I'm going to be hosting a few friends-to-acquaintances at a multi-day get together and want to offer to run a couple of one-shots or a short campaign.

The experience level of the players ranges from "never played before" to "GMs Shadowrun 5e", so quick learning is a must and some optional/bolt-on crunch would be nice. Fast play would also be nice, though that probably goes along with quick to learn anyway.

I am a some-to-not-much experience GM who hasn't GM'd in a while. I'll put the work in but anything that helps me not suck will let the players have more fun.

If possible I think the players would enjoy cyberpunk settings/content. If there's a game that is quick to pick up that could still extend to a fuller campaign, even better.

I tentatively considered Savage Worlds, PbtA (The Sprawl), FATE, and Index Card RPG, but I've of those I've only played FATE so far, so I thought I'd try to tap more experience.

What's your favorite system for this kind of thing? What would you run if you were doing this?

Cheers and thanks

Quote from: insubordinate polyhedral;1094047I'm going to be hosting a few friends-to-acquaintances at a multi-day get together and want to offer to run a couple of one-shots or a short campaign.

The experience level of the players ranges from "never played before" to "GMs Shadowrun 5e", so quick learning is a must and some optional/bolt-on crunch would be nice. Fast play would also be nice, though that probably goes along with quick to learn anyway.

I am a some-to-not-much experience GM who hasn't GM'd in a while. I'll put the work in but anything that helps me not suck will let the players have more fun.

If possible I think the players would enjoy cyberpunk settings/content. If there's a game that is quick to pick up that could still extend to a fuller campaign, even better.

I tentatively considered Savage Worlds, PbtA (The Sprawl), FATE, and Index Card RPG, but I've of those I've only played FATE so far, so I thought I'd try to tap more experience.

What's your favorite system for this kind of thing? What would you run if you were doing this?

Cheers and thanks

If Cyberpunk2020 is out then Savage Worlds + Interface zero
Or if you rather d20 then pathfinder or D20 modern + Interface Zero

Maze Rats, SWN, Savage Worlds, DCCRPG

Quote from: insubordinate polyhedral;1094047I'm going to be hosting a few friends-to-acquaintances at a multi-day get together and want to offer to run a couple of one-shots or a short campaign.

Long-weekend mini-campaigns are great fun!

My suggestion is pick a game you know well and have run successfully before.

I would not worry about the campaign past the multi-day, but do your best to make sure the mini-campaign has its beginning / middle / end during the multi-day.

I'm not a FATE fan, but if you know it and your players enjoy it, then that makes the most sense.

Quote from: insubordinate polyhedral;1094047What's your favorite system for this kind of thing? What would you run if you were doing this?

Depends on the players. I've done these weekends many times, sometimes where I'm the only GM and sometimes where we switch out GMs and game types (RPGs, card games, minis, etc).

When I've run the whole weekend, I've usually gone OD&D or Traveller, mostly because that's what my players want me to run. I've also done a Mazes & Minotaurs weekend and that was great as we even dined Greek and watched 300 again to get in the spirit of the game.

BTW, here's a Free / Pay what you want game (Arcana Rising and its Cyberpunk supplement Neuro City)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/121426/Arcana-Rising?manufacturers_id=4617
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/121828/Welcome-to-Neuro-City?manufacturers_id=4617

OD&D is my personal choice. Not as much prep as later editions and I can "wing it" for a whole weekend if needed.

If the group wants 'cyberpunk' that's easy to learn, plays fast, and has optional crunch, The Sprawl would be my pick. Check out the vid featuring the designer, Hamish Cameron -

[video=youtube;Ld7FIvkH1LA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld7FIvkH1LA[/youtube]

I frequently use PDQ for the short, light-crunch sort of game session(s) you describe. Mostly that's because as a GM it's so easy to stat stuff up on the fly.

For example, need a quick band of mooks?
Mook Leader: Good [+2] Street Scum, Good [+2] Pistols
Mook: Good [+2] Street Scum
Mook: Good [+2] Street Scum

Or how about some kind of mutated monstrosity?
Nanite beast: Expert [+4] Nanite mutations, Good [+2] Infectious bite, Expert [+4] Searing scratch, Good [+2] EMP attack

and so on. You can download the core rules for free and have a go. For ideas and slightly more fiddly bits on how to do modern weaponry and such, I'd probably use the Achtung! Cthulhu build of the game. The PDF is like $3 on DriveThru right now.

