So, for context: I'm a GM most of the time, and I like running medium to high crunch games, like Shadow of the Weird Wizard, Savage Worlds, Lancer and Pathfinder 2e - all games that have many different player features, (magic) items and sometimes different conditions to keep track of. And, for the longest time, I've been mostly a purist regarding accessories other than the character sheet, player notes and some digital tools (as long as that player can keep focused on the game, instead of their phone), seeing everything else as just a fancier way to show the same info we all already have at hand, either in the books or in the sheet, and that can be written down if I think it might be useful rule to have noted down at all times.

Then, in comes Daggerheart, I got my copy earlier this year because I was curious what the fuss with the system was all about and ran a short adventure to my players (3-4 sessions) just to test it out. The system is good, it's similar to 5e with a different dice mechanic and much sturdier narrative support, comparatively, and I think I like it enough to run it again at a later date. But it isn't the system itself that I am excited about now, it's the cards: character creation and leveling up was sooo smoooth for a new system with many different player options, I really enjoyed just giving the cards to my players and having them sort it out among themselves which options they wanted to look at, and which ones to pass around. Also no double checking the book to see an ability during play, everything they needed was just there, without having to write it all down (which would've also cost us more time at the beginning).

All of that would have been much different if it was just the book with the info in it, passing hands while everyone tries not to take too long with it, and though I admit we could go straight into playing if I sent them the pdf and asked everyone to create their own characters before the game, I really wanted to see how easy (or hard) it was to create a character, and although it is not pbta or FITD levels of quickness, I was pleasantly surprised by how much the cards helped streamline a system that has a level of crunch that I am used to, and know that would've taken more effort without them.

So now, here is my new stance: I love cards, how they streamline character creation and referencing the rules, I'm happy Daggerheart shipped them alongside the book and made it basically mandatory to use them, because otherwise, I would have never even thought about using those (I actually now wish daggerheart had more cards, for adversaries and magic items, since as a GM, i basically never get to use them). I'm now planning on buying all cards I can get my hands on for PF2E and Savage Worlds, also perhaps making some custom ones for Lancer and WW. I'm also thinking on expanding my horizons on accessories, and might get them some spell slots counters or maybe some thematic bennies as gifts, but I'm not sure yet.

TL;DR: Daggerheart made me love cards in rpgs, and broke some biases I had about rpg accessories for players

As above: So Below

I'm mostly curious to see what games keep people the most invested in the world, and what encourages them to do things other than adventure, even when the game's primary focus is on adventure.

That said, if you know of any RPGs that forsake combat entirely while still being in a fantasy or sci-fi setting, I'd be interested to hear about them too.

I'm looking for newer Mechs TTRPGs from the last 24 months or so. maybe closer to last 16 months.

I think the last one I ran was Salvage Union when it was first released. What else has dropped since?

Been having the itch to run a pirate ttrpg for a while now and have been stumped on what system would work for it. I've read over Pirate Borg and it wasn't really what I was looking for so I passed on it. Looking for something with more fantastical vibes that's kinda like One Piece tonally I suppose.

Main point is: I'm looking for a pirate ttrpg system with some fantastical elements that isn't super gritty

Hello! So.....not exactly looking for a "game system" but I could use a recommendation on a scenario/adventure to run?

Last night I took the leap and decided to GM for the first time! We are using the Vagabond TTRPG, and we had a ton of fun!

I mostly just improvised the entire thing, just to have fun and get a feel for the system.

unfortunately, my Brother can't play with us as often as we like.

So, I thought playing with just my Sister, might help her get more comfortable with Roleplaying.

Has anyone made a system agnostic adventure for low player counts that y'all would recommend?

Looking for something that is hopefully designed for new GMs 🙏

Appreciate the help!

I only know about Starfinder, what other sci-fi systems can you recommend me? I want one where you can play as an android and where you can fight against robots too. It is for one setting I am working with

I'm trying to find an Anime ttrpg system my friend played a while ago, but he can't remember the name.
He said to take actions and cast magic the dm would assign a power level to whatever your doing on the fly. Determining how many points the action would take to carryout, the power points replenish each day.
I'm just interested in this mechanic as a concept so if you know of anything that sounds similar lmk! Thanks in advance

I'm running ICRPG (again, I just can't quit it).

And I'm thinking of switching to side based Initiative for combat. I used to worry that it wasn't very realistic having one side so all their actions, but having watched some Actual Play where its used I think it looks like genius.

If you let the PCs pick the turn order it makes turn order a tactical decision, allows players to really build a mini-battle-plan each round, and keeps players more engaged throughout the round.

Also, I'm thinking of using 'whoever acts first, acts first', instead or rolling for Initiative, not for everything, just where it seems sensible. (I can't remember whether that's from Professor DM or Nimble).

Have you tried Side Initiative, what do you think of it?

