TheRPGSite

Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Darrin Kelley on November 11, 2020, 08:03:35 AM

Title: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Darrin Kelley on November 11, 2020, 08:03:35 AM
I'm on a quest for a new general-purpose fantasy RPG. One capable of handling all styles of fantasy campaigns. Which yes, includes psionics or mind magic.

The following are a list of systems disqualified from the process. I have used them and come away not feeling well about the experience. I'm looking for a fresh take. And they are just not it.

Runequest (any iteration)
Rolemaster
D&D (Or anything D20 based)
Palladium
Hero System
GURPS
Cortex+ (Cortex+ can just fuck all the way off.)

Please also restrict your suggestions to games currently available and in print. Old favorites don't help me if I can't get my hands on a physical copy.

I need new frontiers to explore. And possibly a new system to fall in love with.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: HappyDaze on November 11, 2020, 08:16:47 AM
Genesys (particularly with the Realms of Terrinoth setting book to flesh out fantasy world mechanics).
Torg Eternity (add the rules expansions from the Aysle books for a stronger fantasy feel).
Mutants & Materminds 2e or 3e (it's distantly d20 based, but it's not much at all D&D, especially by 3e).
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Chris24601 on November 11, 2020, 10:41:40 AM
Would a nearly done system in playtest for which I will provide free pdfs of the rules in trade for any feedback count as “in print”?

It’s set up as a “big damn heroes” kitchen sink because it’s easier to remove elements you don’t want than to add ones you do. The result being you can run the standard fantasy races up through building your own beastmen or mutants to unicorns, giants, fairies and dragons as PCs (or just say “human only” if that’s the campaign you want).

It’s also designed to be able to run a no magic setting just by dropping a couple of classes and backgrounds with non-casters having plenty of options to customize and distinguish themselves from each other.

There’s a whole section of optional rules to run it as zero-to-hero, randomly assigned attributes, species and backgrounds, use skill points, different approaches to leveling, adjusting the dice rolled, theatre-of-the-mind rules, etc.

It also has full from the ground up creation rules for custom monsters, traps, vehicles and structures so you can tailor your setting details as you wish (its also got a couple hundred pre-built monsters, lots of traps, etc... it’s not a toolkit system, it’s just got toolkits built in because there’s no way a ruleset can cover everything).

The only absent area of the ruleset currently is the GM advice section... the bulk of which is aimed at first time GMs and includes a “Region creation guide” that includes a bunch of tables to choose or roll for to build up a plausible campaign region (not a whole world... for that just keep adding regions).

Since that’s something experienced GMs don’t particularly need rules for the system is ready to play with only fairly minor tweaks coming in at this stage as unexpected interactions are uncovered.

The setting can also handle science-fantasy pretty well out of the box. The Mystic class can easily be psychics (there’s even a sidebar about it), golems become droids, beastmen and mutants become aliens, projectors can double as blasters, and the vehicle creation rules include flying machines, submersibles and even walking tanks with articulated arms.

If that sounds like something that would interest you, PM me. The only cost is any feedback you wish to give (and I appreciate negative feedback almost more than positive... I can’t fix what’s broken if I’m not aware it’s broken).
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: oggsmash on November 11, 2020, 10:59:16 AM
Genesys (particularly with the Realms of Terrinoth setting book to flesh out fantasy world mechanics).
Torg Eternity (add the rules expansions from the Aysle books for a stronger fantasy feel).
Mutants & Materminds 2e or 3e (it's distantly d20 based, but it's not much at all D&D, especially by 3e).
  How does Genesys play?  It seems fairly slick, and I like both the core book and terrinoth (I have both) but have not run that one by the game group.  I just always grind my teeth a bit at having to break out the special dice.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: oggsmash on November 11, 2020, 11:00:02 AM
I'm on a quest for a new general-purpose fantasy RPG. One capable of handling all styles of fantasy campaigns. Which yes, includes psionics or mind magic.

The following are a list of systems disqualified from the process. I have used them and come away not feeling well about the experience. I'm looking for a fresh take. And they are just not it.

