Lonely TTRPG EP 23 - One Shot in the Dark by Tale of the Manticore
One Shot in the Dark is a rules-ultra-light, classic-style fantasy RPG that can be played solo or with up to 4 people. It's a pick-up-and-play game that requires zero prep. It's also a true one-shot in the sense that it can be played in full in a single session, usually in less time than it takes to watch a movie. A standard deck of playing cards and a set of polyhedral dice (or a dice rolling app) are required for play.
Thoughts: One Shot in the Dark is a classic solo RPG dungeon crawl experience full of fun and threats as you try to clear a 2 level dungeon.
You can find One Shot in the Dark at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/366526/One-Shot-in-the-Dark
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Transcript
This week's episode is sponsored by fungiable by Tom Owen.
SteelStash:Fungiable is a debut solo journaling game that uses wretched and alone structure
SteelStash:with a unique gambling exploding dice mechanic using a set of seven standard
SteelStash:polyhedral dice, a deck of playing cards, and a way to record your journey.
SteelStash:The players ushered through taking on the scourge of cryptocurrency,
SteelStash:NFT, and tech bro culture in a horrific satirical dystopian approach.
SteelStash:They are down on their luck, low on funds, and an opportunity appears to
SteelStash:be just what they need to get out of the red and into some serious green.
SteelStash:While playing, you will journal the outcomes of your
SteelStash:choices and their consequences.
SteelStash:Some of which rely on entropy delivered by playing cards and dice roll.
SteelStash:Fungiable is currently live now on Kickstarter.
SteelStash:Make sure you check the link down in the description because there are only
SteelStash:a few days left to back this project.
SteelStash:Otherwise make sure you keep an eye out on your favorite gaming site to find out
SteelStash:where you can get your copy of fungiable.
SteelStash:Greetings weary traveler and welcome back to lonely.
SteelStash:TT, R P G the solo actual play and review podcast.
SteelStash:I am your host steel stash.
SteelStash:And this week we are playing one shot in the dark by tale of the manticore.
SteelStash:Now tale of the manticore is a great podcast of solo actual play.
SteelStash:So if you like a old school solo dungeon crawl experience that
SteelStash:leans more on the audio drama side, definitely go check them out.
SteelStash:They've actually sponsored a couple episodes for us and
SteelStash:they've given us this to review.
SteelStash:So we're gonna go ahead and dive on in.
SteelStash:So one shot in the dark is not just a rules like game.
SteelStash:It is a rules ultra light game.
SteelStash:Anyone familiar with RPG should be able to learn how to play in minutes.
SteelStash:If you are not familiar with RPGs, turn to pages 13 through 16
SteelStash:for a more in depth explanation,
SteelStash:gameplay is fast.
SteelStash:A full game can be played in less than the time it takes to watch a movie.
SteelStash:So to set up, you are going to need a map with some blank pieces of paper,
SteelStash:at least three, preferably gritted, a pencil, some dice, and a deck
SteelStash:of cards with the jokers removed.
SteelStash:Now for your deck, you are going to separate it out into the four suits.
SteelStash:And then of course, you're gonna need your imagination, but feel free to envision
SteelStash:your game as richly or as minimally as you prefer name your characters, just refer to
SteelStash:'em by their types, whatever it's on you.
SteelStash:This is your game.
SteelStash:So for the characters, you are going to have the option of warriors,
SteelStash:thieves, wizards, and clerics.
SteelStash:So your classic, your classic tropes, your classic dungeon party, trope,
SteelStash:For stats, you only have two stats.
SteelStash:You gotta worry about hit points and hit dice.
SteelStash:All right, at zero, your character is dead, but you're gonna keep track
SteelStash:of your hit dice on the same sheet that you're drawing your map and
SteelStash:hit dice are used to determine HP by level and attack in damage roles.
SteelStash:So warriors are gonna get themselves a D eight clerics will get a D six
SteelStash:wizards and thieves will get a D four, all characters begin with
SteelStash:their maximum hit points available.
SteelStash:So your warrior is going to have eight, for example.
SteelStash:But on level up, then you roll your hit die, and you will
SteelStash:add that to your current pool.
SteelStash:So four combat combat is actually relatively simple in this game.
SteelStash:You are going to roll your hit, die for an attack and a four or above is
SteelStash:gonna hit a three or below will miss.
SteelStash:So if your attack hits, then you roll your hit, die again, to determine
SteelStash:damage that you do to the monster.
SteelStash:When any character or enemy is hit, the player in control
SteelStash:chooses who gets the damage.
SteelStash:But you cannot divide that damage up between multiple targets.
SteelStash:One target has to take all of it.
SteelStash:There is no AC armor and toughness.
SteelStash:That's all just in your hit pool and your ability to roll a four or above.
SteelStash:If you are playing with multiple people, because you can't play
SteelStash:with up up to four people.
SteelStash:If you are playing with multiple people, each person will
SteelStash:take turns, drawing a card.
SteelStash:Now everybody acts in combat, but each person will take turns drawing a card.
SteelStash:So a turn works like this.
SteelStash:All right, you're gonna draw a card from the hearts deck, and that's
SteelStash:going to determine what type of room in the dungeon that you're in.
SteelStash:And then you're gonna set that off to the side, update your map.
SteelStash:If you have any new features indicated, describe what you see.
SteelStash:Resolve combat.
SteelStash:If a monster is indicated and follow any other instructions, if indicated,
SteelStash:and then that is the end of a turn.
SteelStash:So if you draw a card, it indicates a monster.
SteelStash:You draw from the monster pile to determine the monsters, and then
SteelStash:you will proceed with combat.
SteelStash:Now it doesn't specifically say, but assume that everything is
SteelStash:happening instantaneous in combat.
SteelStash:So for ease of things, have the players go first, do their actions.
SteelStash:And then even if they would have killed the monster, have the monster
SteelStash:go and do its actions, hopefully it misses, but the monster will go.
SteelStash:And if it deals any damage, it deals damage before it dies.
SteelStash:That sort of thing.
SteelStash:Now spells and spells like abilities.
