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comet_scoutI love The Dark Crystal as a franchise, so I was really happy to find out they had a TTRPG game and ran to try and find it. It was a struggle thought, I could not find it selling anywhere here in Brazil except for one choice that was R$1000+ (Had a similar issue with FFG Star Wars, in Brazil all books are way too pricey.)
I left as it is for a while until I stumbled by it + their Labyrinth game combo for a killer price, and got it right away. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to solo it. And after a while of leaving it to gather some dust, I finally decided to open it up and try anyway!
First, the book is gorgeous, I can't decide if I like it more with or without the cover guard. And it's even more beautiful on the inside. And despite the intimidating size, the actual RPG rules aren't too extensive. Most of it is actually dedicated to the adventure, with most pages being locations of the map, with encounter tables and details of what can be encountered there.
I would genuinely recommend the book for anyone who is a fan of the franchise, even if not planning to play the game, it can be nice to use it to explore Thra and some locations.
How I said, rules are simple, at the start you mostly have 1 trait from your Gelfling race, 2 skills and 1 specialization of each that give +1 for skill, +1 for specialization, and another +1 for master to the die roll. The die is also your health. You roll with a 1d6, until you are hid, then it lowers to a 1d4, and if you are hit again you roll on a DMG table, that gives you a condition from dizzy, to loss of a limb, to death. No level up, you spend earned XP for new skill or specialization, and to master, but you will need a master NPC for that. Very role-play leaning, but pretty affective.
Since I was going to play the adventure first, I went making a party of three. Young Drenchen hunter A'lum that was haunted by dreams of the Mythics valley, Devoted Dousan guard Drysha called for the quest by her Maudre, and nervous Spriton herbalist Lont who provided provisions for the Mythics in hope to learn with them. (I'm not great with names.)
[Spoilers for the adventure from here.]
The main adventure is UrSu, one of the Mythics, giving the quest to have the seven seeds from the seven great trees of Thra brought to the valley before the great conjunction in 99 days. That's what the calendar to the right is for, each purple day is the corruption spreading through Thra. Each species start with the knowledge of one of the great trees, but I gave me a leeway with Drysha rolling a successful Lore roll for a story of a great tree in the Endless forest.
So it's the direction they set. Passing by mourning woodland Gelfling we choose better not to bother at the Ribbon groove, in the burnt wood, then had our path diverted after an encounter with a distressed young Seedle (a green and leaf covered sloth and gorilla like creature). By helping it, it took us to Forest End, where we met a shepherd Spriton Gelfling aiding an ancient Seedle about to pass. By instinct, the Seelde looks for damaged patches in forests to lay and aid the growth of plant life, but the damage left by the Skeksis was too extensive. Obviously, we decided to help, we camped and took a day to help clear a path for the Seedle, Drysha as the muscle while Lont prepped the soil.
By the end of it, we are back between The Burnt Forest and The Endless Forest border, where we had an encounter with a Crystal bat. (Meaning in 3 days, we could get a Gerthin surprise, but the party doesn't know about it.)
They started the next day at a Podling hamlet, the Podlings didn't know much of the great tree, but gave us direction to UrVa's hut where there would be a boat we could take thought the great lake, that would take us to Stone-in-the-wood. The only encounter during travel there was an empty piece of parchment, actually a secret map revealed by heat. The setting is after the show, so UrVa's home was empty, but Drysha recognized the waterfall at the front as a place they could leave an offering for a wish, she left a jewel and a prayer for a successful quest, Lont dismissed it, but A'lum followed Drysha by leaving a colorful feather with a wish to be true to her bow.
They explored the hut, but we didn't have the skill needed to open the chest or time to meditate by UrVa's writing, so we left with the idea of coming back later. We may not be able to. The travel by boat was uneventful, and we reached Stone-in-the-wood to camp. Before that, we had only found an Astrolab, but failed the lore roll. This was just in time not only for the Gerthin encounter the next day, but also for a darkening to spread thought a location. I still haven't set the location of choice, but thought that maybe it being at the Endless Forest itself would be an interesting challenge, and introduce it to the characters.
[End Spoilers!]
I'm using MythicGME V2 to solo it (heh, Mythic, get it), and using Owlbear to keep the campaign. The biggest challenge so far is trying to keep Meta, "DM vs Player" , knowledge separated. I know the empty parchment is actually a map, but A'lum doesn't, when do I "show" it to "her"? In most other solo games, Meta knowledge was easier to deal with since it was always short-lived, but here I'm placing myself a lot more on the DM square. I'm making the effort to "roleplay" through theater of the mind, Lont is empathetic but nervous, Drysha is enthusiastic and naive, and A'lum is brash but young enough to want to follow the two.