Runequest (any iteration)
Rolemaster
D&D (Or anything D20 based)
Palladium
Hero System
GURPS
Cortex+ (Cortex+ can just fuck all the way off.)

Please also restrict your suggestions to games currently available and in print. Old favorites don't help me if I can't get my hands on a physical copy.

I need new frontiers to explore. And possibly a new system to fall in love with.
  Savage Worlds.  I was surprised at how well it did fantasy.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: HappyDaze on November 11, 2020, 12:37:51 PM
Genesys (particularly with the Realms of Terrinoth setting book to flesh out fantasy world mechanics).
Torg Eternity (add the rules expansions from the Aysle books for a stronger fantasy feel).
Mutants & Materminds 2e or 3e (it's distantly d20 based, but it's not much at all D&D, especially by 3e).
  How does Genesys play?  It seems fairly slick, and I like both the core book and terrinoth (I have both) but have not run that one by the game group.  I just always grind my teeth a bit at having to break out the special dice.
I've only played a few short sessions of Genesys (one-shot for Terrinoth and one-shot for Shadow of the Beanstalk/Android) but lots of FFG's Star Wars, which has a very similar system.

The special dice are fine once you play with them. The narrative elements I've seen in the Genesys games are a bit toned down from the ones in Star Wars.

For fantasy, the Terrinoth rules are fair, and a lot of the features also show up in D6 Fantasy. With mundane activities, you do get a bit of "everyone can do everything" but those that dedicate both skill ranks and applicable talents to an area will really shine. Terrinoth rules only let you develop a magic skill if it's a career skill and you cannot use such skills untrained. This means that magicians are fairly special. Magic is also somewhat free form as you can do a wide variety of effects (with certain types of effects being limited by your particular source of magic), and the difficulty of the effect scaling up as you add more features to it, rather than having spell lists of locked-in pre-constructed effects like in many other games. The magic rules also really play on implements, with some (like a staff or wand) being really good for focusing offensive spells, and others being better for healing or divination or whatever.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: oggsmash on November 11, 2020, 04:03:21 PM
Genesys (particularly with the Realms of Terrinoth setting book to flesh out fantasy world mechanics).
Torg Eternity (add the rules expansions from the Aysle books for a stronger fantasy feel).
Mutants & Materminds 2e or 3e (it's distantly d20 based, but it's not much at all D&D, especially by 3e).
  How does Genesys play?  It seems fairly slick, and I like both the core book and terrinoth (I have both) but have not run that one by the game group.  I just always grind my teeth a bit at having to break out the special dice.
I've only played a few short sessions of Genesys (one-shot for Terrinoth and one-shot for Shadow of the Beanstalk/Android) but lots of FFG's Star Wars, which has a very similar system.

The special dice are fine once you play with them. The narrative elements I've seen in the Genesys games are a bit toned down from the ones in Star Wars.

For fantasy, the Terrinoth rules are fair, and a lot of the features also show up in D6 Fantasy. With mundane activities, you do get a bit of "everyone can do everything" but those that dedicate both skill ranks and applicable talents to an area will really shine. Terrinoth rules only let you develop a magic skill if it's a career skill and you cannot use such skills untrained. This means that magicians are fairly special. Magic is also somewhat free form as you can do a wide variety of effects (with certain types of effects being limited by your particular source of magic), and the difficulty of the effect scaling up as you add more features to it, rather than having spell lists of locked-in pre-constructed effects like in many other games. The magic rules also really play on implements, with some (like a staff or wand) being really good for focusing offensive spells, and others being better for healing or divination or whatever.

Yeah I got that in reading it, regarding the magic, and it was one of the reasons I picked it up in the game store.   I saw the similarities with D6 too, and that is the other thing that pushed me to grab them, but I have never got the group to play D6 either.  I just got the box set years and years ago when I saw it in the store with dust on it. I like how D6 seems to run as well, I just think it and Genesys might be game systems I would rather play in than run as a GM, if that makes sense.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: David Johansen on November 11, 2020, 05:23:41 PM
Tunnels and Trolls perhaps, it's latest incarnation is quite nice.  It's not really any lighter than D&D though it is more rulings over rules in its approach.