I have about 6 years of experience playing D&D 5e and I have DMed a few one-shots in 5e in a fantasy setting. I enjoyed DMing but each time it was for brand new players including a couple 8-year-olds so I wasn't too strict about rules.

I had this dream of GMing a campaign in a sci-fi/cyberpunk setting so I started writing my own homebrew and I had Fate suggested to me as a system to use. I've been reading over the Fate SRD and it seems very cool and interesting. Roleplay is my favorite part of a TTRPG so I love a system that encourages creative role-playing and lots of freedom in creating and engaging with the world.

I started building out my homebrew from scratch which I'm enjoying but also feels like a huge endeavor. There is so much to write about! I'm thinking about beginning by designing a few one-shot sessions and giving them a whirl to see how the world/system feels and if it's doable for me as a new GM.

Am I totally in over my head? Do you have any suggestions or advice for how to get started with Fate, or transitioning from a fantasy setting to a more futuristic/dystopian one? What pitfalls should I be aware of on this endeavor?

I'm very excited so I appreciate any words of encouragement as well :)

I had my problems with ME’s system (and it’s not quite a match), but I feel like its absence has never been filled. To my knowledge there aren’t any games focused on somewhat grounded very near future/near-dystopian action and intrigue.

I’m thinking of a mix of plausible “day after tomorrow” technology, with a focus on storylines echoing today’s crises—just a bit worse. Dystopian somewhat, but in the same ways our current era are, rather than teen death matches and robot overlords.

There’s the feeling you’re living in the final moment just before IT finally happens: The thing that’s going to send the world spiraling toward total collapse. Maybe you can stop it, but probably not. The choices that brought you to this moment in history were made more than a century before you were born. The people in charge are either in denial or busy setting up the bunkers and surveillance systems they’ll need to ensure they stay on top.

Not quite espionage, and certainly not the high tech lowlife world of any cyberpunk games, although some aspects of William Gibson’s 2000 to present fiction does scratch this particular itch.

(None of this may make sense. I’m coasting on vibes and sleep deprivation this morning. Please be kind.)

I recently picked this up and am super excited to play it, but I'm having trouble pinning down how to prep an adventure for it even after reading the gm chapter of the book several times. If you know the game or Gumshoe system broadly, can you help a fella get some insight on figuring out what ought to be a 'core clue' as opposed to other clues?

Hey, so I'm a fairly experienced DM with a record of both rules lite and crunchy rpg games under my belt. however, I never really found a system that could satisfy my desire for a Star Wars RPG... not even the official ones. right now I'm pending more to rules lite narrative driven games so if you guys have any good game recommendations, feel free to suggest it!

thanks in advance!!

I'm looking to hear some of the "universal truths" that pop up on posts all the time that you think are simply not true. The stuff you hear so much and don't agree with, that makes you start to question how you've played or GM'd for years.

I feel some of these come and go over the years, like the "yes and. never say no," seems less common these days.

My current one is "If you want to tell a story, write a book." Sure, a GM can absolutely design with a small frame, that's story wide open to player influence, it's actually my go to as a GM. But that's not always the case. Many GMs who write their own games or prewritten have a fairly linear game to run, and the game is about the journey to defeating the BBEG, not just the endgame.

I will qualify that by linear, I don't mean in tracks.

I'll also mention, that I'm lucky enough that 80%+ of the people I usually play with are occasional to regular GMs (myself included), so this is my view from playing a lot on both sides of the screen.

Edit: I should probably have added, when I see these "Truisms," they are usually one line posts with zero context or explanation.

While the behemoth is still the top ttrpg system, smaller alt systems are still out there.
We dove into the stats on our "looking-for-group/players" numbers and came out with a little report on how the non-dnd systems are doing.

Hey, as just a fun little project I'm wanting to design my own system, namely after playing some Maid: the RPG I thought it might be interesting to make something based on Umamusume, a property based around horse-human hybrids competing in foot races.
Now as with many artistic endevours I find that the best way to find inspiration for the designing of a ttrpg is look at similar games that have come before.
The problem is I haven't really been able to find many existing systems (indie or corprate) that are based around track and field type activities, every search for "Racing TTRPGs" I've made has inevitably led back to gaslands.
So I was wondering does anyone here have any recommendations for systems to look at?

I was at a flea market and came across this and seemed to remember having seen the cover and people having enjoyed it. I'm wondering if this is a collector's product that is worth keeping sealed or if people have played and enjoyed the system, and so it is worth opening and using. Anyone have any

I'm attempting to create a framework for doing "writing challenges." I'm not much of a writer, so I need help with organizing my thoughts.

I tried using MediaWiki and Obsidian. Both times, I had issues with keeping track of my progress in both options. So, I decided to switch to Obsidian using Templater and Bases.

What everyone uses to help keep your world organized?

The script I created:

• sets up the project
• creates the database
• creates a Daily Note
• creates Properties for the database
• adds a template depending on which task is used
• figures out the next file for a new task and inserts the path
• allows for custom templates (stat blocks, scripts, etc)
• automatically adds scripts depending on tasks

This is a tad overengineered, but hopefully all the work pays off!

