neonchameleon
2013-05-10, 08:03 PM
After a comment in the Next thread that someone wasn't aware of any good RPGs for $25 or less that weren't free I thought I'd make a thread devoted to games available in print for that price as MSPR/RRP. Much as I'd love to recommend Leverage (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/85727/Leverage-Roleplaying-Game) as the best con/heist game ever with a $14.99 PDF it doesn't qualify) and it must be a full RPG. Shipping and Handling doesn't count against the price - but $25 is a hard limit so Apocalypse World (http://theunstore.com/index.php/unstore/game/83) alas is $3 over the limit. (And yes, that was my way of giving two other recommendations in this thread). And all the games I'm recommending are ones I own.
Name: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying (http://www.amazon.com/Marvel-Heroic-Roleplay-Basic-Game/dp/1936685167)
Cost: $19.99
Type of Game: Comic Book Superheroes
Ideal duration: Campaign
Why it's Awesome: It's a fast playing superhero RPG that encourages narration, makes heroes feel and behave differently and can happily have Tony Stark, Hawkeye, and Thor on the same team while allowing them to all shine in their own ways. It's the ony supers game I know that produces a comic book feel.
Who should avoid it: People who want the rules to set hard limits on their character rather than to set them themselves and have the rules measure disputes. People who really dislike author stance or metagame mechanics such as Fate points.
Intro or Overview: Along Came a Spider (http://exploring-infinity.com/2012/05/29/along-came-a-spider-choose-your-own-marvel-adventure/)
Name: Fiasco (http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17106)
Cost: $25
Type of Game: Heist gone wrong/Cohen Brothers movie
Ideal duration: One-shot, zero prep
Why it's Awesome: It's a game that with no prior prep (and just downloading a playset (http://www.bullypulpitgames.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fiasco_Playsets) on the night), and a two hour play time I have literally never seen a game that is other than incredibly entertaining. An excellent game to keep for those "DM couldn't make it" nights or just for a few hours of running a very funny game.
Who should avoid it: People who really dislike author stance. People who can't stand their characters failing.
Intro or Overview: Tabletop playthrough (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXJxQ0NbFtk)
Name: Fate Core (http://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/)
Cost: $25 (planned)
Type of Game: Pulp action
Ideal duration: Campaign
Why it's Awesome: For those who already know FATE (e.g. Dresden Files, Spirit of the Century (http://www.faterpg.com/dl/sotc-srd.html), Legends of Anglerre it's a lighter and faster playing version - and one with only five aspects per character, and those categorised so there's much less to keep track of. For those who don't it's a light fast and highly narrative RPG in which characters are encouraged to display their weaknesses and munchkins regularly tap out of contests.
Who should avoid it: Anyone who dislikes metagame mechanics such as Fate points.
Name: Dread (http://www.tiltingatwindmills.net/buystuff.html)
Cost: $24
Type of Game: Horror
Ideal duration: One Shot
Why it's Awesome: It's simply the tensest horror game I've ever found. The resolution mechanic is a jenga tower, leading to people being incredibly scared to take actions and hands literally shaking as they pull. Probably the best game to play at Haloween.
Who should avoid it: People who don't like horror games.
Intro or Overview: Dread: Jenga Beat Up My Dice (http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?194714-Dread-Jenga-beat-up-my-dice!-My-results-from-the-indie-horror-RPG) thread on ENWorld.
Name: Savage Worlds: Deluxe Explorers Edition (http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Worlds-Deluxe-Explorers-S2P10016/dp/1937013200/ref=pd_sim_b_2)
Cost: $9.99
Type of Game: Pulp
Ideal duration: Campaign
Why it's Awesome: Billing itself as "Fast! Furious! Fun!", Savage Worlds normally lives up to that billing with a fast resolution system, exploding dice (that mean that playing low skills is very entertaining), and highly customisable characters it works well and fast.
Who should avoid it: People who intensely dislike metagame mechanics. Other than that it's an excellent "compromise game".
Name: Dogs in the Vineyard (http://theunstore.com/index.php/unstore/game/1)
Cost: $22
Type of Game: Setting the stakes and seeing how far you'll go
Ideal duration: 1 session or short campaign.
