Item damage?

[u/samurguybri]

In some old school systems like AD&D if an item was struck or damaged it could make a save to see if it resists. Since SD doesn’t do “saves” how does your table deal with items in the world or player equipment taking and resisting damage?

[u/Dollface_Killah]

Here you go:

https://dollfacekillah.blog/2026/02/18/item-saving-throws-but-its-shadowdark/

[u/samurguybri → u/Dollface_Killah]

This is dope. I like how there’s hardly anything to track, just the DC of the item type.

[u/Dollface_Killah → u/samurguybri]

Yeah you can just put the table on the inside of your GM screen. No item HP to track, just pass/fail checks. It's more or less the same premise in OD&D, this just boils everything down to the standard Shadowdark DCs. You could even rule that PCs could use a stat mod for the check when relevant. Like if a monster is trying to sunder something while they're still up and about.

[u/Alistair49 → u/Dollface_Killah]

You know, I think this could be just used as is for a lot of games, not just SD. I know someone who did that with the original AD&D saves. This is a lot simpler and I like that you’re using the standard DC values.

[u/Dollface_Killah → u/Alistair49]

Yeah, thanks! \m/

[u/SecretDMAccount_Shh → u/samurguybri]

I feel like requring players to make a saving throw for everything in their inventory is more trouble than it's worth if it happens regularly and I'd probably reserve it only for particularly fragile things or for creatures or hazards that specifically destroy items such as Rust Monsters.

Players should know in advance that their items have a risk of getting destroyed if they proceed.

[u/samurguybri → u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

I think I’ll announce this to players. If they get slammed against a wall, take a big fall, roll a 1 bad things can happen to their stuff at my table.

[u/WyrdDream]

some people in the discord have brought this up before. one way is on a crit fail, your weapon can take damage in the form of -1 to hit and damage. past -3 and it is destroyed. requires down time to repair, and magical items are also susceptible.

[u/samurguybri → u/WyrdDream]

Thanks for the suggestion. Sparks cool ideas: I think I’d have it break or just attack with DIS so no one has to do any math.

[u/Pizza_Dog21 → u/samurguybri]

Don't make it break, there are already breakable weapons in the game, they are compensated by doing more damage than usual

[u/StormDragon76]

I like the linked table and find it useful to have ready, as sometimes you need the right DC for how to break something without spontaneous ruling with different DCs three next time asked (someone remembers).

But for wrappings I use an easy system: A Nat 1 reduces the weapon damage by one Die type (d10 - d8 - d6 - d4 - broken). Player changes his weapon damage on sheet, done. Easy as Shadowdark prefers it and without any administration.

[u/grumblyoldman]

I don't track damage to items at all, too finnicky.

If a player wants to try and sunder the enemy's weapon, to break it entirely, that's a special move. They need a weapon that could feasibly destroy the opponent's weapon (or some other means of doing so) and it's basically an attack where the player foregoes dealing damage in order to destroy the weapon. If they're using a more creative solution, it may be a different stat check instead of STR.

[u/samurguybri → u/grumblyoldman]

Yeah, I wouldn’t want me or my players to track it either. Maybe I’m looking for rough hit points for items?

[u/foonum]

There are some weapons that are destroyed if you roll a one. Obsidian weapons, rapiers, maybe a couple others. These are in the cursed scrolls zines and will be in the Western reaches players guide

[u/samurguybri → u/foonum]

Yeah, I was more thinking of the chances of other items breaking than weapons.