Saw this game listed as the fifth most popular ttrpg in 2016 by Estar in the Realistic Rules thread. And I've never heard of it (granted, thats not surprising, I don't buy many new products these days). But googling only pulls up videogames for me. So whats its deal-io?
Green Ronin's TTRPG adaptation of the hugely popular video game. (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/68991/Dragon-Age-RPG-Set-1?term=dragon+age&test_epoch=0) Ironic to see a RPG based on a video game eh? Surprised more haven't done this as opposed to adapting cancelled TV shows. I'd think a Mass Effect, Witcher or even (gasp) Skyrim RPG could be huge.
It's the licenced RPG for the videogame. Typing it in over at drivethruRPG should net you a quickstart.
I happened to like what they started when they released the first videogame. Lots of cool, if not blindingly original, stuff in the setting and details - a flawed gem. Unfortunately BioWare decided to focus on the flaws instead of the gem as they developed the series. I don't know much about the proper RPG apart from it coming from Green Ronin nor how much GR took after BioWare in the flaws-department. It is the origin of the AGE-system.
Honestly, it's just a somewhat gritty-ish version of standard D&D fantasy, with rules that are a somewhat flashy-ish version of standard D&D hack'n'slashing. Nothing too memorable.
I suspect that the popularity has more to do with the fact that the video games have a lot of fans. And I am absolutely one of those fans, but the draw of them is the NPC characterisation and the choices you get to make - in other words, the video games are really great campaigns in a humdrum setting. The roleplaying game... gives you the humdrum setting and leaves you to make up your own campaigns in it. You see the problem.
Rant incoming!
I lost most interest in the DA ttrpg after the video games totally nuked the story and mood of Dragon Age Origins. DA:Origins was the "Baldurs Gate-of-it's-generation". It was originally supposed to be a D&D (and probably Forgotten Realms) licensed game. It was as said above a flawed gem in general a very D&D-ish game and world. However the new games in the series departed massively from the story, mood and presentation from DA:O with different line-up in the team developing them. Secondly Bioware decided making the Dragon Age franchise to be a flagship in the gaming industry of militant saarkesianism (same with Mass Effect) which made its fan-community a highly toxic wasteland of rabid SJW's.
The Dragon Age ttrpg is a good solid D&Desque traditional game. The old world with the Darkspawn (demon-mutant-goblinoids basicly. Reminds me a bit of Dark Legion from Mutant Chronicles) and Wardens were nice variations on fantasy tropes. But all the baggage Bioware has added to this franchise killed my affection for it.
The same system (or close to it) has been released in vanilla form as Fantasy Age. It has some interesting elements to it, in particular, a low magic feel, guns and grenades, and a pretty cool stunt system that relies on rolling doubles on the 3d6 roll.
Quote from: Teodrik;946459Secondly Bioware decided making the Dragon Age franchise to be a flagship in the gaming industry of militant saarkesianism (same with Mass Effect) which made its fan-community a highly toxic wasteland of rabid SJW's.
I played Mass Effect 2, but not 3. I played some of Dragon Age 2, but not 3.
When did the "militant Sarkeesianism" come in, and can you run down a concise bullet point list of what you mean? My main criticism of the second installment of both series was the movement towards a console-like action rpg instead of a true cRPG like the first ones were.
First off the thing about Dragon Age is not just the setting of the computer game but also the AGE system as well. Part of the reason that it got some people attention is that it will featured as part of Will Wheaton's Tabletop Show. He didn't use the Dragon Age setting instead he came up with one of his own which showed how flexible the system is.
So what is the AGE system?
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It is based on 3d6 roll high.
It you roll two dice of the same color and another of a different color. That single dice is called the Dragon Dice or Stunt Dice in Fantasy AGE. Anytime you roll doubles on any two of the three dice and succeed at the task you get to use the result of the stunt dice execute stunts. For example If I rolled a 4 6 (4) with the 4 in parenthesis the stunt dice then you get the spend 4 stunt points.
Attributes are bonus only. You have a +1 Strength, -1 Dexterity, +2 Cunning, etc, etc.
Any character can attempt any skill but you can take a focus in a skill to gain a bonus by taking a focus which gives you a +2 bonus.