I'm still having a grand time, and want to keep going, thought! Just first time tackling this type of game solo. Sadly, although also a beautiful book, I think it'll be impossible to do that with the Labyrinth's game.
I left as it is for a while until I stumbled by it + their Labyrinth game combo for a killer price, and got it right away. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if I was going to be able to solo it. And after a while of leaving it to gather some dust, I finally decided to open it up and try anyway!
First, the book is gorgeous, I can't decide if I like it more with or without the cover guard. And it's even more beautiful on the inside. And despite the intimidating size, the actual RPG rules aren't too extensive. Most of it is actually dedicated to the adventure, with most pages being locations of the map, with encounter tables and details of what can be encountered there.
I would genuinely recommend the book for anyone who is a fan of the franchise, even if not planning to play the game, it can be nice to use it to explore Thra and some locations.
How I said, rules are simple, at the start you mostly have 1 trait from your Gelfling race, 2 skills and 1 specialization of each that give +1 for skill, +1 for specialization, and another +1 for master to the die roll. The die is also your health. You roll with a 1d6, until you are hid, then it lowers to a 1d4, and if you are hit again you roll on a DMG table, that gives you a condition from dizzy, to loss of a limb, to death. No level up, you spend earned XP for new skill or specialization, and to master, but you will need a master NPC for that. Very role-play leaning, but pretty affective.
Since I was going to play the adventure first, I went making a party of three. Young Drenchen hunter A'lum that was haunted by dreams of the Mythics valley, Devoted Dousan guard Drysha called for the quest by her Maudre, and nervous Spriton herbalist Lont who provided provisions for the Mythics in hope to learn with them. (I'm not great with names.)
The main adventure is UrSu, one of the Mythics, giving the quest to have the seven seeds from the seven great trees of Thra brought to the valley before the great conjunction in 99 days. That's what the calendar to the right is for, each purple day is the corruption spreading through Thra. Each species start with the knowledge of one of the great trees, but I gave me a leeway with Drysha rolling a successful Lore roll for a story of a great tree in the Endless forest.
So it's the direction they set. Passing by mourning woodland Gelfling we choose better not to bother at the Ribbon groove, in the burnt wood, then had our path diverted after an encounter with a distressed young Seedle (a green and leaf covered sloth and gorilla like creature). By helping it, it took us to Forest End, where we met a shepherd Spriton Gelfling aiding an ancient Seedle about to pass. By instinct, the Seelde looks for damaged patches in forests to lay and aid the growth of plant life, but the damage left by the Skeksis was too extensive. Obviously, we decided to help, we camped and took a day to help clear a path for the Seedle, Drysha as the muscle while Lont prepped the soil.
By the end of it, we are back between The Burnt Forest and The Endless Forest border, where we had an encounter with a Crystal bat. (Meaning in 3 days, we could get a Gerthin surprise, but the party doesn't know about it.)
They started the next day at a Podling hamlet, the Podlings didn't know much of the great tree, but gave us direction to UrVa's hut where there would be a boat we could take thought the great lake, that would take us to Stone-in-the-wood. The only encounter during travel there was an empty piece of parchment, actually a secret map revealed by heat. The setting is after the show, so UrVa's home was empty, but Drysha recognized the waterfall at the front as a place they could leave an offering for a wish, she left a jewel and a prayer for a successful quest, Lont dismissed it, but A'lum followed Drysha by leaving a colorful feather with a wish to be true to her bow.
They explored the hut, but we didn't have the skill needed to open the chest or time to meditate by UrVa's writing, so we left with the idea of coming back later. We may not be able to. The travel by boat was uneventful, and we reached Stone-in-the-wood to camp. Before that, we had only found an Astrolab, but failed the lore roll. This was just in time not only for the Gerthin encounter the next day, but also for a darkening to spread thought a location. I still haven't set the location of choice, but thought that maybe it being at the Endless Forest itself would be an interesting challenge, and introduce it to the characters.
I'm using MythicGME V2 to solo it (heh, Mythic, get it), and using Owlbear to keep the campaign. The biggest challenge so far is trying to keep Meta, "DM vs Player" , knowledge separated. I know the empty parchment is actually a map, but A'lum doesn't, when do I "show" it to "her"? In most other solo games, Meta knowledge was easier to deal with since it was always short-lived, but here I'm placing myself a lot more on the DM square. I'm making the effort to "roleplay" through theater of the mind, Lont is empathetic but nervous, Drysha is enthusiastic and naive, and A'lum is brash but young enough to want to follow the two.
I'm still having a grand time, and want to keep going, thought! Just first time tackling this type of game solo. Sadly, although also a beautiful book, I think it'll be impossible to do that with the Labyrinth's game.
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Date: Sunday, 28 December 2025 22:36 (UTC)no subject
Date: Monday, 29 December 2025 22:09 (UTC)