I've been on the hunt for new indie TTRPGs for a while now, I've played dozens of them with my friends, and I'm looking for some outside of the normal cycle of repeated ideas. I have my own list of games (https://www.gamersdecide.com/articles/best-indie-tabletop-rpgs (https://www.gamersdecide.com/articles/best-indie-tabletop-rpgs))that I've played a lot and enjoy, but I want to know what you all think.
I love anything that deviates from the normal DnD feel, especially games with unique mechanics that can be adopted elsewhere, like Clocks or Devil's Bargain in Blades in the Dark, or the meta points in Fabula Ultima.
What parts of TTRPGS do you look for? Mechanics? Settings? Just aesthetic?
One that is often overlooked, but is choking full of goodies is Artesia. The mechanics are interesting and very intuitive (D10+bonuses, lots of stats though, which I am personally fine with). Magic feels "real" (curses and incantations), and some serious world building.
Otherwise I am very fond of the "solid" feel of Runequest. It doesn't feel like a set unrelated rules stitched together.
It's fairly D&D-like, but the Dragon Age Roleplaying Game is an interesting game. It's got stunt tables, so whenever you roll a particular way you get points you can use to do different things in combat. So you could move an opponent, deal more damage, get a bonus to defense, etc. There are even stunt points for roleplaying and exploration. It's also not a neat way for spellcasting that combines mana points and rolling for spell success.
Another one I recommend is Mothership. It's a generic horror-in-space style of game, and while it doesn't do anything in particular, it works really well as a bit of a wildcard for just about any setting you come up with. It's perfect for shorter campaigns based around a single idea.
As for what I like in a roleplaying game, I usually go for mechanics and the aesthetic. Nothing too complicated, but nothing too basic; I want to play a game after all. I also tend to try to fill in game genres, rather than look for different mechanics. I know it sounds lame, but besides Dragon Age, D&D is my go to fantasy game. It's what I like, and it covers most fantasy settings. Then if I want to play a Cyberpunk genre, I play Cyberpunk 2020. Sure, I don't expand me horizons as much, but I have a stronger grasp on the rulesets I do play.
A perennial favorite of mine is Traveller. I have currently been using Cepheus Engine variants to run games. Hostile is excellent for the 80s style gritty scifi and I've been using it to run a cyberpunk game. The last fantasy game I ran I used Sword of Cepheus and that worked vary well.
I really like the WEG Star Wars RPG. The Open D6 system is a great place to start for more high adventure and lower risk games.
Finally, I really like ICRPG and have recommended it on this forum more than once. It's great to run with kids. It also has a lot of little innovations that you can adapt to other games.
Currently experimenting with Traveller 5 - I have long favored the MegaTraveller rules and T5 feels hyper technical in comparison, but it covers a lot of ground. I tend to run a Third Imperium game but with a feel that combines the aristocratic intrigues of EC Tubb's Dumarest saga's worlds and the grittiness and shitiness of the Alien universe or The Expanse novels - so my Third Imperium is more like the dysfunctional version of the early Marc Miller adventures than the overworked version of the Third Imperium in later Traveller. T5 has been good for that type of game so far.
Currently running the Dolmenwood setting. Can't say I necessarily recommend the system. It's just OSE with a new paint job, and you either like that or not.
What I do recommend as a system is Dragon Warriors, which I ran a campaign of last year. It's an old school game structurally similar to classic D&D, but with a number of mechanical differences, most (but not all) of which I regard as direct improvements.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/90926/Dragon-Warriors
I tend to initially check RPGs out based on the setting/tone, but if I don't care for the mechanics they get shelved pretty quickly. What I'm ultimately looking for is games that will allow me to run different types of campaign from what D&D and it's derivatives tend to produce.
The problem is that I own tons of independent games, and don't really have time to run more than one campaign at a time. What I'm hoping to do in the near future is start up a rotating series of mini-campaigns to kick the tires on some of these games I have on my shelves. Here are some of the current candidates and why:
Warlock!: A skill-based low fantasy game, sometimes described as a mashup of Advanced Fighting Fantasy and 1st edition WFRP. I expect it would be a strong option for running "street-level" fantasy campaigns, with more investigation and intriguing than dungeon crawling.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/383512/Warlock-Traitors-Edition
Against the Darkmaster: A semi-retroclone of Rolemaster/MERP. I like the implied setting and I'm curious to see how its stripped-down version of the Rolemaster system behaves in play. Potentially offers a bit of extra tactical depth, but I'm not sure how clunky it'd be.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/329319/against-the-darkmaster-core-rules
Elfking the Immortal: A D10 based game I just bought on a whim. I've been looking for a while for a game that can run a very high fantasy campaign without devolving into incoherence and bloat, and this one has some interesting ideas for it.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/446616/elfking-the-immortal-roleplaying-game-core-rulebook-revised-edition
Shadow of the Demon Lord: Just looks like a solid all-around fantasy adventure game. It's been sitting on my shelf for a couple years and I still haven't gotten around to trying it.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/155572/shadow-of-the-demon-lord
I'm into obscure dead IPs that don't have communities and which are often difficult to acquire because they're out of print. Fuck copyright law.
So, no fantasy games on my list. They're fine, but also done to death.
1. Mini-Six Bare Bones. It's probably the best version of Star Wars D6 rules, fixing three big issues I had with Star Wars. The combat sequence, the Hero Point being too powerful when used, and wild die being in play too much.
2. Warbirds. I like planes, so a dieselpunk game centered around mercenary fighter pilots on flying aircraft carriers appeals to me.
