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Mystic Muse
2009-08-26, 03:40 PM
right now me and my friends are playing in a 4th edition campaign but one it's over I'm thinking of introducing a "gaming night." once every two weeks where we try out new types of RPGs. maybe once a week since we can nly play in the summer. here's what I have so far. preferably nothing that requires tons of minis so if any of these do please tell me. also no munchkin, no wild west and preferably no more "superhero game systems." Oh and no power rangers related games either.

Shadowrun
legend of the five rings
spycraft.
GURPS
star wars d20
Naruto
Grimm
call of cthulhu
Octane
mutants and masterminds
Victoriana
burning wheel
the blossoms are falling
the Dresdon files
Nomine
d10 seventh sea.
over the edge
teenagers from outer space.
Sea Dracula
maid RPG
warhammer RPG
nobilis
weapons of the gods
cthulhutech
savage worlds
unisystem
spirit of the century
qin
paranoia
vampire the masquerade
white wolf
exalted
FATAL*


I'll edit this according to the suggestions I recieve so that there aren't repeats of games.

*yes this is a joke.

Morty
2009-08-26, 03:45 PM
You can try our Warhammer Fantasy RPG for a gritty, low-powered game.

The Demented One
2009-08-26, 03:48 PM
Unknown Armies: Postmodern fantasy, where players can gain magical power through alcoholism, obsessing over television shows, or having a porn fixation. Utterly fantastic.

Sea Dracula: A very, very silly game. Animal lawyers. Dancing. Worth a shot.

Eclipse Phase: Recently released, transhuman sci-fi. Seems to be garnering lots of favor.

Weapons of the Gods: Wuxia in Ancient China.

Nobilis: Play god-like beings of nigh-omnipotent power, with very human concerns. Wonderful, if you speak Borgstrom.

Cthulhutech: Lovecraft meets Giant Robots. There's nothing more I can say.

Doc Roc
2009-08-26, 03:48 PM
I like Savage Worlds a lot!

The Rose Dragon
2009-08-26, 03:49 PM
Unisystem. Witchcraft is free, but AFMBE has more support and is generally more flexible.

Faery's Tale Deluxe for a fun game of childhood fantasy - which can suddenly turn incredibly dark with the right players (even though it isn't the game's intention).

Spirit of the Century is great fun if you're looking for a pulp experience.

Finally, Qin: The Warring States is an awesome wuxia game, for times when Exalted feels too ridiculous.

Mystic Muse
2009-08-26, 04:00 PM
I should say that suggestions shouldn't involve anything that has to do with alcoholism, porn addictions or anything like that as well. It's mainly due to real world religion and the fact that I'm not a big fan of any of those things. god like beings of nigh omnipotent power doesn't sound too appealing either.

I'd also like to request that you explain what the game is like in full.

Mando Knight
2009-08-26, 04:05 PM
Maid RPG. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MaidRPG) It's an amusing, open-ended, anime-referencing system that's about exactly what it says in the title. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin)

Dixieboy
2009-08-26, 04:07 PM
god like beings of nigh omnipotent power doesn't sound too appealing either.

I'd also like to request that you explain what the game is like in full.Yet you want to play Vamps and Exalted?

I recommend Nobliis, it's a game in which you play a sort of semi god.
HOLD IT!
Not done explaining.

You choose a title and a domain.
The domain can be all kinds of things. ("the duke of cereal", "The lord of not-quite-enough-light")
You have complete control over this domain.

The game is then about how you handle those powers as well as your growth into omnipotence.

From what i understand at least, I have yet to read the sourcebook, however the playtime I have had has been good.

Mystic Muse
2009-08-26, 04:16 PM
I don't actually know too much abotu the games I put in the first post. they just sound kewl.

I retract that statement about no overpowered gods.

Dixieboy
2009-08-26, 04:21 PM
I don't actually know too much abotu the games I put in the first post. they just sound kewl.

The Antediluvians have a power called "Plot point" (Or something akin to that)
Which does exactly what it needed by the storyteller to move the plot forward.

