Howdy all! Long time lurker here with a question that I have been mulling over for a while, and wanted your thoughts.
I have a long history with DnD. I have been playing for ages and will continue to as its many forms/versions scratch so many itches. The thing is that I have a not insignificant shelf of other games that up until this point have been accessed mostly because I also like to muse over other systems - d20 ad nauseam, Gurps, RM, Harnmaster, RQ, Pendragon, DitV, Burning Wheel, Traveler, Hero, The One Ring, ASOIAF, etc. Outside of short run of BW and Harnmaster, I have not not really given another system a serious play effort. And I think its finally time to start pushing the gaming horizons.
So, my question is this. What do you believe are the must-do games? What systems do you expect other players to have tried to make them well-rounded (if any at all)?
I'd expect some version of Basic RPS to have been given a try at least: CoC, RuneQuest, Stormbringer, Hawkmoon, ElfQuest, Ringworld, Nephilim, ... you name it.
Pendragon is a must-do game without a doubt, and the fact that you have it in your possession means you have no excuse.
I agree with Benoist about BRPS and I think Call of Cthulhu would be the best option there.
You should have a go at Rolemaster or Runequest to try something high fantasy and different to D&D.
I would also put Cyberpunk 2020 in there just because I'm a huge fan of the combat system.
Risus is a must at least once for any gamer.
Finally, to put in a more modern entry, I think the One Roll Engine system is very interesting and flexible and does something very innovative, so pick up Godlike or Wild Talents or Nemesis (which is free); Reign, the fantasy version, isn't to my taste in terms of setting, but luckily there is a setting-free version called Reign Enchiridion which is very cheap and handy.
My first vote is for Rifts. It's a fun game.
If you want to be well rounded:
- WFRP (1st or 2nd ed).
- CoC (any ed, they are all the same).
- Ars Magica is well worth trying, it does a lot of things very differently.
- Either World of Darkness (Vampire basically, there load of others) or Roll and Keep (Legend of the 5 Rings/7th Sea or fading Suns [They are very different but all have the same underlying core ethos and style].
- PDQ (Swashbucklers of the 7 Skys is the one id did but there are others).
There are plenty of other games out there, but if you're looking to explore the range available outside d20, picking one game in each of these categories should give you a good overview:
* Basic Roleplaying, Call of Cthulhu, and RuneQuest are all built atop the same d100 framework, so any of them will serve as a good orientation to the d100 approach, which tends to work well for simulationist play.
* Diaspora, Spirit of the Century, The Dresden Files, and Fate Core are all built on the Fate mechanism, which is primarily oriented toward narrativist play.
* If you want to delve into the more hard-core narrativist mode of play, check out Apocalypse World or Dungeon World.
For further exploration:
* Burning Wheel combines high crunch with focus on story.
* The ORE (One Roll Engine) system that powers Godlike is notable for how it handles everything from small social interactions to huge battles using one elegant die mechanic.
* Savage Worlds is a very popular game with simple mechanics and a fast-moving, pulp feel.
My suggestion is to try a couple wildly different kinds of games. Like picking one from each category below:
- The phys simulation-focused: Runequest, Gurps.
- The genre-focused: Pendragon, The One Ring.
- The specific themes-focused: Unknown Armies, Dogs in the Vineyard, Apocalypse World.
- The drama/story focused: Vampire, Call of Cthulhu.
:)
I'd say Traveller, because the combat system is so lethal and character creation is so different that it really is a very different play experience for people. I admit it is one that I prefer, but just as a good experience of different approaches I think everyone should try it at least once.
Other systems I think would be good for rounding are d6 System (Star Wars or base) or R.Talsorian's system (Mekton or Cyberpunk).
I'd add one of the big "generic" games. GURPS/HERO/ et al.
Quote from: Unpossible;678996There are plenty of other games out there, but if you're looking to explore the range available outside d20, picking one game in each of these categories should give you a good overview:
* Basic Roleplaying, Call of Cthulhu, and RuneQuest are all built atop the same d100 framework, so any of them will serve as a good orientation to the d100 approach, which tends to work well for simulationist play.
* Diaspora, Spirit of the Century, The Dresden Files, and Fate Core are all built on the Fate mechanism, which is primarily oriented toward narrativist play.
* If you want to delve into the more hard-core narrativist mode of play, check out Apocalypse World or Dungeon World.
For further exploration:
* Burning Wheel combines high crunch with focus on story.
* The ORE (One Roll Engine) system that powers Godlike is notable for how it handles everything from small social interactions to huge battles using one elegant die mechanic.
* Savage Worlds is a very popular game with simple mechanics and a fast-moving, pulp feel.
You don't seem to understand what Narrativist means.
GNS theory is full of shit enough without people mudding the waters by using the words weirdly.
Theme focused = Narrativist
Story focused = Story focused
BRP is a must in my book. CoC is a fun horror romp.
Classic Traveller is also different from the D&D/D20 engine.
In the D20 line up check out anything by Sine Nomine like Stars without Numbers,other dust, Spears of the Dawn all are great just for the settings alone but the best part is the G.M tools so grab these. Also Mutant Future is just gonzo fun.
