Dive into Blades in the Dark with Epic Rewards!

When I first dreamed up Zero Cooldown, it was all about bridging the gap between passion for TTRPGs, making those worlds come alive for everyone and build that on the new technological bedrock. From crafting dark fantasy novellas like NOVDOROD The Fall to running initiation modules like Hubris at Fort-Graven, every step has been about experimentation, creativity, and sharing the thrill of role-playing games. Now, we’re taking that energy to YouTube, and I couldn’t be more excited to announce our official launch!

Mark your calendars: Our Zero Cooldown YouTube channel goes public on November 21, 2025. We’ll kick things off with our inaugural series, dropping one episode every week for about 20 weeks. That’s plenty of time to immerse yourself in a gritty, narrative-driven adventure that highlights what makes TTRPGs so addictive.

Our First Series: Blades in the Dark – Criminals Rising from the Shadows

In this debut run, we’ll be playing as a crew of hardened scoundrels—outlaws who’ve chosen a life of crime to claw their way out of poverty. Set in the haunting world of Blades in the Dark, a steampunk dark fantasy RPG, you’ll join us in a city shrouded in eternal night, where ghosts, industrial machinations, and supernatural horrors lurk around every corner. The system’s all about narrative focus, improvisation, and collaborative creation: No rigid scripts here—we build the story together, letting player choices unwind into chaos, alliances, and epic heists.

It’s the perfect blend of tension and freedom, much like the sandbox campaigns I’ve run in the past (think Vampire: The Masquerade vibes but with a fresh twist). If you’ve ever wanted to see how doubt and paranoia fuel paranoia and power plays at the table, this series will deliver. We’ll explore themes of survival, ambition, and the dark underbelly of society, all while testing the boundaries of what a TTRPG actual play can be.

Extra Content to Level Up Your Experience

But we’re not stopping at the main episodes. Alongside the series, we’ll release annexes—short, meta-game supplements that dive deeper for those craving more.

Between episodes, expect quick-hit videos chatting about the epic loot up for grabs. That’s right: We’re turning this into an interactive hunt with real rewards!

Hunt for the Hidden Phrase and Win Big

To add some intrigue, we’ve hidden a secret phrase scattered across the episodes. Pieces will pop up subtly (not every episode has a clue, so stay sharp!), and piecing it together could score you some serious prizes. Here’s what’s on the line for the top three winners:

• 3 PDFs of Blades in the Dark in French: Perfect for diving into the game yourself or sharing with your crew.
• A full TTRPG initiation session with Hubris at Fort-Graven: We’ll provide a seasoned GM, and you can invite up to 7 people total—including your friends, the other two winners, and even players from our series (If they agree). It’s a chance to experience collaborative storytelling firsthand in a dark fantasy setting.
• Copies of NOVDOROD The Fall, our dark fantasy novella: The first winner gets a physical copy, while the other two snag ebooks or PDFs. Fun fact: This novella actually holds the key to the hidden phrase—consider it your ultimate clue repository!

This contest is our way of giving back to the community that’s fueled Zero Cooldown from the start. Whether you’re a TTRPG veteran or a curious newcomer, it’s all about fostering that sense of discovery and agency.

To win, you have to discover the hidden sentence into our Blades in the Dark series. And post it in the comment section of any of our videos. There is no deadline. First come, first serve. 3 winners maximum.

We’ve poured heart into recording these sessions, emphasizing fun & co-creation over polished “performances.” Even if we aim for it. It’s in French. Production’s wrapping up, and early subscribers mean the world—head over and hit that button to join the adventure from day one.

What are you most hyped for: The heists in Blades in the Dark, the meta supplements, or hunting down that hidden phrase?

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