Any discipline beyond dot 6 makes superheroes quiver in fear. (Presence dot 10 is basically world domination.)

And exalted is well... exalted.

Doc Roc
2009-08-26, 04:25 PM
Savage worlds is a light and elegant system that supports any era or genre. Well-supported by the publisher in the form of extensive FAQs, errata, updates, and additional products, it is one of the front-runners in the niche market of mid-to-lightweight systems. Using a sliding die system with exploding dice, it provides a clear, consistent, and elegant way of determining each and every roll as well as keeping the number of tests to a relative minimum.

May I recommend the Sundered Skies setting for it? Airship pirates!

Mystic Muse
2009-08-26, 04:27 PM
exploding dice? sorry I'm going to have to writ ethat one off. I prefer it when my players DON'T get shrapnel in their faces from their dice.:smalltongue:

The Dark Fiddler
2009-08-26, 04:27 PM
I recommend Nobliis, it's a game in which you play a sort of semi god.
HOLD IT!
Not done explaining.

You choose a title and a domain.
The domain can be all kinds of things. ("the duke of cereal", "The lord of not-quite-enough-light")
You have complete control over this domain.

The game is then about how you handle those powers as well as your growth into omnipotence.

From what i understand at least, I have yet to read the sourcebook, however the playtime I have had has been good.


Maid RPG. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MaidRPG) It's an amusing, open-ended, anime-referencing system that's about exactly what it says in the title. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin)


Unknown Armies: Postmodern fantasy, where players can gain magical power through alcoholism, obsessing over television shows, or having a porn fixation. Utterly fantastic.

Nobilis: Play god-like beings of nigh-omnipotent power, with very human concerns. Wonderful, if you speak Borgstrom.


I'm not OP, but now I seriously need to get these. You should all get paid for advertising.

Dixieboy
2009-08-26, 04:32 PM
Maid RPG. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MaidRPG) It's an amusing, open-ended, anime-referencing system that's about exactly what it says in the title. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin)

Screw you, i have school tommorow! :smallfrown:

kc0bbq
2009-08-26, 04:33 PM
Over the Edge. Possibly the finest modern setting ever created. Sure, on the surface it's a hypercapitalist republic with a senate that keeps their jobs because they don't harm the populace - then you end up with a crab attached to your back. If you can handle gritty, surreal, conspiracy-theory taken to the absurd degree, you'll have the time of your life. From hedonist Odinist biker gangs obsessed with astrology, to parallel universe spanning clubs devoted to fighting Control, whose imprisoned leader can only peer into the world through brown liquids, to accountants who go to work and live quiet lives in the 'burbs, there's something for everyone. Works for moderately silly games to extremely gritty and soul destroying ones. All the best munchkin abilities are also the most dangerous to possess, so the game tends to balance itself out. The rules work great for settings other than Al Amarja, really rules light and simple.

For short games, you can't beat Teenagers From Outer Space. TfOS can be run for long periods of time, but is best in small doses. I know someone who runs an ongoing game. One session a year. It's all it takes, and each year's session is memorable to such a degree that nothing can compete. Can't really munchkin the game because you're high school students.

Gourtox
2009-08-26, 04:43 PM
STAR WARS SAGA!(the new star wars d20)

I play this it is pretty fun. You play in star wars and its rules are like DnD so it wouldn't take you long at all to adjust. It wouldn't be a total break from the norm of dnd, but it still would be a fun break from dnd.

Temet Nosce
2009-08-26, 04:55 PM
Nobilis. Without a doubt. It's a game where you play an anthropomorphic representation of a concept (such as time, mirrors, or death) who was formerly human. However, you are constrained by a society of similar beings and laws set by existences beyond petty mortal concerns (such as thou shalt not love) while a war goes on in an attempt to consume creation. I never get to play it, and I still reread the book a couple times a year. Best setting ever, and the rules are simple and well written. Honestly, if I had to play one RPing game for the rest of my life this would be it. It's that good.

Weapons of Gods is by the same person and isn't bad either. I'm not really a fan of the genre (Wuxia) but if you enjoy martial arts games this is definitely for you, and even if you don't the setting itself is beautiful and well written.

