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The  Black Iron - Grimdark Fantasy RPGClick to magnify
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The Black Iron - Grimdark Fantasy RPG

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A World Broken Beyond Repair

When the Elves left, they took everything, leaving behind only ashes and death. In the aftermath of their apocalypse, dark things fought their way into the light. The Blood Lords staked their claim on the remnants of the world, slaughtering anyone who opposed them. Mankind is relegated to subsistence, clinging on in a few underground bastions, and in the Last City, protected by sorcerers driven mad by the magic they wield. Somehow, you must find a means of surviving in the ruins of a magical desolation, where the earth itself is trying to kill you, and the only people you can trust died long ago. Will you strive to withstand the creeping madness of the beyond for a little longer? Try to restore some light in a world consumed by darkness? Or do you embrace the chaos, taking what you can from those too weak to defend it?

Dark cults proliferate in the streets. Dread creatures drag themselves ever onwards in search of new flesh. The world freezes, and shrinks, and shudders as it waits to end.

What a time to be alive…

The Black Iron is a dark, fantasy roleplaying game, set in a shattered world on the brink of utter annihilation. It contains everything you need to get started creating and playing characters venturing out to try and scratch a living in the wilderness left behind, and maybe, just maybe, beginning to remake the world.


  • A fast and flexible rule system now allows for customisation and homebrewing.
  • 3 playable Species and 6 Roles that breakdown into 18 Sub Roles.
  • 6 Guilds to join
  • 15 Skills, 45 Knacks and 12 unique Traits.
  • 45 pages of world history including information on lost artifacts, the Blood Lords and places of power.
  • Rules for survival and dealing with corruption and poisons.
  • 3 realms of Magic, Pyromancy, Necromancy and Sorcery, with over 45 unique spells.
  • Rules to create your own spells.
  • Complete guide for GMs to help create adventurers, plot points to help seed ideas, encounter tables and rules for weather. With optional rules like Luck etc.
  • Rules for Fear and Stress.
  • 27 pages of monsters and threats that can be used to challenge the characters.
  • Also a short adventure to get you started.

The Black Iron is now free to play on Foundry VTT https://foundryvtt.com/packages/blackiron


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Reviews (2)
Discussions (15)
Customer avatar
Shannon L February 25, 2024 1:31 am UTC
PURCHASER
At the time when I purchased the hardcover there was no +pdf option. I since purchased the pfd too. Any chance I can get that looked after or something. BTW I love the Dark Dark Darkness of the game and the weirdness. Very cool.
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Customer avatar
Jayson L February 25, 2024 8:31 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Not sure what you are asking, I think there has always been a +pdf option.
Customer avatar
Isaiah H February 03, 2024 11:23 am UTC
PURCHASER
just wanted to say hope the revised / updated version is still coming out!
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Jayson L February 03, 2024 1:23 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Yes it is, currently gathering new artwork and maps for the new edition.
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Customer avatar
Isaiah H February 05, 2024 11:22 am UTC
PURCHASER
thats awesome, I plan to pick it up in physical when it releases so best of luck!
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Jayson L February 25, 2024 8:31 am UTC
PUBLISHER
It will be offset printed and crowdfunded
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Isaiah H February 28, 2024 11:43 am UTC
PURCHASER
is there a way to sign up for an alert when the project goes live?
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Customer avatar
shallem S March 26, 2024 8:24 pm UTC
Ditto
I am interested in the game but would rather wait for the second edition and would want to miss it
Customer avatar
shallem S April 21, 2023 10:32 am UTC
I was looking at pictures of the book online and saw two versions, one with a black cover and a hooded figure's face(which is shown in Kickstarter and drivethrurpg), and the second with a green cover and two small figures(which is shown on the gaming gang website). I wanted to know what's the difference between the two, and which one is for sale through "drivethrurpg".
Plus, I know there is a second edition to come, fixing errors of the printed version. Is there a way to get notified when this new version is out?
Thanks in advance
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Customer avatar
Isaiah H April 24, 2023 10:36 am UTC
PURCHASER
still waiting to give the author money when the 2nd Ed hits myself. checking far too often hah
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Jayson L May 19, 2023 6:47 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
This will give you the hooded figure cover, the only real difference between the two were the covers and some internal art. The 2nd ed is in the works and is on the roadmap for next year, though I have already started receiving new artwork for the expanded sections etc.
Customer avatar
Zachary T April 11, 2023 2:57 pm UTC
PURCHASER
For Human characters, "The Below" and the "Eastern Coast" origin locations do not have listed starting skills. Do you know if this is intentional or an omission? The other three Human origin locations (The Last City, Dragonclaw Mountains, and Southern Plains) provide starting skills. Is there an errata document available? Thanks!
Customer avatar
Isaiah H March 12, 2023 2:04 pm UTC
PURCHASER
read a friends copy and think its very cool. but is this still getting a 2nd Edition to clean up the text and support on the titular "Black Iron" getting actual rules?
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Customer avatar
Jayson L March 25, 2023 11:04 am UTC
PUBLISHER
There is a 2nd ed coming
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Isaiah H March 26, 2023 11:05 am UTC
PURCHASER
very good! hope its sooner than later, will pick up the 2nd Ed for certain
Customer avatar
Frederic V January 16, 2023 6:34 pm UTC
PURCHASER
So new guy here, working on consuming this. Love the setting so far, will be fueling with Foundry. Is the publisher involved with teh Foundry modules?
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Customer avatar
Jayson L January 17, 2023 5:30 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Glad you are enjoying it and yes I am in contact with the person who created the Foundry Module.
Customer avatar
Stephen Y May 21, 2022 8:44 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Some 'errors' I found when looking through some of the PDF:

