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Hello! Does anyone here have suggestions for new #TTRPG systems to try for a one shot?
I'd like to plan something special for my players, possibly holiday themed.
I'm a big fan of alternative settings. I'd like to branch out of #fantasy, although I find #scifi a bit daunting!
My players like:
- #DungeonsAndDragons #5e
- #IronKingdoms
They have mixed opinions (some love it, some dislike it) about:
- #CallOfCthulhu
They don't like:
- #Pathfinder 3.5
- #Numenera
- #RogueTrader
Thanks!
@itsmg Hey I recommend trying Cairn https://cairnrpg.com/ or DURF https://emielboven.itch.io/durf lightweight games ideal for one-shots
@itsmg My family has really enjoyed Dungeon Crawl Classics.
I was an editor for Morra (from Mighty Narwhal Productions), but it may be a bit more time-involved than desired to learn for a one-shot.
@PixieWolf @itsmg yes, DCC is awesome! Although my preference is for DCC Lankhmar.
@itsmg I'm going to recommend https://noroadhome.itch.io/stewpot-tales-from-a-fantasy-tavern
It's a game about a group of retired adventurers who started a tavern and you have some scenes together as you build up the tavern. It's something I am planning to use either when building a new group or at the end of a campaign.
side-note: I'll take offense to 'pathfinder 3.5', you don't like dnd3.5 or PF1e. PF2e is an entirely different beast.
@Litis The concept sounds really interesting! Haha sorry about Pathfinder 3.5, they said they prefer DnD 5e to it. I have never played Pathfinder, personally! Thank you!
@itsmg oh I do not blame them. PF1e is probably still my favorite system to build characters in but it is a nightmare to run.
PF2e was fun if you enjoy tactical combat, like dnd 5e with less gm-fiat. But I've moved to more fiction first games now^^'
@itsmg
Any of the Tiny D6 games by Alan Bahr.
EZD6 (Honestly I use this to run most everything now)
Index Card RPG
Fate Accelerated
@itsmg I'm a big fan of Vampire the Masquerade and it's a pretty easy system to pick up I think. The stories tend to lend themselves to bigger campaigns I think, but it could be good for shorter adventures as well. I like it because it's very Minds Eye Theater centered rather than tactical maps and minis. Lots of interpersonal role playing.
@itsmg
If you're looking for a one shot that could grow into something else, have you thought about any of the following (I've played and/or run all of these, and they're excellent):
Monster of the Week, a Powered by the Apocalypse game where you play monster hunters like Buffy/Angel, X Files and/or Supernatural
Vaesen, a Nordic Horror game, in which you investigate supernatural mysteries in 1800s Scandinavia.
@itsmg Alien, based on the film franchise. Uses the same base system as Vaesen, above. Has two modes of play - Campaign (you survive and continue playing) and Cinematic (everyone dies except maybe one person and a cat).
Blades in the Dark, a strong setting, but a very light touch game. Designed to encourage players to make bad (but fun) decisions under pressure and see how it all plays out.
@itsmg Liminal, mentioned by a previous respondent. A modern supernatural game where you play mages, changelings, werewolves, vampires, or humans with the sight, investigating the paranormal in England.
Great if you're a fan of Gaiman or Rivers of London.
@Meganook I love Rivers of London! Thanks!
@itsmg My personal favourite is Delta Green, but if they are mixed on CoC, then DG goes even darker and bleaker. You could try Pulp Cthulhu - all of the Cthulhu but with significantly less squishy PCs. Blades in the Dark is excellent for a one shot, or Free League games like Vaesen or Coriolis. Freeleague have some amazing 'convention' scenarios for their properties. Personally i love Coriolis (scifi-ish) most, but Alien, Vaesen - all superb and all run variations on the same system. hth
@itsmg keep forgetting to # the things - #DeltaGreen, #vaesen #coriolis #alienrpg
@itsmg -oh one more thing, Free League make some #5e versions of their games if you're just looking for a new setting, there's #symbaroum #symbaroum5e (though I prefer its original system flavour)
@itsmg Everybody likes Mausritter.
@itsmg Savage Worlds is a great generic ruleset that you can flavor any genre with support for many (horror, Fantasy, Supers). Cold steel Wardens is a great Iron Age super hero game. Dread is my favorite one shot game but works best for Horror. Fantasy Age is a lighter Fantasy but lots of fun with the Stunt Die mechanic. Shadow of the Demon lord for dark fantasy flavor. Star Wars FFG. Kids on Bikes for a Stranger Things feel.
@itsmg for a one-shot, maybe #SavageWorlds or the #cypherRPG. Both systems are setting generic, flexible and easy to learn.
I can see the preference for 5e over PF1E. Having played #Pathfinder2, I'd recommend checking it out.
You can get all the rules for free at The Archives of Nethys if curiosity strikes.
@itsmg Conan 2d20 by Modiphius... If staying with 5e, try #Brancalonia... Spaghetti fantasy setting... This setting keeps me in love with 5e.
How about a play-to-lose one-shot that uses the relatively simple Trophy Dark ruleset to tell the story of a bunch of toys trying to be the one selected by The Child for Christmas?
Perfect for a one-shot holiday experience.
@itsmg I'd say Liminal is worth a look. I haven't played it myself but it has a place of honor on my shelf. It may fit your interests in branching out from medieval-style fantasy. https://www.modiphius.net/collections/liminal
@itsmg I’m so very interested in running Honey Heist with my student group and adult groups, for something way different than all my usual 5e shenanigans. I’ve heard only good things about it so far.
@itsmg my personal experience of Stars Without Number has been very positive as a player. The Starship combat is baked in and that's very good. It's quite Old School but there's fun to it.
I enjoy Savage Worlds but hate the magic system. It is class free so if you do pre gens you can make say a family unit of parent, child and grand parent and have them all be the same level. Does steampunk very easily but does favour full pulp.
@itsmg check out the 2d20 systems from Modiphius. They are more narrative focused, but it's much easier for both the GMs, and players to manage the mechanics. They have IP rights for worlds like Conan, Star Trek, Fallout, Dune, and Dishonored.
Also Blades in the Dark is a fantastic system that makes for really intersection stories.
Coyote and Crow is an indigipunk, think indigenous solar and hopepunk, sci- fi setting in an alternative North America where the Americas were never colonized.
Finally Savage Worlds is a genre agnostic system that has enough mechanics crunch and flexibility to match your table's creativity even if it's a standard high fantasy with giant robot mechs fighting extradimensional aliens.