Spirit of the Century uses Fate 3, and makes for a fun pulp game (I'm playing this currently), but there's very little flavor in it so it's more of a system than setting thing.

You might also think about In Nomine if you're interested in settings using Christian mythos. It's a War in Heaven setting (not a personal favorite but worth mentioning).

Knaight
2009-08-26, 05:05 PM
I should say that suggestions shouldn't involve anything that has to do with alcoholism, porn addictions or anything like that as well. It's mainly due to real world religion and the fact that I'm not a big fan of any of those things. god like beings of nigh omnipotent power doesn't sound too appealing either.

I'd also like to request that you explain what the game is like in full.

Avoid Bliss. Avoid Bliss like the plague.

On a lighter side Fudge is a good generic system. Alcoholism isn't necessary, porn addiction isn't necessary, and real world religion isn't necessary. You can include all three, although there wouldn't be any rules in it. Fudge is pretty much the easiest game to home brew stuff in, so that last bit would be easy to modify.

Its behind Fate, Spirit of the Century, and the Shadow of Yesterday (a bad game with one redeeming feature. Said feature is really redeeming.), along with a host of games that aren't as well known. If you want something pre-finished then Now Playing is probably one of your best bets, with Gatecrasher if you like the Shadowrun setting, and like space travel.

Tyndmyr
2009-08-26, 05:14 PM
I would suggest the original(D10) version of Seventh Sea. It's a wonderfully fun system, is not mini-centric, and includes a wealth of DM resources, easing prep time quite a bit. The biggest downside is that some of the books are now harder to find since it's gone out of print.

The Demented One
2009-08-26, 05:18 PM
I should say that suggestions shouldn't involve anything that has to do with alcoholism, porn addictions or anything like that as well.
It should be noted than Unknown Armies can be run without those aspects, natch. Your players could get their magic from, say, taking stupid risks, building bizarre anachrotech, being obsessive book collectors, or emulating archetypical roles from myth. Very fluid range of moods, if you want to stretch the limits.

Totally Guy
2009-08-26, 05:42 PM
I'm learning the Burning Wheel system. It's an independent RPG with heavy rules and a simulationist perspective. Despite this the game puts the roleplaying to the forefront and gives conflict (such as a fight or debate) a large range of meaningful options. It is however a little bit obsessed with a small pool of fantasy authors, like Tolkien.

Raum
2009-08-26, 06:11 PM
right now me and my friends are playing in a 4th edition campaign but one it's over I'm thinking of introducing a "gaming night." once every two weeks where we try out new types of RPGs. maybe once a week since we can nly play in the summer. here's what I have so far. preferably nothing that requires tons of minis so if any of these do please tell me. also no munchkin.Are you just looking for a list of games? Or is there some criteria you'd like to evaluate them by?

For a list of games with short descriptions check out John Kim's Big*** List of Role Playing Games (http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/encyclopedia/). If you'd prefer suggestions based on what you might like - well what do you like in RPGs?

And, if you're just looking for a list of peoples' favorites, check out Savage Worlds (http://www.peginc.com/) - Deadlands: Reloaded (http://www.peginc.com/games.html) is a great setting. Wield a six shooter in the Wierd West! :)

Doc Roc
2009-08-26, 07:40 PM
I love deadlands reloaded!

When I said exploding dice, it's a phrase that means when you roll the highest value on a given die, you reroll and add the new roll to the previous one. If you should roll highest again, repeat the process.

Mystic Muse
2009-08-26, 09:03 PM
mainly a list of RPGs.

I don't want it to have guns unless it's a modern or scifi setting and no "old west." settings PERIOD

Gnorman
2009-08-26, 09:16 PM
Shadowrun is awesome.

Want to play a dwarf with a bunch of robot companions and obsessed with electrical engineering, computer hacking, and high-powered explosives? You can.

Want to play a Weeaboo Fightan' elf with cyber-powered limbs, implanted supervision, and a monomolecular katana? You can.

