fett on 12/5/2016 at 04:59
I started a board game thread in Commchat, but in retrospect it would probably have done better here (Catan, Ticket to Ride, Firefly, Arkham Horror, Fantasy Flight Star Wars games, etc.)
Anyway, just curious if anyone plays TT RPG's and if so, talk some details about systems and such. Currently I'm playing AD&D 2.0 with my two boys (11 & 14) using the most excellent tools at roll20.net so we can play on interactive maps I generate. We use the integrated video chat feature and the whole thing has been running really well even though it's "virtual." It even has a small dice app that you can use manually or set up macros. We tried the new D&D for a few months last years and it felt really restrictive, so we returned to the tried and true 2.0. We're currently playing through the first Greyhawk campaign (Slave Traders) which has about 4 full on modules, and I grabbed the original Greyhawk boxed set from eBay which has about 20 pre-generated short quests in and around the city of Greyhawk. There's something really gritty about the original adventures that I dig, and the freedom has led to all kinds of crazy scenarios.
Once a week, we also meet here in my hospital room with a friend who's my age and his son (9), so it's a group of 2 adults, 3 kids and we're playing Fantasy Flights Beginner version of Age of Rebellion. It's a fairly new RPG but is compatible with the other FF Star Wars games like Edge of the Empire, and Force and Destiny. Gotta say, we've only had two sessions but it's probably the coolest RPG I've ever played or GMed. Far more varied and detailed than any version of D&D, and the combat system is streamlined enough to be understood, but robust enough to accommodate pretty much any situation. Unlike most RPG's there's an overarching "duty" each character tries to fulfill according to their backstory, and as they accomplish tasks related to it, the entire team's reputation with the Alliance improves, unlocking the opportunity to play more advanced modules and take part in the larger story of the Rebellion. Loving it, and I think we'll probably slam through the available adventure modules in the next month or two and move on to the Edge of the Empire campaigns once the kids are comfortable with all the rules.
Also thinking about joining a RuneQuest group on d20 when I finish my latest novel revision. Haven't played in a group with strangers ever, so thinking it might be an interesting experience, and I could certainly stand to play an actual character and observe a more masterful and experienced GM than myself at work.
So, taking the chance that there are at least a few TT RPG folks about these parts. If I'm wrong, just hit me with a d20 crit and I'll go away.
Melan on 12/5/2016 at 07:06
I am mostly running
Helvéczia, my own picaresque historical fantasy game. Helvéczia is basically D&D seen through the lens of adventure movies, the Grimm brothers, and historical pulp fiction - a game about disreputable scoundrels trying to make it big in a world of stagecoaches, brigands, giant ravens, muskets, duelists and robber knights. The game is set in a parallel Switzerland around the 17th century, a land of squabbling cantons, strange customs, and weird things lurking in the wilderness. You can play cards with the devil, save yourself with the aid of the Holy Bible, and get deep into debt with one of the banking houses before you even begin your adventures.
Inline Image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/Melan/EMDT34_dobozteto_zpsj7trmuq7.jpgBefore that, I was mostly running
(http://fomalhaut.lfg.hu/2011/01/17/sword-and-magic/) Swords and Magic, my rules-light D&Desque system, and we may return to it when we are done with our Helvéczia campaign. Recently, I have also run a shorter (
http://www.technoirrpg.com/) Technoir campaign, and - of major interest to Thief fans - played in a trial
(https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2080350433/blades-in-the-dark) Blades in the Dark game that was all kinds of entertaining.
Matthew on 12/5/2016 at 09:22
I was very tempted by the Ghostbusters II Kickstarter that recently ended, but some bad word of mouth regarding both the mechanics of the original game and regarding CZE's attitude towards backers put me off that one.
Shadowcat on 12/5/2016 at 12:18
Melan, you may possibly find Alexander Scott's "Maelstrom" interesting reading. The setting is a mostly realistic 16th century Europe. Magick exists, but is essentially a system of influencing the probability of things which might have happened anyway (and as mages are liable to be burned as witches if suspected, they have to have a different profession as a cover, and keep their magey activities hidden). The appendix is a listing of herbs and their uses, derived from a 17th century publication. It's only a small book, and your comment reminded me (at least a little :) of the setting -- which doesn't often happen in other RPG discussions.
Mr.Duck on 12/5/2016 at 17:11
I have always dreamed of having a regular tabletop group to play with...
Jenesis on 12/5/2016 at 22:31
I play with a few old university friends once a week. After a few adventures in something we switch games and someone else takes over as GM. So far we've done Call of Cthulhu, Traveller, and Advanced Fighting Fantasy (with the GM sometimes adapting one of the original Fighting Fantasy books).
I've also just finished playing the published Hoard of the Dragon Queen/Rise of Tiamat campaign for D&D5. The campaign has...issues, but I certainly prefer 5th edition to 4th. 4th was a lovely miniatures combat system but a bit light on the actual roleplaying support.
Volitions Advocate on 13/5/2016 at 05:38
I haven't done this kind of thing for a long time. The closest I am getting to doing it is by re-constructing my old Hero Quest board game. It was a Milton Bradley game, but behind the scenes it was actually Fantasy Warhammer dumbed down a bit and marketed to kids and families that didn't think it was devil worship. I actually always found that building the play terrain and the armies themselves was funner than actually playing (in the case of Blood Bowl/Warhammer/40K etc) but I still do it and have fun.
Played a lot of the Simbieda games as a kid. Mostly Palladium, but some Rifts, Robotech, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well.
When I have the time I intend to build a "touch" screen table for tabletop games. With fiducial markers on the bottoms of your avatar which the table can track and do real-time line of sight stuff. If you're curious about it look up reacTIVision. Entirely doable with a bit of ingenuity.
WHERE'S THE MOUNTAIN DEW???!?!
AltF4 on 17/5/2016 at 13:37
Everytime I watch another episode of Aquisitions Incorporated, I want to re-roll my life back to the gap year(s) between high school and uni, and crack open that second hand copy of Unearthed Arcana...
2nd Edition D&D is pretty high on the list for me, but Top Secret also featured heavily at our gaming table, and then we all migrated to Ars Magica, and never looked back.
