What is Against the Darkmaster?

Against the Darkmaster is a tabletop Epic Fantasy roleplaying game of high adventure, heroic action, and heavy metal combat.

If you put together works like The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time, sprinkled them with a bit of Labyrinth and Dragonslayer, and put everything in a blender together with a healthy dose of classic Heavy Metal, you’ll get a typical Against the Darkmaster game session.

Travel to distant lands, face terrible dangers, uncover ancient items of power, and gather the armies of the world  to defeat the ultimate Evil.

 

Prepare your dice and get ready to fight!

The System

dice

Unified Mechanics

A simple resolution mechanic based exclusively on d100 rolls allows for fast play and easy-to-learn rules.

Full Character Customization

The combination of Vocations, Kins, Cultures, and Backgrounds allows to build extremely diverse player characters.

Flexible Magic System

A magic system based on Magic Points and Spell Lores, open to all characters for maximum flexibility.

Brutal Heavy Metal Combat

The Attack Tables & Critical Strikes system allows for lethal, tactical combat. Maim, stun, and kill your foes!

Travel & Exploration

Travel to distant, dangerous places and fabled lands with a system aimed at creating great, epic fantasy quests.

Character-Driven Play

The Passions & Drive system is especially designed to bring characters’ motivations and goals into play!

Famous Last Words

“Against the Darkmaster is the game I would have liked to play if it existed before I was defeated.”

- Sauron -

“Hodor. Hodor hodor... Hodor hodor HODOR hodor. Hodor hodor?! Hodor”

- Hodor -

"Can we play Against the Darkmaster now?"

- Will Byers -

Open Ended Games

Meet the people behind the project

Massimiliano “Arioch” Caracristi

Main Author, Social Media Manager

Part-time game designer, amateur blogger, full-time gamer. Basically lives on fantasy books, anime and power metal. Secretly a Wizard.

Nikola “Nikiliko” Segoloni

Contributor, Layout Designer & Editor

Your unconventional geek. I love history, soccer, video games, board games, role playing games, fantasy books, and technology, not in that specific order. Fell in love with RPGs after seeing Elmore’s red box cover.

Tommaso “SOLIDToM” Galmacci

Author, Art Director, Lead Artist

40-something geek, old time roleplayer, fantasy addict, illustrator, graphic designer. Fond of crunchy tabletop RPGs, Tolkien, and cheesy ‘80s fantasy flicks. Metalhead. Bodybuilder. Would-be barbarian.

Paolo “Denteblu” Vecchiocattivi

Contributor, Proof-reader, Arcane Web Developer

Fell in love with the Hobbit at nine years old, never recovered. Developer, geek, and tech lover, been role-playing over the last 30 years – better if IRL. Fantasy, history, and nostalgy addicted.

Dispatches

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Buy Now

Travel to distant lands, face terrible dangers, uncover ancient items of power, and gather the armies of the world under your banner to defeat the ultimate Evil.

A complete rule system, including:

    • Unified d100-based action resolution mechanic
    • Huge variety of character customization options
    • Detailed travel mechanics for long overland adventures
    • Flexible magic system with over 300 spells
    • Tactical combat and brutal Critical Strikes
    • Immersive rules for character driven adventures
    • A Bestiary with over 60 fearsome creatures
    • A full introductory campaign in three parts
Mockup of the Hard Cover Full Rules Core Book
Mockup of the Hard Cover Full Rules Core Book

Grab it on



Against the Darkmaster Kickstarter Trailer

Battle Hymns

While you gather your forces for the fight to come, listen to some anthems to inspire your soul and focus your mind.

Contacts

Leave a message, thou visitor, and join the ranks of the Free Peoples fighting the Endless War Against the Darkmaster!