Want to play a street-wise, fast-talking, high-stakes gamlin' occult detective, dabble in the astral planes, and coerce spirits of the ether, elements, and human spirit into your service? You can.

Want to play a towering, hulking troll with bone-plated knuckles, cool shades, an armored leather trench coat and basically be Marv from Sin City? You can.

It's a complicated system, but the freedom is great, the setting is a free-for-all (magic, mythology, super-science, Matrix-style virtual worlds, whatever you want to highlight) and your characters get to pull off all sorts of jaw-dropping pulp stunts. It's gritty, lethal, and dark, but not so bleak and hopleless as Warhammer.

To reiterate: Shadowrun is awesome.

kjones
2009-08-26, 09:33 PM
To elucidate: Shadowrun is a role-playing game, set in a cyberpunk world with fantasy elements. (Specifically, magic, monsters, and "metahumans" - elves, dwarves, etc.) Megacorps more or less rule the world, but they can't war openly against each other, so they employ "shadowrunners" (the PCs) to do their dirty work.

Missions tend to revolve around carrying out some job, always provided by a "Mr. Johnson", jobs ranging from simple theft or sabotage to "extractions" (read: kidnappings), espionage, elaborate infiltrations, and sometimes simple assassination.

Mechanically, it's a skill-based, rather than level-based, system - character generation is quite involved. The skill list is long and fairly complicated. Combats can be very lethal.

And it's loads of fun.

I'll also put in another vote for Spirit of the Century - it's a "pick-up" game, meaning that it's easy to jump right in with whoever you have at the table. Character creation is collaborative, since you're supposed to involve your characters in each others' backstories.

Your character is basically a collection of Skills and Attributes. Skills are what they always are. Attributes are basically qualities of your character that can work either for them or against them. For example, you might give your character the attribute "First On The Scene", which you could use to your advantage if you need to be quick to act - but if the group ever walks into an ambush or trap, you're likely to be the one to spring it. Or you might have the attribute "Ex-Cultist of Ragnos", which you might use to further your mystic knowledge, but you'd also have ugly characters from your past popping up at inopportune moments.

Gameplay is light, pulpy (rule of cool applies extensively), and fun.

Anyway, those are the two of those that I've played. HTH.

Glimbur
2009-08-26, 09:40 PM
RISUS is a extremely rules light system. You pick some cliches to describe your character. When you try to do something difficult which could relate to a cliche, roll that many d6. Compare to the set difficulty or an opposed roll. That's it. As a bonus it is available free and legal. (http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/risus.htm)

Wuthering Heights is a more socially focused RPG. You have Rage, Despair, and Oldness. It's a send-up of books like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Or you can use it as inspiration to write your very own Austen like novel. Again, free and legal. (http://www.unseelie.org/rpg/wh/index.html)

ghost_warlock
2009-08-26, 10:11 PM
HeroQuest (http://cgi.ebay.com/Heroquest-complete-game-nice-Milton-Bradley-Hero-Quest_W0QQitemZ110426466458QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item19b5ee289a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) :smallbiggrin:

Oh, and Pokethulhu (http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/pokethulhu.htm). :smalltongue:

Nai_Calus
2009-08-26, 11:01 PM
nthing Shadowrun. I play 3e, mind you, but it's still awesome.

I wonder if anyone has ever actually tried to play F.A.T.A.L.. I probably don't want to know, rofl.

elliott20
2009-08-26, 11:12 PM
Burning Wheel: If you actually like this system, try it's Sci-Fi variant Burning Empires, a much more robust system that has even a meta-game conflict that pretty much runs the story. Be warned though, the game takes about 2 hours to set up during the first session since you have to do world generation stuff. The good news is once that is done, the GM's work is largely finished and you just need to spend some time figuring out the major NPCs. The rest will flow organically. Also, if you're into feudal Japan stuff, try the other variant "The Blossoms Are Falling", a BW hack that is full of Samurai goodness.

Spirits of the Century: If you liked this system, and you're curious about it's variants, there's Starblazer, the pulp sci-fi variant and Dresdon Files, the Fantasy variant. Both are pretty fun. Of course, you could always just make your own hack with the SotC book itself. (Which I did)

Temet Nosce
2009-08-26, 11:41 PM
I knew I was forgetting to suggest something earlier, and while I was glancing at the forum I remembered.

