Are there any alternatives to World of Darkness?

BoxCrayonTales · September 07, 2014, 11:06:43 PM

I like the premise of World of Darkness where a paranormal underworld hides vampires, werewolves and other monsters and the players take on the roles of said monsters, but I don't particularly like the background or the restrictive and idiosyncratic rules.

Are there are any alternatives or competitors to that game?

Piestrio · September 07, 2014, 11:10:50 PM

Well there's both the d20 version and the GURPS version if it's the rules standing in your way.

If GURPS is your thing GURPS Horror is totally awesome in every way. In fact I'd reccommend picking it up no matter what you end up with.

Skywalker · September 07, 2014, 11:11:34 PM

I can think of a few:

1. Dresden Files - well known licence, popular system if a little crunchy - http://www.evilhat.com/home/dresden-files-rpg/

2. Marchland - focusses more on ghost, fae and mages, but very simple rules - http://www.hearthstonegames.com/

3. Urban Shadows - close to WoD in theme and covers most of the basis, modern ruleset which is light but not traditional - http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1287928832/urban-shadows-rpg

4. Monte Cook's World of Darkness - uses D20 ruleset, postpocalyptic vibe, but surprisingly good with lots of "official" nods to WoD - http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/50229/Monte-Cooks-World-of-Darkness

Piestrio · September 07, 2014, 11:15:35 PM

Oh there are also the older Buffy and Angel games. A bit more lighthearted and campy but could be used to run a more serious game.

Skywalker · September 07, 2014, 11:20:04 PM

For shits and giggles, there's also Everlasting, which is a WoD heartbreaker RPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/browse.php?manufacturers_id=46

The Butcher · September 07, 2014, 11:21:08 PM

Don't forget Eden Studios' Witchcraft and (for a more gonzo and apocalyptic version of the same setting) Armageddon.

There's also Frank Trollman's WoD heartbreaker, whose name escapes me.

JeremyR · September 07, 2014, 11:34:26 PM

There's Nightlife

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightlife_%28role-playing_game%29

jibbajibba · September 07, 2014, 11:46:12 PM

Quote from: BoxCrayonTales;785749I like the premise of World of Darkness where a paranormal underworld hides vampires, werewolves and other monsters and the players take on the roles of said monsters, but I don't particularly like the background or the restrictive and idiosyncratic rules.

Are there are any alternatives or competitors to that game?

what is it that bothers you?

When we played WoD we used the alternate paths , so humanity wasn't your only option, we dumped the angst and went to superhero monster mode but we used the masquerade, princes, the Sabat etc as that stuff makes a pretty playable game space.

If you look at most of the urban horror genre from Blade to Twilight to Dresden to True Blood they have a similar set of setting assumptions.
i. Mosters are amongst us
ii. They are hidden from mortal eyes
iii. There is a governing body of some sort that ensures stuff stays hidden and enforces the rules
iv. there are lots of politicking and rivalries

What is it that puts you off the game? Setting? mechanics?

Snowman0147 · September 07, 2014, 11:51:27 PM

Not to be shameless, but I am working on my Struggle of the Moirai system which can have multiple settings. Even something similar to World of Darkness.

Edit: No seriously I can use some play testers for the play by post game to see how things work out.

Simlasa · September 07, 2014, 11:55:41 PM

GURPS Cabal, by Kenneth Hite, seems like another good take on the subject. Play as monster hunters or as the monsters. I think it's a bit inspired by WOD, but also by Clive Barker's Nightbreed and maybe the Nightwatch/Daywatch books by Sergei Lukyanenko.

Nowadays I'd probably translate Cabal onto Call of Cthulhu... which I've run with PCs as creepy cultists no problem... or just straight up try to run a Nightwatch game, since that setting mixes all the monster types into one big mess of politics and conspiracies and competing factions.

Spinachcat · September 08, 2014, 12:32:17 AM

NIGHTBANE
Nightbane by CJ Carella is Palladium's answer to WoD. It's much more about the Monsters as Superheroes and its a tremendously fun setting. The Chargen was quite interesting - mostly random - but the end results were cool combos of strange, monstrous and very dangerous.

Order Page
https://palladium-store.com/1001/product/730-Nightbane-Role-Playing-Game.html

Wikipedia Entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightbane

James Gillen · September 08, 2014, 01:52:56 AM

Quote from: JeremyR;785759There's Nightlife

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightlife_%28role-playing_game%29

Yeah, if we cleaned up Nightlife a little bit that would be a good alternative.

JG

LibraryLass · September 08, 2014, 02:00:29 AM

On the Vampire side there's Night's Black Agents, which uses the same GUMSHOE system as Trail of Cthulhu.

Warthur · September 08, 2014, 06:23:10 AM

I always thought Unknown Armies did the postmodern magic thing far better than Mage ever did.

yabaziou · September 08, 2014, 07:29:06 AM

You can have a look at Kult (but maybe it has become hard to find and the system is a bit tedious) or WitchCraft by C.J CARELLA, the author of Nightbane, which is also worth reading, unless tou are allergic to random character creation and/or the Palladium system (the game itself is only made 6 books, one of which has been disavowed by Palladium Publishing and I thin you can find the 4 older books at a faire price in second hand market).