Welcome back.
Didn’t expect to see y’all ‘round these parts again.
Or… No. These are different faces afore me now, ain’t they?
Forgive my eyesight; it ain’t what it used to be. But… those inner flames—the essence burnin’ inside of y’all—that I do say I recognize. A matched set. The Shadow and their Giant. Or is it the other way around?

ABOUT

Shadow / Giant is a 60-page TTRPG for two players eager to create their own wolf & cub story. Their journey will be filled with dangers, outbursts, exploration, discovery, and entirely unexpected devotion. 

One player takes on the role of the Shadow: a traumatized youth with powers unfit for their world. The other player is the Giant: an adult who swore they'd grown too jaded to ever care again, until the Shadow crashed into their life. 

There are tales of somewhere they can go—a Safe Place, far away, where the Shadow will be protected. To make it there, the pair must outrun, outsmart, and outfight the Threat that's hot on their trail. No matter the specifics of the Threat's sinister plans, they cannot be allowed to catch up and take the Shadow away. 

And they won't—not if the Giant can help it.

THE SYSTEM

SG2e uses a bespoke system that builds off the Badger + Coyote SRD core of the popular 1st edition to add support and structure for GM-full play, a host of flavorful oracles, and tactile asymmetric mechanics.

• 2 players, no GM, no prep
• Dice (5d6 per player, physical and full set optional)
• Playing cards (with Jokers, physical optional) 
• 2-4 hours per session 
• Supports one-shots through ~12 session campaigns 

The Giant's player rolls a handful of 6-sided dice to try and make good combinations. Using a Skill or Resource, getting help from the Shadow, or using a Boon can allow them rerolls, increasing the chance of good combinations... though they could always take a Devil's Bargain and put themself at risk for a better chance of success. Because combos vary, aiming for a better one could risk total failure, as well as Complications and Costs. 

The Shadow's player builds and knocks down dice towers to represent the balance between their mundane skills and their fantastical powers. Leaving dice stacked in the tower or knocking them to the floor racks up Mishaps, though they could always choose to move their Skill Number to ensure success. Watch out, though - moving that Skill Number too far ensures a nightmarish event is about to occur. 

Each player takes responsibility over various parts of the world such as NPCs, Threats, Locations, and Opportunities. Card suits and oracles support GM-full play so players can focus on their characters and story. 

Check out the 1st edition on...

• Party of One with Jeff Stormer and Rahrah 
• Dice Exploder's 2024 Year End Bonanza
• 5 Minutes Not 5e with The Copper Compendium

ACCESSIBILITY 

SG2e was designed, written, and laid out by Luka Brave, a long-time disability advocate, peer support worker, and accessibility consultant. You can check out Luka's Accessible Rulebook Checklist for tips and resources to help you make your own games more accessible. 

• Alternate rules included for using only d6s and for rolling digitally
• Bullet-point summaries and short examples of play throughout 
• Included Content & Safety section and boundary worksheet
• Colors and contrast balanced for low vision, eye strain, and colorblindness 
• Color-coded sections and end-of-book table placement to aid easy reference
• Frequently needed rules included on character sheets  
• All main text is in Inclusive Sans with keywords and different kinds of sections marked visually 
• Tagged PDF with bookmarks, image descriptions, and screen reader ordering 
• ...more coming soon! 

THE TEAM 

SG2e was made in community. 

The folks who directly worked on the game include: 

• Game Design, Writing, and Layout by Luka Brave
• Editing by H. Steven Savage
• Art by Vicky Lee
• Published by Plus One Experience

With special thanks to: 

• Andy Boyd
• Kodi Gonzaga
• Mint-Rabbit
• Sam Robson 
• Seren Briar
• Tony Vasinda 
• Chimera Hearts Community
• Dice Exploder Community

TOUCHSTONES  

Shadow / Giant 2e follows in the legacy of Lone Wolf and Cub-inspired media such as... 

• Arcane (show, 2021-2024) 
• Bioshock (video game series, 2007, 2010, & 2013) 
• Birds of Prey (movie, 2020) 
• Brother Bear (movie, 2003)
• Gunpowder Milkshake (movie, 2021)  
• Logan (movie, 2017) 
• Stranger Things (show, 2016-2025) 
• Telltale’s The Walking Dead (video game series, 2012-2018) 
• The Last of Us Parts I & II (video games, 2013 & 2020) 
• The Mandalorian (show, 2019-2023)