It is a level based system where you get 1d6+Constitution hit points per level as well as mana if you are spell caster.
It has three broad classes Mage, Rouge, and Warrior.
As you level you gain talents which are sort of like D20's feats in that they grant you specific abilities and bonuses. In general they are not overly complicated and you can pick one up to three times getting better abilities in that talent each time. Less often you get specializations which work like talents but focus more on occupations and what D&D had in sub-classes.
Combat work by people with high initiative going first. You need to equal or exceed the target's defense which is 10 + dex. If you hit, you roll damage and subtracts the target's armor rating.
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That the 10 cent version, in play it hit the same sweet spot as most D&D 5e in terms of detail versus easy of use. And it is really easy to see how to modify it, which what Wheaton demonstrated, to adapt it to whatever campaign you want. Yeah talent are kind of like feats but they are far more logically organized and grounded in the genre than d20's feats are. The same with specializations.
I was able to quickly build up an Majestic Stars AGE rule system (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx9oLF40m-b8ZjZ4TS0wV3NRYWM/view?usp=sharing) with it.
I like the AGE system because it uses 3d6 with the bell curve, the stunt system is elegantly simple, and while it has classes the focuses, talents and specializations allows a lot of customization. What I don' t like about it are the high hit point totals. Plus Green Ronin is really dragging their feet about releasing stuff for it and look like they are going to use the Community Content program of RPGNow for third party stuff. Which makes it useful if you have an original setting.
Quote from: CRKrueger;946499I played Mass Effect 2, but not 3. I played some of Dragon Age 2, but not 3.
When did the "militant Sarkeesianism" come in, and can you run down a concise bullet point list of what you mean? My main criticism of the second installment of both series was the movement towards a console-like action rpg instead of a true cRPG like the first ones were.
Yeah, I second that question.
I've played all six games. I've seen very little militant Sarkeesianism. In fact, a lot of the time I feel like Bioware is actively trolling the more SJW-y of its audience - one might note, for example, the fact that the ultimate villain in DA2 is basically a sanctimonious "you just don't understaaaaaaaaaand how bad it is!!!" moral crusader. And one of your party members in DAI is a gay ethnic-minority woman who will tell you at great length how much she hates identity politics.
I can not answer for the fandom, of course (I have seen the above party member described as a "race traitor," for instance. Yeah... :( ), and word has it the Bioware development team includes at least one developer who openly hates white people. But the games themselves tend to be pretty even-handed.
Re Sarkeesianism: I seem to recall reading a hoo-ha over an NPC making homosexual overtures to the PC and people alternately losing their shit and losing their shit over people losing their shit.
Yes it is all typical internet drama over bullshit. Could we not rehash it here?
Dragon Age: Origins is an excellent illustration of how interesting characters and plots trump setting originality. I was taken aback by how generic everything was at first, then forgot those concerns as the various pieces started interacting.
Quote from: VorosI'd think a Mass Effect, Witcher or even (gasp) Skyrim RPG could be huge.
As stated elsewhere on this forum, Bioware has decided not to ever bother with an official Mass Effect tabletop game. Having enjoyed the first one, but not enough to play 2 and 3, I can understand that decision. The most interesting conflicts and situations of that universe were pretty much depleted by the video games (a common problem with tabletop games that want to build off an existing IP).
Yeah I couldn't really get into Mass Effect once I realized how closely it was modeled on Bioware's Star Wars cRPGs which I burned out on. Nothing against the games per se, although if combat had been more interesting I may have stuck it out.
I have never played the video game, but I have played the RPG and it was pretty good. The critical success mechanic was pretty fun and interesting. Setting seemed pretty cool. I think it benefits from a being run by a GM who really like the online RPG.
Cool, hopefully it pops up on Bundle of Holding sometime and I can check it out. I know a couple of people who are really into the game and it would be a cool way to introduce them to TTRPG.
Quote from: Arminius;946554Re Sarkeesianism: I seem to recall reading a hoo-ha over an NPC making homosexual overtures to the PC and people alternately losing their shit and losing their shit over people losing their shit.
Jesus, is that what he's talking about?
Yep.