3. Tiny D6 Supers. It's probably the easiest way to play super heroes there is. Also, the system works, but not for their fantasy game. It's why I suggest Supers. The Fantasy game has no rules for armor and a vague magic system. I also recommend getting the Fallen Justice add-on for more "Batman" style character options.
4. Jovian Chronicles. It's as close to a Gundam RPG as you can get. Maybe better as it has more factions and uses the whole solar system instead of just Earth orbit.
I am into a bunch of different games:
1) For Fantasy: Old School Essentials (OSE) https://necroticgnome.com/
2) For roaring 20's/30s: Gangbusters 3rd Edition (Out of print)
3) For Mecha I use the Mecha RPG I wrote some time ago. Its gone through many revisions as it has been heavily playtested and improved
4) For everything else: Savage Worlds which is a generic rpg that has many great settings: http://www.peginc.com
My favorites are still 1e AD&D, Classic '81 Traveller, 1e Warhammer Fantasy RP, and pre-7e Call of Cthulhu.
I like 2e "Classic" Runequest, 1e->3e Stormbringer, 1e Gamma World / Metamorphosis Alpha, and FASA Star Trek.
I will play 2e Fading Suns, 1e Cyberpunk, and Rogue Trader, but I'm not fond of those systems.
I'm interested in Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Jags Wonderland, 4e (original) Hackmaster, 1e Prime Directive, Age of Shadow, Warbirds, Zaibatsu, Dragon Lines, The Celestial Empire, Thieves Guild and Ghastly Affair. I'd also like to give one of the swashbuckler games a try, but haven't settled on a system yet (I bought the likely contenders).
Honestly I dislike learning new rules. I like Steve Perrin's whole Basic Roleplaying system, so I'd probably use that to make custom games for settings.
But who am I kidding? I won't get to play most of these, there aren't enough hours in the day!
Quote from: Baron on December 17, 2023, 06:56:15 PM
My favorites are still 1e AD&D, Classic '81 Traveller, 1e Warhammer Fantasy RP, and pre-7e Call of Cthulhu.
I like 2e "Classic" Runequest, 1e->3e Stormbringer, 1e Gamma World / Metamorphosis Alpha, and FASA Star Trek.
I will play 2e Fading Suns, 1e Cyberpunk, and Rogue Trader, but I'm not fond of those systems.
I'm interested in Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Jags Wonderland, 4e (original) Hackmaster, 1e Prime Directive, Age of Shadow, Warbirds, Zaibatsu, Dragon Lines, The Celestial Empire, Thieves Guild and Ghastly Affair. I'd also like to give one of the swashbuckler games a try, but haven't settled on a system yet (I bought the likely contenders).
Honestly I dislike learning new rules. I like Steve Perrin's whole Basic Roleplaying system, so I'd probably use that to make custom games for settings.
But who am I kidding? I won't get to play most of these, there aren't enough hours in the day!
You play Cyberpunk 2013?
Sure. I've only played 2013 and Red. But I still want to give Zaibatsu a try, since I'm a Traveller fan.
Quote from: Baron on December 17, 2023, 07:44:31 PM
Sure. I've only played 2013 and Red. But I still want to give Zaibatsu a try, since I'm a Traveller fan.
I was being an ass. I assume you're a fan of Cyberpunk 2020, as am I. I have a couple of the 2013 books but they are mostly just collector's items at this point.
Zaibatsu is excellent. The 2d6 system of Traveller is fairly intuitive for most players and it's married up to some really nice OC for the game. If you're looking for a modern Cyberpunk game, I would also nudge you to take a peek at Neon Blood before you commit. I was very impressed with how they use the core d20 system and make it really feel like Cyberpunk. Either way, I think you'll have a great game for your table.
1) The One Ring 2e - my current go to game
2) Call of Cthulhu - although Chaosium won't see another penny from me due to their woke ideologies
3) Forbidden Lands - absolutely love this game and world
4) Traveller 5 - a little crunch heavy, but enjoying it with just the Core rules, Central Supply Catalogue and book for the sector you play in
5) Dolmenwood - not out yet, but will be played a fair bit I think
Honourable mention: Coriolis for a game on my shelf I have yet to play but love the system, setting and looks fun.
Wishlist to play or run: Shadows of Esteren (been sitting on my shelf unrun for what feels like a decade), Scum and Villainy (a neat FitD game).
The only game I am running right now is 5e. I have three ongoing 5e campaigns. I used to run quite a bit of Call of Cthulhu but it was becoming increasingly difficult to get reliable players for it. I may go back to it in the future. I have a ton of games I would like to run but I don't have the time or players to do it. I might run a short Dragonbane campaign after the holidays are over.
Quote from: yosemitemike on December 17, 2023, 11:46:51 PM
The only game I am running right now is 5e. I have three ongoing 5e campaigns. I used to run quite a bit of Call of Cthulhu but it was becoming increasingly difficult to get reliable players for it. I may go back to it in the future. I have a ton of games I would like to run but I don't have the time or players to do it. I might run a short Dragonbane campaign after the holidays are over.
I have been in and out of RPGs for years now, and haven't been able to play reliably since I was a teenager (46 now), and I really like CoC and Warhammer Fantasy 4e and Dragonbane (only have the quick start rules but grew up on the Swedish original). When I look around it seems almost impossible to find online games for them at reasonable times. D&D and derivatives are the absolute majority.
