In the quickstart of Shadow of the Lodge (new manual of The Silence of Hollowind with the D&D5e regulation already integrated) we find all the basics of setting and rules necessary to start playing. Everything can then be explored in the manual The Silence of Hollowind – Historical Treatise and in the other previous manuals. The base game in fact already had a solid lore, but lacked an official system of rules; each group could play it with their favorite RPG and adaptations to various rules systems can be found on the official website.
In this quickstart we go to visit Hollowind, an immense megalopolis that has left behind a past of magic and cruel Arcanists to embrace science and technology; we will live it knowing its dynamics and experiencing some adventures within it.
During the recent edition of Modena Play 2021 we had the pleasure of interviewing the author Luca Bellini of Ludiblood. We thank him for providing us with the printed version of this quickstart. You can find the interview on the No Dice Unrolled YouTube channel.
Full-bodied Preview in Space-saving Format
This short paper compendium of about 90 pages is paginated with two columns for each side. In this way it is possible to provide the reader with a lot of information while remaining in a light and manageable format (21,5 × 28).
The graphics are very pleasant and the illustrations, all in color, are very accurate and detailed. I particularly appreciated them because their pictorial finish reminds me of the style of certain graphic novels.
Order, Reveal and Pursue
The Silence of Hollowind – Shadow of the Lodge is based on the 5e of the most popular RPG in the world. For those who have not understood, we talk about Dungeons & Dragons.
The huge city of Hollowind, fragmented into dozens of urban islands by a particular magical fog, sees its population decimated by the Arcane Plague. The excessive use of magic by the elite of the Arcanists has led to this deadly disease, and not even the edict of Firstmage Merlin, which limits the use of spells, serves to stop the insurrection of the enraged inhabitants. This name may seem like a foregone reference, but I really appreciated it.
With the Arcanists ousted, the future of the city is that of a technological megalopolis. The use of magic becomes very limited and controlled.
We therefore find a well-organized state. The Council of Sages follows the work of the Punishers, who fight those who use magic, and of the Parliament, which creates the laws and manages the Army.
Order, Reveal and Persecute is the motto of the city, which comes to life by the Departments, also coordinated by the Punishers, who keep the inhabitants of Hollowind safe.
Responsible for keeping the peace at the forefront of the city streets, the Order Department is the best known.
The Persecutors fight spellcasters and monsters, receiving the necessary training and the most advanced equipment.
On the other hand, the Detectors are the elite of investigators who follow high-profile cases that need their intervention.
Then there are the Censors, or the analysts who deal with cataloging and archiving arcane texts and censoring unwelcome news in the magical context. Although this Department welcomes important figures such as coroners and glyphists, their work is considered secondary and it does not fit the words of Hollowind‘s motto.
The Urban Fantasy Setting
The setting can easily fall into the category of urban fantasy because it contains all the elements of these genres.
There are numerous ideas from which to draw inspiration, from money used to spoken languages, from the use of technology to means of transport to give examples. All these details greatly enrich the story and allow total immersion in the flow of the game.
It is curious to see the classic races that we are used to interpreting in fantasy struggling with a modern and technological scenario.
It therefore tears more than a light smile of criminal organizations formed by dwarves, goblins and ghouls.
Rules of The Silence of Hollowind – Shadow of the Lodge
Perhaps the greatest peculiarity of this title is the management of the classes.
We find a macro category, that of the Agent, which can be customized by players with primary and secondary jobs. As a result to this mechanism, a “single class” gives rise to numerous combinations that allow for varied characters with different abilities.
In addition to the different careers to choose from, the presence of backgrounds also enriches the characterization of the protagonists created.
In the investigative campaign of The Silence of Hollowind – Shadow of the Lodge it was necessary to introduce new features in other areas as well. Let’s talk about weapons, equipment and skills.
Firearms are added, with different types of ammunition that can be restored by the agent through reputation points.
Objects are associated with specific resource dice, which determine the number of uses. In addition to full armor, it is possible to wear partial armor that add up to increase the armor class. In this way, however, they lower the dexterity modifier applied by the underlying clothes.
The classic skills of the player’s manual are flanked by the passive skills education, contacts and investigate, essential to complete the character profile. His abilities are further enriched by the choice of a specific profession that confers a specialization aimed at the tests of that particular field. One of the most important is that of the glyphist, or those who use manalite technology and crystals to create glyphs, the only type of magic allowed and legalized.
Ready to Investigate Now
Without going too far into the description of the rules, I mention that in The Silence of Hollowind – Shadow of the Lodge nothing is left to chance. Even chases and interrogations, fundamental elements of the investigative genre, are outlined by a well-defined and detailed description.
Part of the quickstart is dedicated to a series of four adventures that introduce the complex storyline of the Shadow of the Lodge campaign. Investigators will have to find out everything about the criminal organization that goes by the name of The Lodge. To further enrich the narrative, clue tokens and agent tokens will be available, which add plot implications and characterization traits to the characters. There are also maps and pre-generated characters.
Conclusions of the Preview of The Silence of Hollowind – Shadow of the Lodge
In conclusion, I found this quickstart well detailed and very curated.
Do you like the investigative theme but are you reluctant to abandon the classic fantasy genre? The Silence of Hollowind – Shadow of the Lodge will provide you with a good compromise. All enhanced by innovative elements and a good visual compartment to experience everything to the fullest.