Quote from: Voros;946620Cool, hopefully it pops up on Bundle of Holding sometime and I can check it out. I know a couple of people who are really into the game and it would be a cool way to introduce them to TTRPG.
People are always talking about the new Red Box, the perfect introduction to RPGs for newcomers. There was one, but it's not D&D - Dragon Age Set 1 is that box.
Quote from: CRKrueger;946627People are always talking about the new Red Box, the perfect introduction to RPGs for newcomers. There was one, but it's not D&D - Dragon Age Set 1 is that box.
It was that good?
Slim Players Book, slim GM's book. Gave a little bit of the setting, laid out the rules, gave some monsters and a couple GM tips, and an adventure.
No massive backstory, no million character options, no real GM ideology New or Old school. Here it is, go play it.
So as a starter Fantasy RPG, yeah it was that good.
The one, and arguably fatal flaw was that it did not contain Grey Wardens, and the second set with Wardens was long in coming.
Quote from: CRKrueger;946647The one, and arguably fatal flaw was that it did not contain Grey Wardens.
Damn, that's almost "Star Wars without Jedi" in terms of audience targetting goofs.
Quote from: Shipyard Locked;946655Damn, that's almost "Star Wars without Jedi" in terms of audience targetting goofs.
Yeah, but in their defense, no one starts out a Grey Warden. There is no "trained from birth" or whatever. You're experienced and worthy of notice before you get recruited. To map to B/X, it's really an Expert thing, not Basic.
But, the video games are about Grey Wardens. I think the biggest problem was that it took so long to get the Set 2 through the Bioware approval process and out. If Set 2 was released a few months later it would have been different I think.
It's ironic that the very thing that made it the New Red Box is also what damaged it as a Dragon Age game.
I actually hacked the FAGE stunts system to work with a D&D variant. Basically, when you roll over a 20, after mods, you get "Maneuver Points" to spend on various stunts. I used the MP system as a way to delineate the race/classes, i.e., Fighters get +1 MP's for combat maneuvers, Human get +1MP every time they generate maneuvers, Elves have +2 MP's when using bows, and so on. The key advantage to playing a human is the extra 2 MP's when you stunt (plus an extra skill). I also cribbed FAGE's flat +2 to a skill, though I eliminated Weapons skills from the tree to unclutter it a bit..
So if one were getting into this, what would be the advantage of Dragon Age vs Fantasy Age? Are the core books all that different? I assume DA has more setting/expansion stuff available?
Quote from: Arminius;946712So if one were getting into this, what would be the advantage of Dragon Age vs Fantasy Age? Are the core books all that different? I assume DA has more setting/expansion stuff available?
FAGE does not come with a wide selection of monsters in the basic book. They released an ad-on monster book, but it's not incredibly thick. Also FAGE only comes with three classes, but you can get a white variety from the same classes by taking different sorts of paths and skills. It also has A relatively small selection of spells.
All in all, I'd say your guess is correct, but I haven't actively shopped for DA stuff.
Quote from: Arminius;946712So if one were getting into this, what would be the advantage of Dragon Age vs Fantasy Age? Are the core books all that different? I assume DA has more setting/expansion stuff available?
Here's a breakdown by the lead designer (link) (http://greenronin.com/blog/2015/06/29/ronin-round-table-fantasy-age-whats-different-from-dragon-age/).
I picked up both a while back, and quite like the game system. It has a loose class system that provides a nice balance of structure and opportunity for customisation. I would say magic is the weakest point of the game. Spells are mostly variations on combat powers (attacks and defenses) with little in the way of non-combat spells. Similarly, it's quite hard to have a dabbler or warrior mage type, if that is the sort of character you like to play.
There is, now, another iteration of the AGE system, in the new version of Blue Rose. That may address some of the issues around magic, I haven't had the chance to look at it yet.
Quote from: Arminius;946712So if one were getting into this, what would be the advantage of Dragon Age vs Fantasy Age? Are the core books all that different? I assume DA has more setting/expansion stuff available?
They are about as different as BECMI D&D was from AD&D. Broadly the same game, plays the same but has slightly different details. For example Fantasy Age rearranges the attributes slightly.