SteelStash:Granted through items can be cast at any time in combat spells are
SteelStash:instantaneous and do not take the place of an attack role, which is super sweet.
SteelStash:So if you have a spell scroll or something like that, you can use
SteelStash:the spell scroll and then attack.
SteelStash:But considering your wizards only have a d four for their hit die
SteelStash:probably best to just keep them in the back out of the fight and they
SteelStash:fling their spell and hopefully the monster doesn't come after 'em.
SteelStash:Now, sometimes you are gonna have saving throws.
SteelStash:You're gonna have some skill throws like your thief will
SteelStash:be asked to sneak or disarm.
SteelStash:When that happens, then you're gonna roll a D 20 on an 11 or above.
SteelStash:That's a hit or a success on a 10 or below.
SteelStash:That is a failure.
SteelStash:So if you're trying to disarm a trap, you fail trap automatically
SteelStash:goes off and you take damage.
SteelStash:If the trap indicates it,
SteelStash:same thing.
SteelStash:If you're trying to sneak by something, you roll a 13.
SteelStash:Congratulations.
SteelStash:Ya did it.
SteelStash:Your thief got you through, but here is the thing.
SteelStash:If your thief is dead, then automatic failures on that.
SteelStash:Thieves are the only ones who can sneak.
SteelStash:Thieves are the only one who can disarm traps.
SteelStash:So hopefully you keep that guy alive, For level up.
SteelStash:If a character is going to level up that will happen when
SteelStash:you draw the ACE of hearts.
SteelStash:So if you draw the ACE of hearts, Typically, that means
SteelStash:you move down to the next level.
SteelStash:And when you go to move down to the next level, that is when you
SteelStash:level up two rules for level up.
SteelStash:First rule, everybody goes back to maximum hit points at their current level.
SteelStash:You roll your hit die.
SteelStash:You add that to the total.
SteelStash:That is your new health.
SteelStash:If you're looking for a little more of a challenge, then keep your health where
SteelStash:it's at and just add the new hit dice.
SteelStash:So little trickier with that one.
SteelStash:And then of course, before you begin a new level, make sure
SteelStash:you reshuffle all of your decks.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:Put all your discarded cards back in their deck.
SteelStash:Reshuffle those decks.
SteelStash:Start over again.
SteelStash:How to win, survive to face and defeat.
SteelStash:The final boss have courage.
SteelStash:Hope yet remains.
SteelStash:And that final boss is hidden on the third level, which is why
SteelStash:you need three sheets of paper.
SteelStash:So in general your hearts are going to be your dungeon cards.
SteelStash:They're gonna tell you what type of room or intersection you're at
SteelStash:diamonds are gonna be your monsters.
SteelStash:So if you get told that there's a monster there, you're going to pull
SteelStash:a diamond clubs will be your loot.
SteelStash:And then spades will be your boss.
SteelStash:Now, one last thing before we get started, all right.
SteelStash:Spells, Clerics and wizards have six spells that they can use.
SteelStash:They will know one at the start of the game, and then they will
SteelStash:be able to choose a new one.
SteelStash:Each time they level up, there are no spell slots though.
SteelStash:And once you choose a spell, you cannot choose it again.
SteelStash:So the way that reads to me, You get a spell, you get to
SteelStash:use it once in this dungeon.
SteelStash:Make sure you choose your spells carefully and make sure you use it
SteelStash:at the right opportunity, because these are a very finite resource.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:So I go, I went ahead and set up my game board.
SteelStash:Now, first things first, we are going to need to name our characters.
SteelStash:We are gonna go with a standard party of warrior, thief, wizard,
SteelStash:and cleric, but we need names.
SteelStash:And in order to do that, we need to know who these people are.
SteelStash:So what we're gonna do is we are going to roll a D six on one to two.
SteelStash:That person will be male.
SteelStash:On three to four, it will be female.
SteelStash:And on five to six, they will be non-binary and we will just go
SteelStash:straight down our list from warrior to thief, to wizard, to cleric.
SteelStash:So our warrior is going to be non-binary.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:So our warrior will be named Dakota
SteelStash:now for our thief.
SteelStash:Our thief will be named
SteelStash:Riley at another nonbinary.
SteelStash:What about our wizard?
SteelStash:Our wizard will be a female, a lady named
SteelStash:Sophie
SteelStash:and finally a cleric.
SteelStash:Another nonbinary.
SteelStash:Jesse, we're gonna go with Jesse, the cleric.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:So for my audience with that I rolled a lot more non-binary than I was expecting.
SteelStash:So right up front, I'm going to apologize if I forget to use the correct pronouns,
SteelStash:I'm gonna try to remember to use they I may just use they for everybody.
SteelStash:It seems to me that it seems to me that Sophie would just
SteelStash:kind of go along with it.
SteelStash:So now.
SteelStash:On the start onto the start.
SteelStash:So we need to come up on our caverns.
SteelStash:We need our party to come up on the caverns.
SteelStash:So
SteelStash:I'm gonna make a slight cheat here.
SteelStash:I'm gonna make a slight cheat.
SteelStash:And I'm going to say that we know what the boss is
SteelStash:after all.
SteelStash:This is a low level party, and it makes sense that this would
SteelStash:be some type of initiation.
SteelStash:So we're gonna know who the boss is.
SteelStash:So we got ourselves, the eight of spades and the eight of spades will tell us.
SteelStash:That the boss is a Basilisk outstanding.
SteelStash:So we need to fight ourselves a Basilisk.
SteelStash:So we even have ourselves an adventure name.
SteelStash:Welcome weary wanderer to the Basilisk's Fang, a one shot in the dark adventure.
SteelStash:So our party sets out from their safe Haven and travels through the woods.
SteelStash:In order to find the layer of the bassist.
SteelStash:There have been rumors that there have been rumors that this creature
SteelStash:had awakened like there have always been myths that a basilisk was
SteelStash:nearby, but now there have been rumors that it has awakened and that it
SteelStash:is ready to cause havoc once again,
SteelStash:and as they travel, Sophie is very concerned as she
SteelStash:is going through her books.