Quote from: daft on December 18, 2023, 01:52:55 PM
Quote from: yosemitemike on December 17, 2023, 11:46:51 PM
The only game I am running right now is 5e. I have three ongoing 5e campaigns. I used to run quite a bit of Call of Cthulhu but it was becoming increasingly difficult to get reliable players for it. I may go back to it in the future. I have a ton of games I would like to run but I don't have the time or players to do it. I might run a short Dragonbane campaign after the holidays are over.
I have been in and out of RPGs for years now, and haven't been able to play reliably since I was a teenager (46 now), and I really like CoC and Warhammer Fantasy 4e and Dragonbane (only have the quick start rules but grew up on the Swedish original). When I look around it seems almost impossible to find online games for them at reasonable times. D&D and derivatives are the absolute majority.
Whenever I try to run anything else these days, I get a couple of people who are very enthusiastic and that's it. I'm not at all confident that I can even get enough people for Dragonbane and that one is relatively well-known now. Call of Cthulhu used to reliably draw people but not so much any more. I just gave up on getting enough people for Ryuutama.
Savage Worlds, which is my gaming group's favorite rules system. I'm also playing the Dark Eye, which is pretty good for rather low-magic settings. However, I will basically play anything that ISN'T D&D 5e.
Quote from: yosemitemike on December 20, 2023, 02:21:17 AM
Quote from: daft on December 18, 2023, 01:52:55 PM
Quote from: yosemitemike on December 17, 2023, 11:46:51 PM
The only game I am running right now is 5e. I have three ongoing 5e campaigns. I used to run quite a bit of Call of Cthulhu but it was becoming increasingly difficult to get reliable players for it. I may go back to it in the future. I have a ton of games I would like to run but I don't have the time or players to do it. I might run a short Dragonbane campaign after the holidays are over.
I have been in and out of RPGs for years now, and haven't been able to play reliably since I was a teenager (46 now), and I really like CoC and Warhammer Fantasy 4e and Dragonbane (only have the quick start rules but grew up on the Swedish original). When I look around it seems almost impossible to find online games for them at reasonable times. D&D and derivatives are the absolute majority.
Whenever I try to run anything else these days, I get a couple of people who are very enthusiastic and that's it. I'm not at all confident that I can even get enough people for Dragonbane and that one is relatively well-known now. Call of Cthulhu used to reliably draw people but not so much any more. I just gave up on getting enough people for Ryuutama.
I run games all the time that are just 2-3 players. Sometimes it swells up to 5-6 but I don't really count on that. If it's a good game, the word gets out and you'll have more people the next time.
I'm actually running AD&D right now, 2nd edition (though I'm using a lot of 1st edition stuff).
Basically... I'm a bit lazy, as a GM. And the wealth of adventures out there is huge, and there's a lot of cheap and free stuff. I have access to old Dungeon magazines, a ton of modules, etc, etc. And I want to find high quality stuff, with a lot of diversity, and adapt it quickly. Which I've been able to easily do. That is a huge advantage. Essentially, I have a wealth of material to pour through for whatever next adventure I fancy, and I can just tweak it to suit my group.
While I was an avid 3.5 d&d player, the overall behavior of WotC made me abandon anything made by them. I'm waiting for Shadow of the Weird Wizard pdf's to come. From the short games I ran with the playtest documents, it will probably be my to go system for fantasy games. Schwalb delivered with Shadow of the Demon Lord and overall changes are very much to my liking.
I'm fine with Chronicles of Darkness being my modern/horror systeö but I really need to find something for Sci-fi.
At our Local Game Store we have a day dedicated to RPG's other than 5e. So far we have played:
Mutant Year Zero
Star Trek: Adventures
Marvel Multiverse RPG
Walking Dead
Parhfinder 2
Traveller (Mongoose)
Death in Space
Forbidden Lands
GURPS
I really enjoyed Marvel Multiverse quite a bit.
When people offer to run non-5e stuff I make it a point to show up and play.
Quote from: Svenhelgrim on December 24, 2023, 05:38:54 PM
At our Local Game Store we have a day dedicated to RPG's other than 5e. So far we have played:
Mutant Year Zero
Star Trek: Adventures
Marvel Multiverse RPG
Walking Dead
Parhfinder 2
Traveller (Mongoose)
Death in Space
Forbidden Lands
GURPS
I really enjoyed Marvel Multiverse quite a bit.
When people offer to run non-5e stuff I make it a point to show up and play.
This makes me happy.
I've been a big fan of GURPS, Rolemaster, and Traveller but find, the people in charge of them don't impress me anymore. I mostly write my own these days. I suppose that's what my hobby's degenerated into.
Quote from: David Johansen on December 24, 2023, 10:37:31 PM
I've been a big fan of GURPS, Rolemaster, and Traveller but find, the people in charge of them don't impress me anymore. I mostly write my own these days. I suppose that's what my hobby's degenerated into.
Check out Stellagama and Zozer for other versions of Traveller that are pretty cool. I really like the Quantum (very lite) versions from Stellagama. I like that Mongoose Mike replies/interacts, while disliking Mongoose's pricing/marketing. (Can't really argue with it though. If shiny sells $30 PDFs, then go them. LOL)
I finally read The Red Room's Wretched RPG. And immediately bought several of the 2nd Edition books to read too. I really like the Vice/Virtue system and intend on adapting it to my system. (We're doing a homebrew based on settings from our books and then I'll do an OSR version too.)
DwD Studios BareBones Fantasy is awesome! I love the quirks and moral code. And the modules are well-fleshed out. My wife is running one of them as a two part one shot for our online Traveller group.