DAGE: Communications, Constitution, Cunning, Dexterity, Magic, Perception, Strength, Willpower
FAGE: Accuracy, Communications, Constitution, Dexterity, Fighting, Intelligence, Perception, Strength, Willpower
Overall AGE is thin on stuff (items, monsters, spells, etc) compared to other RPG. However the system very solid and plays very well. As well as having the virtue of being easily modified.
Quote from: Shipyard Locked;946590As stated elsewhere on this forum, Bioware has decided not to ever bother with an official Mass Effect tabletop game. Having enjoyed the first one, but not enough to play 2 and 3, I can understand that decision. The most interesting conflicts and situations of that universe were pretty much depleted by the video games (a common problem with tabletop games that want to build off an existing IP).
Having played in an awesome Mass Effect game (https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Mass_Effect_Transcendence) without even having to touch most of the video game canon after ME1, I completely disagree. There's a vast universe of all sorts of possibilities seeded just by the material from the first game, you don't need the games' metaplot at all.
I'd also note some of my queries on how to deal with various situations arising in the game generated really interesting threads on this very board.
Quote from: estar;946818Overall AGE is thin on stuff (items, monsters, spells, etc) compared to other RPG. However the system very solid and plays very well. As well as having the virtue of being easily modified.
Not having a lot of stuff out isn't such a bad thing. Had some store credit and ordered it.
Quote from: estar;946818They are about as different as BECMI D&D was from AD&D. Broadly the same game, plays the same but has slightly different details. For example Fantasy Age rearranges the attributes slightly.
DAGE: Communications, Constitution, Cunning, Dexterity, Magic, Perception, Strength, Willpower
FAGE: Accuracy, Communications, Constitution, Dexterity, Fighting, Intelligence, Perception, Strength, Willpower
Overall AGE is thin on stuff (items, monsters, spells, etc) compared to other RPG. However the system very solid and plays very well. As well as having the virtue of being easily modified.
Derrrr...you're right. I totally forgot about the different stats.
This is an apt comparison. Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but there is a Mystara hack for DA, to include a monster manual.
I am kind of interested in this system mostly because I like the base 3d6 and stunt mechanics, and it seems to be pretty adaptable and generic overall.
A couple of questions to those who might know. Does it lean towards verisimilitude (gritty, realistic play... can't find the right word here), or cinematic high powered playstyles? How about... How deadly is the combat system? Meat points? Death spirals? Is there much depth in the magic system? Is magic over the top, or low key. What about its suitability for long-term play and character advancement?
Quote from: Madprofessor;947084Does it lean towards verisimilitude (gritty, realistic play... can't find the right word here), or cinematic high powered playstyles?
Similar to D&D.
Quote from: Madprofessor;947084How about... How deadly is the combat system? Meat points? Death spirals?
Similar to D&D but more grindier as HP start larger and damage doesn't escalate as much.
Quote from: Madprofessor;947084Is there much depth in the magic system? Is magic over the top, or low key.
Its very combat focussed.
Quote from: Madprofessor;947084What about its suitability for long-term play and character advancement?
Its suffers from D&D3e's advancement issue of those abilities that you train in run away from anything you aren't, forcing DCs to go up or giving auto success in this areas of speciality.
Combat gets grindier as the levels increase, again like D&D.
It's an expression meaning a very long time, as in "I haven't seen you in a Dragon Age!"
Quote from: Skywalker;947088Similar to D&D....
Thanks, Skywalker. It seems to be squarely competing for the same territory as D&D without adding much. I'm not sure what the advantage (difference) over D&D might be. Maybe I'll pass.
I haven't really read it in detail, or played it, but from what I've gathered I suspect Fantasy AGE to be a different take on D&D5's design goal of striking a balance of sorts between D&D3-like character customization with less mechanical complexity and a smaller workload on the GM's side.
Would anyone who's actually read or played it, confirm or refute this impression?
Quote from: The Butcher;947191I haven't really read it in detail, or played it, but from what I've gathered I suspect Fantasy AGE to be a different take on D&D5's design goal of striking a balance of sorts between D&D3-like character customization with less mechanical complexity and a smaller workload on the GM's side.
