Shadow of the Demon Lord vs Vaesen
Compare Shadow of the Demon Lord and Vaesen side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Shadow of the Demon Lord | Vaesen | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy, Horror | Horror |
| Play Style | Dark Fantasy, Grimdark, Fast Sessions, Beginner-Friendly, GM-Friendly | Investigation, Narrative, Atmospheric, Mystery, Character-Driven, Gritty, Deadly |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d20 + modifier vs. target number 10. Boons and banes (d6s) add or subtract from the roll, canceling each other out. | Roll a d6 dice pool (attribute + skill). Each 6 is a success. Push your roll to reroll failures but take a Condition (Exhausted, Wounded, Frightened, Hopeless). Mysteries follow a structured investigation format. Between mysteries, upgrade your shared headquarters. |
| Dice | d20 | d6 dice pool |
| Complexity | Low | Low |
| Accessibility | High | High |
| Runnability | High | High |
| License | Forbidden Rules SRD | Year Zero Engine OGL |
| Cost | $$ | $$ |
| Publisher | Schwalb Entertainment | Free League Publishing |
| Year | 2015 | 2025 |
| Best For | Groups who want fast, dark fantasy with streamlined d20 mechanics and a sense of impending doom. | Investigation-focused Nordic horror campaigns where players uncover folklore mysteries, confront tragic mythological creatures, and build up a shared headquarters between cases. |
| Highlights | Fast character creation, quick sessions, single boon/bane mechanic replaces most modifiers, 11 levels keep campaigns short | Strong atmosphere and thematic design, structured mystery format keeps investigations focused, push mechanic creates tension, headquarters upgrades add campaign investment |
| Considerations | Dark horror tone limits genre range, setting tightly coupled to core rules | Investigation success is heavily GM-dependent, narrow 19th century Nordic horror focus, dice system can feel too simple for complex mysteries, information layout can be hard to navigate |