What I want to bring up is his explanation of the Shadowfell -- I'm fairly new to D&D and getting into lore and the multiverse, so I have no background of either of these from past versions. I feel like he explains the Feywild very well and I understand what he means by it. Everything is extreme, all emotions are one extreme or the other. It's not evil or good, it's just extreme.
I'm confused on how he explains the Shadowfell. He says everything just seems stuck and repetitive, but I'm confused as to how that works. How would you DM the environment/things in the Shadowfell should your party go there? He gives several examples about the extremes of the Feywild, such as slightly offending someone makes them feel they need to execute you, but then the slightest thing that gets their approval, they are your BFF <3! I feel that explaining the Feywild should you go there is much easier, and would be alot simpler to act as any NPC's encountered there. If the party is in the Shadowfell, how do you force things to be still/repetitive/depressed as he describes. How would describe the Shadowfell and how would you present encounters there?
Another question, he mentions Strahd when talking about the Shadowfell -- is CoS something that takes place there? I haven't been a part of or run that adventure ever, so I don't quite see the connection.
Edit: if this is better placed in Story/Lore a mod can feel free to move it :)
About he connection with Barovia and CoS, it is said in the DMG that Barovia is actually a demiplane created by beings from the Shadowfell called the Dark Powers. These demiplanes are like prisons for the darklords that rule within them. So Barovia is an extension of the Shadowfell.
The Shadowfell is presented as dark and color-less, full of shadows. There, apathy and dread are the dominant feelings.
About he connection with Barovia and CoS, it is said in the DMG that Barovia is actually a demiplane created by beings from the Shadowfell canned the Dark Powers. These demiplanes are like prisons for the darklords that rule within them. So Barovia is an extension of the Shadowfell.
The Shadowfell is presented as dark and color-less, full of shadows. There, apathy and dread are the dominant feelings.
Thanks -- I need to re-open my DMG re-read through it. On my first few passes through it I honestly skipped the entire multiverse chapter as it wasn't relevant to getting a game up and running and have since forgotten about it. So much more to see!
Imagine a place that drains all color from you, where there's just this overwhelming sense of apathy and dread pulling at your limbs, wearing you down until eventually you want to just lay down and die. There is no happiness, no anger, no nothing... just killing who you are, destroying your drive until you can't even remember what it means to feel something at all- thats the shadowfell.
Imagine a place that drains all color from you, where there's just this overwhelming sense of apathy and dread pulling at your limbs, wearing you down until eventually you want to just lay down and die. There is no happiness, no anger, no nothing... just killing who you are, destroying your drive until you can't even remember what it means to feel something at all- thats the shadowfell.
Oh no, Murky and Lurky are at it again. Call in Rainbow Brite to bring back color to the Shadowfell.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
One way to look at it is through bipolar disorder. If the Material Plane is the "normal" person, then Feywild is that person in a manic episode and Shadowfell is that person in a depressive episode. For more description and examples about Shadowfell, google "description of being in deep depression".
Just as a note though - be careful taking your players into Shadowfell with these descriptions. Your players are people and they are playing to have fun, so make sure to not go (too much) further than setting the atmosphere. Many people have had depressive episodes in their lives and reminding them about it or triggering some best-forgotten memories can make the session(s) taxing on your players.
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For those who haven't seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDRp2opdX70
Mike Mearls explains the Feywild and Shadowfell.
What I want to bring up is his explanation of the Shadowfell -- I'm fairly new to D&D and getting into lore and the multiverse, so I have no background of either of these from past versions. I feel like he explains the Feywild very well and I understand what he means by it. Everything is extreme, all emotions are one extreme or the other. It's not evil or good, it's just extreme.
I'm confused on how he explains the Shadowfell. He says everything just seems stuck and repetitive, but I'm confused as to how that works. How would you DM the environment/things in the Shadowfell should your party go there? He gives several examples about the extremes of the Feywild, such as slightly offending someone makes them feel they need to execute you, but then the slightest thing that gets their approval, they are your BFF <3! I feel that explaining the Feywild should you go there is much easier, and would be alot simpler to act as any NPC's encountered there. If the party is in the Shadowfell, how do you force things to be still/repetitive/depressed as he describes. How would describe the Shadowfell and how would you present encounters there?
Another question, he mentions Strahd when talking about the Shadowfell -- is CoS something that takes place there? I haven't been a part of or run that adventure ever, so I don't quite see the connection.
Edit: if this is better placed in Story/Lore a mod can feel free to move it :)
How do you get a one-armed goblin out of a tree?
Wave!
The Shadowfell reminds me of Marvin from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
About he connection with Barovia and CoS, it is said in the DMG that Barovia is actually a demiplane created by beings from the Shadowfell called the Dark Powers. These demiplanes are like prisons for the darklords that rule within them. So Barovia is an extension of the Shadowfell.
The Shadowfell is presented as dark and color-less, full of shadows. There, apathy and dread are the dominant feelings.
How do you get a one-armed goblin out of a tree?
Wave!
It's like the plane of EMO. Read up on Shar, that's immediately what I think of. It's full of despair, loss and giving up.
Imagine a place that drains all color from you, where there's just this overwhelming sense of apathy and dread pulling at your limbs, wearing you down until eventually you want to just lay down and die. There is no happiness, no anger, no nothing... just killing who you are, destroying your drive until you can't even remember what it means to feel something at all- thats the shadowfell.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
One way to look at it is through bipolar disorder. If the Material Plane is the "normal" person, then Feywild is that person in a manic episode and Shadowfell is that person in a depressive episode. For more description and examples about Shadowfell, google "description of being in deep depression".
Just as a note though - be careful taking your players into Shadowfell with these descriptions. Your players are people and they are playing to have fun, so make sure to not go (too much) further than setting the atmosphere. Many people have had depressive episodes in their lives and reminding them about it or triggering some best-forgotten memories can make the session(s) taxing on your players.