Red Markets vs Shadow of the Demon Lord
Compare Red Markets and Shadow of the Demon Lord side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Red Markets | Shadow of the Demon Lord | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Horror, Post-Apocalyptic | Fantasy, Horror |
| Play Style | Horror, Gritty, Resource Management, Roleplay-Heavy, Character-Driven | Dark Fantasy, Grimdark, Fast Sessions, Beginner-Friendly, GM-Friendly |
| Core Mechanic | Roll 2d10 — one black (skill), one red (threat). Black higher than red means success; doubles are critical results. Characters track economic resources via Bounty (currency), gear with limited charges and upkeep costs, and a negotiation system using a Sway Tracker. Humanity erodes through Trauma, Stress, and Detachment tracks. | Roll d20 + modifier vs. target number 10. Boons and banes (d6s) add or subtract from the roll, canceling each other out. |
| Dice | 2d10 | d20 |
| Complexity | Medium | Low |
| Accessibility | Low | High |
| Community | Low | Medium |
| License | Proprietary | Forbidden Rules SRD |
| Cost | $$ | $$ |
| Publisher | Hebanon Games | Schwalb Entertainment |
| Year | 2017 | 2015 |
| Best For | Groups who want a zombie RPG that's really about economic survival — negotiating contracts, managing resources, and deciding what you're willing to sacrifice to keep your dependents alive. | Groups who want fast, dark fantasy with streamlined d20 mechanics and a sense of impending doom. |
| Highlights | Economic focus makes every job feel high-stakes, negotiation mechanics add tension before combat even starts, humanity/trauma system creates character arcs, zombie threat serves a story about capitalism and survival | Fast character creation, quick sessions, single boon/bane mechanic replaces most modifiers, 11 levels keep campaigns short |
| Considerations | Heavy bookkeeping with multiple resource tracks, relentlessly bleak tone, steep learning curve for the Profit system, limited availability of the full rulebook | Dark horror tone limits genre range, setting tightly coupled to core rules |