge

Monster Level: 6

Notes: Dissolves wood AND metal, so it’s a double threat to PC weapons and armor.

At the table:

Ice Cave Denizen:

The pudding lurks, Predator-like, at the back of an ice cave. When creatures/PCs take refuge in the cave, it detects the heat, and creeps forward … but only after watches have been set.

Variant Mechanics: Traditionally, black puddings split when hit (in 5e, lightning and slashing attacks do this). What happens in ShadowDark? 

Heal Cube

Source: Monthly monster - Heal Cube

Description: A massive cube of clear slime with a faint, pink color. Plump mice and centipedes drift around inside.

Monster Level: 5

At the Table:

Noble Healing Chamber

The town’s local noble acquired a Heal Cube as a hedge against death. The PCs come across it during a night of carousing that ends at the noble’s estate. The Cube is keeping the noble alive … but what’s fueling the cube?

Side Note Conversation

Massive cube of clear slime? Wait … are slimes actually a kind of ooze? What the heck is an ooze anyway?

Featured Image Meta

Black-and-white art of a skeleton-filled gelatinous cube devouring a new victim from the Ooze Cubes monthly monster release.