SteelStash:I just, I just, I just don't know if we're quite ready to handle a basilisk.
SteelStash:I mean, after all we are quite new.
SteelStash:I only know one spell and Jesse over here only knows heal.
SteelStash:And as a quick side note I'm going to automatically give the cleric heal
SteelStash:because a cleric should have heal.
SteelStash:That's a lie.
SteelStash:A cleric should not have heal stop making your clerics heal bots.
SteelStash:They can be damaged dealers, but the way this game is set up, it's it
SteelStash:favors a cleric being able to heal.
SteelStash:But for the wizard, we are going to roll a d six and randomly
SteelStash:choose what spell they have.
SteelStash:On a four.
SteelStash:So that's gonna be enthrall.
SteelStash:The enemy must save or join the party as a faithful ally until dead
SteelStash:or the level is completed, does not work on the boss or undead.
SteelStash:I mean, I only know by one spell and Jesse only knows heal, and I'm just,
SteelStash:I'm just concerned that us fighting something that big might, might
SteelStash:not be the best course of action.
SteelStash:Jessie, calm down.
SteelStash:Dakota will look at Jessie and clap her on the shoulder as they continue to laugh.
SteelStash:Now why, why, why, why, why, why, why would the Guild send us after this?
SteelStash:If there is no chance or hope of victory, you gotta think Jesse, all right.
SteelStash:They know that we're able to handle this.
SteelStash:They know that these trials are important.
SteelStash:It is vital for us as a group in order to go into these Dungeons
SteelStash:and take care of these monsters.
SteelStash:That is, that is why we joined the Guild.
SteelStash:That is what our sole purpose is.
SteelStash:And after all, there should be no reason why we shouldn't be able to handle this.
SteelStash:We're a big, strong lot.
SteelStash:This will be, I'm not gonna say it will be no problem.
SteelStash:It will be challenging, but.
SteelStash:But it will be all right.
SteelStash:Trust me, ha ha.
SteelStash:And Riley is going to give Dakota a sidelong glance as they look at the
SteelStash:warrior and just shake their head.
SteelStash:Jessie, meanwhile is not saying anything.
SteelStash:They are choosing to remain quiet and out of this fight, after all, Jesse
SteelStash:has learned that Dakota and Sophie, they like to go back and forth.
SteelStash:Sophie is Jesse has noticed that Sophie is intelligent, but
SteelStash:Sophie enjoys Sophie seems to enjoy the argument.
SteelStash:And sometimes her intelligence gets in her own way when it comes to acting.
SteelStash:Whereas Dakota has no problem acting.
SteelStash:They are very quick and decisive.
SteelStash:So Jesse has long since learned that the conversations go much faster.
SteelStash:If you just let Dakota and Sophie talk it out and don't interrupt because
SteelStash:then one or the other will jump in on whatever point you bring up.
SteelStash:But before long, the party is going to find themselves coming up on the caverns.
SteelStash:And as they approach the entrance to the cavern, Riley's actually gonna
SteelStash:be the one who stops everybody.
SteelStash:And they're gonna look up at the entrance to the cavern and point at
SteelStash:a symbol carved into the top of the.
SteelStash:Now, what do you reckon that that means that is that's a new symbol?
SteelStash:Tell you what?
SteelStash:You never seen, nothing like that before?
SteelStash:No, no Guild or clan that I know uses it.
SteelStash:Riley, it's just a symbol Dakota just waves it off as they get ready
SteelStash:to enter the cavern, but Jesse or Jesse's actually drawn to it as
SteelStash:Jesse looks up at it because Jesse is recognizing it as alchemical.
SteelStash:It's an alchemical symbol.
SteelStash:Quite interesting.
SteelStash:The.
SteelStash:Study of alchemy has long, long been of interest to the clerics.
SteelStash:After all we do recognize that not all magic comes from divine sources.
SteelStash:Look at our fine friends, Sophie, over here, but the study of alchemy that's
SteelStash:that has so often led to that has so often led to unnatural connotations.
SteelStash:And I do not, I cannot for the life of me recognize what this symbol is and that
SteelStash:in and of itself should be of concern.
SteelStash:Now, Jessie.
SteelStash:I reckon that you would know best.
SteelStash:However, we do got ourselves a job and the job is on the
SteelStash:other side of this here symbol.
SteelStash:And if Dakota's not concerned, then I reckon that we don't have too much
SteelStash:to be concerned with either now.
SteelStash:But, but, but Riley, Dakota's not concerned about anything.
SteelStash:Uh, Sophie tried to interject, but Dakota has long since swept
SteelStash:into the entrance of the cavern.
SteelStash:And as they enter, we get the eight of hearts.
SteelStash:We get the eight of hearts.
SteelStash:And so our cavern entrance
SteelStash:is going to be a huge cavern with three exits.
SteelStash:So as the party enters the cavern, they are struck by the sheer size of the thing.
SteelStash:The ceiling seems to climb almost 20 feet into the air while stalagtites
SteelStash:and stalagmites thick, like jagged feet from floor and ceiling, making
SteelStash:the space seem both impossibly large and impossibly small at the same time.
SteelStash:Unfortunately, for the party, as they are staring up at this, they hear a
SteelStash:growl from the center of the room.
SteelStash:And
SteelStash:from that growl.
SteelStash:They're gonna find the.
SteelStash:Seven of diamonds, which is three skeletons with four hit points, each,
SteelStash:each one doing a D four of damage.
SteelStash:And they do have the undead tag, which means they're
SteelStash:immune to enthrall and poison.
SteelStash:Dakota is going to laugh with delight as they charge straight into the fray and
SteelStash:run up amid all of these skeletons and they are going to attempt their attack
SteelStash:with a miss right off the bat.
SteelStash:This is going to cause right, Riley, some pause and Riley is
SteelStash:going to attempt to slip along
SteelStash:slip alongside the skeletons and Riley will pull out their dagger and
SteelStash:try to try to sneak up behind them.
SteelStash:And.
SteelStash:Slice at their backbone.
SteelStash:Unfortunately Riley is not able to get themselves in position.