Arduin, is Arduin Eternal available in print now?  I'd have to look.  Gonzo percentile D&D spin off,

Chivalry and Sorcery just had a new edition which has caught some flak for being a bit too woke but third edition was good and fourth built on that.  Fifth should be really solid and crunchy.

My Arcane Confabulation rules are available for free on my website.  I'm not quite sure what "full featured" means to you but when I get around to finishing the companion volume it will cover a lot of crazy stuff from realm management, to mass combat, to playing gods and creating the world.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: HappyDaze on November 11, 2020, 05:32:51 PM
Genesys (particularly with the Realms of Terrinoth setting book to flesh out fantasy world mechanics).
Torg Eternity (add the rules expansions from the Aysle books for a stronger fantasy feel).
Mutants & Materminds 2e or 3e (it's distantly d20 based, but it's not much at all D&D, especially by 3e).
  How does Genesys play?  It seems fairly slick, and I like both the core book and terrinoth (I have both) but have not run that one by the game group.  I just always grind my teeth a bit at having to break out the special dice.
I've only played a few short sessions of Genesys (one-shot for Terrinoth and one-shot for Shadow of the Beanstalk/Android) but lots of FFG's Star Wars, which has a very similar system.

The special dice are fine once you play with them. The narrative elements I've seen in the Genesys games are a bit toned down from the ones in Star Wars.

For fantasy, the Terrinoth rules are fair, and a lot of the features also show up in D6 Fantasy. With mundane activities, you do get a bit of "everyone can do everything" but those that dedicate both skill ranks and applicable talents to an area will really shine. Terrinoth rules only let you develop a magic skill if it's a career skill and you cannot use such skills untrained. This means that magicians are fairly special. Magic is also somewhat free form as you can do a wide variety of effects (with certain types of effects being limited by your particular source of magic), and the difficulty of the effect scaling up as you add more features to it, rather than having spell lists of locked-in pre-constructed effects like in many other games. The magic rules also really play on implements, with some (like a staff or wand) being really good for focusing offensive spells, and others being better for healing or divination or whatever.

Yeah I got that in reading it, regarding the magic, and it was one of the reasons I picked it up in the game store.   I saw the similarities with D6 too, and that is the other thing that pushed me to grab them, but I have never got the group to play D6 either.  I just got the box set years and years ago when I saw it in the store with dust on it. I like how D6 seems to run as well, I just think it and Genesys might be game systems I would rather play in than run as a GM, if that makes sense.
I can understand it. For me, it tends to run the other way towards highly crunchy systems: I have a friend that will run Rolemaster and another that will run GURPS. I'll play in either, but would never run those systems.

I will note that Genesys, despite the special dice, tends to be less wildly random in damage outcomes than D6 because the Genesys "meat" stats (typically Soak and Wounds) are not random. In D6 Fantasy, when you roll Physique against Damage, you can go from perfectly fine to totally dead in one hit a little too often for my tastes.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Spinachcat on November 11, 2020, 06:36:16 PM
Here's my favorite non-D20 free RPG
http://www.stargazergames.eu/games/warrior-rogue-mage/ (http://www.stargazergames.eu/games/warrior-rogue-mage/)

IMO, Warrior, Rogue & Mage strikes the perfect balance for when you want a rules light + fast chargen + lots of chargen options + easy point buy + lots of optional rules to tweak the complexity of the game.

And it's got a crazy amount of free supplements too.

No idea why the author doesn't compile the game into one book and sell it on Amazon & DriveThruRPG.


Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Spinachcat on November 11, 2020, 06:42:54 PM
Another vote for D6.

There's been a quiet D6 resurgence. If you're looking for a "system to fall in love with" that can do almost anything, the D6 system is good stuff.

I've never had a problem getting players into a D6 game. It's roll a handful of dice and count them, easy customized characters, and its good for Big Damn Hero low death genres.

