I really enjoyed the D&D 3rd Edition days, with the popcorn of d20-based games. Star Wars d20, d20 Modern, and the Sword & Sorcery Ravenloft were all great fun. The best part is that it was super easy to get your group to try new things, because the mechanics were all similar, if not exactly the same. People like to hate on D&D, but it's consistently been a great base to start from and inspiration for a multitude of other games.
this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2024
17 points (100.0% liked)
rpg
72 readers
2 users here now
This community is for meaningful discussions of tabletop/pen & paper RPGs
Rules (wip):
- Do not distribute pirate content
- Do not incite arguments/flamewars/gatekeeping.
- Do not submit video game content unless the game is based on a tabletop RPG property and is newsworthy.
- Image and video links MUST be TTRPG related and should be shared as self posts/text with context or discussion unless they fall under our specific case rules.
- Do not submit posts looking for players, groups or games.
- Do not advertise for livestreams
- Limit Self-promotions. Active members may promote their own content once per week. Crowdfunding posts are limited to one announcement and one reminder across all users.
- Comment respectfully. Refrain from personal attacks and discriminatory (racist, homophobic, transphobic, etc.) comments. Comments deemed abusive may be removed by moderators.
- No Zak S content.
- Off-Topic: Book trade, Boardgames, wargames, video games are generally off-topic.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
I don't think I'd call D&D a consistently great base to start from, honestly. For certain settings and genres, yeah, but others are seriously harmed by trying to make it fit a fantasy adventure system. Mysteries and heists are forced to include a lot more gratuitous fight scenes just to balance all playstyles, for example.
Similarly, I worry that using d20 as a one-size-fits-all will reinforce comfort zones than expand them. Why would a person play the Star Wars FFG system (which I prefer) when they can play the Star Wars d20 system instead and not have to learn new rules? And if you're making a new system, then you clearly need to include six core stats, because RPGs have six core stats in them, right?
D&D isn't bad, nor is homebrewing D&D for a new setting. D&D as an assumed foundation of all RPGs can be a serious issue.
If I'm reading your message right, I'd like to mention the infinite ways to flavor the 2014 5e rogue. Firstly the rogue gets no resting based resources so it's effectively always on, secondly despite some flavourful descriptive names like sneak attack and cunning action, it's classic abilities are really just bonus damage, more bonus action mobility and expertise.
This means the rogue is really easy to play as a lot of plain professions. Stick your expertise in medicine and flavour your sneak attack as surgical strikes and you have a surgeon. You can do the same with being a ballet dancer, labourer, merchant, scribe, mechanic, whatever. All you need to do is pick your most relevant expertise.
Yeah, rogue with a reflavored gladiator background that your GM allows the swap on instrument proficiency for whips makes a shockingly good Indiana Jones type character.
I am searching for a game with pirates and I am seriously tempted by Sea of Dead Men, a pirate flavor of Blades in the dark.
I've played what was essentially Traveller but with Fate mechanics. You'd think the hard sci-fi ethos of Traveller would not mesh well with the dramatic engine of Fate, but it's all in the narration. And Fate is such a great system to deal with things up close and personal, with high lethality and still loads of fun.
My medium from PF1e uses harrow-themed masks for their spirits, kind of like Majora's Mask.
So whenever he wants to warlock it up and start raising the skeletons from the dead, he throws on the Queen Mother mask and slowly shifts into a regal fomorion as influence builds. Whenever its time for crimes like larceny and extortion, The Crows goes on and he progressively becomes a weird birdman. The Cyclone goes on when its time to throw hands, becoming more like an aerial elemental, etc etc. Twelve masks total makes for a fun and visually dynamic character.
@Elevator7009
My own reskin of WW's Vampire is my favourite.
https://gitlab.com/andonome/ww#structure
(I just tooted my own horn with a toot)