I like what I read in Black Star from LakeSide Games but haven't had a chance to play it yet.
Quote from: Rhymer88 on December 20, 2023, 04:03:00 AM
Savage Worlds, which is my gaming group's favorite rules system. I'm also playing the Dark Eye, which is pretty good for rather low-magic settings. However, I will basically play anything that ISN'T D&D 5e.
I do love Savage Worlds. Been awhile since I have run it and I am really thinking about getting back into it.
I'd love to play or run anything that has nothing to do with D&D 5E. My current wishlist of things to play/run soon are:
- Shatterzone
- Shadowrun (probably 3E)
- The Rainy City using Savage Worlds
- Hyperborea 3E
- Dragonslayer
- Vast Grimm
- SLA Industries 2E
A few "not D&D" games I'd want to play:
- Behind Enemy Lines (FASA)
- Flashing Blades
- Amber or Lords of Olympus
- Dying Earth (Pelgrane)
- Delta Green
- Rolemaster (RM1 or RM2, for me)
- Bushido (FGU)
Is fantasy BRP stuff too D&D-ish? If not, then there's a lot there, too: Stormbringer, Hawkmoon, RQ, Mythic Britain, et cetera.
HarnMaster, RQ 3, and EABA 2. I'm a boring old toady who doesn't get into the more fantastic and higher leveled games much anymore.
While gaming isn't typically my forte, often finding myself somewhat detached and unable to immerse at the same fervent pace as others, I did dabble in a Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition campaign. Intriguingly, the Dungeon Master appreciated my approach, lauding my story-driven role-playing style. He remarked that I embody the type of player highly sought after by Dungeon Masters, primarily due to the unique narrative depth I bring to the game—an attribute he noted as being rather uncommon.
I study mostly
Pathfinder 1 & 2:
Pathfinder, in its first iteration, emerged as a refined successor to the 3.5 edition of Dungeons & Dragons, offering a richly detailed fantasy world replete with intricate mechanics. This role-playing game is celebrated for its expansive character customization options, allowing players to craft unique heroes with diverse abilities and backgrounds. Pathfinder 1st Edition is akin to a masterfully woven tapestry, where each thread represents myriad rules and possibilities that together create a vibrant and complex picture.
The transition to Pathfinder 2nd Edition marked a significant evolution in this fantasy role-playing experience. With streamlined mechanics and an enhanced focus on narrative flexibility, it offers a more accessible yet equally immersive experience. The 2nd Edition retains the depth and variety that fans cherished in the first, while introducing innovations that elevate gameplay, making each adventure an engaging and dynamic journey.
The Lost Omens Campaign Setting:
The Lost Omens setting within Pathfinder stands as a testament to the brilliance of narrative diversity. It's akin to a grand symphony of multiple campaign settings harmoniously blended into one. From the politically charged realms of Taldor to the mystical forests of the Mwangi Expanse, Lost Omens offers a spectrum of locales, each teeming with its own unique cultures, creatures, and legends. This setting is a mosaic of fantasy elements, drawing inspiration from various mythologies and histories, creating a world that feels simultaneously familiar and wondrously new. It's a setting where stories from countless backgrounds can intertwine, offering players and game masters a kaleidoscope of storytelling possibilities.
Ars Magica:
Ars Magica is a role-playing game set in a richly detailed world, inspired by the history and myth of medieval Europe. This game is unique in its focus on the life and labors of Magi – powerful wizards and their companions. It is particularly renowned for its magic system, which is both comprehensive and deeply rooted in Hermetic traditions. Players can weave intricate spells, engage in mystical research, and shape the very fabric of their magical society. Ars Magica's setting is one where the mundane and the mystical coexist, allowing for narratives that are deeply embedded in the lore and intricacies of medieval life and magic.
Open Legend:
Open Legend stands out as a role-playing game that breaks free from traditional genre constraints, embracing a system that is both flexible and inclusive. It is designed to encourage creativity and adaptability, allowing players and game masters to craft stories across a multitude of settings, from classic fantasy to futuristic sci-fi. The core mechanics are simple yet versatile, supporting a wide range of character types and narrative styles. Open Legend is about transcending boundaries, providing a framework where the only limit is the collective imagination of those at the table.
Solo gaming
Embarking on the path of solo gaming represents a personal odyssey into a world where I am the master of time and narrative. In this realm, each decision and adventure unfolds at my own pace, free from the constraints of group dynamics or external expectations. It's a liberating journey that allows me to fully immerse in the gaming experience, savoring every strategic decision and narrative twist. This shift to solo gaming is not just about playing alone; it's about creating a unique, self-tailored experience where the rhythm of play resonates perfectly with my personal tempo and style.
Quote from: yosemitemike on December 20, 2023, 02:21:17 AM
Quote from: daft on December 18, 2023, 01:52:55 PM
Quote from: yosemitemike on December 17, 2023, 11:46:51 PM
The only game I am running right now is 5e. I have three ongoing 5e campaigns. I used to run quite a bit of Call of Cthulhu but it was becoming increasingly difficult to get reliable players for it. I may go back to it in the future. I have a ton of games I would like to run but I don't have the time or players to do it. I might run a short Dragonbane campaign after the holidays are over.
I have been in and out of RPGs for years now, and haven't been able to play reliably since I was a teenager (46 now), and I really like CoC and Warhammer Fantasy 4e and Dragonbane (only have the quick start rules but grew up on the Swedish original). When I look around it seems almost impossible to find online games for them at reasonable times. D&D and derivatives are the absolute majority.