My D6 Rifts campaign worked great. If I were to run it again, I'd consider replacing counting pips vs. TN for a successes vs. TN just to speed the game. It's easy enough to get D6s with 3 sides with a pip and 3 blanks.

Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Marchand on November 11, 2020, 08:09:18 PM
Do you like Traveller? If so, you might be interested in Swords of Cepheus, which is a fantasy version.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/304840/The-Sword-of-Cepheus

Depending how you feel about the 2d20 system, there is Modiphius's Conan. The storygamey Momentum/Doom mechanic isn't universally popular.

There's a ton of rules light options. Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2nd ed has a huge amount of support (with a gameworld elaborated in dozens of 1980s solo page-flip gamebooks, although you can easily use it in your own setting). The rules are simple and robust enough that you can use it for whatever you want.

Recently-released Warlock! (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/312204/Warlock?src=newest) covers similar ground.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Darrin Kelley on November 11, 2020, 08:16:28 PM
I loathe Traveller. The one game I have that uses that system I want to get rid of.

I'm also going to restate this. I only want physical versions of the games recommended. If there is no physical version of a system, it does exactly no good for me.

Physical. As in print. As in a book I can hold in my hand. Nothing else is acceptable or wanted.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: lordmalachdrim on November 11, 2020, 08:36:07 PM
I loathe Traveller. The one game I have that uses that system I want to get rid of.

I'm also going to restate this. I only want physical versions of the games recommended. If there is no physical version of a system, it does exactly no good for me.

Physical. As in print. As in a book I can hold in my hand. Nothing else is acceptable or wanted.

Both items the prior guy mentions are available as PoD from Drivethrough so you can get a physical copy.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Darrin Kelley on November 11, 2020, 08:51:34 PM
Both items the prior guy mentions are available as PoD from Drivethrough so you can get a physical copy.

I have a problem with ebooks. My brain doesn't react to them in the same way as physical copies. I do not retain the contents of ebooks after reading them. This happens with both gamebooks and novels.

I have a couple of the Iron Kingdoms novels on my phone for reading when I am on long trips. But for the life of me? I can't tell you the contents of those books in any way. Even though I have read through them multiple times each. The contents simply don't stick for me.

But print books, I retain. I can tell the major plot points of the story to others years after reading them.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: HappyDaze on November 11, 2020, 09:32:52 PM
Depending how you feel about the 2d20 system, there is Modiphius's Conan. The storygamey Momentum/Doom mechanic isn't universally popular.
The Modiphius 2d20 Conan rules are designed for sword & sorcery, but they can't really do other flavors of fantasy very well. For example, the rules for spellcasting don't really cover much of what players expect wizards to be capable of in games.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Rhedyn on November 11, 2020, 10:11:04 PM
I'm suggesting World's Without Number anyways. It's d20, but if you are making that decision based off of WotC D&D, then you are wrong.

I'm guessing you need a game that runs quicker but has all the fixings with plenty of customization. That's going to be World's Without Number. The beta is free and freely available. It'll be in print within the year.

Elsewise, play Savage Worlds or Cypher System.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Rob Necronomicon on November 11, 2020, 10:28:50 PM
Against the Dark Master.

Dragon Warriors.

WFRP 1e or 2e.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: HappyDaze on November 11, 2020, 10:42:21 PM
WFRP 1e or 2e.
The 4e version of WFRP is in print and very much like 2e (which itself is much like 1e) but with some added mechanical options. However, WFRP is very much tied into it's own setting & flavor and thus might not do what the OP is asking. That's the same reason I didn't suggest Earthdawn (3e being my favored version, but it's out of print).
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Darrin Kelley on November 12, 2020, 12:13:12 AM
I'm suggesting World's Without Number anyways. It's d20, but if you are making that decision based off of WotC D&D, then you are wrong.

I'm guessing you need a game that runs quicker but has all the fixings with plenty of customization. That's going to be World's Without Number. The beta is free and freely available. It'll be in print within the year.

