this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2023
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What makes it your favorite? Do you want to play it? If so, what's keeping you from doing it?

For me, it's Burning Wheel.

I bought it purely based on aesthetics back in 2008ish, then got the supplements, then Gold, then Gold Revised, with the Codex, and the anthology...

I blame it for my weakness for chunky, digest-sized, hardcover RPGs. :P I also like the graphic design, I like the prose (even if it's divisive), and it has both interesting lessons you can plug into other games (like "let it ride," letting success or failure stand instead of making lots of little rolls) and arcane systems that pique my interest (like the Artha cycle, which makes roleplay, metacurrency, skill rolls, and advancement all intersect). I genuinely like reading it for its own sake.

I haven't played it because... well, since it's not D&D, that immediately makes it harder to get people interested, sadly. It's also a bit daunting, given its reputation as a crunchy system. But I have a group of players interested in trying new things, and fewer other games calling for my attention, so hopefully I'll get a chance soon. :)

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[–] sammytheman666@ttrpg.network 10 points 1 year ago

Pathfinder 2

[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Satasupe. It's a Japanese ttrpg. The name is a shortening of Saturday Night Special, and the game focuses on zany crime capers. I did a translation of it for a friend but nothing much came of it. If your character ever became too good or evil, they became an NPC, which was a nice mechanic to keep players from acting like saints or demons. https://d66roc.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/happy-15th-anniversary-satasupe/

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 year ago

Ah, that reminds me of City of Mist, where leaning too hard towards your mundane or supernatural side would do the same.

I've also found it interesting how vibrant the Japanese tabletop RPG scene seems to be, but how little of it makes its way over here. It seems like there'd be a huge market for it.

[–] bionicjoey@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I've watched people play MOTW and Paranoia. Both look plenty fun.

I'd also love to try one of the WH40K RPGs, but they seem like a big commitment. And like you said, it's a lot harder to find people who want to go beyond D&D

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 year ago

I've had the change to play Paranoia, actually! It was a ton of fun, and one of my favorite gaming memories. It ran great as a fun one shot.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago

I've had ambivalent feelings about Paranoia for a long time. I love the setting and it's inspirations (especially Terry Gilligan's Brazil). I have the XP edition, and the rules were confusing to the point of causing me drowsiness. I think they just put a rules section because they had to, and the GM is supposed to fly by the seat of their pants based on what is the most fun.

That said, I'd love to try it.

[–] mozzribo@leminal.space 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Shadowrun. I love the idea and most of the mechanics. But all of these editions, all of them confusing and too crunchy for the lack of competent editing... Except Anarchy. I'll probably get around playing that one. Now if I could only get my hands on a physical copy...

Also Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game. I love the source novels, while the mechanics of the game seem like a lot of fun. But physical copies are worth a fortune and it's not easy finding a group who would be down with the setting. I might be able to give Lords of Gossamer & Shadow (Diceless) a go, though.

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 3 points 1 year ago

Shadowrun really has been mishandled by Catalyst. :/ You also get big Shadowrun fans who genuinely love the setting actively discouraging people from using the rules sometimes. "Shadowrun is great, but it sucks, so if you want to play Shadowrun (which you should!) avoid using Shadowrun." :P

I've also heard Amber come up a bunch over the years. I keep meaning to check it out.

[–] phase@lemmy.8th.world 3 points 1 year ago

Anarchy is the only version I play now. I can recommend to read it.

[–] pikasaurX4@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have so many that I’ve come across over the years but never had a chance to try. Many of them have been mentioned by others so I’ll just throw in a fresh one: Mouseguard.

The setting just feels so cozy but also heroic. Something akin to a video game like Tunic. The rules are actually quite dense though, so I’ve never gotten buy-in from any players. But it’s one of those golden egg games that I’d really love to play some day

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I actually want to check that out too, since it's in the Burning Wheel orbit. :P

That and Torchbearer, but as much as I loved the books, I think it's the last among the three. (Though I still really want to play it.)

[–] pikasaurX4@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, Burning Wheel is high up on my list as well. I know the games are related, but I don’t know enough about either of them to know exactly how similar they are

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not an expert on the three either, but here's my understanding:

  • Burning Wheel is the oldest of the three, the most complicated, and geared towards dramatic fantasy stories. It's replicating classic fantasy novels and the like.

  • Mouseguard came out next, is significantly simpler, and obviously made to evoke the feeling of the comics it's based on.

  • Torchbearer is the newest of the three, is an intermediate level of complexity, and geared towards dungeon crawling and the like. Think old-school RPG with a Burning Wheel chassis.

I still haven't got my hands on Mouseguard, and I'd love to try all of them at some point. It just breaks towards Burning Wheel for me, to begin at the beginning—but they all have a unique appeal. :)

[–] elStiko@dice.camp 3 points 1 year ago

@Lianodel @pikasaurX4 I own all three and have played one con slot of Torchbearer of which I remember none of the interactions with the mechanics, and pretty much none of the story.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I've heard so many crazy stories about RIFTS that I've always wanted to play it. But none of my friends wanna play it, and I've also heard it's an absolute nightmare of a game system to actually play it.

