Hidy ho all,

This may seem like a stupid question, but I don't understand the game mecahics here. I've never played the pen and papper version of this game, so I'm lacking that basic understanding of the mechanics.


The only pen and papper gaming I have experience with is D&D 3.5 and 5.0. I have very limited experience with the pathfinder game as well.

So how does this games mechanics work?

I haven't played the game for years and I can't run it at the moment, so the terminology I use might be a bit off, but I'll try to explain the basics.

The equivalent to rolling a d20, add mods and compare against a set difficulty in any of those games you mentioned involves rolling 3d20s in this game.
Basically, checks are tied to 3 attributes that change depending on what it is you're doing. The system will roll 3 d20s and they all need to be under your attribute value for it to succeed. You also put points into skills/spells. You can add these points to your attributes to increase their value so you pass the test.

For example, when you take damage over certain threshold, you have to roll a check to avoid becoming injured (debuffed) for the rest of the fight. If I recall correctly this check is a willpower test. Willpower is based on strength(STR), constitution(CON) and courage(COU) (I might bea bit off here, but the principle stands regardless of which are the exact attributes).

Lets say you have 15 STR, 13 CON, 12 COU and a willpower of 6.

So the system rolls 3d20s for 8, 18 and 15.

It will match the 8 you rolled with your 12 COU (because it's the lowest), the 15 with the 15 STR and it will use 5 points of your skill to increase your CON so it can match the 18 on the other d20.

In this case you pass the test and you won't get an injury.


Weapon skill works similarly, but you can split your skill points between offense and defense except for bows, which only have offense.

I can't remember the details for attack and defend/parry/dodge interactions, but they are also based on this 3 attribute test rolls.

Damage types are also an important aspect of the game, since armor offers damage mitigation against specific damage types.

I hope this helps you understand the basics of the system.

Elaborigen answered your question nicelyl. Let me just say that the system used in Blackguards can seem strange at first if you're coming solely from a D&D background, but it works very well once you understand it.

I guess I'm not really adding anything except encouragement. Blackguards will make more and more sense the more time you spend with it.

Thanks for the responces!

Is there a build thats better for first timers to this series and game system?

At the bare minimum make your character magic capable, since even if it looks like a big investment on character creation, it's not really that much once you start getting experience points and it opens a lot of possibilities. There is no way to get it after creation.

I also like to make my characters quite resistant to wounds, like the example I used when explaining the rolls, so I don't get both hurt and debuffed mid mission (some missions can be long). But other than that, I don't feel I played the system enough to give more useful general advice.

If you are open to spoilers, and based on what companions you get, there are some roles you might want to avoid because they are already filled (or you might want to double up on them).

You might also get useful answers and information about the system on the Dark Eye subreddit.

And I found a German introduction video series into the Dark Eye 4.1 ruleset on YouTube.

And here is a very informative German video on the version 5 ruleset,

You should be able to find English versions of introductory videos rather easily on YouTube, I would guess.

I posted the German links because I assume the “CH” in your name means you are Swiss. ;)

TL, DR: Pick the already made hunter, and find out what are your options when upgrading your characters. A guide is recommended. The Dark Eye is a very complex and unforgiving system.

The single most important thing you need to know about Blackguards is: knowing that the mechanics of The Dark Eye (pen and paper) roleplay game are complex, the makers of Blackguards decided that the player just chose one of the premade characters. Because it is really easy to make a mess if you are not already an expert in TDE.

Also, the game really wants you to pick the Hunter. The protagonist of another TDE game, albeit an adventure one, The Chains of Satinav, is a hunter, too. It is a very flexible class.

Especially important: there is a mage an a (dwarven) warrior in your party from the beginning, so either class is redundant. The Hunter has very nice synergies with the other classes, especially with the dwarven warrior: it is possible to attack with the spear across the hexagon where the dwarf is located.