Amber Diceless. It's exactly what it sounds like, a system for playing in Zelazny's Amber. It has an interesting mechanic where you "bid" for attributes against the other players, and is rather rules light.

UserClone
2009-08-27, 01:04 AM
Mouse Guard RPG

Dream Park RPG

Og: Unearthed Edition

Faery's Tale

Akvad_Dunchadt
2009-08-27, 01:23 AM
I saw they have RPG for Battlestar Galactica and Serenity as well if that sort of thing interests you.

BobVosh
2009-08-27, 01:45 AM
Serenity has an...ok system. Still, Serenity is a fun world fluff wise.

Shadowrun ++ again.

Deadlands is amazing, although not the D20 version.

Alternity is a good system, variable technology level.

Changeling is WW, lots of fun fluff. Only heard good things about the NWoD one, however I only played OWoD (good luck finding OWoD Changeling)

M&M is good.

Paranoia is quirky but fun.

I played D20 SW, but wasn't too impressed. Probably the DM though.

Savage Worlds can be fun, even played a version modified to work with Deadlands.

Bunnies and Burrows. (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/bunnies/)

Set
2009-08-27, 01:48 AM
I'm a huge fan of superhero stuff, and I would recommend Mutants & Masterminds 2E for more comic-book fare, and Aberrant for 'world-shaking cosmic power' stuff. Aberrant can be wicked deadly, with a Mega-Strong Nova being able to punch through just about anything. (I'm also a huge fan of Villains & Vigilantes, but wouldn't actually recommend it. That's just nostalgia talking, and it's about as out of touch with modern gaming sensibilities as Gamma World, another guilty favorite...)

GURPS can be interesting. I'm more of a fan of the 3rd edition rules for Supers, Horror, Ultra-Tech, Psionics and Fantasy based games. (Power and equipment design rules for 4th edition make my brain hurt. Being able to do anything has it's price in ease-of-use, as fans of HERO or Champions probably know.) If you want to try out a game set in the Wild Cards universe, or Brin's Uplift universe, or Gerrold's Chtorr invasion world, or Alan Dean Foster's Humanx space, or Andre Norton's Witch World, it's the bee's knees, since they've licensed all sorts of sci-fi/fantasy settings. (Mutants & Masterminds has also got a Wild Cards licensed conversion, so if you want to dabble there, you've got multiple options, and M&M's conversion is the most current, being for their current edition.)

Ars Magica does away with any notion of balancing magic-users and warriors, creating a setting where travelling bands of magi *hire* swordsmen to stand between them and danger while they work their arcane arts. It's got a wonderful magic system, with the practictioner of fire magic being able to do all sorts of things with fire, such as setting people on fire, or making walls of fire, or even extinguishing fire (boo! who would do that?). They even have a house called Flambeau whose secret mysterious wizardly motto is "There are things in this world that annoy us. Burn them." Because fire sometimes gets out of control, the 'subtle' members of house Flambeau specialize in primal destruction magic. They have there own special definition of 'subtle,' obviously. Other houses are a little less busy playing 'Tim the Enchanter,' but also include some interesting characters.

From the same people that made Aberrant, there's also Trinity, a White Wolf written sci-fi setting with monstrous aliens, corrupted aberrant freaks, psionically-empowered human defenders and an assortment of people, some enhanced, some 'borged up, some aliens of uncertain intentions and questionable 'allies,' etc., etc. It's even got mech-combat. You can do pretty much *any* kind of sci-fi storyline in the Trinity setting, which makes it all kinds of glorious. There are the stand-up bughunts (in space stations, on colony worlds, and in 'exotic' locations like the devastated ruins of France or the US heartland, destroyed in seperate disasters), the alien invasions (on a human colony world of Khantz Lu Ge), mech vs. mech battles (between Sudamerican biotech concerns and the Federated States of America), intrigue between mega-corporations and various governments, etc, etc.