Why it's Awesome: Gameplay is intensely competative with opponents continually raising on each other - and deciding when to escalate and back down. What are you prepared to risk getting shot for? And when's the time to just back down?
Who should avoid it: People who don't like (light) PVP or playing chicken.
Name: Montsegur 1244 (http://www.lulu.com/shop/frederik-j-jensen/montsegur-1244/paperback/product-4330133.html;jsessionid=AA0915A4DC6ECDC1516A2A5927 EB6DC7)
Cost: £11.75
Type of Game: Building your character before an agonising decision
Ideal duration: 1 shot, 4 hours
Why it's Awesome: It's the purest RPG I know. Getting in character as one of the Cathars at the siege of Montsegur, with everything including reverses and hope building to the agonizing final decision: Do you recant your beliefs or do you choose to burn. An amazing game and one with more replay value than the description indicates.
Who should avoid it: People who want resolution mechanics. People who don't like there being a single framing story for all games. People who immerse too deeply into their character when they are going to have to make a very difficult choice.
Name: Monsterhearts (http://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts/)
Cost: $25
Type of Game: The bloodiest, sexiest HBO supernatural teen series ever
Ideal duration: Short campaign
Why it's Awesome: You read the type of game? Either you love that pitch or you hate it. If you love it, it lives up to the promise with a fast and easy system that leads to people getting only some of what they want, well thought out character classes/monsters for the PCs to be and have some internal turmoil that maps to real world teenage struggles. And a game that leads to a messy and dramatic teenage knot of emotional problems.
Who should avoid it: You read that pitch? Is that a sort of game you want to play? And with your gaming group? If no, don't play it.
Name: Dungeon World (http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/product.php?productid=18774&cat=0&featured=Y)
Cost: $25
Type of Game: Kick the door down dungeon exploration
Ideal duration: Short campaign.
Why it's Awesome: Light, fast playing, evocative, it really works for having adventures in dungeons.
Who should avoid it: People who want to explore the dungeons in detail; equipment is abstracted to the point where you get equipment points rather than write down what you have.
Any other suggestions and quick write-ups? I'd love someone to do one for Monsters and Other Childish Things (http://www.arcdream.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=21) as I've heard it's very good but don't actually own a copy. And any comments on the games I've written up? (Especially the "Why it's Awesome" and "Who should avoid it" sections).
Name: Marvel Heroic Roleplaying (http://www.amazon.com/Marvel-Heroic-Roleplay-Basic-Game/dp/1936685167)
Cost: $19.99
Type of Game: Comic Book Superheroes
Ideal duration: Campaign
Why it's Awesome: It's a fast playing superhero RPG that encourages narration, makes heroes feel and behave differently and can happily have Tony Stark, Hawkeye, and Thor on the same team while allowing them to all shine in their own ways. It's the ony supers game I know that produces a comic book feel.
Who should avoid it: People who want the rules to set hard limits on their character rather than to set them themselves and have the rules measure disputes. People who really dislike author stance or metagame mechanics such as Fate points.
Intro or Overview: Along Came a Spider (http://exploring-infinity.com/2012/05/29/along-came-a-spider-choose-your-own-marvel-adventure/)
Name: Fiasco (http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17106)
Cost: $25
Type of Game: Heist gone wrong/Cohen Brothers movie
Ideal duration: One-shot, zero prep
Why it's Awesome: It's a game that with no prior prep (and just downloading a playset (http://www.bullypulpitgames.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fiasco_Playsets) on the night), and a two hour play time I have literally never seen a game that is other than incredibly entertaining. An excellent game to keep for those "DM couldn't make it" nights or just for a few hours of running a very funny game.
Who should avoid it: People who really dislike author stance. People who can't stand their characters failing.
Intro or Overview: Tabletop playthrough (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXJxQ0NbFtk)
Name: Fate Core (http://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/)
Cost: $25 (planned)
Type of Game: Pulp action
Ideal duration: Campaign
Why it's Awesome: For those who already know FATE (e.g. Dresden Files, Spirit of the Century (http://www.faterpg.com/dl/sotc-srd.html), Legends of Anglerre it's a lighter and faster playing version - and one with only five aspects per character, and those categorised so there's much less to keep track of. For those who don't it's a light fast and highly narrative RPG in which characters are encouraged to display their weaknesses and munchkins regularly tap out of contests.