During development, complaints about not having the chance to make the playing character from scratch lead the developers to add this possibility. However, it had the expected result: too many people went straight to do so, ignoring that TDE system does not hold your hand at all and is very unforgiving with mistakes when you create a character (and when you level it as well).

This lead to many complaints online, even to bad reviews. Just because the reviewers did not have the slightest clue on how to make a character in TDE, did not bother to learn it (1)and of course felt it was beyond them to take the stock character, that is well balanced. It is also possible to develop him in any direction that you want, only that you do not start with a broken character to begin with.

So, to sum it up: pick the already made hunter, and find out what are your options when upgrading your characters. A guide is recommended.

(1) An epythome of all bad made reviews, for this game or any game, came from Rock Paper Shotgun: the reviewer never bothered to learn the game, and did not realize that he had just screwed his playing character from the start. Add to it a lack of understanding of what aleatory numbers and wannabe wisecrack writing attempts and you will have a great example of how not to write a review about a PC game. Basically, this person treated the game as if it was a much simpler one, without doing the most basic of researches about The Dark Eye. Most likely, it can all be attributed to laziness.

Then, if RPS boasts to have reviews made "by gamers, for gamers", then put the right king of gamer to the task. That one might have done a nice job with Bastion. Maybe.

Thanks for the reply! If I ever do get around to playing this game again, I guess I'll pick the hunter. Then build from there. Its a good starting point, if nothing else.

IIs there a better guide to choose from for this system? For someone like me, I'd imagine I'd need a higher lvl guide would be better. A guide that gets very nitty gritty would be so far over my head, that I'd just as soon stop playing forever. My apologies for the lack of reply. I didn't see your responce. I'll have to look into the introductory videos then.

Is there a good introductory guide as well?

There are several FAQ/Strategy guides/Character development guides on Blackguards.

The most important thing is spending your development points in ways that help your characters meaningfully.

This is not a bad guide:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=192905991

That said, here are some random tips from the top of the head:

- Mages are not D&D mages. In TDE they are good a buffing/debuffing, and much less good at doing direct damage. They use astral points (mana) and most likely you will be left dry in a protracted fight. That said, there will be certain enemies that you might want to damage directly... using for example a fire burst spell (ignifaxius IIRC). You want that spell and you want a heal spell, and eventually the astral regen ability. There are more. Remember that you are casting with a probability of success, so you want to level your ability to cast each of them...

- Hunters are great, you can put your dwarven warrior at chokepoints and add him with your spear from behind. Also the main character can double as an archer, if you wish. He is alwo a great candidate for Perception (use it in the battlefield, it is an active skill, not a passive one) and Survival.

- There is a skill that allows for fast change of weapons (without consuming a whole turn). That would be great for the Hunter if you have him doubling as archer when there is need, as well as for warriors that change their weapons in order to adapt to different situations.

- Warriors need body control, plus a few other things. Easier to develop than mages, but you need to know what you want. You might want to go one hand or two hands. Shields help. Master warriors will be proficient in three weapons eventually. Tip: the dwarven warrior has his Axe waiting for him ahead in the game...

- Remember who has already parried in each turn so as that characters assist each other.

- Wizards can double as ranged fighters if they are left without Astral points. Crossbows require less investment of points but also are more limited in their development. I had Zurbaran have one just in case. On the other hand, a friend of the characters that joins much later is good with bows.

- Hunters are good with traps, sometimes they are useful. Some swear by them, although it can be a matter of taste.

- IIRC, shops do not restock. Also there have been many changes in the game in the sucessive patches, so if you follow a Walkthrough, be prepared to find things differently. Try to spend your very limited money wisefully. The game will give you chances to get better armor. But sometimes you will be lacking a certain piece for a set. Also you will need cash to pay trainers.

- Speaking about sets: try to have your characters wear sets of armor. When completed, they provide important bonuses. Although at the very beginning your gear will be rather poor as you are in a small group of desperados, or blackguards :)