P19: The Ash Plains: those few that do report that? strange things,
P84: Chimeer: experimenting and testingmagicalpowersandeffects

P86: Half Elf Characters: Like Chimeer HalfElves (Half Elves) are rare.

in order to look like their elven fathers (Human mothers?). Looking more like their elven fathers would likely make them stand out more?

P213: Ghul: Armour: cloth and a rubbery hide, AP? No AP number. 2 or 3 perhaps?
P232: Militia: Sword: +5a, should that be +5s?
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Customer avatar
Jayson L June 11, 2022 10:42 am UTC
PUBLISHER
I am updating the book to a 2nd edition so these will be fixed
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Customer avatar
Stephen B December 30, 2022 5:21 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Is there an ETA on the 2nd edition? This really scratches my grimdark fantasy itch and I really dig the mechanics. But tbh I would like to see the text go through a couple more passes of proofreading and editing. Overall, this is in awesome product and I would love to see it shine. Cheers.
Customer avatar
Abraham Z November 30, 2021 7:18 am UTC
PURCHASER
Some of the images inside look a bit blurry/grainy, especially the map on page 186; are there plans to make them a bit more clear in an update? By the way, I am loving the game so far!
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Customer avatar
Jayson L December 07, 2021 1:39 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
I will be updating the map but most of the images I think are not blurry at all.
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Customer avatar
Abraham Z December 07, 2021 7:59 pm UTC
PURCHASER
That's why I said some, not all, like for example, those that appear on pages 84 to 88, when you zoom in a bit, the blurriness is obvious; but the one I really cared about was the map on page 186, so it's great that map is getting fixed.
Customer avatar
Eric C February 15, 2021 6:03 am UTC
PURCHASER
Hi, i would like to know if the new contents from 5e is also in this book also like the new race Chimeer as an example ? Thanks in advance.
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Customer avatar
Jayson L February 15, 2021 4:02 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Yes, the Chimeer are in this book, this is the complete RPG whereas the 5e setting is just a setting with additional rules.
Customer avatar
.. . February 10, 2021 2:31 pm UTC
PURCHASER
So still no POD? It's been six months already?
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Customer avatar
Jayson L February 11, 2021 10:40 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Everythings taking longer it will be here soon though, once the backers have had their copies.
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Customer avatar
Jayson L February 26, 2021 12:30 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Print now available
Customer avatar
Xavier M January 27, 2021 3:32 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hello could you clarify (both here and possibly in the text, maybe with an update date) the difference between "The Black Iron - 5th edition Grimdark setting V3" and "The Black Iron - Grimdark Fantasy RPG" (the update date on this one is newer than "The Black Iron - 5th edition Grimdark setting V3" that pretends to be "the latest".