A little known classic that is real different is Wizards World currently available from Goblinoid Games. This hails from around 1982 the 80's art and cultural references are worth the price alone.
Savage Worlds.
Quote from: Enlightened;679082You don't seem to understand what Narrativist means.
GNS theory is full of shit enough without people mudding the waters by using the words weirdly.
Theme focused = Narrativist
Story focused = Story focused
I'm not going to engage in an argument with you about terminology, but anyone who objects to their use can simply take my game recommendations without the discussion of creative agendas.
Quote from: Piestrio;679006I'd add one of the big "generic" games. GURPS/HERO/ et al.
*ahem* HERO, but not GURPS (sorry could not resist)
For a really huge contrast, also add in a diceless game like Nobilus, Amber, or Olympus
I'd say the biggest thing isn't just the rules, but really immersing yourself in the thought process that made the rules.
Most of the games given are good suggestions. I'd throw Fate Core in there for a more story-focused game.
I'd say start with a game that looks *really weird* to you. Approach it like a new player, and forget the stuff you already know - otherwise it's too easy to just "play D&D with GURPS/Fate/BRP/Apocalypse World rules", which isn't a ton of value. Try *not* to match up what the rules say with your experience and expectations, but just play the game the rules say.
Find people that *do* play that game a ton, and play with them. If something seems weird, just go with it, and try to understand it rather than change it to be more like what you're expecting.
You mentioned you have a history with D&D, but one thing I'd recommend is that someone play every main branch of D&D: Classic D&D (any), AD&D (1st or 2nd), 3.X/PF, and 4e. Four different games that deliver four different gaming experiences.
On that note, everyone needs to play Rolemaster at least once. Its play experience is considerably different from its reading experience and its formidable reputation for density. You will learn to either love or hate the charts, and RM is the best game for getting a real taste of randomness.
Quote from: Tyndale;678952Howdy all! Long time lurker here . . .
Welcome to the adult swim.
Quote from: Tyndale;678952What do you believe are the must-do games?
Traveller,
Call of Cthulhu,
Pendragon,
Marvel Super Heroes (that's the FASERIP version),
Vampire: the Masquerade, 1e
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, and GURPS (1e if you enjoy maths, 3e if you prefer ease of use).
Quote from: Bill;679310*ahem* HERO, but not GURPS (sorry could not resist)
Fah!
YOUR 3d6 roll low point buy system is for losers!
MY 3d6 roll low point buy system is for refined and handsome folks!
Quote from: FaerieGodfather;679764You mentioned you have a history with D&D, but one thing I'd recommend is that someone play every main branch of D&D: Classic D&D (any), AD&D (1st or 2nd), 3.X/PF, and 4e. Four different games that deliver four different gaming experiences.
What about the Basic D&D games?
Thanks for the ideas and input everyone. It would appear that there is a lot of ground to cover in my effort to expand my gaming experience - which is not necessarily a bad thing. I just picked up a copy of BRP and just need to decide on which variant to run with (FBRP and COC being the front runners).
Quote from: robiswrong;679467Find people that *do* play that game a ton, and play with them. If something seems weird, just go with it, and try to understand it rather than change it to be more like what you're expecting.
Great advice.
First, let me suggest that an RPG collection need not be accessed only on an all-or-nothing, "playing Game X" basis. Indeed, that was in my experience rare in the 1970s and early '80s. As a GM, you can mix and match materials as they suit your style (and, back then, texts such as RuneQuest explicitly mentioned this).
Chaosium's Basic Role Playing framework is the pioneering and archetypal "skills based" system. The combination of training and "on-the-job" experience in the original RQ is notably different -- more free-form, more geared to simulating characters' living development and less to abstract balances -- from most other rules sets.
Champions/Hero System and GURPS are the grand-daddy "point based" systems. Less innovatively, they also epitomize the adoption of boardgame (as opposed to miniatures) approaches to tactical action.
Classic Traveller is a product of deep appreciation of how the original D&D game worked, along with an impulse to do much more than simply copy the superficials. CT has a flavor all its own, more distinctive than later Traveller rules sets that drew more on convergent lines of development in an older hobby/industry.
Quite apart from 'mechanics,' a campaign in the early style -- to some degree what people usually mean by 'sandbox' -- is something I would recommend trying as one has opportunity.
These are all things that have had significant influences. Some experience of them should help round out one's RPG 'education.' There may also be more recent developments in (or nearly in) the same league.
In answer to the OP: D&D (in any edition before 3e; or just about any of the central OSR-rulebooks) is the only "must-do" game to understand the fundamentals of the RPG hobby.
Aside from that, the only other game I'd recommend as essential to make a really well-rounded player is Amber (or one of its variants). The rest are all steps in-between and there are certainly many others mentioned here which are more or less worth looking at, but I wouldn't say "must-do".
RPGPundit
Also.
I would throw in Kenzer & Co. Games; Aces and Eights/Hackmaster. Just started these games and really enjoying them.
Palladium Books is old school type of game good setting/ wonky mechanics (but I love it); plus Dead Reign is an interesting game.
GL