I'd suggest Everywhen, a multi-genre ruleset based on Barbarians of Lemuria.  It does pulpy action very well, with simple 2d6-based mechanics and a system of Careers and Traits (boons and flaws) to handle character skills and abilities.  Basic rules for hacking and cybernetics are in the core book, so that's really all you need; if you want more, the retro-80s cyberpunk supplement Neonpunk Crysis provides additional rules, character options, setting info, and adventures.

Wow, thank you everyone! Lots of great suggestions here. I guess the answer is to get reading, probably SW first, then the OD&D options, The Sprawl, and PDQ, and then roll (ha ha) with whatever I think I'll be able to run best.

Quote from: GeekyBugle;1094048If Cyberpunk2020 is out then Savage Worlds + Interface zero
Or if you rather d20 then pathfinder or D20 modern + Interface Zero

I was tempted to try CP2020 (I actually just picked it up for unrelated reasons) but was worried it might be too much for the brand newbies to learn in such a short timeframe. Do you have any experience with it as a first game for someone who's never played RPGs at all before?

Quote from: Spinachcat;1094058Long-weekend mini-campaigns are great fun!

My suggestion is pick a game you know well and have run successfully before.

I would not worry about the campaign past the multi-day, but do your best to make sure the mini-campaign has its beginning / middle / end during the multi-day.

I'm not a FATE fan, but if you know it and your players enjoy it, then that makes the most sense.

I'm in the good-bad position of not knowing anything especially well (that I would want to play, anyway). That's a good tip to refocus and let subsequent play evolve as its own thing, thank you.

As for FATE, it was okay, but nothing that really clicked for me, and it's been a few years ago now anyway. I chose it because I was running a campaign for a brand new player who was intimidated by playing at all and I hadn't yet bumped into OSR content.

Quote from: finarvyn;1094066OD&D is my personal choice. Not as much prep as later editions and I can "wing it" for a whole weekend if needed.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1094058Depends on the players. I've done these weekends many times, sometimes where I'm the only GM and sometimes where we switch out GMs and game types (RPGs, card games, minis, etc).

When I've run the whole weekend, I've usually gone OD&D or Traveller, mostly because that's what my players want me to run. I've also done a Mazes & Minotaurs weekend and that was great as we even dined Greek and watched 300 again to get in the spirit of the game.

BTW, here's a Free / Pay what you want game (Arcana Rising and its Cyberpunk supplement Neuro City)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/121426/Arcana-Rising?manufacturers_id=4617
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/121828/Welcome-to-Neuro-City?manufacturers_id=4617

Thanks for the links! I should not have ruled OD&D out so early. The simplicity is a nice fit for the mix of players, I just thought it wouldn't be a great thematic fit. I should've known that people have done everything with it though.

Quote from: Theory of Games;1094069If the group wants 'cyberpunk' that's easy to learn, plays fast, and has optional crunch, The Sprawl would be my pick. Check out the vid featuring the designer, Hamish Cameron -

Thanks! I kind of wanted an excuse to play The Sprawl anyway, maybe this is that excuse.

Quote from: SavageSchemer;1094072I frequently use PDQ for the short, light-crunch sort of game session(s) you describe. Mostly that's because as a GM it's so easy to stat stuff up on the fly.

For example, need a quick band of mooks?
Mook Leader: Good [+2] Street Scum, Good [+2] Pistols
Mook: Good [+2] Street Scum
Mook: Good [+2] Street Scum

Or how about some kind of mutated monstrosity?
Nanite beast: Expert [+4] Nanite mutations, Good [+2] Infectious bite, Expert [+4] Searing scratch, Good [+2] EMP attack

and so on. You can download the core rules for free and have a go. For ideas and slightly more fiddly bits on how to do modern weaponry and such, I'd probably use the Achtung! Cthulhu build of the game. The PDF is like $3 on DriveThru right now.