[–] GrayBackgroundMusic@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, it's rough. I never liked the mechanics. I love the different settings and world building. However, it's not balanced in the slightest. You can play a glitter boy pilot or a Russian peasant in poverty. Same starting points. It takes a strong gm hand to balance it.

[–] Graycliff@ttrpg.network 1 points 1 year ago

RIFTS does now come in Savage Worlds flavor! Simpler, more cohesive... Still a little imbalanced, but what's RIFTS without imbalance?

[–] ZDL@diyrpg.org 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Why is it so hard for people to read the blurb on the right?:

This community is for meaningful discussions of tabletop/pen & paper RPGs

Do not submit video game content unless the game is based on a tabletop RPG property and is newsworthy.

Off-Topic: Book trade, Boardgames, wargames, video games are generally off-topic.

(Emphasis entirely mine.)

[–] Shyfer@ttrpg.network 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I want to play a lot more Chronicles of Darkness, but most people prefer fantasy or sci-fi and those who want urban horror prefer World of Darkness. They don't market it well.

I've also never played Blades in the Dark game. I think I need someone else to DM it for me first. I don't really have PBTA down, my mind hasn't quite grasped it yet.

[–] roflo1@feddit.nl 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m curious… what is it about CofD that you feel is missing from WoD? I’m actually on the other boat but since I’m often the storyteller, I get to decide. And my choice is mostly because I like WoD’s lore more and because I don’t own CofD books.

Regarding PbtA, I thought I’d recommend the Dungeon World Guide. The early sections apply for any PbtA:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8_Fz4m5hcoiTXpTbklDOF9iUHc/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-xI_68aH1lllySOdEovKvPQ

[–] Shyfer@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a good question. I think I'm just more familiar with the CofD lore and rules having first come in to these lines around nWoD. But I do like a lot of their mechanics, the themes, and feel of it all. It's very mysterious and X-Files to me, versus WoD which always felt more punk. I'm sure I'd enjoy playing in a WoD game, too, but I've got all these CofD books I need to use if I got the chance to ST lol.

[–] roflo1@feddit.nl 2 points 1 year ago

I never stopped to think that they have a different feel. Worth pondering. Thanks for the insight.

[–] Susaga@ttrpg.network 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Genesys. Technically. I've played the Star Wars FFG system that eventually became Genesys (and loved it), but I haven't played Genesys itself. I even own the Genesys dice, but I lack anyone else to roll them with.

[–] pikasaurX4@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

I finally got a physical copy of the Genesys rules last year, but I’m in the same boat. I played in a Star Wars game for a couple years and I love the system but I doubt I’ll ever have a group to play Genesys with

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Exalted! I did get to play...one game before that group imploded. Also any of the World of Darkness settings. No one here wants to play them, the only people that do get way way way too into it and are very unnerving to actually be around. Great for them, but I just rant to meet one a week, not a life of it.

[–] rgalex@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Alien, that's a game that caught my attention.

And also Aquelarre, is a game set in medieval Spain, where legends and gods are real. The game describes itself as a "Demonic medieval rpg", and their rules are based on BRP, so it's quite familiar on the basics.

[–] funkyb@ttrpg.network 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Star wars FFG and Deadlands. I love the flavor of both. I doubt I'll ever play star wars, but some of my current groups will probably give deadlands a try.

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've played a lot of Classic Deadlands and its quite fun! Combat can take forever though, with an even moderately small group.

[–] funkyb@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, I think if I do end up playing it'll be the newest version. I have the patience for crunchy systems but most of the people I play with don't. And the thought of playing anything more complex than 5e with some of them terrifies me.

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, it's not for the faint of heart, the Classic system. Flavorful though, starting poker hands for magic (well. One of the magics), all those dice types! And character creation that still makes me slow down.

Not as slow as making a character in Mutants & Masterminds though.

[–] ZDL@diyrpg.org 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

From way back in the days, Valley of the Pharaohs. While not my first game that attempted to be historically accurate (that honour falls to Chivalry & Sorcery) it was the first such game I found that not only tried to be historically accurate but also supplied loads of supporting material for it. (This was more important pre-Internet than it is now because it was both time-consuming and hard to find good, solid historical information that was usable in play.)

But I could never interest anybody in playing it.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 1 points 1 year ago (5 children)

So there's this Spanish rpg called The Door of Ishtar, which takes place in Mesopotamia after Zargon the Great defeats the Sumerians and founds Akkad. Such a rich world that I had to buy. I know I'll never get to play it though.

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[–] shabbyj@ttrpg.network 3 points 1 year ago

I would like to give Scum & Villainy a go. Have the book, but not managed to get a game. Yet! I won't give up. :)

@Lianodel Spire. We we're like 80% close twice to set up a group though.

[–] Yora@diyrpg.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Dragonbane.

yet...

It looks like it should work perfectly fine for a campaign like B/X DandD, but without character levels, spell slots, the weird attack roll system, and with skills. All the rules for wandering monsters, reaction rolls, and morale that make B/X great can just be added to Dragonbane almost as is.

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 1 points 1 year ago

I got the game, mostly for the things you mentioned. A lot if it is familiar D&D, in an old-school style, with some tweaks I like. It seems really flexible, and probably compatible with a lot of OSR stuff I already have. Plus the box set seems like it'd be a great kit for on-the-fly games.

So I'd also love to get it to the table sometime!

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