Elsewise, play Savage Worlds or Cypher System.

I'm not making the decision based on WotC D&D. I have a ton of different games that are based on d20. So I feel I have enough in that catagory already. What I'm looking for now? Something new. Something beyond my current experience. Something that can get me excited about the fantasy genre again.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Marchand on November 12, 2020, 12:27:38 AM
I loathe Traveller. The one game I have that uses that system I want to get rid of.

I'm also going to restate this. I only want physical versions of the games recommended. If there is no physical version of a system, it does exactly no good for me.

Physical. As in print. As in a book I can hold in my hand. Nothing else is acceptable or wanted.

Fair enough on Traveller I suppose (although I struggle to see what's so offensive about 2d6 for 8+), but as somebody else said, my suggestions are available in deadtree.

More generally, if you ask for suggestions and then shit on ones you're given without bothering to check them out, it kind of feels like you're wasting everyone's time.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Darrin Kelley on November 12, 2020, 01:51:54 AM
Tunnels and Trolls perhaps, it's latest incarnation is quite nice.  It's not really any lighter than D&D though it is more rulings over rules in its approach.

Arduin, is Arduin Eternal available in print now?  I'd have to look.  Gonzo percentile D&D spin off,

Chivalry and Sorcery just had a new edition which has caught some flak for being a bit too woke but third edition was good and fourth built on that.  Fifth should be really solid and crunchy.

My Arcane Confabulation rules are available for free on my website.  I'm not quite sure what "full featured" means to you but when I get around to finishing the companion volume it will cover a lot of crazy stuff from realm management, to mass combat, to playing gods and creating the world.

Honestly? Tunnels & Trolls has long been on my "to buy" list for quite some time. I have memories of programming in and playing T&T adventures on a Commodore Pet. So yeah. I have experience with that system. But my experience with it was in the mid-1980s. So I have no clue what the current rulebook for it is like. Or what options it covers for character types. It's an unknown at this point.

If anyone has such knowledge, I would appreciate some summary of it.

Arduin is something I have some passing familiarity with. My last GM has a homebrew game system based on D&D, Rolemaster, Arduin, and some other sources I really don't recognize. His home system is big and very complex. Too much for me. Since I own all of the rulebooks for that homebrew game system. So yeah. I'm definitely looking for a lighter game than the between eight and ten rulebooks for that homebrew system.

As I just mentioned. I'm not really looking for crunch in a system. So your description of Chivalry & Sorcery creates some doubts with me. With a strong impression that it may not be for me.

I will check out My Arcane Confabulation on your website just out of curiosity's sake. Keep me posted on when you get the second book finished and available in print.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Darrin Kelley on November 12, 2020, 02:47:29 AM
I spent time looking at the websites for Genesys and The Cypher System. Both of which made a huge impression on me. To the point that I want to try both games out. They both sound really good.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Torque2100 on November 12, 2020, 08:47:42 AM
A system and setting that I am really finding myself falling in love with myself is Advanced Fighting Fantasy and the world of Titan.

Based on what I've read, you seem to be looking for something rules-lite and AFF certainly fits.  It's a very simple system, but not lacking in depth.  AFF is well supported with supplements with many different options for character creation.  It's a simple D6 only system which uses only 3 or 4 stats: Skill, Stamina, Luck and Magic if your character is a magic user.  Onto this you can add skills which are added to your Skill stat for rolls which are either 2d6 roll lower than Skill + Special skill, or 2d6 + Skill+Special skill < or = 15.  Combat is 2d6 + Skill + Special skill and whoever rolls highest wins.  Combat also uses a unique system where instead of rolling for initiative, you declare actions and all actions happen simultaneously.

Pundit seems to think that it's incomplete but I disagree. The base book comes with lots of character options and the supplements add much more.  There are tons of optional rules to make your game as simple or as crunchy as you like.  There are rules for turning just about any monster race into a player race.  AFF being based on a series of Choose your Own Adventure books is very narrativist, but without the weird Forge Theory baggage that usually accompanies storygames. There's no attempt to formalize "the RPG social contract" with a DM vs Players story point economy or any weird crap like that.  Instead, it does favor a refreshingly OSR-friendly "rulings over rules" method.  The GamesMaster or "Director" is encouraged to think of things narratively "what sort of enchantment would make sense here?"  Magic items or Potions are often described in narrative terms rather than being given stats. 

