BTW, how do you use Shadow Points? Is there any recommendation on how much shadow players could be exposed to per adventure? Like 3-5 shadow points?
- I vary it with the tone/style of the adventure. Undead heavy adventures have more, whereas diplomacy in the Grey Havens or an investigation in Bree will be light on Shadow tests or have no Shadow tests at all.
- Remember heroes always get a test to reduce Shadow gains, except for Misdeeds (and even then, some misdeeds allow Shadow tests).
- How Shadow tests are delivered matters: two shadow tests of 3/3 are generally tougher than 1/1/1/1/1/1 as even if you pass the 3/3 tests, you're still probably taking some Shadow (passing the test reduces Shadow by 1, each 6 reduces it by a further 1).
- I tend not to have a lot of Shadow tests in the first adventure, as starting PCs almost always fail Shadow tests as they're at 1d on the roll (2d with hope). Once they've had a chance to get Valour or Wisdom 2, the gloves come off! Starting PCs thematically generally aren't going on dangerous quests/facing undead, so I find this fits. While I just wait for one of Valour/Wisdom to get to 2 and that doesn't cover you on both sorts of tests, various cultures can cover both via re-rolls/a virtue that gives 1d on Shadow tests/a virtue that grants inspiration. For example, if you've got access to inspiration on Shadow tests via a virtue at Wisdom 2, you're suddenly potentially 3d on valour tests, 4d on Wisdom tests. Remember, inspiration via distinctive features only works on SKILL tests. If you want inspiration on attacks/shadow tests/protection rolls you generally need a virtue.
- How do official adventures look? Taking Tales from the Lone Lands we've got....
Adventure 1: 1 Shadow
Adventure 2: 6 Shadow (5 for elves).
Adventure 3: 3/6 Shadow (2/5 for elves) - note that 3 of this Shadow is Single Target Dreadful Spells, hence the split potential Shadow.
Adventure 4: 2 Shadow (3 for one PC)
Adventure 5: 2 Shadow - repeatable Strike Fear
Adventure 6: tons of Shadow (20+ for Non Elves is perfectly possible, 14 for non elves). Leaving this one off the overall calculation as it is a big campaign closer, plus lots of the Shadow is dependent on choices and how PCs approach things. Plus it is spread across more Shadow tests, some can be avoided by PC choices and this adventure is for High Valour/Wisdom PCs so that will help mitigate what the high headline Shadow. Experienced PCs will pass more shadow tests and have larger dice pools, so better odds of rolling 6s.
Bear in mind the point I make above about the difference between testing Shadow 3/3 v 1/1/1/1/1/1. A high valour PC generally suffers less Shadow with the latter.
That comes out at an average of 2.8 Shadow per adventure for heroes, 2.4 for Elves based on adventures 1-5. But this will vary depending on the type of adventures undertaken and the type of campaign you want to run. Plus PCs might accrue some misdeed Shadow too.
Hope this helps!