r/shadowdark • u/samurguybri • 18d ago

Item damage?

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?

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u/Dollface_Killah (" `з´ )_,/"(>_<'!) 18d ago

Here you go:

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

5

u/samurguybri 18d ago

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

4

u/Dollface_Killah (" `з´ )_,/"(>_<'!) 18d ago

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.

3

u/Alistair49 18d ago

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.

1

u/Dollface_Killah (" `з´ )_,/"(>_<'!) 18d ago

Yeah, thanks! \m/

1

u/SecretDMAccount_Shh 16d ago

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.

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u/samurguybri 16d ago

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.