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What's the Single Best RPG Book, you can think of?

Started by Jam The MF, July 29, 2021, 09:01:26 PM

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Shasarak

#120
November 04, 2021, 11:12:40 PM
Quote from: tenbones on November 04, 2021, 12:56:47 PM
Seriously, when this thread came up, I had to give it some serious thought. I normally have to turn my sentimentality gear on in my head, when I do, I can think of *decades* of love I gave to the 1e DMG, Palladium Fantasy 1e, Talislanta 2e, blah blah blah... but if they were the BEST... why am I not playing/using them currently?

Your definition of best is, am I using it now?

Who da Drow?  U da drow! - hedgehobbit

There will be poor always,
pathetically struggling,
look at the good things you've got! -  Jesus

tenbones

#121
November 05, 2021, 12:17:35 AM
Well I'm not firm on it, but it's definitely a consideration.

And I recognize it will be different for others - especially if you're a player vs. a GM.

I'm rationalizing if I'm the GM, and I'm only running games I want to run for my own edification (and others around me) - how can something I will never use be better than what I use now?

3catcircus

#122
November 05, 2021, 09:07:27 AM
By the definition of "am I using it now," none of my rpg books is the best... :-[

If the definition is "I can pull it off the shelf and gain inspiration" then *most* if my books are all the best.  I've got 1e -> 3e and 5e D&D, Pathfinder, Twilight:2000, Star Frontiers, MSH, Torg, Call of Cthulhu, and a bunch of others.  Not to mention my Dragon Mag electronic archive, the RC hardcover, etc.

I can pretty much pick any of them off the shelf and come away with a new idea or a solution...

Trond

#123
November 05, 2021, 11:16:32 AM
Quote from: tenbones on October 22, 2021, 11:32:55 AM
How many people are actually using the Single Best RPG book they can think of?

We did use Artesia, but it's been years since I've played RPGs in person. Lots of stuff has happened, and right now I only have a card game group (playing tarot card games, no less).

But seriously, I think more people could benefit from looking into Artesia as a bit of a gold mine for a fantasy RPG with a more "serious" tone, and an interesting world. It's a bit complicated though, and not for people who don't like nudity :D.

tenbones

#124
November 05, 2021, 11:36:44 AM
I GM in the nude, so my players should be okay with it. ;D

tenbones

#125
November 05, 2021, 11:37:33 AM
Quote from: 3catcircus on November 05, 2021, 09:07:27 AM
By the definition of "am I using it now," none of my rpg books is the best... :-[

If the definition is "I can pull it off the shelf and gain inspiration" then *most* if my books are all the best.  I've got 1e -> 3e and 5e D&D, Pathfinder, Twilight:2000, Star Frontiers, MSH, Torg, Call of Cthulhu, and a bunch of others.  Not to mention my Dragon Mag electronic archive, the RC hardcover, etc.

I can pretty much pick any of them off the shelf and come away with a new idea or a solution...

So if you were running a game right now, what would it be?

Trond

#126
November 05, 2021, 04:35:16 PM
To justify my choice a bit more. For me personally, the "single best" RPG book would have to have both rules and lots of setting info, and preferably a start-up scenario as well.

Pat

#127
November 05, 2021, 04:37:28 PM
Quote from: tenbones on November 05, 2021, 11:36:44 AM
I GM in the nude, so my players should be okay with it. ;D
Player 1: X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card!
Player 2: I roll to lose 10d100 SAN.
Player 3: Time to put on my fursuit!

Stephen Tannhauser

#128
November 05, 2021, 05:10:38 PM
Quote from: Pat on November 05, 2021, 04:37:28 PM
Quote from: tenbones on November 05, 2021, 11:36:44 AM
I GM in the nude, so my players should be okay with it. ;D
Player 1: X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card! X Card!
Player 2: I roll to lose 10d100 SAN.
Player 3: Time to put on my fursuit!

Honestly, I still don't understand why people describe roleplaying games as a fringe hobby.   ;D
Better to keep silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt. -- Mark Twain

STR 8 DEX 10 CON 10 INT 11 WIS 6 CHA 3

3catcircus

#129
November 05, 2021, 05:13:45 PM
Quote from: tenbones on November 05, 2021, 11:37:33 AM
Quote from: 3catcircus on November 05, 2021, 09:07:27 AM
By the definition of "am I using it now," none of my rpg books is the best... :-[

If the definition is "I can pull it off the shelf and gain inspiration" then *most* if my books are all the best.  I've got 1e -> 3e and 5e D&D, Pathfinder, Twilight:2000, Star Frontiers, MSH, Torg, Call of Cthulhu, and a bunch of others.  Not to mention my Dragon Mag electronic archive, the RC hardcover, etc.