Whenever I try to run anything else these days, I get a couple of people who are very enthusiastic and that's it. I'm not at all confident that I can even get enough people for Dragonbane and that one is relatively well-known now. Call of Cthulhu used to reliably draw people but not so much any more. I just gave up on getting enough people for Ryuutama.
It's really frustrating. I don't particularly like D&D and it's derivatives, and would love to play Dragonbane or WFRP 4E, but it's close to impossible finding games online. D&D is so incredibly dominant. I did run CoC for some friends years ago, but that was the last time I played.
Currently playing Fabula Ultima. My to-play stack is about two feet tall. :-(
Quote from: zircher on December 28, 2023, 01:51:23 AM
Currently playing Fabula Ultima. My to-play stack is about two feet tall. :-(
How is Fabula Ultima? I've seen it around a few times and I'm curious to know. I've been looking at that and Anima as an anime TTRPG system.
I'm having a lot of fun with it. It's pretty good at capturing that JRPG feel without being a slavish simulation of it. It's open enough in its world building and themes to capture of lot styles which allows itself to be easily tailored to the group.
Quote from: daft on December 28, 2023, 01:34:36 AM
It's really frustrating. I don't particularly like D&D and it's derivatives, and would love to play Dragonbane or WFRP 4E, but it's close to impossible finding games online. D&D is so incredibly dominant. I did run CoC for some friends years ago, but that was the last time I played.
Boy you said it, brother. I went looking for new games to join recently, and if you don't want to play 5e or Pathfinder2, the pickings are slim indeed. It wasn't like this a year or two ago, but the COVID RPG bubble has well and truly burst.
The bad news is that if you want to play anything unusual online, you're probably going to have to run it yourself. The good news is that if you do, you can usually still find players. There's always someone browsing the "other games" category in Roll20. I've had decent luck getting players for my campaigns, so long as I make it clear that they don't need to own the rulebooks or have any prior knowledge of the game.
Incidentally, there was some talk of adding an LFG thread to this forum a while back. I don't think it'd see a huge amount of traffic. This is a pretty small forum and most of the posters seem to be in-person gamers only, but I still think it'd be worthwhile.
Quote from: ForgottenF on December 28, 2023, 01:00:06 PM
Quote from: daft on December 28, 2023, 01:34:36 AM
It's really frustrating. I don't particularly like D&D and it's derivatives, and would love to play Dragonbane or WFRP 4E, but it's close to impossible finding games online. D&D is so incredibly dominant. I did run CoC for some friends years ago, but that was the last time I played.
Boy you said it, brother. I went looking for new games to join recently, and if you don't want to play 5e or Pathfinder2, the pickings are slim indeed. It wasn't like this a year or two ago, but the COVID RPG bubble has well and truly burst.
Heh, that's why I moved on to solo gaming several years back. Finding reliable players for the games that I wanted was nigh impossible. If you have the mind set and patience for it, it can be a god send. The tools and technologies has evolved way past the old T&T solo adventure days.
Quote from: ForgottenF on December 28, 2023, 01:00:06 PM
Quote from: daft on December 28, 2023, 01:34:36 AM
It's really frustrating. I don't particularly like D&D and it's derivatives, and would love to play Dragonbane or WFRP 4E, but it's close to impossible finding games online. D&D is so incredibly dominant. I did run CoC for some friends years ago, but that was the last time I played.
Boy you said it, brother. I went looking for new games to join recently, and if you don't want to play 5e or Pathfinder2, the pickings are slim indeed. It wasn't like this a year or two ago, but the COVID RPG bubble has well and truly burst.
The bad news is that if you want to play anything unusual online, you're probably going to have to run it yourself. The good news is that if you do, you can usually still find players. There's always someone browsing the "other games" category in Roll20. I've had decent luck getting players for my campaigns, so long as I make it clear that they don't need to own the rulebooks or have any prior knowledge of the game.
Incidentally, there was some talk of adding an LFG thread to this forum a while back. I don't think it'd see a huge amount of traffic. This is a pretty small forum and most of the posters seem to be in-person gamers only, but I still think it'd be worthwhile.
It seems to me to have been like this for about four years now. I first experienced the "5E or nothing else" crowd in 2019 locally. When I moved a a large city (Houston) last year, I thought that might finally change. Nope. Just MORE people playing ONLY 5E.
HECK, it wasn't until I found a full-time job back in the town I ran from that I even noticed PF2 gaining steam on D&D, back in October. And even then, it's only through people I know and have gamed with online.
5E is pretty much dominating. What's worse is that if you mention anything else that might be different, suddenly you're pariah. Especially if it is remotely attached to OSR games. I even got a bunch of flack for promoting a potential OSE game, lol.
Being an older dude, I started with B/X and 1e in 1980/81 and have played 2e, 3e, Rolemaster, Traveller, Runequest (1e I think?.) Also played Top Secret SI a lot - had some friends back in the mid-80's who were big spy thriller fans.
These days I run a 5e campaign for my 2 adult sons and four of their friends. The current one is in Eberron and has been going since July of 2021. They're level 14 (should level up next session on NYE) and will go till about March/April.
We've been playing weekly since March of 2020. We were supposed to play in person, but our first session was literally the week of lockdown, so we switched to Skype, and now play on Zoom and use Owlbear Rodeo. Two of our players moved out of state in the interim, so online is a necessity - although over the holiday they came down and stayed with us for 2 days so we could play about 14-16 hours.