From the name I would surmise that the "The Black Iron - 5th edition Grimdark setting V3" is just the settings adapted to D&D 5e and this one is an "autonomous" RPG but ... ;)

I would love to use this setting with Mythras/Mythras Imperative (D100 system) hint hint ;)
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Customer avatar
Jayson L January 27, 2021 5:19 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Ok, so the Black Iron 5th edition is indeed a setting for D&D, whereas this version is a complete D6 based RPG. I am not sure I can make this available as a setting for Mythras but I may make it a d100 game at some point in the future.
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Customer avatar
Xavier M January 27, 2021 10:04 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks a lot for your anwser
Customer avatar
Panu L August 29, 2020 4:28 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Could the eventual PoD version use the cover from the games 5th ed version? Or could you make two alternate cover versions?
The cover used in the 5th ed version is what caught my eye back in the original kickstarter afterall. It would sell the game to my players way more easily.
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Customer avatar
Jayson L September 06, 2020 10:22 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Hi Paul I have uploaded the V2 edition which changes the cover to the 5th ed version :)
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Customer avatar
Panu L September 06, 2020 12:17 pm UTC
PURCHASER
That looks awesome!! Thanks!
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Customer avatar
Patrick B September 07, 2020 1:27 am UTC
PURCHASER
What is new in the V2 edition?
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Customer avatar
Jayson L September 07, 2020 12:49 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Nothing, just some of the art has been updated, if you have the original you do not need to buy this.
Customer avatar
Alejo T July 29, 2020 9:15 am UTC
PURCHASER
Will this get a POD option?
Reply
Customer avatar
Jayson L July 29, 2020 10:24 am UTC
PUBLISHER
Yes PoD will be up as soon as I get back the Proofs and everything is looking good, options will be softback and hardback.
Reply
Customer avatar
Allen D July 29, 2020 2:10 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Awesome! Can't wait to see that. I think I will most definitely be in for a hardback/PDF combo! I'll wait anxiously for that option.... :)
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Customer avatar
Alejo T July 29, 2020 4:07 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Awesome, thanks!
Reply
Customer avatar
Allen D August 19, 2020 8:26 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Any update on timing? Do you think in the next week or two for hardbacks to be an option? Closer to year end?
Reply
Customer avatar
Jayson L August 21, 2020 9:08 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Next few weeks, I am currently working on the 5th edition setting, once that is done I will then move on to getting the hardbacks out.
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Customer avatar
Allen D August 22, 2020 12:25 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks!
Reply
Customer avatar
Allen D August 28, 2020 5:23 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I really want to get this now! If I buy the pdf, will I get credit for that when I buy the hardback? I'd really like to get the pdf to start reviewing and then the hardback will be an auto-buy....
Reply
Customer avatar
Jayson L September 07, 2020 12:50 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Everyone who buys the PDF will receive a discount code for the Hardback to get it cheaper
Customer avatar
Lee S July 28, 2020 8:02 pm UTC
There is only a partial character sheet as the preview. Is there material missing?
Reply
Customer avatar
Jayson L July 28, 2020 9:24 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
Should be fixed now, apologies for that
Reply
Customer avatar
Lee S July 28, 2020 9:57 pm UTC
Thanks, appreciate the quick response.
Customer avatar
Patrick B July 28, 2020 6:42 pm UTC
PURCHASER
What game mechanics does this use?
Reply
Customer avatar
Francesco P July 28, 2020 7:36 pm UTC
A d6 pool: a number of dice equal the the characteristics and a success number based on the skill level, if I get this right.
Reply
Customer avatar
Jayson L July 28, 2020 9:26 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
The game uses a D6 mechanic where you roll a number of d6 equal to your skill keep the highest result and add your Attribute to beat a target number, very fast and easy to learn but with a few nuances to make it interesting
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Customer avatar
Francesco P July 29, 2020 6:07 am UTC
I'm very sorry for my misleading reply.
Reply
Customer avatar
Jayson L July 29, 2020 8:48 am UTC
PUBLISHER
That's cool
Reply
Customer avatar
NB N July 30, 2020 10:26 am UTC
PURCHASER
Nice, it sounds like the Silhouette system used by Dream Pod 9.
Reply
Customer avatar
Jayson L July 30, 2020 1:51 pm UTC
PUBLISHER
It's similar, it was an inspiration along with Blades in the Dark and a few others, we have added an Iron Die mechanic and few other nuances though
Reply
Customer avatar
Patrick B August 01, 2020 2:07 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I'm sold! I haven't read it fully yet, but I really like what I've seen so far.
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Product Information
Gold seller
Pages
242
File Size:
13.1 MB
Format
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File Last Updated:
February 12, 2021
This title was added to our catalog on July 28, 2020.