Finally, the last in that threesome of games that started with Trinity and went on to Aberrant, Adventure! is a fantastic game set in the 20's, where the PCs are members of a select group of slightly-superhuman special people, who are less 'Superman' and more 'Doc Savage' and 'The Shadow.' Very much in the vein of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and amazingly fun if you have a love for pulp goodness, as your 'party' could include characters inspired by the Rocketeer, 'Iron' Munroe, Tarzan, Kato, Zorro, Dr. Hans Zarkov, Nikolai Tesla, Franz Anton Mesmer, etc. and if you want to specialize a bit, you could easily have your own armed and armored dirigible, or private army of flunkies.

Aik
2009-08-27, 04:39 AM
Don't Rest Your Head - has incredibly elegant dice mechanics. It's about insomniacs in a city of nightmares who gain massive amounts of power becoming mad or exhausted, while trying to avoid going completely bat**** or crashing.

The Pool - *very* simple and elegant. It's a free universal system that runs on gambling dice pools and gives players narrative control on victory.

Sufficiently Advanced - Not so elegant, but very nice all the same. It's about transhumanist societies in the far future basically. We've been playing it hacked for Planescape, which it's well suited for. Also, it's free.

kill puppies for satan - very ... er, well, nm :p



(okay, so I've never played kpfs, but given your comments I couldn't resist)

TheFallenOne
2009-08-27, 06:56 AM
Little Fears. Unfortunately I only played it once, but it's awesome. Basically, you're a child(somewhere around 10 or 12) in our current world, only that some supernatural and scary stuff exists. Of, course, none of the adults believe you. Instead of combat there's a lot of screaming and running and all the crazy stuff children think may be a good idea. I recommend playing in an empty building unless you want trouble with the other people living there.

Kantur
2009-08-27, 07:14 AM
I'd have to recommend the West End Games D6 version of Star Wars; should be fairly easy to find second hand on Amazon/etc. I haven't played the d20/SAGA Star Wars games, so I'm not going to compare them but the things I like about WEG Star Wars:
Very simple system, character generation's easy, only the GM really needs a rulebook, if something unexpected happens it's easy to make a rule that'll fit for that situation... And everyone has a couple of d6s so there's certainly no problems getting dice together to play.

Of things already on the list I'd agree with that I've played: Call of Cthulhu, Shadowrun and Warhammer/Dark Heresy I'd definetly recommend.

UserClone
2009-08-27, 11:02 AM
Grimm, also. And man, do I want to buy Little Fears. I'm even thinking of checking out World of Darkness: Innocents. Can you tell I like horror games where you play a helpless child against the forces of evil?:smallamused:

Choco
2009-08-27, 12:27 PM
Champions/HERO system in general. Saw your list was a little lacking in the superhero department, so had to throw that out...

Mystic Muse
2009-08-27, 05:45 PM
actually I'd kind of like to stay away from superhero games.

kjones
2009-08-27, 06:32 PM
Better take Mutants and Masterminds off your list, then. And possibly Exalted as well, depending on your definition of "superhero". (These aren't the "tights and capes" sort of superhero, more like the "wuxia gods" sort.)

Mystic Muse
2009-08-27, 07:39 PM
tights and capes superhero.

The Rose Dragon
2009-08-27, 09:08 PM
Better take Mutants and Masterminds off your list, then.

Don't. Mutants & Masterminds is one of the most versatile systems out there and can handle quite a lot more than just superheroes.

kjones should be shot for implying otherwise.

erikun
2009-08-27, 09:18 PM
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Legend of the Five Rings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_the_Five_Rings), especially with other similar games (Qin) being tossed around. I would also recommend the general (new) World of Darkness system, possibly moving into Hunter if the game continues for awhile.

Dark Heresy is the Warhammer 40k RPG. I'm sure it's already been mentioned, but I'll put it out there just in case.

Victoriana (http://www.cubicle-7.com/victoriana.htm) is quite a large book, with a setting covering the entire world in the late 19th century and integrating magic/steampunk into world history. I haven't played it myself, although it certainly looks interesting.