SteelStash:Sophie is, Sophie is concerned that
SteelStash:Sophie is concerned that she is not capable of doing anything.
SteelStash:So she's actually going to keep to the back out of combat.
SteelStash:So Sophie will not be within range of any of the skeletons.
SteelStash:Jesse, meanwhile is going to stand up and raise their mace
SteelStash:and they connect solidly with one of the skeletons,
SteelStash:crushing an arm bone in dealing two points of damage.
SteelStash:And we will just roll a.
SteelStash:We will roll a D six to determine which skeleton one to two will
SteelStash:be one, three to four will be two, five to six will be three.
SteelStash:So that'll be skeleton one.
SteelStash:Meanwhile, the skeletons are all going to start swarming the party and skeleton
SteelStash:one will, and they will all make their attacks for the interest of time.
SteelStash:I'm just gonna roll 3d four for the skeletons and whichever one's hit , hit.
SteelStash:Luckily for the party, none of the skeletons seem to
SteelStash:be able to move very well.
SteelStash:And they all miss in their swiping attacks.
SteelStash:Now Dakota is rather embarrassed that Jesse is showing them up right now.
SteelStash:So Dakota will redouble their efforts and attempt to hit the skeletons
SteelStash:once more and just barely misses.
SteelStash:It seems that they were aiming at skeleton one, but because of the way skeleton
SteelStash:one is listing, they just barely missed.
SteelStash:Riley will once again, attempt to find a favorable position and strike, but is
SteelStash:unable to Sophie is still hanging out in the back away from combat while Jesse
SteelStash:steps up once again with their mace
SteelStash:and unfortunately they missed this time as.
SteelStash:These skeletons, meanwhile, continue to press in on the group.
SteelStash:And while one and two, aren't able to do anything of substance.
SteelStash:They do manage to push.
SteelStash:They do manage to push Jesse into position of skeleton three dealing one point of
SteelStash:damage as it swipes at Jesse's face.
SteelStash:Dakota will once again, lift their sword up and bring it in a sweeping
SteelStash:motion down towards the skeleton.
SteelStash:And this time they connect solidly.
SteelStash:They managed to smash skeleton one right in that injured shoulder.
SteelStash:Unfortunately they only deal one point of damage as
SteelStash:it seems that it was already weak and the weakness has made it more difficult to
SteelStash:do anything of substance to the skeleton.
SteelStash:Riley will continue their attempts at circling and finding
SteelStash:an opportunity to attack,
SteelStash:but they just cannot quite get themselves in a favorable position.
SteelStash:Sophie is feeling a little emboldened, seeing that the skeletons are
SteelStash:not that effective at fighting.
SteelStash:So she is actually going to step up with her staff and swing,
SteelStash:but she just misses as she goes to swing, she fails to take into
SteelStash:account the rock surrounding her and it kind of clangs off the rock.
SteelStash:Jessie, meanwhile
SteelStash:also misses with her mace.
SteelStash:Jesse seems to be annoyed that they got scratched and it
SteelStash:it's kind of distracting them
SteelStash:now, as for the skeletons these skeletons are unable to do anything this round.
SteelStash:They continue to shamble about the group.
SteelStash:It seems that Sophie stepping up kind of confuse them and they lost, like
SteelStash:they lost their train of thought.
SteelStash:So all of their, all of their attempts at swiping at the party go
SteelStash:wide, which brings us back to Dakota
SteelStash:who hits once again.
SteelStash:Dakota really seems to have found their rhythm.
SteelStash:Ha take that.
SteelStash:And Dakota successfully manages to dispatch skeleton one,
SteelStash:rather handily striking it on the skull and crushing it to a powder.
SteelStash:Riley continues to circle looking for an opening and an opportunity
SteelStash:and they find one, they find one.
SteelStash:Slipping their knife into a crack in skeleton, three,
SteelStash:dealing three points of damage.
SteelStash:As they find a, as they seem to find a crack in the spinal column that
SteelStash:they're able to completely exploit
SteelStash:nearly crippling skeleton three in the process.
SteelStash:Sophie is going to step up and she is going to once again, swing
SteelStash:and she manages to connect as well.
SteelStash:Sophie has made a hit
SteelStash:against skeleton two
SteelStash:for two points of damage as her staff cracks against the skeleton's ribs.
SteelStash:Now, Jesse seeing that both of these skeletons are.
SteelStash:Almost done is going to attempt to at least put one of them out of their misery.
SteelStash:Unfortunately they do not.
SteelStash:Unfortunately they do not.
SteelStash:So the skeletons will now strike at the party,
SteelStash:but it seems like they cannot quite get it together.
SteelStash:Now on the one hand, Dakota is pleased that they did
SteelStash:destroy one of the skeletons.
SteelStash:However, they seem a little miffed that even the wizard
SteelStash:seems to have done more damage,
SteelStash:but in their frustration, their swing goes wide and they miss their target.
SteelStash:Riley once again, circling looking for an opportune moment that they find
SteelStash:against skeleton two and Riley Riley manages to exploit the crack in the
SteelStash:skeleton's head and their dagger finds it and pries it open, finishing
SteelStash:off skeleton two and Riley turns and gives Dakota a wink and holds up one
SteelStash:finger showing that they are tied.
SteelStash:Meanwhile, Sophie is going to attempt to swing on skeleton three, but
SteelStash:it seems that she's not quite used to the adrenaline of a fight and.
SteelStash:Her quarter staff sails over the skeleton's head.
SteelStash:Jesse, meanwhile wants to put some points on the board as well.
SteelStash:And they also just wanna end the fight.
SteelStash:Unfortunately, they are not able to skeleton three is skeleton three
SteelStash:should run away, but they're undead.
SteelStash:They're a skeleton.
SteelStash:They don't know any better.
SteelStash:And they continue to swipe in effectively at the party,
SteelStash:allowing Dakota, one more opportunity to hit
SteelStash:and they decimate the remaining skeleton with a resounding crash of their sword.
SteelStash:Oh, you almost had me there.
SteelStash:Riley, but I managed to pull it out in the end?
SteelStash:It's two for me one for you.
