Hi everyone,

I have played/run Ghostbusters International but I hear the original Ghostbusters RPG is better.

Why do people prefer the original Ghostbusters RPG from WEG over GB International?

I liked the index card character sheet and the looser feel of the rules, where some of the things weren't written in stone.

I did like that GBI was not a wholesale restructuring of the system, just adding stuff to what was already there.

Quote from: Thornhammer on April 19, 2023, 11:49:23 AM
I liked the index card character sheet and the looser feel of the rules, where some of the things weren't written in stone.

I did like that GBI was not a wholesale restructuring of the system, just adding stuff to what was already there.

Oh ok, so GBI was basically We need to add this this and this and then put it out as a second edition.

Curious why they didnt just call it Ghostbusters second edition.

Thank You for the information.

Quote from: GhostNinja on April 19, 2023, 12:01:16 PM
Oh ok, so GBI was basically We need to add this this and this and then put it out as a second edition.

Curious why they didnt just call it Ghostbusters second edition.

Thank You for the information.

GBI is expanded as stated, but with the premise that the PCs are operating a franchise of Ghostbusters (hence the International thing). Much like I said in the SW thread, they just added more stuff to the game that can makes sense logically, but really adds nothing to the play of note. I have played GB and GBI, but only own GBI so it's hard to remember all the details, but "looser feel" is right on the money.

WEG seems to have done this with all their games...Paranoia 2nd is a great game, but 1st is arguably better in many ways.

Quote from: Brad on April 19, 2023, 12:51:27 PM
GBI is expanded as stated, but with the premise that the PCs are operating a franchise of Ghostbusters (hence the International thing). Much like I said in the SW thread, they just added more stuff to the game that can makes sense logically, but really adds nothing to the play of note. I have played GB and GBI, but only own GBI so it's hard to remember all the details, but "looser feel" is right on the money.

WEG seems to have done this with all their games...Paranoia 2nd is a great game, but 1st is arguably better in many ways.

So in the original version of the Ghostbusters RPG can you only play the characters from the movies?  Or can you create your own characters?

I had GBI and it wasn't bad.  Even copies of GBI are still going for good money online.

Quote from: GhostNinja on April 19, 2023, 01:20:17 PM
So in the original version of the Ghostbusters RPG can you only play the characters from the movies?  Or can you create your own characters?

I had GBI and it wasn't bad.  Even copies of GBI are still going for good money online.

You can absolutely make your own characters, but it's sort of implied you're working with the actual Ghostbusters or something. There's really not that much of a difference in this regard, just how the implied setting is expanded. Probably not anything to get hung up about, honestly.

Quote from: Brad on April 19, 2023, 01:33:53 PM

Quote from: GhostNinja on April 19, 2023, 01:20:17 PM
So in the original version of the Ghostbusters RPG can you only play the characters from the movies?  Or can you create your own characters?

I had GBI and it wasn't bad.  Even copies of GBI are still going for good money online.

You can absolutely make your own characters, but it's sort of implied you're working with the actual Ghostbusters or something. There's really not that much of a difference in this regard, just how the implied setting is expanded. Probably not anything to get hung up about, honestly.

Ok, appreciate the information.

Necro'ing this old thread with good intent.

My daughter loves the two most recent Ghostbusters movies (Afterlife and Frozen Empire) in addition to the original two movies.

She's played D&D, but isn't into it. She would be into playing a Ghostbusters TTRPG though, with some friends, if I were to GM.

I've never owned either Ghostbusters (1986) or the revised Ghostbusters International. I always heard good things about the original back in the day, though heard it was a bit silly on the level of Paranoia (no idea if that's accurate, just the impression I got back in the 80s).

Anyone have any advice on what rules might be good for running a short campaign (a few one-shots maybe) in the tone of the more recent movies? Either of those two systems, or an entirely different system. Newbie players, probably not a huge amount of rules crunch.

Quote from: Mistwell on December 06, 2024, 02:49:24 PMNecro'ing this old thread with good intent.

My daughter loves the two most recent Ghostbusters movies (Afterlife and Frozen Empire) in addition to the original two movies.

She's played D&D, but isn't into it. She would be into playing a Ghostbusters TTRPG though, with some friends, if I were to GM.

I've never owned either Ghostbusters (1986) or the revised Ghostbusters International. I always heard good things about the original back in the day, though heard it was a bit silly on the level of Paranoia (no idea if that's accurate, just the impression I got back in the 80s).

Anyone have any advice on what rules might be good for running a short campaign (a few one-shots maybe) in the tone of the more recent movies? Either of those two systems, or an entirely different system. Newbie players, probably not a huge amount of rules crunch.

I have somewhere a fan made thing for doing ghostbusters with Savage Worlds.  I think there are a couple other Ghostbusters style games out there although I don't remember their names off the top of my head.

Probably better to go with the newer stuff as I imagine that the older GB products (both from West End Games) are probably expensive these days.

*Edit* I was right.  Went on Ebay and you aren't getting ahold of the original version for anything less than $150 bucks.

I am pretty sure I have access to borrow the original version of the game. Not sure about the International version.

One year necro isn't THAT bad.

Use original GB if you have it. I have not seen the anything other than the two originals, so no idea what the tone of the sequels is, but if you want a "Frightfully Cheerful" RPG, it's the best ever. GB is basically what you get when comedians get stuck in a horror movie, and the system emulates that so very well. I think something more strict and defined (instead of open-ended and freeform) would not be able to properly capture the atmosphere.

There's a retro clone of Ghostbusters

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/232762/spooktacular-a-cheerfully-spooky-role-playing-game