Dark Forest
A downloadable game
A loving homage to the classic Dark Fort, Dark Forest extends Kargunt's doomed quest into the deep woods. Mechanics and presentation are both designed to mimic the inspiration material.
- v0.06a: re-exported PDF to correct clipping
- v0.06b: PDF without "photocopy artifacts"
- v0.06 updates:
- clarification to starting hex location per eschenfelder's question
- clarification to Dark Fort connection and weak monster auto-hit error per luckyszilvi's review
- Minor monster edits
- v0.05 update: clarification to rules for spider swarm and fighting two foes.
DARK FOREST is an independent production by Nick Waber and is not affiliated with Ockult Örtmästare Games or Stockholm Kartell. It is published under the MÖRK BORG Third Party License. MÖRK BORG is copyright Ockult Örtmästare Games and Stockholm Kartell.
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Cannot read right side of one page in the latest version
That's very odd. I just downloaded a copy from the link and couldn't replicate the issue. If you re-download it does it work? And which page isn't appearing properly?
Fire me your email? I can send you the download so you can see how it came out on my end? Or I can send a snapshot?
Sure- feel free to email me: nwaber@gmail.com or upload here (looks like the comments have an image-upload button).
Does uploading a fresh copy fix it?
Email sent.
Its the 2nd page of v6 about the monsters... right edge of page. All missing info
I might be missing something, but what exactly would be the point of rolling for "hex exit direction"? I mean, there's a hex grid map to explore. Rolling for movement feels somehow forced, and in fact, it isn't really different from moving freely.
Also, do terrain types have any specific purpose other than just being thematic / cosmetic flavours? Upon reading the file, I couldn't find anything about such features, or perhaps I just missed it...
Hex exit: It's mostly just to mimic how Dark Fort restricted movement with finite and specific door placements. In terms of narrative flavour, in keeping with the general Dark Fort/Mörk Borg vibe of impending and inexorable doom, it imposes the feeling of being lost in the woods (especially a malevolent and magical forest)--thinking that you're making progress and then stumbling across your own tracks from the day before. Definitely ignore that mechanic and explore in your desired direction(s) if that suits you better; since there's no destination there's no mechanical effect to moving in any direction.
Terrain types: totally just for flavour (aside from the keep/barrow). Would be cool to have it affect the monster abilities (i.e. bandits are stronger in the woods; wildmen are stronger in the swamp), but I'm not sure how to include that given the space constraints of the one-sheet rules format. I'm already bumping up against the edges just by using a D6 rather than D4 for encounters! I guess I could add the ballpoint-pen margin notes like in Dark Fort.
I see. Many thanks for the reply. Well, perhaps things should fit on some future supplements... 😉
Hi, I really liked how this game follows the footsteps of Dark Fort, especially when I realized the two are connected! In the same time I had questions, so let me suggest an improvement (from 12:00), and a clarification (from 13:17). Thanks for not just creating, but regularly updating this true tribute to Dark Fort! <3
Wow! Thanks for the great YouTube playthrough and review! Your questions and suggestions are super-helpful for v0.06 (I'll probably upload it in the next few days). Your observation about the +1 attack level-up and the longsword +1 attack stacking to auto-hit 3-point monsters really caught my attention- I totally missed that.
Amusingly, in my own playtests I have literally never had a character survive long enough to return to the forest from the barrow/keep Dark Fort detours, so the question of how to deal with the level points never came up.
Thanks for the reply and update, I will check it!
And I have to admit that one of the reasons I stayed out of the dungeon is the fear of lethality… 😅 So I understand that the level up question never came up!
Hi, I have some questions. Where do i start on the Hex map? What happens in a barrow or keep? How long do i stay in there and how do i get Out? For a novice like me this is hindering me from starting at all. Could you please explain?
Hi- thanks for the questions.
Starting location: start in any hex. I usually toss a die onto the map and start where it lands. Narratively, in keeping with the general theme of powerlessness in a malevolent world that was set out in Dark Fort, I figure the deep woods rambler is dropped into the remote wilderness by a trickster being, rather than entering from a border with "civilization". But if you want to start at the edge, go for it!
Barrows/keeps: if you land on one of those, switch games from Dark Forest to Dark Fort (the original that inspired me to make Dark Forest). It's a fun solo micro-RPG dungeon diver. https://morkborg.exlibrisrpg.com/entries/dark-fort It's part of the Mörk Borg Feretory zine: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/328612/moerk-borg-cult-feretory (or probably elsewhere online.)
Alternative free dungeon divers along the same theme as Dark Fort, which would make a great tool for the barrows and keeps:
Basilisk!: https://1d105.itch.io/basilisk
D66ngeon: https://visc.itch.io/d66ngeon
Thank you for replying. I look forward to actually playing your game. I tried only one Hex crawl before, Barbarian Prince and couldnt get into it.
“Your name is still Kargunt” is so funny to me. Can’t wait to try this later. Thank you for making it!