Would anyone who's actually read or played it, confirm or refute this impression?
It is its own thing with 3d6, a different way of rolling criticals, and stunt points. Green Ronin has successful made a true alternative in the complexity space that core only D&D 3.X and 5e occupies.
Quote from: estar;947220It is its own thing with 3d6, a different way of rolling criticals, and stunt points. Green Ronin has successful made a true alternative in the complexity space that core only D&D 3.X and 5e occupies.
5e, while still fiddly, is less complex than even core 3.x. I'd put Dragon Age below 5e, something similar to Shadow of the Demon Lord, probably even lower.
Dragon Age-->Shadow of the Demon Lord-->5e-->Core 3.x in orders of complexity.
Quote from: CRKrueger;9472245e, while still fiddly, is less complex than even core 3.x. I'd put Dragon Age below 5e, something similar to Shadow of the Demon Lord, probably even lower.
Well, that certainly piques my interest. Maybe I can find AGE a spot in my golf bag.
Quote from: CRKrueger;9472245e, while still fiddly, is less complex than even core 3.x. I'd put Dragon Age below 5e, something similar to Shadow of the Demon Lord, probably even lower.
Dragon Age-->Shadow of the Demon Lord-->5e-->Core 3.x in orders of complexity.
I don't concur I would be AGE between 5e and D20 Core. This is because picking talents are a must in AGE and their arrangement is more diverse than the simple feats and handful of class options in 5e.
But unlike d20 the talents and specializations are much better organized namely because each have three "levels' (novice, journeyman, master) that give each bundle a tight organization unlike d20's feat chains.
But there are ways to "optimize" your character that follow the same pattern that existed with creating d20 characters. And it present to a far greater degree than 5e.
But for everybody else, AGE (DAGE or FAGE) is very straight forward to use and master. It only weakness is the lack of stuff. If you are looking for a system to try either AGE is an inexpensive way to try. Well DAGE use the single book version not the three boxed set version.
Quote from: estar;947243I don't concur I would be AGE between 5e and D20 Core. This is because picking talents are a must in AGE and their arrangement is more diverse than the simple feats and handful of class options in 5e.
But unlike d20 the talents and specializations are much better organized namely because each have three "levels' (novice, journeyman, master) that give each bundle a tight organization unlike d20's feat chains.
But there are ways to "optimize" your character that follow the same pattern that existed with creating d20 characters. And it present to a far greater degree than 5e.
But for everybody else, AGE (DAGE or FAGE) is very straight forward to use and master. It only weakness is the lack of stuff. If you are looking for a system to try either AGE is an inexpensive way to try. Well DAGE use the single book version not the three boxed set version.
Dragon Age more complex than 5e? Brother, you are HIGH ON LIFE. :D But, that's a good thing, so carry on.
Quote from: CRKrueger;947245Dragon Age more complex than 5e? Brother, you are HIGH ON LIFE. :D But, that's a good thing, so carry on.
Shrug, I fiddled extensively with both systems with stuff like my Majestic Stars (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx9oLF40m-b8ZjZ4TS0wV3NRYWM/view?usp=sharing) and the stuff (http://www.batintheattic.com/downloads/MW%205e%20Berserker.pdf) I created (http://www.batintheattic.com/downloads/MW%205e%20Halfling%20Shadow.pdf) for a hypothetical Majestic Wilderlands 5e.
But hey what do I know? It all opinion right?
My experience is this. With 5e it is about coming with lists of abilities. With Age is messing around with how talents, specialization, and to a lesser extent class abilities work each other. But a lot less fiddly than d20 or D&D 4e.
But I will say this in support of your thesis, the difference in complexity is minimal. It really more about how the games are organized and how AGE uses 3d6 versus 5e's use of the d20.
Quote from: The Butcher;947191I haven't really read it in detail, or played it, but from what I've gathered I suspect Fantasy AGE to be a different take on D&D5's design goal of striking a balance of sorts between D&D3-like character customization with less mechanical complexity and a smaller workload on the GM's side.
Not quite. Its effectively a less mechanically complex D&D3e, with none of the lessons that 5e learned from 3e's (and 4e's) flaws. Its looks OK on paper, but its feels rough at the table.