As a setting, Titan is a fun, pastichey and very very 80's Sword and Sorcery setting.  Quite often you'll be kicking down the door of a fortress dungoen of a Wizard with a name like "Zagor" and looting the place.  The game world is divided into three continents: Allansia (the "Default" setting,)  The Old World (a more Warhammer-esque setting of royal intrigue and horror) and Khul (the exotic "Dark Continent" filled with tribes, danger and a Feudal Japan kingdom for that extra lemon twist of Martial Arts exoticism.)  Titan is slowly recovering from a magical cataclysm some 248 years ago, so the world is very wild.
 There's lots of land unclaimed by anyone, filled with monsters and abandoned ruined fortresses and cities filled with loot. Overall, the world is mostly unchanged from how it was presented in the original Fight Fantasy gamebooks from the 80's.  You can really see how this game's setting and worldbuilding influenced early Warhammer Fantasy.  If I had to compare it to other settings I would call it Warhammer Fantasy meets Conan.

I find the world is refreshingly unconcerned with Culture Warring.  There's no virtue signalling to be found of either the Woke variety nor of the James Raggi/Venger Satanis "write the most offensive thing you possibly can for those sweet, sweet outrage sales" variety.  It just presents a pastiche of different settings and stories you can use to run your characters through different stories spanning multiple genres.  One week you're exploring an ancient, ruined city brimming with traps and danger, the next your players are pirates on the high seas.

AFF is well supported with supplements, almost all of which are available Print on Demand at DTRPG  (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/195976/Advanced-Fighting-Fantasy-Deluxe?cPath=25223)
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Darrin Kelley on November 12, 2020, 09:26:11 AM
Advanced Fighting Fantasy sounds absolutely great. Something I definitely need to take a closer look at.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Rob Necronomicon on November 12, 2020, 09:42:12 AM
Actually, AFF is excellent! Easy system on the surface but it contains pretty much you could ever need. As OP said it cotains that old FF flavor but is easy to chop and change.

Good range of books for it too.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Mercurius on November 12, 2020, 01:59:52 PM
Savage Worlds.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: David Johansen on November 12, 2020, 02:00:09 PM
I will check out My Arcane Confabulation on your website just out of curiosity's sake. Keep me posted on when you get the second book finished and available in print.

Cool, thanks.  I can get a book printed and bound and mail it to you easily enough but it's just as easy on your end and if you're in the United States you'd save a lot of money.  That's the problem I see with going to print, international shipping.  I'm not overly fond of kickstarters because failing to deliver on a kickstarter is like a nail in your coffin, people will never forgive you.  I also feel the traditional publishing model is actually very unhealthy for rpgs.  The endless supplement and edition churn inevitably bogs down and encumbers the game until it is no longer recognizable as what it started out as.

As for Tunnels and Trolls I've looked through a friend's copy.  They've changed the level pardigim to reflect the character's best attribute and attributes are now bought with experience points.  There are two new careers, craftsman and entertainer or some such.  Stuff like the Magic and Speed attributes are core instead of optional now as is spite damage.  It's not really where I'd have gone with it but it's Ken St Andre's baby and he's run it a lot more than I ever have.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Spinachcat on November 12, 2020, 08:20:29 PM
I have a problem with ebooks. My brain doesn't react to them in the same way as physical copies.

Agreed. It's why I've paid for my copies of various "PDF only" games to be printed and bound. Otherwise, I wouldn't use them at the table.

I should contact Stargazer Games and see if they'd be willing to do a one-volume version of Warrior, Rogue & Mage and put it on Amazon and POD via DriveThruRPG because its such a great game, but without the option for a dead tree version that's easily accessible via a couple clicks and a credit card, it's never going to enjoy the audience it deserves.