SteelStash:I mean, I reckon that we're just getting started now.
SteelStash:sug.
SteelStash:It's aight we still got plenty of time.
SteelStash:Are, are, are all fights like this?
SteelStash:Sophie asks if she looks at the rest of her party members.
SteelStash:Yeah.
SteelStash:I mean, not typically this easy, we, we manage to avoid most scratches and
SteelStash:Dakota will shoot Jessie a a sly look.
SteelStash:Yes, Jesse replies.
SteelStash:Yes.
SteelStash:Most fights do tend to go like this, a lot of back and forth with really looking for
SteelStash:lucky opportunities, but it would appear that we have ourselves some options.
SteelStash:Riley, would you care to go and see which way may be the best way?
SteelStash:Yeah, I reckon I can do that.
SteelStash:And so riley is gonna run off to the three different exits and
SteelStash:help find a path for the party.
SteelStash:So
SteelStash:on a one or two, the party will take the
SteelStash:bottom left path on a three or a four.
SteelStash:The party will take the middle path and on a five or a six, the party
SteelStash:will take the bottom right path.
SteelStash:That is a two, the party is going to the bottom left
SteelStash:and as they move through the entrance, we get the two of hearts,
SteelStash:which is a T junction tunnel.
SteelStash:So
SteelStash:the party will travel down the tunnel towards the T junction and
SteelStash:they will stop and look both ways.
SteelStash:Well, I reckon it's about six one half dozen the other, yes,
SteelStash:you're probably right there.
SteelStash:Riley, shall we just flip a coin?
SteelStash:I, I, I think we should keep going.
SteelStash:I think we should keep going down left Sophie interjects and for lack of a
SteelStash:better option, the party agrees with her.
SteelStash:Thankfully Sophie chose that direction because that direction
SteelStash:has the most clear space on my map.
SteelStash:And continuing down the party finds a nine of hearts, which is a creature
SteelStash:sleeping quarter with two exits.
SteelStash:So as the party enters the room, they see that it appears to be a bunkhouse
SteelStash:of some sort, and they can hear the sound of snoring in this room.
SteelStash:Now they can see two exits they can see a door to the bottom and
SteelStash:a door to the right of the room.
SteelStash:And after, after some hurry discussion, they decide to go to the right door, but
SteelStash:they need to send Riley to find them a path that will be the least intrusive.
SteelStash:And hopefully they can slip on by, without being caught.
SteelStash:So this will be a sneak role.
SteelStash:Remember that is a D 20 on an 11 or above.
SteelStash:We will succeed.
SteelStash:And we roll a three, the fates are not with us.
SteelStash:Unfortunately it seems right off the bat.
SteelStash:Riley Riley goes and steps on a blanket, which should have helped
SteelStash:muffled their footsteps, but there appeared to be some bones underneath
SteelStash:it and some very brittle bones at that.
SteelStash:And they snapped at the weight of Riley's foot.
SteelStash:And at that snap, they hear these snore starts just
SteelStash:as the monster awakens and we get an eight of diamonds.
SteelStash:Which is going to be two giant bats for four HP doing a D four of damage
SteelStash:should really start choosing my monsters before I make their description.
SteelStash:But these are giant bats and they seem to roar.
SteelStash:And these bats do roar at the party as they come flittering in
SteelStash:now, Dakota wanting to maintain their streak and their lead is going to
SteelStash:step forward and swing their sword.
SteelStash:They will just they will connect with a bat.
SteelStash:They will connect with bat two and do seven points of damage as, as bat two
SteelStash:comes swooping in Dakota, just steps forward and slices it cleanly in half.
SteelStash:As it falls screeching to the ground.
SteelStash:Ha just had to get warmed up with the skeletons.
SteelStash:You give me some, you give me some flesh and blood and I'm unstoppable.
SteelStash:Riley is going to roll their eyes.
SteelStash:As they attempt to find a advantageous position to strike at bat one.
SteelStash:And unfortunately they just missed, they, they try to maneuver back behind
SteelStash:and underneath and swipe up with their dagger, but they kind of misjudged
SteelStash:the height and the way the bat was hovering and it, it bounced up as
SteelStash:they swiped and they just missed it.
SteelStash:Sophie, meanwhile seeing the ease in which bat two was dispatched and
SteelStash:while still nervous, but filled with confidence from her fight with the
SteelStash:skeletons she's going to step forward as well and attempt to attempt to
SteelStash:hit the bat with her quarter staff.
SteelStash:But she's like trying to poke it.
SteelStash:Like with she's like trying to poke at it.
SteelStash:And as she goes to poke up, she misses it kind of slides along the bat swing.
SteelStash:Jesse will offer a small chuckle as they step forward,
SteelStash:which is quickly erased by Jesse's mace.
SteelStash:Also missing the bat
SteelStash:as for the bat.
SteelStash:It is going to screech, but it's going to stay kind of hovering
SteelStash:above everybody as it is unable to find a good spot to attack.
SteelStash:Meanwhile, Dakota is going to roar with laughter . Oh, it's okay.
SteelStash:If you need Dakota to take care of everything, Dakota will take
SteelStash:care of everything and they will swing their sword with another hit.
SteelStash:Dealing two points of damage.
SteelStash:So they managed to graze this bat along the belly
SteelStash:and blood will rain down on the party
SteelStash:as Riley attempts to both Dodge out of the way and strike
SteelStash:at the now wounded creature.
SteelStash:And luckily as they jumped out the way they got just enough height that they
SteelStash:they found a place for their knife to land
SteelStash:and.
SteelStash:They plunge their knife deep into the creature's chest and managed
SteelStash:to Pierce its heart and that bat as well, falls to the ground
SteelStash:as the party stands in an empty room.
SteelStash:Now, Jesse is going to, Jesse's gonna kind of look over at Riley.
SteelStash:Hmm.
SteelStash:I thought perhaps that you would've been a little more quiet in your endeavors.
SteelStash:Well now hold your horses.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:It wasn't my best showing, but you know, we, we did manage to
SteelStash:take care of them, their bats.