We defaulted to 5e since several of them already knew it. It gets a lot of hate, but it's a fun system I think, and fairly smooth to run.
That said, I got them to try Dungeon Crawl Classics recently, and we finished a funnel while they were all here and now have level 1 characters for the next time we play it. They really leaned into the gonzo nature of it. One of my sons had his 4 characters names Jib, Jab, Jub, and Job, and when they went into combat, they latched back to back and spun like a beyblade into the encounter. He made sure to pull out his phone and play the music from the "spinning rat" video during their turn.
Over the last year I've picked up Blades in the Dark, Monster of the Week, Candela Obscura, OSE, and Dark Places & Demogorgons. And what do you know, my Shadowdark Kickstarter package showed up yesterday. Not to mention I got the new core books for Pathfinder 2e remastered and subscribed to the rulebooks.
So I'm hoping to test the waters on several of those systems over the next year or so.
I've also applied with our group to playtest Daggerheart and am awaiting Tales of the Valiant (jeez what a stupid name, but I love Kobold's other materials.)
Finally, our next 5e campaign (or other system if we decide to switch) will be set in Kobold Press's Midgard. A lot going on.
Quote from: Dropbear on December 28, 2023, 05:46:42 PM
Quote from: ForgottenF on December 28, 2023, 01:00:06 PM
Quote from: daft on December 28, 2023, 01:34:36 AM
It's really frustrating. I don't particularly like D&D and it's derivatives, and would love to play Dragonbane or WFRP 4E, but it's close to impossible finding games online. D&D is so incredibly dominant. I did run CoC for some friends years ago, but that was the last time I played.
Boy you said it, brother. I went looking for new games to join recently, and if you don't want to play 5e or Pathfinder2, the pickings are slim indeed. It wasn't like this a year or two ago, but the COVID RPG bubble has well and truly burst.
It seems to me to have been like this for about four years now. I first experienced the "5E or nothing else" crowd in 2019 locally. When I moved a a large city (Houston) last year, I thought that might finally change. Nope. Just MORE people playing ONLY 5E.
HECK, it wasn't until I found a full-time job back in the town I ran from that I even noticed PF2 gaining steam on D&D, back in October. And even then, it's only through people I know and have gamed with online.
5E is pretty much dominating. What's worse is that if you mention anything else that might be different, suddenly you're pariah. Especially if it is remotely attached to OSR games. I even got a bunch of flack for promoting a potential OSE game, lol.
Speaking only from my own experience, of course, but when I started looking for online games to join in April of 2021, it was considerably easier to find non-5e games than it is now. I remember being essentially spoiled for choice. That's not to say 5e wasn't still the dominant game; it was. But the mere fact that there were more games total meant more people were playing other games. Based on what I see in the Roll20 and Foundry LFG listings, there's been a significant uptick of Pathfinder 2 games, especially since the OGL situation, and noticeably in comparison to Pathfinder 1. When I was looking three years ago, Pathfinder 1 and 2 games seemed to be almost evenly split, but Pathfinder 2 is thoroughly more dominant now.
At the same time, there's been a drying up of games outside of the D&D-derived paradigm. Ironically, after 5e and Pathfinder 2, I'd say OSR games are the easiest to find. If you're looking, you can pretty much always find an OSE or Castles & Crusades game looking for players on Roll20. What seems to have changed is the diversity of OSR games. All I see posted are those two and DCC.* Lamentations, OSRIC, Hyperborea, and the other "2nd tier" OSR games all have noticeably diminished VTT footprints from what they did in 2020.
*(not counting people who are playing actual old editions of TSR D&D. You still see a fair bit of that.)
I should specify that this is only based on what I see online. The home group/game store scenes are probably totally different.
EDIT: fixed an incorrect date and changed some formatting.
Quote from: ForgottenF on December 28, 2023, 01:00:06 PM
Quote from: daft on December 28, 2023, 01:34:36 AM
It's really frustrating. I don't particularly like D&D and it's derivatives, and would love to play Dragonbane or WFRP 4E, but it's close to impossible finding games online. D&D is so incredibly dominant. I did run CoC for some friends years ago, but that was the last time I played.
Boy you said it, brother. I went looking for new games to join recently, and if you don't want to play 5e or Pathfinder2, the pickings are slim indeed. It wasn't like this a year or two ago, but the COVID RPG bubble has well and truly burst.
The bad news is that if you want to play anything unusual online, you're probably going to have to run it yourself. The good news is that if you do, you can usually still find players. There's always someone browsing the "other games" category in Roll20. I've had decent luck getting players for my campaigns, so long as I make it clear that they don't need to own the rulebooks or have any prior knowledge of the game.
Incidentally, there was some talk of adding an LFG thread to this forum a while back. I don't think it'd see a huge amount of traffic. This is a pretty small forum and most of the posters seem to be in-person gamers only, but I still think it'd be worthwhile.
Trying to find a group to play the Dragon Age RPG is near impossible, and I mean that's just in person. I might have to throw a hook out on Roll20 and see what I can get. It's hard to believe it's that dead of a game.
Quote from: ForgottenF on December 29, 2023, 12:43:34 AM
Speaking only from my own experience, of course, but when I started looking for online games to join in April of 2021, it was considerably easier to find non-5e games than it is now.
I can tell you that I used to have a pretty easy time finding players for CoC but that's not the case any more.
Quote from: ForgottenF on December 28, 2023, 01:00:06 PM
Quote from: daft on December 28, 2023, 01:34:36 AM
It's really frustrating. I don't particularly like D&D and it's derivatives, and would love to play Dragonbane or WFRP 4E, but it's close to impossible finding games online. D&D is so incredibly dominant. I did run CoC for some friends years ago, but that was the last time I played.