And really, considering Amazon and DTRPG have POD, that option should be a no-brainer for even non-commercial fan projects.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: rocksfalleverybodydies on November 13, 2020, 08:34:42 PM
As mentioned, Advanced Fighting Fantasy 2nd Edition is great.  I love the flavour of Titan.
the Arion forum has a small but dedicated group that have tinkered away on the system to do their thing.

Arion will soon be releasing a book for solo play if you're looking for something quiet to do in the evenings.
Actually it's pretty easy to solo already as the system is based on the original Fighting Fantasy solo books.

Also mentioned, Warlock! and DragonWarriors also have that similar old British RPG vibe that I just love.

All are POD on Drive Thru if physical books are your requirement.  I picked up the Advanced Fighting Fantasy Deluxe hardcover and AFF Heroes Companion softcover a while back: happy with the purchases.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: rocksfalleverybodydies on November 13, 2020, 08:48:28 PM
Here's my favorite non-D20 free RPG
http://www.stargazergames.eu/games/warrior-rogue-mage/ (http://www.stargazergames.eu/games/warrior-rogue-mage/)

IMO, Warrior, Rogue & Mage strikes the perfect balance for when you want a rules light + fast chargen + lots of chargen options + easy point buy + lots of optional rules to tweak the complexity of the game.

And it's got a crazy amount of free supplements too.

No idea why the author doesn't compile the game into one book and sell it on Amazon & DriveThruRPG.


That looks pretty interesting.  Did not know of this one before.  Cursory read and it looks pretty flexible.
It is is surprising that it is not POD as the polish on the PDF's is a lot better than some of the stuff I see chucked up on DriveThru.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Spinachcat on November 13, 2020, 08:52:57 PM
Also mentioned, Warlock! and DragonWarriors also have that similar old British RPG vibe that I just love.

Dragon Warriors was a good game. I remember it being Warhammer minus the grimdark so it didn't get much play at our table as teens, but I played it at several conventions over the decades with fans of the old thin books the game was spread across.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Pat on November 14, 2020, 03:42:25 AM
That looks pretty interesting.  Did not know of this one before.  Cursory read and it looks pretty flexible.
It is is surprising that it is not POD as the polish on the PDF's is a lot better than some of the stuff I see chucked up on DriveThru.
It's always worth checking Lulu as well. They were doing POD before DTRPG, so a lot of older games use them, including Warrior, Rogue, and Mage:
https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/michael-wolf/warrior-rogue-mage/paperback/product-1dnzr77j.html
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: silencio789 on November 14, 2020, 08:23:55 AM
Savage Worlds if you want to use minis, and I do..
D6 Fantasy, it's big and bouncy.
Dragon Warriors, it's like a different British fork of where D&D *might* have gone..

All have plenty of support, are available in print at a shop or POD, and have supplements and adventures (actually D6 may not have adventures)

Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Rob Necronomicon on November 14, 2020, 08:36:17 AM
If you want to see Dragon Warriors in action and get an idea of how the mechanics work check out Grim Jim's games on YT.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Xisiqomelir on November 15, 2020, 05:13:31 AM
I didn’t see them mentioned yet, so here are shoutouts for Talislanta (fun, moderate jank) and Earthdawn (fun-to-unfun, heavy jank).
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: Dropbear on November 17, 2020, 10:41:43 PM
I’ll put in a plug for BareBones Fantasy from DwD Studios.
Title: Re: Searching for a new full featured fantasy genre RPG
Post by: tenbones on November 17, 2020, 10:48:20 PM
Savage Worlds if you want to use minis, and I do..
D6 Fantasy, it's big and bouncy.
Dragon Warriors, it's like a different British fork of where D&D *might* have gone..

All have plenty of support, are available in print at a shop or POD, and have supplements and adventures (actually D6 may not have adventures)

It obviously works for minis. I don't think I've *ever* used minis for Savage Worlds. But yeah - if you like minis you're gold. But I don't think it's necessary.