 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2021) |
 | |
| Genre | Role-playing games |
|---|---|
| Publisher | TSR |
Publication date | 1991 |
Darklords is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991.
The supplement focuses on "sixteen different Darklords spread out over thirteen chapters". [1] The Darklords are:
According to Gene Alloway, the character and background of each Darklord is well-developed, with "appearance, background, current sketch, the domain of the particular Darklord, and a section on confronting the entity" as well as other details included. [2]
RR1: Darklords is a 96-page Ravenloft accessory book published in 1991 for $10.95. [1] [3] It was written by Andria Hayday "with some additional design by William W. Connors, Bruce Nesmith, and James Lowder". [3] The cover art featuring a "dagger-wielding lich" is by Tim Hildebrandt, while the interior artwork is by Stephen Fabian. [2] David C. Sutherland III created the maps with 3D infrastructure views. [2] In 2013, it was rereleased as a PDF on the DNDClassics website for $9.99. [1] [4]
Gene Alloway reviewed Darklords in the May/June 1992 issue of White Wolf Magazine . He rated the sourcebook a 4 out of 5 overall, stating it as a "must for a Ravenloft campaign". [2] Alloway also stated that "It is a well-made and designed product, and one that has usefulness outside of Ravenloft and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons itself." [2]
The supplement was also reviewed in Windgeflüster #20 (November 1992). [4]
Alex Lucard, for DieHard GameFan , reviewed the PDF edition in 2013. On the various Darklords, Lucard stated, "I’m not happy with four of the sixteen, but that means there’s a 75% quality ratio here and that’s pretty darn good. As well, Darklords is a must own for anyone even casually interested in Ravenloft to see just how much depth and detail was put into even a C-level minor lord of the Dark Domain". [1] On the digital edition, he wrote, "this PDF rerelease is a bit pricey consider the physical copy was only a dollar more back in 1991, but D&D PDFs do tend to be a bit overpriced compared to their contemporaries. If you don’t already own a copy of Darklords, I would still strongly recommend the PDF version at this price as it’s very well done, but you might want to check Ebay for a physical copy first as you can undoubtedly get it cheaper". [1]
Kevin Kulp, game designer, highlighted that "a notable aspect of this book is that most of the darklords aren't particularly powerful, even by 2nd edition AD&D standards. [...] That makes this book useful as a low-level supplement, and significantly expands its utility. It's also a nice reminder that just because someone is evil and despicable, they aren't necessarily particularly tough or good at combat. They may have other abilities, assets, or assistance". [3]