Boy you said it, brother. I went looking for new games to join recently, and if you don't want to play 5e or Pathfinder2, the pickings are slim indeed. It wasn't like this a year or two ago, but the COVID RPG bubble has well and truly burst.
The bad news is that if you want to play anything unusual online, you're probably going to have to run it yourself. The good news is that if you do, you can usually still find players. There's always someone browsing the "other games" category in Roll20. I've had decent luck getting players for my campaigns, so long as I make it clear that they don't need to own the rulebooks or have any prior knowledge of the game.
Incidentally, there was some talk of adding an LFG thread to this forum a while back. I don't think it'd see a huge amount of traffic. This is a pretty small forum and most of the posters seem to be in-person gamers only, but I still think it'd be worthwhile.
Yeah, an annoyance for sure, and I don't really feel compelled to try OSR or other D&D-likes either as I am not too keen on the system. We'll see if I manage to try Dragonbane in person. Recently got in touch with my best friend from childhood, and we used to play the Swedish original Drakar och Demoner as kids. We haven't talked in years, but apparently he bought Dragonbane in an unsuccessful attempt to play with his kids, but we might give it a try instead.
That said, it seems we are a few on here looking for alternatives. Maybe we can get something going online?
Publishing-wise, I'm really into Savage Worlds at the moment, and I'm trying to learn more Pathfinder 2e as I make a careful tactical retreat from D&D 5e. I've submitted some GURPS stuff but haven't heard back lately. I still participate pretty regular on the DC Heroes list, for the old Mayfair system. Oh, and I just published probably the first commercial True20 compatible release in over a decade.
Just in terms of what's on my bookshelf, I'd like to give Dragonbane a whirl, but haven't yet, really. I keep picking up Champions and Fantasy Hero to read and admire, but it's bee a while since I've been in a game of it. I'd still play D&D 5e if I were invited to someone's table. I think Champions Now would be a lot of fame. Warhammer 2e is there, too; I'd want the right kind of group.
Pondering my own 3e-inspired game project. Also a supers system, uniting some of the concepts I like from DC Heroes and from Champions.
I've been thinking a lot about miniatures lately, and the tactile appeal of games. I used to do a lot of mapless gaming when I was a kid, not the least because I couldn't afford a lot of miniatures. Yet I always envied those wondrous looking piles of minis people had. Cool dice are one thing, but I think minis and book art are something I keep going back to at this point.
Well, I caved and ordered the Dragonbane box and the Enemy in Shadows Companion (for WFRP 4E) last night. Only have to get them to the table now.
Quote from: pawsplay on December 29, 2023, 06:46:54 PM
I've been thinking a lot about miniatures lately, and the tactile appeal of games. I used to do a lot of mapless gaming when I was a kid, not the least because I couldn't afford a lot of miniatures. Yet I always envied those wondrous looking piles of minis people had. Cool dice are one thing, but I think minis and book art are something I keep going back to at this point.
I got myself some Necrons and Ultramarines last Christmas together with the Warhammer 40k Core Rules. I really enjoy the lore and painting the models. Haven't even played once yet though, as I really don't have anyone to play with. I really enjoyed the painting part though and will get back to it soon, no doubt. The interesting thing is that it can be a very satisfying hobby just immersing yourself in lore and painting minis.
Quote from: ForgottenF on December 29, 2023, 12:43:34 AM
Quote from: Dropbear on December 28, 2023, 05:46:42 PM
Quote from: ForgottenF on December 28, 2023, 01:00:06 PM
Quote from: daft on December 28, 2023, 01:34:36 AM
It's really frustrating. I don't particularly like D&D and it's derivatives, and would love to play Dragonbane or WFRP 4E, but it's close to impossible finding games online. D&D is so incredibly dominant. I did run CoC for some friends years ago, but that was the last time I played.
Boy you said it, brother. I went looking for new games to join recently, and if you don't want to play 5e or Pathfinder2, the pickings are slim indeed. It wasn't like this a year or two ago, but the COVID RPG bubble has well and truly burst.
It seems to me to have been like this for about four years now. I first experienced the "5E or nothing else" crowd in 2019 locally. When I moved a a large city (Houston) last year, I thought that might finally change. Nope. Just MORE people playing ONLY 5E.
HECK, it wasn't until I found a full-time job back in the town I ran from that I even noticed PF2 gaining steam on D&D, back in October. And even then, it's only through people I know and have gamed with online.
5E is pretty much dominating. What's worse is that if you mention anything else that might be different, suddenly you're pariah. Especially if it is remotely attached to OSR games. I even got a bunch of flack for promoting a potential OSE game, lol.
Speaking only from my own experience, of course, but when I started looking for online games to join in April of 2021, it was considerably easier to find non-5e games than it is now. I remember being essentially spoiled for choice. That's not to say 5e wasn't still the dominant game; it was. But the mere fact that there were more games total meant more people were playing other games. Based on what I see in the Roll20 and Foundry LFG listings, there's been a significant uptick of Pathfinder 2 games, especially since the OGL situation, and noticeably in comparison to Pathfinder 1. When I was looking three years ago, Pathfinder 1 and 2 games seemed to be almost evenly split, but Pathfinder 2 is thoroughly more dominant now.