SteelStash:We, I believe I was the one who took care of 'em and everybody's just gonna
SteelStash:kind of give to Dakota of the eye.
SteelStash:But at the same time, Dakota is really like, Dakota is really helping
SteelStash:out in these physical contests.
SteelStash:So the party is going to continue to move forward and they are going
SteelStash:to continue towards the right where they get the king of hearts.
SteelStash:And as they enter into this room, they don't see any doors or exits
SteelStash:except for the one behind them.
SteelStash:And right, as they step in,
SteelStash:right as Dakota steps in, he is hit with a sudden wave of energy as the goblin
SteelStash:shaman that was hiding in this room hits them full in the face with blast.
SteelStash:Oh, oh, poor Dakota and Dakota takes six points of damage
SteelStash:as their face is just as their face is just hit with this wave of energy.
SteelStash:The rest of the party sees the way that it ripples and the skin kind of tears
SteelStash:as Dakota almost falls to their knees,
SteelStash:But before anybody else can react Dakota screams as they jump up and
SteelStash:rush this shaman, their sword flashing.
SteelStash:Unfortunately with the blood in their eye, their swing goes wild.
SteelStash:Riley runs in quickly after Dakota to try and help
SteelStash:at least provide another target for the shaman because everybody
SteelStash:can see Dakota's in rough shape.
SteelStash:And Riley is unable to find anywhere for their knife to land.
SteelStash:Sophie
SteelStash:will,
SteelStash:Sophie will look at the shaman and realize that the shaman might be of help.
SteelStash:It would be nice to have an extra magic user.
SteelStash:And so Sophie is going to cast thrall.
SteelStash:Which the enemy must make a save on.
SteelStash:So this role so the enemy will have to roll 11 or above on a D 20
SteelStash:ha oh man.
SteelStash:I saw 20, I saw 15 and then it landed on a seven.
SteelStash:So before Jesse can move forward to also strike at the the shaman
SteelStash:its eyes glaze over and Sophie cries out to everybody.
SteelStash:Stop.
SteelStash:Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.
SteelStash:Stop.
SteelStash:It's it's under my control.
SteelStash:I, I have it.
SteelStash:I have it.
SteelStash:It it's.
SteelStash:It's not gonna hurt anybody anymore.
SteelStash:The party will gain a temporary ally in this goblin.
SteelStash:I don't think that we should let this goblin live.
SteelStash:Did you see what it did to my face?
SteelStash:And Dakota is seething with anger at what happened, because they did
SteelStash:take a giant blast to the face.
SteelStash:Now, Dakota, perhaps.
SteelStash:Perhaps this creature can be of use to us while I don't find myself comfortable with
SteelStash:forcing another creature to aid us.
SteelStash:Maybe we can consider it a sort of penance for the damage that it has caused.
SteelStash:And by the way, Jesse will reach out and will cup Dakota's face in their hands.
SteelStash:And warmth will emanate from Jesse's palms into Dakota.
SteelStash:And as that dissipates, Dakota will regain four points of health.
SteelStash:Coming back up to six as Jesse uses their spell heal.
SteelStash:Cuz if there is a time to use it, it is when the warrior was at two HP.
SteelStash:So as the party kind of gathers himself and there's some slight argument
SteelStash:back and forth on the morality and whether or not they wanna keep the
SteelStash:goblin, Dakota begrudgingly agrees just because at the very least
SteelStash:they can send the goblin in first.
SteelStash:Though everybody is now a little wary of Sophie, just because of just how
SteelStash:easily she walked in and did that.
SteelStash:Despite the fact that Sophie maintains, she cannot do any,
SteelStash:like she cannot do it again.
SteelStash:Nobody is like really convinced they're they all, they are kind of wary, but as
SteelStash:this room doesn't have any exits, the party is going to backtrack back into
SteelStash:the sleeping quarters that they found and they will head to the door on the
SteelStash:bottom and stepping through that door.
SteelStash:They will find the three of hearts.
SteelStash:Which will be another, another cave.
SteelStash:The party's gonna find themselves in another cavern with.
SteelStash:An additional three exits.
SteelStash:And as they look up, they see thousands of bats just hanging from the ceiling
SteelStash:and Sophie kinda shutters a little bit, but everybody else seems very non-con
SteelStash:concerned after all they, after all, they very easily dealt with the big
SteelStash:bats, these little bats, weren't gonna be any issue if they decided to turn.
SteelStash:But aside from some chittering and screeching, these bats,
SteelStash:aren't doing anything.
SteelStash:And the party is once again, left with a decision of left right or center.
SteelStash:And they choose to go left once more,
SteelStash:where , they find the Jack of hearts,
SteelStash:which is going to be a beautiful nature sanctuary.
SteelStash:And walking in, they find a cavern that.
SteelStash:That seems to glitter with bioluminescent Moss.
SteelStash:There's just these soft, like there's this soft, gentle light in there, and
SteelStash:there's all different types of Moss and lichen on the ground that gives
SteelStash:it just a pleasant, earthy aroma.
SteelStash:The ground is soft under their feet and they, they just find
SteelStash:a beautiful spot to rest.
SteelStash:Hmm.
SteelStash:It seems this might be a place of solace.
SteelStash:Perhaps we should pause a moment and
SteelStash:recoup ourselves.
SteelStash:And nobody had a really good argument for Sophie after all.
SteelStash:After all, Dakota's still a little heated and everybody else
SteelStash:Dakota's still a little heated.
SteelStash:Sophie is tired.
SteelStash:And so they all pause to, they all pause to rest in this spot.
SteelStash:And as they do Dakota and Dakota and Jesse both feel a, feel, some strength
SteelStash:return to them as they both regain one HP.
SteelStash:Now, after sitting and resting the party realizes they do have to
SteelStash:move on and there are two exits.
SteelStash:One to the right and one on the bottom of the room and they feel like the
SteelStash:one to the right will connect with the connect with the bat cavern.
SteelStash:Not directly with the bat cavern, but with the room that was below the bat cavern.
SteelStash:So they decide that they are going to, they decide that they're going to go down
SteelStash:and as they go down, they find the seven of hearts.
SteelStash:yes.
