Blades in the Dark
 | Also available in a gorgeous hardcover edition from Evil Hat Productions. |
Part of the OneSeven Games bundle: https://itch.io/s/137262/oneseven-games-bundle
Winner: 2015 Golden Geek, RPG of the Year
Winner: 2016 Indie RPG Award, Game of the Year (also Best Production and Best Support)
Blades in the Dark is a tabletop role-playing game about a crew of daring scoundrels seeking their fortunes on the haunted streets of an industrial-fantasy city. There are heists, chases, occult mysteries, dangerous bargains, bloody skirmishes, and, above all, riches to be had — if you’re bold enough to seize them.
You and your fledgling crew must thrive amidst the threats of rival gangs, powerful noble families, vengeful ghosts, the Bluecoats of the city watch, and the siren song of your scoundrel’s own vices. Will you rise to power in the criminal underworld? What are you willing to do to get to the top?
In this game, you’ll find:
- Rules to create your scoundrel using the following character archetypes: the Cutter, the Hound, the Leech, the Lurk, the Slide, the Spider, or the Whisper.
- Rules to create your crew, built from types like Assassins, Bravos, a Cult, Hawkers, Shadows, or Smugglers.
- A robust core mechanic which puts the fiction first—the strength of a character’s position (desperate, risky, or controlled) matters just as much as the character’s ability scores.
- A lightning-fast mechanic for planning criminal operations to cut through the usual slog of planning at the game table.
- Rules for alchemical experiments, gadget tinkering, and weird occult powers—including rules for playing Ghosts and other strange beings.
- A setting guide to the haunted city of Doskvol, with all the maps, factions, NPCs, schemes, and opportunities you need to run an exciting sandbox game.
GAME INFORMATION
Number of players: 3-6
Age of players: 13+
Length: 2-6 hours per session
Page Count: 336
BLADES IN THE DARK COMMUNITY FORUM
https://community.bladesinthedark.com
OFFICIAL WEBSITE (includes free supplements for the game):
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $20 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Community Copies
Support this game at or above a special price point to receive something exclusive.
Free PDFs for those in need
Sales of Blades in the Dark help others grab a free copy if their budget doesn't enable them to pay the listed price. If you can't afford a copy of Blades at the listed price, claim one of these free copies for the community.
Development log
- Blades in the Dark Hardcover BookJun 13, 2020
Comments
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how can I get a free copy
I add a batch of community copies every Monday afternoon, Pacific time.
Is there somewhere I can go to write a review for this? I've really fallen in love with the setting and system and I'd like to be able to recommend it to more than just my friends.
A group is playing locally and I was interested in snagging a community copy to look over before I join. Is there a chance any will be available soon? I understand if there’s not, and I plan to support when I get in a better place to do so.
I added some more community copies. Let me know if you don't get one.
Thank you! I’ll make sure to snag the physical copy when I can.
Snagged my physical copy and played 2 sessions so far. I've really enjoyed both the mechanics and the world you've created!
Glad to hear it!
I'm currently marveling over the way Duskvol's districts are presented in BitD and I'm doing a little layout replication as a study... I HAVE to ask, how is BitD's text justified? It seems to me like someone has painstakingly taken the time to justify the whole book by hand, but I feel like I'm missing something because that would be seriously impressive!
InDesign does a good job on its own, but I use custom justification settings that work better for me:
Word Spacing: 80% / 100% / 133%
Letter Spacing: -2 / 0% / 2%
Glyph Scaling: 98% / 100% / 102%
For the latter two categories, you can go +/- 3% instead of 2% and still get a good look.
Hey John,
My longer Vampire the Masquerade campaign just fell apart due to scheduling issues. We are looking into Blades in the Dark as a little less prep-reliant, would it be possible to put up some extra community copies so I can look into it in detail?
Thanks!
I just added a few more. :)
Hey John,
Would you be kind enough to have some extra community copies? I'm trying to decide on my groups next RPG and I'm leaning towards BitD. Thanks! :)
Just added some more! :)
Thank you much appreciated!
Hey Jhon,
this book looks great I'm interested in seeing how the Flashback mechanic plays out. Is there any place I could find a demo or community copy to look over before committing to a physical edition?
There are new community copies up right now.
Thank you so much I look forward to looking over the system!
Hey John,
Any chance of any extra community copies going up? I’d really like to dice into the book some before ordering a few physical copies once I get some bills caught up. Thanks!
No problemo. I put up an extra batch just now.
thanks so much! Really appreciate it!
Hello! I have heard a lot about this game over the years but have never had the chance to play in a group. I'm thinking of buying the pdf so that I can run the game for a small group of friends instead, and was wondering if it's okay to share the pdf with them once I get it or if they would all need to purchase it too?