At the same time, there's been a drying up of games outside of the D&D-derived paradigm. Ironically, after 5e and Pathfinder 2, I'd say OSR games are the easiest to find. If you're looking, you can pretty much always find an OSE or Castles & Crusades game looking for players on Roll20. What seems to have changed is the diversity of OSR games. All I see posted are those two and DCC.* Lamentations, OSRIC, Hyperborea, and the other "2nd tier" OSR games all have noticeably diminished VTT footprints from what they did in 2020.
*(not counting people who are playing actual old editions of TSR D&D. You still see a fair bit of that.)
I should specify that this is only based on what I see online. The home group/game store scenes are probably totally different.
EDIT: fixed an incorrect date and changed some formatting.
I play online in Discord with a few people I have known for a while. I'm reticent to try Roll20 any more than I already have. There are too many Pronoun Police folks there if I try to run a game with randos. If there were less fake trans and non-binary people there telling everyone else how they MUST speak and define reality according to their whims, I'd go back and try again. But that has not seemed to abate just yet.
I run AD&D 2nd Edition pretty much exclusively. But I'd like to give AS&SH (3e) a shot. At the moment, I'm running a campaign set in Ravenloft where the PCs are natives to the realm. I also had the roll up characters using the classes and kits from the "Masque of the Red Death" boxed set that were appropriate for a standard Ravenloft setting.
The players are enjoying it.
Quote from: Digitalelf on December 31, 2023, 01:23:28 AM
I run AD&D 2nd Edition pretty much exclusively. But I'd like to give AS&SH (3e) a shot. At the moment, I'm running a campaign set in Ravenloft where the PCs are natives to the realm. I also had the roll up characters using the classes and kits from the "Masque of the Red Death" boxed set that were appropriate for a standard Ravenloft setting.
The players are enjoying it.
MotRD is probably my favorite setting for 2E aside from Planescape.
Unfortunately, my previous group would have nothing to do with 2E, being fully indoctrinated into the 5E only cult, and they asked that I run it for 5E.
While decently designed, the 5E version on DMs Guild of the setting just really doesn't do it for me. Nor does 5E in general. So I opted out, and they pretty much splintered and joined different 5E only groups instead.
Glad to hear that you made your save vs sheeple. ;D
Quote from: Dropbear on December 31, 2023, 01:15:58 PMMotRD is probably my favorite setting for 2E aside from Planescape.
Unfortunately, my previous group would have nothing to do with 2E, being fully indoctrinated into the 5E only cult, and they asked that I run it for 5E.
While decently designed, the 5E version on DMs Guild of the setting just really doesn't do it for me. Nor does 5E in general. So I opted out, and they pretty much splintered and joined different 5E only groups instead.
I felt the same about the 3rd edition version of MotRD. it was just missing... something.
I don't know if anyone's mentioned Mythras yet, but I'm really into the game and all of the derivatives based off of it. Originally, it was the system for Runequest 6e, but after Design Mechanism lost the license for the setting, they re-released it as its own generic system. All of the tools to play Runequest are still there, but it really shines in doing a Conan-esque Sword & Sorcery style fantasy game with it's really gritty and meaty combat rules. It's a modernized version (in all the best ways) of the older Runequest/BRP type games with unified mechanics for all of it's activities, making it far easier to learn and teach despite it's more complicated combat and magic rules.
modified D6 Fantasy with OSRIC features incorporated as advantages/disadvantages/special abilities, for those who insist on it. AD&D books overrule OSRIC at table if present and player desires (OSRIC is always present), and D6 Fantasy overrules or subsumes both of them.
Quote from: Dropbear on December 28, 2023, 05:46:42 PM5E is pretty much dominating. What's worse is that if you mention anything else that might be different, suddenly you're pariah. Especially if it is remotely attached to OSR games. I even got a bunch of flack for promoting a potential OSE game, lol.
What was the push back on OSE? Other than not wanting to play that, was it a political thing or something else?
I'm really lucky right now. I'm play testing my OSR/Into the Wyrd and Wild/Harnmaster/Wild magic mashup with the neighborhood 5E group. Only one game so far, but everyone had a lot of fun.
Outside of that I am having trouble getting anything going in person.
I'm looking forward to Knave 2E coming out and I'd love to run a more whimsical low effort campaign with that, but I have doubts I'll find players.
I'm trying to figure out if Against the Darkmaster would be fun, or if I just like the art in the book. That's a game where I wish I could be a player, just to get feel for it. I could probably find something online, but I find online play very tiring an unrewarding compared to in person.
Savage Worlds - (yeah I know... shocker). It's become my default system for Fantasy and Sci-fi. Love the Deadlands setting, of course Rifts, Rippers, Flash Gordon, Beasts and Barbarians, Weird Wars. It strikes a solid balance for my GM-fuckery with rules, optional sub-systems, and pro-active genre emulation that allows you to fine-tune your games into whatever you want. Even on the fly.
MSH (FASERIP) - I don't think it will ever go away. It's the longest running system at my table, since its inception and never has lowered in demand among the many many players that I've introduced to it.
CP2020 - I will *always* be into CP2020.
Talislanta - Still one of the greatest settings, and one of the best systems ever made.
D&D 1e-2e - Haven't run them in many years. But I would if my players asked, in a heartbeat. I never sold my 1e or 2e stuff. Never will.
Lately have been running/playing "Godbound" and "Worlds Without Number". They're reasonably easy to play solo, and I had some fun running several games for a group including an adaptation of a "Pathfinder" adventure path. (I already owned books 1, 2 and 6 for it and had a summary of the rest, before swearing off Paizo.)