Faery's Tale
What is this like? I've seen it in the local store, but wasn't sure if it was worth picking up.

elliott20
2009-08-27, 09:20 PM
Little Fears. Unfortunately I only played it once, but it's awesome. Basically, you're a child(somewhere around 10 or 12) in our current world, only that some supernatural and scary stuff exists. Of, course, none of the adults believe you. Instead of combat there's a lot of screaming and running and all the crazy stuff children think may be a good idea. I recommend playing in an empty building unless you want trouble with the other people living there.

this was actually one game that my group actively turned down for play when one of the guys brought it to the session. Most of my group were just too uncomfortable with the material.

Thatguyoverther
2009-08-27, 09:24 PM
Do Hero System!

It's great. It's all point buy so everything is pretty balanced. Items are included in the point cost of characters, depending on the games power level, so there shouldn't be a whole lot to worry about. Combat is fast paced but can slow down a bit if you tack on some of the optional rules.

It was originally designed for super heroic games but it's an infinitely customizable system, and works great with fantasy, sci-fi, and horror settings. I've personally played as superheros, a Mech pilot, a wizard, a pirates captain, various superheros and a bizarre half-plant bio weapon turned hero all using the same system.

You only need one book to simulate setting or character, although there are a plethora of splat books that add ideas there aren't any additional rules/feats/spells to learn.

The system is so amazing that sometimes it makes me cry. :smallbiggrin:

It does have some drawbacks. Character Creation involves huge amounts of math and is almost impossible without access to the Hero Designer software. The other drawback is that not many people have heard of or use the system so finding other players will be difficult unless you're willing to teach them the rules. The final drawback is that it's not available for free online. You'd have to purchase the book, on the upside the book comes with the Hero Designer software.

Posted this one earlier on a similar thread.

kjones
2009-08-27, 09:38 PM
Don't. Mutants & Masterminds is one of the most versatile systems out there and can handle quite a lot more than just superheroes.

kjones should be shot for implying otherwise.

Don't shoot me! :smalltongue:

In honesty, I'm not that familiar with the system... (But can't HERO be used for things other than straight-up superheroic RPGs?)

EDIT: Somehow missed the post talking about the versatility of HERO right above mine. :smallredface:

Hawriel
2009-08-27, 10:18 PM
I'd have to recommend the West End Games D6 version of Star Wars; should be fairly easy to find second hand on Amazon/etc. I haven't played the d20/SAGA Star Wars games, so I'm not going to compare them but the things I like about WEG Star Wars:
Very simple system, character generation's easy, only the GM really needs a rulebook, if something unexpected happens it's easy to make a rule that'll fit for that situation... And everyone has a couple of d6s so there's certainly no problems getting dice together to play.


Wow some one other than me recommending WEG!?

If you can not find Star Wars D6 check out West End Games D6 Space. It's basicly star wars 3rd ed. If WEG still held the licens. However D6 Space is genaric. It gives you the rules to do what ever you want and puts it in a sci-fi spin on it. There is also a book that is dedicated to making space ships. Truely wish WEG made the ship book for star wars.

WEG also has D6 Fantacy and D6 Adventure. Adventure is for playing any thing from old west, modern horror, cops and robers, cyberpunk what ever.

9mm
2009-08-27, 10:26 PM
Don't have a link; but for a quick, fun-filled afternoon; you can't go wrong with Octane. It's pure, liquid awsomeness distilled into vodka.

UserClone
2009-08-27, 11:01 PM
Faery's Tale
What is this like? I've seen it in the local store, but wasn't sure if it was worth picking up.

Absolutely! First of all, it's cheap. Second of all, it's both rules-light enough and light-hearted enough that you can play it with kids as young as six, while at the same time engaging enough that you could play a much more mature version, and it's super-easy to make up your own new faery types like, say, a baby unicorn, or a faery dragon, or a bogun (Monster Manual II, I believe) or you could be the familiar of a wizard, or...you get the idea. It's really quite a bit of fun while being rules-wimple enough to be literally child's play.

Kizara
2009-08-28, 12:53 AM
*pastes rant*

I highly reccomend GURPS!