Hi John,
I'd love to share this game with some of my RPG friends and colleagues, is there a chance some extra Community Copies will be added soon?
Cheers,
Mirko.
Hi Mirko: New copies are available now.
I would like a Mobi version of this.
Hi!
Is there any way we could get a new batch of community copies?
I’m a dirtpoor student, interested in trying the game before I buy the physical hardcover book. :)
Greetings,
Daniel
New copies are up now. :)
thanks a lot :)
Hi! Is there any chance to get more community copies?
New copies are up now. :)
Thank you!
Hi! Could we get some more community copies please? I'd like to have a read before ordering a hard copy. Cheers!
Can do! I just added another batch.
Thanks so much!
Hello! I have bought several physical copies of BitD over the years but am surprised to realize that I’ve never purchased nor received the PDF before 😱
I was wondering if I could show my Amazon receipt(s) for the book(s) I’ve bought and potentially get an itch.io download key for the PDF? 🙏
Sure, no problem. You can send me an email -- oneseven at gmail.
Thank you! I’ve sent the e-mail.
I missed the new batch of community copies D:
Did something happen to the community site? I can't access it anymore :(
It's broken right now, but we're working on getting back up.
Hey there! Could we get a few more community copies please? I've been trying to catch one for ages now but haven't had any luck so far unfortunately.
I just added another batch. Let me know if you don't get one and I can send you a code.
Got one, thanks a bunch!
Nice!
Oof, I was hoping to catch one of these copies today, but they (as always) fly like hotcakes. Is the best strategy just to keep checking in Sunday nights/Monday mornings?
I just added another batch.
So, any more copies? Can't see them on mondays :(
Just added a new batch.
Got it! thanks a lot, John!
I read Blades for the first time after getting hit by hurricane Ian and i have been very much obsessed with the setting since DAY ONE! I have yet been able to actually play yet but I played the hack World of Blades and loved it so i can't wait to see what playing the OG is like one of these days!
But I did do an episode all about Blades on my podcast that has fun exploring TTRPGs!
https://therpggoblin.buzzsprout.com/2055426/12266111-blades-in-the-dark-settling...
Thanks for the link to the podcast! I'll check it out.
I need more blades! Not FitD, BLADES!
I've played many campaign, as a GM or scoundrell, read the books, stalkered the discord...
I've tried many booklet, write my own, write some starting scenes...
Did you think there will be some new blades content?
expansions? isles? splatbook? anything really...
my vice is definitely blades :D
Me too. There's an official Dagger Isles supplement being tested, and Desperate Attune released a free fan-made Uduasha setting with a City Map and factions.
Good news! https://x.com/john_harper/status/1847000005439377731
Hi John!
Will you still add new community copies? I've been staring but never caught one，so……please? A lot of thanks!
Yep, I add them on Mondays. There are some still left right now.
yeahhh！Love you，bro！
Hi John -
I was wondering if you still put up community copies here and there? (I'm been checking on Mondays lol)
Yeah, I do. They go fast! I'll add some extras today.
Cool, I didn't get on last couple Mondays, but I will try to catch them this coming one!
There are some available now. If you don't get one, let me know and I can help out.
Claimed! Thank you so much!
There are new community copies up now. If you don't manage to snag one, shoot me an email (oneseven@gmail) and I can get one to you.
Possibly one of the finest table top RPGs on I've ever had the fortune to run.
John, I love Blades in the Dark! I bought a hardcopy and BitD OMM version. I have a question. I have been inspired to write a novel set in the BitD universe. I understand that the open game license does not allow this. Is there any other way I could do this? Thanks.
If you don't sell it and acknowledge that it's fan content, isn't that allowed?
I just practically fell over myself to pre-order the Blades X OMM collaboration when I found out about it (even with the £ at a thirty year low vs. the $!), but was wondering if there is any way that I can now get a discount on the .pdf version of the rules too?
Unfortunately, I don't currently have a way to do that. I'll talk to OMM and see if there's a way to integrate it, but I can't make any promises.
Thanks for replying and fingers crossed. I would love to be able to pay full price, but after pre-ordering Blades x OMM collab and also buying Scum and Villainy a couple of weeks back, I really can't justify a third full price payment - I don't even have a group to play then with XD.
Shoot me an email (oneseven at gmail)
I hope you can still add a Community Copy for me. Thanks.
There are some community copies available now! Let me know if you don't get one and I can send you a code.
Many thanks I managed to get a code.
Whew you weren't kidding when you said these disappear fast. I'm around 5 hours late, but if it wouldn't be too much to ask, could I have a code too?
Yeah. Send me an email and I'll get you one. oneseven at gmail.