SteelStash:Finally
SteelStash:and,
SteelStash:they find themselves in a small room.
SteelStash:And at the end of this small room, there is a chest and Riley is the
SteelStash:most excited to find this chest.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:Y'all now this is what I'm talking about.
SteelStash:It is about time.
SteelStash:We find something like this.
SteelStash:Now y'all stand back a second.
SteelStash:You let ole Riley you, you let ole Riley do their thing.
SteelStash:And Riley is going to move forward.
SteelStash:And they are going to check the chest and attempt to deal with anything that
SteelStash:they find as this is a trapped chest.
SteelStash:And at a 14, they managed to disarm the trap with a audible click before opening
SteelStash:the lid, finding the queen of clubs,
SteelStash:which is.
SteelStash:Which is extreme loot.
SteelStash:And Riley is just going to explain, oh, dog now would y'all look at this.
SteelStash:And both of Riley's hands plunge into the chest, pulling out the Jack of
SteelStash:clubs and the two of clubs, which is a silver ring, worth 100 gold coins and
SteelStash:a potion of health, which may add up to a four HP to someone's health pool.
SteelStash:Now Dakota eyes, that potion very enviously cuz after all
SteelStash:it is a red potion, everybody knows what a red potion is,
SteelStash:but nobody says anything right away.
SteelStash:As Riley goes ahead and slips that silver ring on their finger.
SteelStash:But as there seems to be no other way in or out of this room, the party is going
SteelStash:to head back up and they will go to.
SteelStash:Go back to the nature, sanctuary and proceed through the right exit as that
SteelStash:is the only place that they can go, where they get the five of hearts,
SteelStash:which is another cavern.
SteelStash:They find themselves in another cavern and smack dab in the middle
SteelStash:of this cavern, standing over a small pile of something glittering, but
SteelStash:glaring at them with great menace.
SteelStash:Is the ACE of diamonds,
SteelStash:which is a defiled one
SteelStash:10 HP and a D eight.
SteelStash:And this will be the defiled bat.
SteelStash:The party looks at this giant creature standing on the ground.
SteelStash:Its wings outstretched, not a velvety brown or a glossy black,
SteelStash:but a sickly green as a deep purple seems to run through it.
SteelStash:And it looks at them with a slathering slobbering mouth before
SteelStash:letting out a screeching roar.
SteelStash:And as the party as the party runs in they will push the they will
SteelStash:push the goblin out front and the goblin's going to run up to this bat
SteelStash:and attempt to attempt to hit it.
SteelStash:But miss wildly, and as the Dakota runs up, they're gonna, they're gonna call out.
SteelStash:Huh?
SteelStash:What happened to that blast?
SteelStash:Detect that he hit me with before slashing with his sword
SteelStash:and Dakota is going to connect slashing across the bat's chest.
SteelStash:With a deep gouge as they do five points of damage,
SteelStash:Riley is going to circle about, again, looking for a
SteelStash:opportunity where they can attack
SteelStash:finding one as they slash out of this creature's leg.
SteelStash:Causing a minor wound of one, HP.
SteelStash:Sophie is going to.
SteelStash:Sophie's going to hang out in the back.
SteelStash:While she has been emboldened by some of her, by some of her other combats, this
SteelStash:is, this is something different entirely.
SteelStash:This is definitely very scary to her.
SteelStash:And she does not wanna get in, especially as the goblin just rushed
SteelStash:in and didn't seem to do anything and she will squeak at Dakota.
SteelStash:It I'm sorry.
SteelStash:It, it would seem that it doesn't have anything else,
SteelStash:but Jesse is not one to avoid a fight and they will glide in swinging mace.
SteelStash:With the head of their mace, connecting solidly against the defiled bat
SteelStash:for an additional two points of damage.
SteelStash:As
SteelStash:Jesse seems to be targeting the same leg that
SteelStash:Riley hurt.
SteelStash:In their attempts to Mame it.
SteelStash:The bat will screech out with fury as it leans down to snap at attackers,
SteelStash:but with its.
SteelStash:With all the damage to its leg, it is off balance and unable
SteelStash:to make any type of connection.
SteelStash:Meanwhile, Dakota will, once again, raise their sword and stab fiercely
SteelStash:with a miss as
SteelStash:their angles seem to have been slightly wrong.
SteelStash:And the point kind of skidders off the edge and the blade slides harmlessly
SteelStash:as their attack angle was wrong.
SteelStash:The flat of the blade sliding against the creature's belly, as opposed to the edge.
SteelStash:Meanwhile, Riley is once again, circling looking for opportunity,
SteelStash:looking for a place to strike.
SteelStash:And not finding any
SteelStash:Sophie is Sophie is continuing to stay in the back.
SteelStash:However, the goblin, once again, rushes at the creature, slashing
SteelStash:at it, and the goblin manages to dig its claws into the creature,
SteelStash:as it digs its claw into the wound that Dakota had made in the creature's
SteelStash:chest, tearing it open further as this purple blood oozes over the goblin
SteelStash:before the bat falls on top of it.
SteelStash:Let's see if the bat manages to crush the goblin
SteelStash:and it does not.
SteelStash:So the bat falls to the ground just to the side of the goblin and
SteelStash:the party leaving nothing, but the glittering treasure at its feet
SteelStash:and Riley is quick to move towards the seven of clubs and see what
SteelStash:the party might have found.
SteelStash:Which is a lucky charm, a plus one to all saving throws for the rest of the game.
SteelStash:And that is like super powerful.
SteelStash:And as the party,
SteelStash:as the party moves forward, they move straight past the creature.
SteelStash:After all the creature seemed like it was guarding more than just the loot.
SteelStash:Huh, you don't find something like that unless there's something worth guarding.
SteelStash:I agree with you Dakota, perhaps one of these exits will be
SteelStash:fortuitous for our venture.
SteelStash:Well, I reckon I'm the one who has to go and check now.
SteelStash:Don't I and Riley will pop off and check both exits before coming back
SteelStash:to the ACE of hearts, finding the stairs down, leading to level two, as
SteelStash:the party approaches the stairs, the goblin seems extremely reticent and
SteelStash:Sophie looks at it before nodding and the goblin goes skittering away into.
