Trying to find a new-ish D&D-style TTRPG
May 29, 2024 7:27 PM
Fairly recently, someone somewhere here on MeFi mentioned a newly published TTRPG (not Pathfinder, but something like that). I'm trying to find it, with no luck.
I think it was in the last two years, and it was mentioned in the comments of an RPG thread. It might have involved a system that somehow downplays randomness, or rebalances damage or something like that. I showed the post/comment to my son, who was just talking to a friend who DMs and told him about. Said friend is now interested in trying it. But there are A LOT of RPG-tagged posts, and after 30 minutes of skimming posts and comments I'm stumped.
Finding this one in particular would be great, but honestly, I'm sure he'd be thrilled to look at any/all of your recommendations. So fire away!
I think it was in the last two years, and it was mentioned in the comments of an RPG thread. It might have involved a system that somehow downplays randomness, or rebalances damage or something like that. I showed the post/comment to my son, who was just talking to a friend who DMs and told him about. Said friend is now interested in trying it. But there are A LOT of RPG-tagged posts, and after 30 minutes of skimming posts and comments I'm stumped.
Finding this one in particular would be great, but honestly, I'm sure he'd be thrilled to look at any/all of your recommendations. So fire away!
If Shadowdark wasn’t what you were reading about, you should still look at Shadowdark….but the downplaying randomness doesn’t seem quite right. It DOES reward you for planning ahead and thinking actions through, but it has lots of randomness baked in (really, in some of the best, most satisfying ways). Crème of the OSR crop as far as I’m concerned.
The rule book paired with the Monster Overhaul by mefi’s own Skerples is what my middle schooler uses to DM a game. They seem to have a riotous time. I’ve done a couple one/few shots with it and it’s great. It’s pretty amazing just exactly what the random tables in those two books together really generate.
I will say that its strength is as a sandboxy-hex-crawly type game: It really shines the more you open the world up.
If you’re looking for something less swingy and random specifically, I would check out Green Ronin’s AGE engine (the expanse, fantasy age, modern age, etc). It had much more of a bell curve to most things, and your characters tend to reliably be able to do the things they’re good at. It’s a very cinematic engine, that I feel is really good for games on the pulp-y side. I’ve done several one shots with the modern rule set, and it’s pretty solid once you acclimate.
posted by furnace.heart at 8:26 PM on May 29
The rule book paired with the Monster Overhaul by mefi’s own Skerples is what my middle schooler uses to DM a game. They seem to have a riotous time. I’ve done a couple one/few shots with it and it’s great. It’s pretty amazing just exactly what the random tables in those two books together really generate.
I will say that its strength is as a sandboxy-hex-crawly type game: It really shines the more you open the world up.
If you’re looking for something less swingy and random specifically, I would check out Green Ronin’s AGE engine (the expanse, fantasy age, modern age, etc). It had much more of a bell curve to most things, and your characters tend to reliably be able to do the things they’re good at. It’s a very cinematic engine, that I feel is really good for games on the pulp-y side. I’ve done several one shots with the modern rule set, and it’s pretty solid once you acclimate.
posted by furnace.heart at 8:26 PM on May 29
I'd forgotten about Shadowdark, which sounds excellent, but the kid tells me that he remembers it as something that seemed more homemade, less formal and professional. Like a homebrewed system someone was doing as a labor of love.
But these are cool! Looking forward to more replies.
posted by martin q blank at 8:44 PM on May 29
But these are cool! Looking forward to more replies.
posted by martin q blank at 8:44 PM on May 29
I've talked about Swords of the Serpentine when fantasy games come up, a sword-and-sorcery focused urban adventure game. It downplays randomness. But it's pretty professional.
Could it have been Cairn? There was an FPP about that (or adventures for it or something) I think. And the free download might give a non-professional vibe.
posted by mark k at 9:51 PM on May 29
Could it have been Cairn? There was an FPP about that (or adventures for it or something) I think. And the free download might give a non-professional vibe.
posted by mark k at 9:51 PM on May 29
Might it have been Daggerheart? Being developed by the Critical Role team. Includes for example a rolling aspect that gives the DM "inspiration" points during the game.
posted by Iteki at 12:45 AM on May 30
posted by Iteki at 12:45 AM on May 30
It was Cairn! Thanks, mark k, much appreciated. But all of these sound cool. I'm forwarding the link to this thread to my son, who can pass it on to his friend.
posted by martin q blank at 7:55 AM on May 30
posted by martin q blank at 7:55 AM on May 30
(actually just forwarding the fames you mentioned, not this link itself.)
posted by martin q blank at 8:01 AM on May 30
posted by martin q blank at 8:01 AM on May 30
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posted by Wobbuffet at 7:52 PM on May 29