Received - tyvm!!
Huge Huge Huge fan of blades! I just ran my second session of a campaign and its a really excellent rule set, works spectacularly smooth and streamlined as well as a good fit for the world described in the lore!
Will there be a community copy in the future?
Yes, I add them regularly, but they disappear fast. I'll do another batch tomorrow (they usually get added on Monday).
Out of curiosity, do you still add them? And if you even do so, is there anywhere I can get updates/notifications for them?
Yeah, it's down right now. The site admin is working on it.
Site is back up.
dont worry, its just some new world building lore /j
Hi Mr. Harper, i am just passing by to tell you how i very much love Blades In The Dark. I have GMed the game several times and all of us had a ton of great fun everytime we were strolling and adventuring around the incredibly well written City of Doskvol. I really love the city and all the intrigues inside, Mr. Harper. It really inspires me on how to worldbuild an intricate city for my TTRPGs.
Thank you so much for making the SRD available to all of us so we can make many many wonderful Forged In The Dark games too, Mr Harper. Many of my other favorite TTRPGs are also Forged In The Dark games.
I actually have a question about one part of the game since i'm planning to run a longer campaign, Mr. Harper, and perhaps, fellow Blades In The Dark GMs in itch.io can also help me with your insights guys.
It's about the the Crew's Profits.
It is written in the rulebook under PC and Crew's Advancement that,
Profits
Every time the crew advances, each PC gets stash equal to the crew Tier+2, to represent profits generated by the crew as they’ve been operating.
My question is, does our crew get the profit everytime the crew get new advancement and fill the XP track compleletely?
Or is it only when the crew advances and rises their tier, Mr. Harper, guys?
What do you think, Mr. Harper, guys?
Thank you so much in advance for your help and insight guys.
Best regards.
Glad you're enjoying the game.
The PCs get profit every time the crew fills their XP track and earns an advance.
Ah that's great, i read it correctly then.
Thank you so much for the answer, Mr. Harper.
Best of luck on all of your future projects, sir. Take care, sir.
Is there more Community Copies available?
I add them in batches regularly, usually at the start of the week. They go fast, though.
Okay, I’ll check regularly and hope I got one. Thank you for replying!
I don't think this is the right place to contact you, but I don't have twitter so oh well!
I did a mash up of Blades in the Dark and Roll for Shoes!
Hey John, your work is amazing.
Thank you!
Hi John, I got the Bundle for Racial Equality and downloaded the player manual but when I tried to download the character sheets it came up with an error message saying the key for this product is owned. I now get that message if I click download for either file. Any suggestions? Thanks!
I don't know why that would happen. Sounds like something itch would have to fix (I can't control access through the bundle).
You can get the character sheets at bladesinthedark.com, though.
Hi John, I got the Bundle for Racial Equality, and I found this title in the list of products. How do I claim this? Thanks!
Go to the bundle page: https://itch.io/b/520/bundle-for-racial-justice-and-equality then click the "Download" button, then on the next screen, "Search by title" to get to Blades in the Dark.
Wow I feel silly. Thanks so much! Really cool of you to go out of your way to help my dumb butt. This looks like an incredible game! Thanks for all your hard work to give us a great experience!
I know it's a long shot, but are there versions of the PDFs that are editable in Illustrator? I would love to modify the maps of Duskwall to fit my own fantasy city, but importing the documents to Illustrator totally breaks the formatting.
This is genuinely one of the best TTRPGs ever made, and it speaks to me on so many levels. Big fan, bought the book, money well spent.
No, there aren't any directly editable versions of the maps. The full-page maps in the Player's Kit (https://bladesinthedark.com/downloads) are vector-based, and you can get to the "parts" in AI, but yeah, the formatting of text gets turned to outlines.
All good. Thank you so much for the personal reply! Again, this is a really wonderful collection of rules. Absolutely love it.
An imagintive world in a dark, foreboding style rarely seen. (The game does cite the Dishonoured video games as an influence.) The mechanics are simple, so if you have imaginative group of new to TTRPG players this could be the ideal game. You do not need to go in with detailed plans, you need to be prepared to take a lot of notes as both the GM and players .
Also check out its space opera sibling, Scum and Villany.
I figured that I'd throw up a comment and say that this probably my favorite game to GM of all time. The book is written expertly, and gives the GM tons of mechanics to sink into that make GMing super easy and low prep compared to a lot of games (Looking at you, DnD). It's powered by the apocalypse, and as such, it runs well via online play.
Even if you don't think you can sell your players on the theme, check the game out anyway, there's tons of awesome stuff to crib for your other games (the concept of clocks, downtime action suggestions, steal a whole faction if you wanna)