Frostgrave Perilous Dark - Introduction - Solo and Cooperative Gameplay Basics

Oct 6, 2026

Upload by lilac

Introduction to Perilous Dark explains how earlier campaign and rule-writing experience led to a solo-or-cooperative-focused Frostgrave expansion. It outlines why the book aims to stay fresh through new scenarios and scenario-creation techniques, and it includes dungeon-crawl rules with random, open-ended, potentially lethal exploration. The text positions the book as a toolbox rather than an exhaustive reference, inviting community sharing while clarifying solo and cooperative terms and practical figure-count constraints.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages33

Reading Time51 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Why this book is different

Dungeon crawls and random exploration

The book as a toolbox

What solo and cooperative mean

Setup and figure-count constraints

IntroduCtIon Soon after the Frostgrave rulebook was released, I wrote a three-scenario campaign called Dark Alchemy that was designed to be played either solo or cooperatively. To this day, it remains one of the most popular additions to the game. Despite this, I never followed up on it. I wrote the occasional solo scenario for magazines articles, but I never attempted to write a full-set of solo rules for the game. Solo scenarios are much more difficult to design than player-vs-player scenarios, and, at the time, I just didn’t feel ready. Over the last three years I have gained tremendous amounts of experience in writing wargames rules. I reworked Frostgrave into a new setting with a new kind of protagonist (Ghost Archipelago), I designed a set of mass-battle rules (the forthcoming Oathmark), and I even designed a wargame created to be played solo or cooperatively (Rangers of Shadow Deep) . During all this work, I have learned many new techniques and methods for both designing and playing wargames and have been able to experiment with numerous scenario mechanics to see what works and what doesn’t. Most importantly, I have gained a great deal of confidence in my own ability to write rules and design scenarios. This greater confidence led directly to the writing of this book. Whenever I sit down and start planning the next Frostgrave expansion, I ask myself a question:‘How is this book going to be different?’ It would be easy to write a book that included nothing more than new scenarios, monsters, and treasure, and I daresay that many people would be happy enough to have it. But if I took this approach, I would very quickly grow bored. To keep my own interest in the game, I need to always be pushing forward, trying new things. I want to make sure that each book gives players something new – something that changes or enhances the game experience or helps players to use their own creativity. To that end, I decided that this book would be different from any that have gone before it in two ways. First, all the scenarios in the book would be designed to be played by either one player on their own or by two players working together. Second, instead of just presenting new rules and scenarios, the book will discuss the different techniques that can be employed when creating these kinds of scenarios, in order to aid players in designing their own. So, really, it is part expansion and part ‘how-to’ guide. This book also includes rules for ‘dungeon crawls’, with randomly created dungeons. This style of gaming, where a party of heroes ventures deep underground on the hunt for treasure, dates back to the original Dungeons & Dragons. Such a set-up never really worked for Frostgrave while it was a competitive game, but for the solo or cooperative gamer, it can be a load of fun – the ultimate exploration of the unknown. It is also an incredibly random, openended, and potentially lethal style of game. I suppose, though, that’s what being a wizard in Frostgrave is all about. This book also differs from any that have gone before it in one other, minor way. This is the first Frostgrave book where I have written the introduction first. In every other book, I have saved the introduction for last as I was never quite sure what the finished product was going to contain until I had written it. This time, I mapped out the book in advance. I’m sure that there will be changes and unexpected additions as I go along – this is the joy of the creative process – but with the idea ofwhat I want to accomplish so clear in my head, I decided to first write this introduction to help establish the road I want to travel. Even more than the books that have preceded it, Perilous Dark should be viewed as a toolbox. Players should take what they want from this book, use it in whatever fashion brings them the most fun, and discard anything that doesn’t fit with their style of gaming. One of the best parts about playing solo is that you aren’t beholden to anyon

FAQs

What makes this Frostgrave book different from prior releases?

It focuses on scenarios playable by one player solo or by two players cooperating. It also discusses techniques for creating such scenarios rather than only presenting new rules and content.

How do dungeon crawls work in the book?

The rules use randomly created dungeons where a party ventures underground for treasure. The style is highly random, open-ended, and potentially lethal.

What does the book define as solo and cooperative play?

Solo play uses the full warband against scenario challenges. Cooperative play specifically involves two players working together, combining a wizard each with up to four soldiers from their permanent warbands to match the solo figure count while enabling more capabilities with two wizards.

Oct 6, 2026

Upload by lilac