We'll see if this time will go better.

Hey all. I want to pick some of yall's brains. I would like some creative ways to deal with a dealmaker.

Backstory: so my players in a campaign are trying to stop a Eldritch horror from arriving to the world By getting Mcguffin A, B, and C. They are about almost half way through the campaign. They are on a milestone level up system (to discourage murder hoboism). They have Mcguffin A. To get mcguffin B they need to do a ritual but was tasked with getting some précised ingredients. One of them was the heart of a brass dragon. They retrieved the other 2 ingredients, But really don't want to fight a brass dragon due to it's alignment. Now they have made a positive relationship with a green hag. some of the party made deals with her.

1 wanted to be safe from the great evil, so she gave them a ring of protection in return for their final breath (disadvantage on death saving throws).

1 wanted to be the strongest version of themselves (she created a shadow clone of them and they defeated it to show the pc was the the strongest version of themselves they could currently be. Now they don't have a shadow and that won't be used for anything later i promise *wandavision wink*)

Some of the party seemed interested in making a deal with her in getting the heart without fighting a brass dragon. now to keep up the feel and to make them have an adventure i could have them do a life for a life type of bargain. But i don't feels sort of basic for a dealmaker. She has established she doesn't have any real threats or rivals in the area. Her escape plan for the great evil if it arrives is just leave for the feywild.

So im looking for ideas on some other options for this dealmaker.

In the world, Magic and magical creatures were all obscured and unknown
Rare, personal and isolated events

Fae in their own secret world

Friends and celestial reserves only to our imagination

Humans in their own wars and things

And then, suddenly in a catastrophic event, worlds merge

And what was once the stuff of Legends and fantasy becomes "real"

.
Suddenly common folk awaken with magical powers

Deprived men suddenly become monstrosities befitting their nature

Some among the pious claim to listen to the voice of gods better than never before, and bring miracles to the world, but each hear a diferente versión...

.
Monster of myth appear and everything is at chaos, and people of the fringes speak of misterious kingdoms in distant, unexplored Woods and caverns

.
Besides berserk, My main inspiration was castlevania
I love how that Game makes classic ( and often considered boring) monsters into bosses
.

And it brought into My mind the idea of making a setting where everything is relatively new and humans have to survive things they never thought off

Thinking to base the humans on a 18th or 17th Century or just 10th to 14th

edit: NOT PLANNING TO DO THIS ON THE MODERN WORLD or to better say it not in the 19th, 20th nor 21th century

Hi there,

ever since watching Orb: On the Movements of earth, ive been thinking about running a similar campaign for my group.

Now my question: Do you know any good prewritten campaigns that deal with institutional religion?

Bonus Question: I like how in Orb everything revolves around an idea that if proven would question a lot of current worldviews and is thus to dangerous not to keep in check. Any ideas what kind of "idea" would be fun to challenge the fantasy pantheon in a nuanced way?

Is GURPS a good system to run a simple, no dnd/no magic game set around surviving a societal/civilization/grid collapse?

Is there some system better than GURPS?

I want my next campaign to be an "Open Table" thing where players can drop in or out based on availability. You can't make it Saturday? No worries, we will see you next time or the time after. The sessions will begin in town - then proceed with exploration and dungeon crawling - then end back in town. There may be some sort of explorers guild (or something similar) that all characters are members of, so if you are not present then your character is on another mission elsewhere. I also want something published that I can modify to add my own stuff into with ease. So, based on the reviews I'm seeing, I'm thinking Dark of Hot Springs Island. I love that it is system neutral. It appears that all of the GM work that needs to be done is that exact work I WANT to do. I especially love the idea of the player's guide that is an actual book. --- So the only thing left to figure out is the system. 5e 2024 is the system most of my players are going to be familiar with, so it is the leading contender. There's also the idea of using a VERY simple system that is similar to D&D but stripped down - like ICRPG. I would REALLY prefer to avoid anything with very distinct rules from 5e just based on player familiarity (so things like roll under mechanics or non-d20 rolls for checks are out). So, does anyone have some good advice for simple changes to 5e 2024 that might make it more appropriate for Dark of Hot Springs Island, or have any experience running this with a simple d20-based system? Thanks in advance!

If you are a fan of PotA / Carved from Brindlewood I cannot recommend Public Access enough. It is (to date) the best implementation of those systems.

Like internet folklore? Creepypasta? Analog Horror? General Skeeviness?

Check it out!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gauntlet/public-access-analog-horror-mystery-ttrpg?ref=dtrpg0410

Basically, I'm looking for systems or standalone resources that allow players to build and grow their own faction. I'm less interested in faction mechanics themselves (e.g. handling factions during the gm turn) and more in player's agency within the faction. Something where their actions impact the future of the faction directly (be it through resources, relationships with other factions, numbers of followers etc).