Tabletop RPG · since 2023 · #25 most discussed

Shadow of the Weird Wizard

Dark fantasy adventure with ancestry and path-based characters, d20 checks adjusted by boons and banes, and dangerous magic.

Its own systemDark fantasyd20classesdungeon crawltheater of the mindhigh lethalityCampaignsNeeds a GM

7.3

Geek rating

From 27 firsthand play reports in 6 r/rpg threads. The threads alone average 8.1.

Player rating— / 10

No visitor ratings yet.

Discussion7.0 / 10

265 r/rpg posts named it, October 2023 to October 2026.

Rules weight

Medium. Hype 7.0 for its age.

Have you played it?

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What players say

At the table

Firsthand reports are positive but come from a small pool, and few tables have played past the mid levels. GMs who have run full level 1-10 campaigns describe fast, tactical combat and light prep. Most complaints are about uneven content, not the core rules.

What works

Every character, martials included, gets real action and reaction choices each round. Players look for openings instead of repeating one attack. (thread)
Combat runs about half as long as 5e, with typical fights at 30-45 minutes. HP and damage scale together, so enemies don't feel spongy. (thread)
Boon/bane makes adjudication and skills easier. Paths give varied characters without bogging players down. (thread)
Adventure prep is easy, and a normal D&D running process carries over. (thread)
It gives enough crunch for players who like theorycrafting builds without being heavy. (thread)

What tables struggle with

Some Paths and spells feel underbaked or samey, and out-of-combat Paths like Rakehell were singled out. Martial-caster disparity persists. (thread)
One group found the rules bloated and the game merely okay, and wouldn't return. (thread)
Creature balance is rough, so the GM needs to know the party. There are no creature-creation rules yet, and specific rules are slow to find mid-play. (thread)
Level 1 is a thin origin-story level, and characters feel like proper adventurers at levels 2-3. Players who want deep build optimization may prefer PF2e. (thread)

Who it suits

5e groups, including hesitant players, who want faster and more tactical combat.
GMs who want low prep and easy adjudication.
Less so players who want the deepest build optimization or fully balanced martials and casters.

In players' words

"My players are no longer just attacking, action surge/smite, rinse and repeat. They're attentively looking for opportunities to use their kit and react." (thread)
"combat takes approximately less than half the time it takes in 5E." (thread)
"combat is fast and engaging, character creation starts easy but gets more complex as you go" (thread)

The threads behind it

Each thread is rated for the play it describes, from the firsthand reports in it. Load one here or read it on Reddit.

8.0

Remember when everyone got mad that Shadow of the Weird Wizard wasn't about a literal Weird Wizard?

The firsthand reports are mostly positive. Several GMs ran full level 1-10 campaigns, and they describe fast, tactical, heroic combat that takes about half the time of 5e. The complaints are mild: some Paths and spells feel samey or underbaked, martials and casters are still unbalanced, and one group found it only okay and bloated. 9 firsthand · 91 comments

Open on Reddit

8.8

Having a Blast with Shadow of the Weird Wizard!

The few people who actually ran or played Shadow of the Weird Wizard report an enthusiastic experience. Tactical combat options keep players engaged, the rules are easy to run, and character building goes smoothly. The thread is a thank-you post with a lot of hype and reading impressions mixed in, so the sample is small and uniformly positive. 5 firsthand · 36 comments

Open on Reddit

7.5

13th age or Weird Wizard?

The few people who say they have played or run Shadow of the Weird Wizard describe a smooth, fast game that feels like a fixed-up 5e, with some friction in rules lookup and creature balance. Most of the thread is hype, reading impressions and 13th Age or SotDL talk, so the firsthand evidence is thin. 4 firsthand · 50 comments

Open on Reddit

8.0

PF2E vs SotwW

Thread is mostly a PF2e vs SotWW comparison, and the few people who actually played SotWW report a good experience. They describe it as easy to adjudicate and run, with plenty of character variety from the path system. One GM has finished roughly two full level 1-10 campaigns. 4 firsthand · 47 comments

Open on Reddit

8.5

Shadow of the Weird Wizard is out, why is no one talking about it?

The thread is mostly about why the game gets little discussion, its soft launch, pricing and setting. The few firsthand reports are positive: the OP's group has played the playtest, and another table was hooked after one session. 3 firsthand · 174 comments

Open on Reddit

7.5

Search for a better system - dnd > SotWW Weird wizard ?

The thread is mostly about alternatives to 3.5e (PF2e, Dragonbane, Draw Steel, WWN, and others). Only two vague commenters seem to have used Shadow of the Weird Wizard, and both call it smooth and fun with real crunch. The one detailed GM report is about Shadow of the Demon Lord, a different game, so I ignored it. 2 firsthand · 49 comments

Open on Reddit