SteelStash:The caverns and that is where we will leave that.
SteelStash:So that is one shot in the dark.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:A very classic dungeon crawl experience.
SteelStash:Before we get into our thoughts on this, I am going to finish that story.
SteelStash:I am going to finish that game.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:I got two more levels to do, but that's gonna be for my patrons.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:So if you like this and you wanna see what happens at the end, then make sure you go
SteelStash:to patreon.com/blackdragondungeoncompany and check us out.
SteelStash:We have several options that you can choose from as far as support,
SteelStash:but for this game, for this game.
SteelStash:Very fun, very fun.
SteelStash:I really like that.
SteelStash:There were some things that I was kind of questionable.
SteelStash:In the beginning, but,
SteelStash:but it did end up playing out really fun.
SteelStash:And one of the things that I do like about it, I like the cards for the
SteelStash:procedural generation of the dungeon.
SteelStash:It's not just, it's not just roll dice, roll dice, roll dice, and hope that you
SteelStash:find some connecting tunnels and whatnot.
SteelStash:That is one of the problems with using something like Dungeons and
SteelStash:dragons, dungeon master guide.
SteelStash:You could end up with a tunnel that goes on forever and does nothing
SteelStash:but make turns and you end up with like, The beginning of the labyrinth.
SteelStash:All right, Jennifer, Jennifer Connolly running along with no turns,
SteelStash:no edges, no, anything like that.
SteelStash:And then you have to find an Oracle to have a worm come out and go, Hey, turn
SteelStash:around and walk forward into that wall.
SteelStash:It's not really a wall with the cards, with the cards, you have 13 options.
SteelStash:It's a lot easier to make 13 options that kind of connect to each other
SteelStash:and create something that will work.
SteelStash:Something that will find an answer.
SteelStash:But yeah, no super, super fun game.
SteelStash:Really enjoyed it.
SteelStash:Like I said, the cards were definitely an interesting mechanic.
SteelStash:The combat, the combat is not as fast as they advertise.
SteelStash:It is not super fast combat cause everybody's rolling D four S
SteelStash:except for two people for most of these fights, at least on level
SteelStash:one and only a four will hit.
SteelStash:So yeah.
SteelStash:Yeah, you got a 25% chance for your rogue and your wizard, but this is,
SteelStash:this is tabletop role play, baby 25 is both really big and really small.
SteelStash:It depends on how much you need it.
SteelStash:So yeah.
SteelStash:Could cut, like combat could kind of slow down.
SteelStash:I imagine as you travel further on in the game that you will run into stronger
SteelStash:monsters, so they are gonna hit more.
SteelStash:And, or at least they're going to hit as often as your cleric and barbarian.
SteelStash:I have not read ahead on the monsters, but I imagine level two would be like a
SteelStash:D six and level three would be a D eight.
SteelStash:Actually.
SteelStash:Let's check that.
SteelStash:You know what?
SteelStash:Let's check that.
SteelStash:Yeah.
SteelStash:I'm, I'm, I'm a genius.
SteelStash:No.
SteelStash:So level two, most of your monsters are D six damage size level three.
SteelStash:You have a mix of D six and D eight depending on what type of monster you get.
SteelStash:It's the hit points that go up, not necessarily the damage size, but
SteelStash:yeah, so that could, that could kind of make combat drag especially if you
SteelStash:do a one of each for the characters cuz really your barbarian and your
SteelStash:cleric have the best ability to hit.
SteelStash:Now I get it.
SteelStash:It's it's going off at the old school feel.
SteelStash:Thieves are not rogues.
SteelStash:They aren't, they aren't hitting at the same rate.
SteelStash:They aren't doing all the extra damage and wizards are just squishy things
SteelStash:that hopefully they have a spell.
SteelStash:So like I get it, I get it.
SteelStash:And it does go with the feel like this felt challenging.
SteelStash:It felt fun.
SteelStash:Really Dakota was the only character that I felt was in the least amount of danger.
SteelStash:And then Dakota was the one who almost died because they took the blast spell
SteelStash:to the face, walking into a random room.
SteelStash:And like, that was great.
SteelStash:That was great.
SteelStash:I was like, that happened.
SteelStash:I was like, oh my God, this is gonna be bad.
SteelStash:But yeah, no definitely a fun game.
SteelStash:Really enjoyed it.
SteelStash:If you liked it,
SteelStash:make sure you go check them out.
SteelStash:This game is only a dollar 50 on drive through RPG.
SteelStash:All right now, drive through, had drive through.
SteelStash:Doesn't have great links for saying, so make sure you check in the show notes.
SteelStash:Down below to get the link to this.
SteelStash:All right, go check this game out.
SteelStash:One shot in the dark by tale of the manticore and make sure you
SteelStash:check out their podcast as well.
SteelStash:Great podcast highly recommend it, but I have been steel
SteelStash:stash and this has been lonely.
SteelStash:TT RPG brought to you by the black dragon dungeon company.
SteelStash:Thank you very much for listening.
SteelStash:If you like this, remember to give us a rating alike, a
SteelStash:subscribe, all of that fun jazz.
SteelStash:And if you really like us, then go ahead and check out Patreon where you can
SteelStash:listen to the rest of this play through and get early access, get access to
SteelStash:all of our games, all of that stuff.
SteelStash:Really try to build a community over there and remember to share with your friends.
SteelStash:If you can.
SteelStash:And if you're not a position for Patreon and you're not in a position
SteelStash:to pick up any of our games, that's cool as well, then make sure
SteelStash:you share us with your friends.
SteelStash:All right.
SteelStash:Word of mouth goes a long way, or send me a, send me an email
SteelStash:and say, Hey, love the show.
SteelStash:You can reach me at blackdragondungeoncompany@gmail.com
SteelStash:or find me on Twitter at bddc_pod.
SteelStash:But that's all that I have.
SteelStash:That's all the plugs.
SteelStash:That's everything.
SteelStash:Remember?
SteelStash:I mustache y'all to stay.