Black Star vs Dragonbane
Compare Black Star and Dragonbane side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Black Star | Dragonbane | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Sci-Fi | Fantasy |
| Tags | Rules-Light, Pulp Action, Space Opera, Beginner-Friendly, Fast-Paced, Mana Points | Beginner-Friendly, Tactical, Classic Fantasy, Solo-Friendly, Fast-Paced, Mana Points |
| Core Mechanic | Roll 2d6 + ability, 9+ to succeed. Ten abilities rated 0–5. Pick two archetypes from ten options (Commander, Engineer, Mystic, Scoundrel, etc.) to define your character's strengths. Resolve serves as both HP and hero points: spend it to boost rolls or fuel special abilities, but run out and you're down. Advantages and disadvantages modify the roll. | Roll d20 equal to or under your skill value to succeed. Boons roll 2d20 and keep the lowest; banes keep the highest. Six attributes (STR, CON, AGL, INT, WIL, CHA). Willpower Points fuel heroic abilities, class features, and spells across four magic schools. Combat uses initiative cards drawn each round for unpredictable turn order. Based on Drakar och Demoner (1982). |
| Dice | 2d6 | d20, d4–d12 |
| Complexity | Low | Low |
| Availability | Paid | Free quickstart |
| Runnability | 2 of 5 book tools | 4 of 5 book tools |
| License | All Rights Reserved | Free League Third-Party License |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Publisher | Lakeside Games | Free League Publishing |
| Year | 2023 | 2023 |
| Languages | English | Swedish, English, German, Polish, French, Spanish |
| Best For | Groups who want fast, pulpy space opera with simple rules: pick two archetypes, grab some d6s, and blast off into adventure. | Groups who want approachable, fast-paced fantasy with a mix of adventure and humor: great for new players and veterans of classic European RPGs alike. |
| Highlights | Simple to learn, dual archetype system creates unique combinations, Resolve as HP-and-hero-points is a clean design, fast character creation, suited for one-shots and pickup games | Approachable roll-under system, initiative cards keep combat dynamic, Willpower Points unify magic and abilities cleanly, solo play rules included, boxed set includes maps and cards |
| Considerations | Limited advancement options, narrow space opera focus, lacks deep tactical combat | d20 roll-under can feel swingy at low skill values, fewer character options than comparable fantasy RPGs, initiative card system adds components to track |