From someone that started with, played and still is generally rather fond of 3.x DnD, I can attest that GURPS is awesome in the following ways:

1) Less balance headaches! Sure, its not completely gone, but its an easier foundation to start with to houserule problems away.

2) More versitile! If you like homebrewing even a little bit, you'll love GURPS because you almost homebrew each character in that you can customize each trait, advantage (kinda like Feats) and so forth to a very large degree.

Which leads us too...

3) More character customization! Between making interesting personality elements with disadvantages (like Klepomania and Klutz, or Bloodlust and Callous, just to name 4 of like 100 options), choosing EXACTLY the skills you want (no more class skills, or classes at all for that matter), make EXACTLY the character you want to play!.

4) More tactical, interesting and diverse combat! Like combat in 3.5? Ever use anything from Unearthed Arcana? Well this is going to be like crack for you! Combat involves active defenses (shield blocks, dodges and parries) and an actual hit is huge! With comprensive rules for damage types, injuries, disabling a limb, hit locations, per-second rounds that allow for maximum simultaniety and more, its the deepest, best combat simulation that isn't a pain in the arse to run!

5) Its not 4ed! AT ALL! If you dislike 4E for ANY reason beyond "they stopped making 3.x stuff", you'll like GURPS, as its literally the exact opposite design direction.

Which leads to...

6) Its realistic! Most of the game is designed to be realistic and simulationist-oriented. There are rules (and comprehensive and good ones) for more cinematic, and/or silly games, the default assumption is a more gritty and realistic RPG. I can't even begin to list how many rules it has that are more realistic then 3ed. Also, it isn't as hyper-gritty as some systems. Although far more realistic then DnD, it still isn't as random or brutal as other systems.

7) Its easier to run! While its not easier to LEARN, its actually far easier to run as you don't have to keep track of dozens of bonuses, skills don't become totally broken after 6th level (there is no 6th level, and the skill system in general is way better, if a bit finely cut for my taste). Also, it uses 3d6 instead of d20, so its less luck-oriented and crits are less common-place. However, when they do come up (especially in combat), its a BIG deal, as you can't defend against a crit and it can easily do more or more lethal damage.

8) Its more adaptable! Want to run a sci-fi game with fantasy magic, lightsaber swords, phasors and Firefly-class transports? Its never been easier.

9) As much simluation as you want! The rules are set up that they go very deep, but you can use as many as you want. You don't have to use the hit locations, bleeding, and tactical movement rules (for instance). The game works perfectly fine (if shallow, it feels like DnD) this way, but it works that much better with all the 'optional' rules in play. These rules aren't like the lame Death From Massive Damage 3ed rule, they are progressive levels of simulation.


To reiterate: no or little gamism, no MMORPG conventions, no "rule of cool" bullcrap (except for some things that make a point of saying "this is cinematic, not for use in realistic games"), less caster imbalance (and its far, far easier to fix and control), a much better, more tactical and more immersive combat system, better and more customizable character options, etc etc... awesome!!!


Now, there ARE some downsides:

1) Its not as plug-and-play. If you want to say, play a Druid, the game supports this, but you have to do some homework and effort in putting it together. The more unique or specialized the concept the more this comes up. Its rather rewarding when you do tho. Take a look at my thread (on this page) about the paladin I made up.

2) The fineness of how the skills are cut can be annoying. Is it really neccessary to have pickpocketing, filth and sleight-of-hand to all be seperate skills? You gain a whole lot more then you lose here. And while playing skill monkeys can be expensive, its also more valuable to your group because you really contribute in ways that others need and can't be easily replaced by magic.

3) Its a lot to take in. The amount of options and the complexity of the rules (compared to the basic concepts of 3ed) are a bit more of a learning curve and is a bit more intimidating then 3ed. However, there's quite a bit less rules-lawyering needed in general, as the rules are almost to a whole very natural and intuitive. More then once I have thought "I don't know how they do X, but I would do it like 'such and such'." and then found the actual rule for it and been impressed that it was almost exactly what I already had in mind.