I can pretty much pick any of them off the shelf and come away with a new idea or a solution...

So if you were running a game right now, what would it be?

It's a toss up.  If D&D, either City System or City of Greyhawk boxes sets with the World of Aereth a close second.

ArtemisAlpha

#130
November 05, 2021, 05:26:39 PM
There was a time where I would have said, without hesitation, Hero 4th ed. But these days I prefer less crunchy games, and it's been years since I played Champions, or Fantasy Hero, or Justice Inc, or any of my old favorites. Similarly, was a time where I kitbashed Cyberpunk 2020 into being the gamesystem that I used for anything that didn't have magic.

If I look at what I'm running and playing now, apparently I think that either BRP or SWADE are the answer - but I know that both of those have been chosen for how well they play over zoom more than anything else.

That being said, the best game book, to me, has to allow for a wide variety of play, and encourage the imagination, and give the players and GMs good tools. Maybe SWADE is a contender. But, as I consider it, and I look at not just what I'm running, but also what I recently ran, I think that I'll have to say Stars Without Number.

Jam The MF

#131
November 05, 2021, 05:58:49 PM
Quote from: tenbones on November 05, 2021, 11:37:33 AM
Quote from: 3catcircus on November 05, 2021, 09:07:27 AM
By the definition of "am I using it now," none of my rpg books is the best... :-[

If the definition is "I can pull it off the shelf and gain inspiration" then *most* if my books are all the best.  I've got 1e -> 3e and 5e D&D, Pathfinder, Twilight:2000, Star Frontiers, MSH, Torg, Call of Cthulhu, and a bunch of others.  Not to mention my Dragon Mag electronic archive, the RC hardcover, etc.

I can pretty much pick any of them off the shelf and come away with a new idea or a solution...

So if you were running a game right now, what would it be?


White Box FMAG.  Everything else, is just inspiration.
Let the Dice, Decide the Outcome.  Accept the Results.

Novastar

#132
November 05, 2021, 06:45:45 PM
While my first idea was WEG 1st Edition Star Wars, I think Tenbones has a point, in that my version is heavily house-ruled. The closest to "out of the box" that I use is Marvel FASERIP. And it's my "go to" filler game.

For supplement, I still love WEG's "Galaxy Guide #9: Fragments from the Rim"; a hodge-podge of various things to make Star Wars feel more lived-in (drinks, personalities, news channels, even music!). It doesn't have an overall theme, but I can mine SO MUCH potential from it.
Quote from: dragoner;776244Mechanical character builds remind me of something like picking the shoe in monopoly, it isn\'t what I play rpg\'s for.

Aglondir

#133
November 05, 2021, 09:23:24 PM
Quote from: Novastar on November 05, 2021, 06:45:45 PM
While my first idea was WEG 1st Edition Star Wars, I think Tenbones has a point, in that my version is heavily house-ruled. The closest to "out of the box" that I use is Marvel FASERIP. And it's my "go to" filler game.

For supplement, I still love WEG's "Galaxy Guide #9: Fragments from the Rim"; a hodge-podge of various things to make Star Wars feel more lived-in (drinks, personalities, news channels, even music!). It doesn't have an overall theme, but I can mine SO MUCH potential from it.

Tramp Freighters, Bounty Hunters, and FftR are the holy trinity of WEG SW.

tenbones

#134
November 05, 2021, 11:16:55 PM
Quote from: Aglondir on November 05, 2021, 09:23:24 PM
Quote from: Novastar on November 05, 2021, 06:45:45 PM
While my first idea was WEG 1st Edition Star Wars, I think Tenbones has a point, in that my version is heavily house-ruled. The closest to "out of the box" that I use is Marvel FASERIP. And it's my "go to" filler game.

For supplement, I still love WEG's "Galaxy Guide #9: Fragments from the Rim"; a hodge-podge of various things to make Star Wars feel more lived-in (drinks, personalities, news channels, even music!). It doesn't have an overall theme, but I can mine SO MUCH potential from it.

Tramp Freighters, Bounty Hunters, and FftR are the holy trinity of WEG SW.

Wisdom.
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