RPG: ‘Urban Shadows 2E’ – Vampires, Fae, Wizards? You’ll Find ‘Em All There
Urban Shadows 2E is a game of supernatural creatures lurking in the shadows of a city near you. Your vampire fantasies await.
Urban Shadows 2nd Edition is our everywhere today. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the game, the title should tell you everything you need to know. It’s a familiar premise that powers at least two different sections of your local bookstore, depending on how into the genre fiction weeds they get. But, as you might imagine, Urban Shadows is a game where various supernatural creatures are real and hiding in the shadows of our Modern World.
But not like, literally in the shadows. There are secret organizations and factions that struggle with each other. It’s the courtly intrigue of an Anne Rice or World of Darkness book mixed with a little action and adventure. All are facilitated by the Powered by the Apocalypse rules framework.
And if you’ve ever played a game, you know that the term can mean a lot of different things. But you’ll find familiar conventions here. Characters have playbooks that relate to specific supernatural concepts. You’ll roll 2d6 + a Stat, and you’ll measure success in categories of 10+, 7-9, or 6-, and all the other bells and whistles. But you could be a vampire, a fairy, a mortal, or a wizard while doing so.
Urban Shadows 2E – Available Now From Magpie Games
Urban Shadows 2E is out now from Avatar: Legends publisher Magpie Games. After the widespread success of that, I’ve seen more than a few Magpie titles at my FLGS, though you can also find out digitally either from their site or on DriveThruRPG. It all comes down to whether or not you want a physical book that you can own and hold in your hands without the need for power or wifi.
In the 2nd Edition ruleset, there are new playbooks, streamlined rules, and, most exciting to folks hoping to get into the intriguing side of it – there are new mechanics for backroom deals and faction play, so you really can run your city-like a playground.
“Urban Shadows is an urban fantasy tabletop roleplaying game in which mortals and monsters vie for control of a modern-day city in a political battleground layered just under the reality we think we know. Vampires, faeries, hunters, and wizards fight to carve out a piece of the streets and skyscrapers, ready to make deals with all those who have something to offer.”
What’s in the Book
Inside, you’ll find a ton of stuff to live out your supernatural dreams. Including:
- 12 unique character playbooks, each tuned to put your characters at the center of an urban fantasy story driven by allegiances, debts, and status
- 4 supernatural Circles—Mortalis, Night, Wild, and Power—whose nightly politics fill the city with dramatic twists and intriguing NPCs
- Clearly defined mechanics that push the fiction forward every time a player rolls the dice, advancing your group’s tale at every turn
- Detailed advice for the Master of Ceremonies, the player running the game, including 2 city guides—Chicago and Santiago—packed with story hooks
- All-new mechanics for backroom deals and faction play that make the nightly politics of the city real for players and NPCs alike
The question remains: Will this satisfy in a way that something like the World of Darkness doesn’t? It certainly offers a different take on the classic genre. If you love the framework of PbtA and the collaborative gameplay the ruleset encourages, you may well find a new game perfect for running your dark nights of masquerade-like intrigue.
Either way, you can check it out wherever you find your RPGs.
Slink in the shadows, struggle for power, you know the drill!