That's super cool. I had only heard about PDQ a couple days ago (I think probably from one of your other posts). I'll give it a read.

I'm a little surprised that a Cthulhu supplement is the closest to modern weaponry kit for PDQ with how popular cyberpunk is these days, but I did some searching around and that seems to be the case. Maybe if I run with PDQ and come up with anything decent I can share it out.

Quote from: nightlamp;1094079I'd suggest Everywhen, a multi-genre ruleset based on Barbarians of Lemuria.  It does pulpy action very well, with simple 2d6-based mechanics and a system of Careers and Traits (boons and flaws) to handle character skills and abilities.  Basic rules for hacking and cybernetics are in the core book, so that's really all you need; if you want more, the retro-80s cyberpunk supplement Neonpunk Crysis provides additional rules, character options, setting info, and adventures.

Quote from: Neonpunk CrysisExperience cyberpunk adventure the way it was intended: from the vantage of the 80's. Influenced by cutting-edge anime classics like Akira and Battle Angel Alita, Neonpunk Crysis takes you back *– and forward – to the mean streets of Neo Tokyo. Rogue androids prowl through glitzy nightclubs, their algorithms on the verge of self-awareness. Escapees from psionic labs struggle to keep their rage-induced powers under control. Salarymen, beat cops, gang members, punks, and petty criminals alike all grope for enough yen to go another week in the frenzied metropolis. This is a world trembling on the brink... the brink of Neonpunk Crysis!

Well this sounds spot on. Once more unto the reading list, I suppose. Cheers

Quote from: insubordinate polyhedral;1094093Wow, thank you everyone! Lots of great suggestions here. I guess the answer is to get reading, probably SW first, then the OD&D options, The Sprawl, and PDQ, and then roll (ha ha) with whatever I think I'll be able to run best.



I was tempted to try CP2020 (I actually just picked it up for unrelated reasons) but was worried it might be too much for the brand newbies to learn in such a short timeframe. Do you have any experience with it as a first game for someone who's never played RPGs at all before?



I'm in the good-bad position of not knowing anything especially well (that I would want to play, anyway). That's a good tip to refocus and let subsequent play evolve as its own thing, thank you.

As for FATE, it was okay, but nothing that really clicked for me, and it's been a few years ago now anyway. I chose it because I was running a campaign for a brand new player who was intimidated by playing at all and I hadn't yet bumped into OSR content.





Thanks for the links! I should not have ruled OD&D out so early. The simplicity is a nice fit for the mix of players, I just thought it wouldn't be a great thematic fit. I should've known that people have done everything with it though.



Thanks! I kind of wanted an excuse to play The Sprawl anyway, maybe this is that excuse.



That's super cool. I had only heard about PDQ a couple days ago (I think probably from one of your other posts). I'll give it a read.

I'm a little surprised that a Cthulhu supplement is the closest to modern weaponry kit for PDQ with how popular cyberpunk is these days, but I did some searching around and that seems to be the case. Maybe if I run with PDQ and come up with anything decent I can share it out.

Well the game isn't really gear focused at all. The game is very much character focused. The A!C game just gives a bit of advice for making weaponry more or less deadly. Most of the game, especially for cyberpunk, will really be down to how you decide to model the world in game terms.

If you want something slightly more crunchy that pays more attention to gear, maybe look into either Interface Zero or Zaibatsu. I actually recently reviewed the latter at another site member's request. It's based on Cepheus Engine, and we enjoyed it quite a bit.

AD&D.

The players don't need to know anything - I could run the game blindfolded.  Just tell me what you want to do. That doesn't require one scintilla of rules knowledge; I know what to roll for when, and why.

FATE is good for that, since it's a short campaign, and you have experience with it. Dungeon World works well, also, because everything is on the sheet. There's supposed to be a Cyber hack called Sixth World, but I could not locate an active link to rules, sorry.

Okay, snooped around, and found Sixth World page with rules. Have not read them, so cannot vouch for whether this would suit your needs.

Star Wars Introductory Adventure Game.

Uses a slimmed down version of the d6 Star Wars rules and is the best introductory RPG that I have ever found.