Who should avoid it: Anyone who dislikes metagame mechanics such as Fate points.
Name: Dread (http://www.tiltingatwindmills.net/buystuff.html)
Cost: $24
Type of Game: Horror
Ideal duration: One Shot
Why it's Awesome: It's simply the tensest horror game I've ever found. The resolution mechanic is a jenga tower, leading to people being incredibly scared to take actions and hands literally shaking as they pull. Probably the best game to play at Haloween.
Who should avoid it: People who don't like horror games.
Intro or Overview: Dread: Jenga Beat Up My Dice (http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?194714-Dread-Jenga-beat-up-my-dice!-My-results-from-the-indie-horror-RPG) thread on ENWorld.
Name: Savage Worlds: Deluxe Explorers Edition (http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Worlds-Deluxe-Explorers-S2P10016/dp/1937013200/ref=pd_sim_b_2)
Cost: $9.99
Type of Game: Pulp
Ideal duration: Campaign
Why it's Awesome: Billing itself as "Fast! Furious! Fun!", Savage Worlds normally lives up to that billing with a fast resolution system, exploding dice (that mean that playing low skills is very entertaining), and highly customisable characters it works well and fast.
Who should avoid it: People who intensely dislike metagame mechanics. Other than that it's an excellent "compromise game".
Name: Dogs in the Vineyard (http://theunstore.com/index.php/unstore/game/1)
Cost: $22
Type of Game: Setting the stakes and seeing how far you'll go
Ideal duration: 1 session or short campaign.
Why it's Awesome: Gameplay is intensely competative with opponents continually raising on each other - and deciding when to escalate and back down. What are you prepared to risk getting shot for? And when's the time to just back down?
Who should avoid it: People who don't like (light) PVP or playing chicken.
Name: Montsegur 1244 (http://www.lulu.com/shop/frederik-j-jensen/montsegur-1244/paperback/product-4330133.html;jsessionid=AA0915A4DC6ECDC1516A2A5927 EB6DC7)
Cost: £11.75
Type of Game: Building your character before an agonising decision
Ideal duration: 1 shot, 4 hours
Why it's Awesome: It's the purest RPG I know. Getting in character as one of the Cathars at the siege of Montsegur, with everything including reverses and hope building to the agonizing final decision: Do you recant your beliefs or do you choose to burn. An amazing game and one with more replay value than the description indicates.
Who should avoid it: People who want resolution mechanics. People who don't like there being a single framing story for all games. People who immerse too deeply into their character when they are going to have to make a very difficult choice.
Name: Monsterhearts (http://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts/)
Cost: $25
Type of Game: The bloodiest, sexiest HBO supernatural teen series ever
Ideal duration: Short campaign
Why it's Awesome: You read the type of game? Either you love that pitch or you hate it. If you love it, it lives up to the promise with a fast and easy system that leads to people getting only some of what they want, well thought out character classes/monsters for the PCs to be and have some internal turmoil that maps to real world teenage struggles. And a game that leads to a messy and dramatic teenage knot of emotional problems.
Who should avoid it: You read that pitch? Is that a sort of game you want to play? And with your gaming group? If no, don't play it.
Name: Dungeon World (http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/product.php?productid=18774&cat=0&featured=Y)
Cost: $25
Type of Game: Kick the door down dungeon exploration
Ideal duration: Short campaign.
Why it's Awesome: Light, fast playing, evocative, it really works for having adventures in dungeons.
Who should avoid it: People who want to explore the dungeons in detail; equipment is abstracted to the point where you get equipment points rather than write down what you have.
Any other suggestions and quick write-ups? I'd love someone to do one for Monsters and Other Childish Things (http://www.arcdream.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=21) as I've heard it's very good but don't actually own a copy. And any comments on the games I've written up? (Especially the "Why it's Awesome" and "Who should avoid it" sections).