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Quick Start Guide

Bar the door. Light the torch. Count the candles.

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Everything you need to run your first session in one place. Stripped-down rules. Pre-generated characters. A complete introductory adventure.

Sunderwake is a dark fantasy RPG where light burns in real time, magic is finite, and every moral compromise leaves a mark. The Quick Start Guide lets you try the whole system in a single evening, for free.

The full rulebook is coming. Start here.

Overview

The Sunderwake Quick Start Guide contains everything a group needs to play a complete first session. Rules have been condensed without compromise — the core mechanics are all here, including torch timing, mana management, and the Corruption system. You'll need one copy of the guide, some dice, and a few hours.

Six pre-generated characters cover the full range of playstyles: fighters, rogues, casters, and support. Each includes a background, starting equipment, and a short personality sketch to get players into the fiction immediately.

The included adventure, First Watch, is a self-contained mission designed to teach the game's core loops through play. It scales for groups of 2–5 and runs in 2–3 hours.

What’s Included

  • Condensed core rules (combat, exploration, rest, and social interaction)
  • Torch timing system and darkness rules
  • Mana mechanics and spellcasting for casters
  • Corruption system overview
  • Six pre-generated characters: Fighter, Rogue, Ranger, Cleric, Wizard, Sorcerer
  • Complete introductory adventure: First Watch
  • Quick reference tables for GMs

Storefront Description

Everything you need to try Sunderwake in one session — free to download. Condensed rules, six pre-generated characters, and a complete starter adventure. Real-time torch tracking. Finite mana. A Corruption system that rewards every dark bargain, then collects. Download it. Light a torch. See how long you last.

Download link coming soon.

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