4 ms·

Tabletop RPGs we played in 2023

70 points by webmaven 3y ago

k__ 3y ago
Nice, I was just looking for 2 player table top RPGs after playing "Mini Rogue" for some time. Any recommendations?
- a-saleh 3y ago
  I enjoyed the Microscope! But that one is very much on the creative writing side. Simmilarily I did enjoy Quiet Year. Several of those map-making/settings building should work well. I wanted to try Gun & Slinger, but that one wants to be 2 players and a GM so I didn't try that one yet.
  - rotexo 3y ago
    I really want to play microscope, I bought the pdf but I couldn’t successfully tempt my gaming group with it on one of our off-nights. Wish I had a bunch of time and my friends did too. I also want to use it for generating a homebrew world for some other game system.
    - a-saleh 3y ago
      Microscope is one of those games that is easier to play solo than most RPGs that were not meant to do that, when you use it just like your creative writing exercise quide. And somebody even made a nice app - https://utgars-chronicles.app/ https://utgars-chronicles.app/ if you happen to have easier time tempting your internet-friends than your irl friends. Another fun thing to try with the irl group, if like having longer campaigns, is to start with a session of microscope first and then play in the world you scoped out :)
- neaden 3y ago
  Gumshoe is a family of mystery RPGs and they've come out with a spin off system Gumshoe one-2-one for a single player and GM. There isn't a base book for the system but specific ones for Cthulhu, sci fi, teen detectives etc. Ironsworn and it's sci fi spin off Starforged also work well one on one.
- lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
  A couple of friends do a 1-player (and 1 GM) game in the Chronicles of Darkness setting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Darkness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Darkness). It focuses a lot on mystery and investigation so it seems to scale pretty well to differing group sizes. While I don't play in that game, I assume there is still much of the usual prep work done on the GM side so it may not quite fit what you're looking for.
detour 3y ago
I was introduced to TTRPGs this year by my friend Robby Howell. He spent the past 10 years designing a system called Enclave [0] (which he successfully Kickstarted). Enclave is a diceless system that focuses on the character acting and collaborative storytelling elements. It was a very easy system to pickup and has been a blast to play. I've made several new friends and I'm now in a session every week. Even surprised myself in becoming a Gamemaster (Conduit in Enclave). I've found being the Conduit as a consistent way to enter "flow state" where time is just flying by as the story unfolds in my mind. Would highly recommend checking out Enclave or any TTRPG that strikes your fancy, you might find a new hobby. [0] https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/757240159/enclave-a-tableless-roleplaying-game https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/757240159/enclave-a-tab...
- wincy 3y ago
  I recently played The Zone[0], which is loosely based on Roadside Picnic/Stalker, and it’s the first time I found myself welling up with emotion in an RPG. I’ve played D&D since I was a teenager, but this game similarly has no dice, and describing my character’s tragic death that was poetic and heartbreaking was truly a different experience. Definitely recommend branching out and trying something outside your comfort zone. [0] https://play.thezonerpg.com/ https://play.thezonerpg.com/
- namanyayg 3y ago
  How did you make new friends through it, where do you play?
  - detour 3y ago
    I've been playing online via the Discord server using their LFG channel. That might sound odd for TTRPG but Enclave is a bit unique in that its played almost exclusively as one-shot missions rather than a campaign. So you can bring your character to various Conduits (GMs) without much issue. I know what you're thinking, what about progression? Enclave does have a progression system that works in this format.
baby 3y ago
What’s a tabletop RPG? Are these D&D games? If so, which are the ones that don’t need a dungeon master. I’m not really attracted to those as I would think no one around me would want to sacrifice themselves to play that role.
- magnusmundus 3y ago
  D&D is an example of a tabletop RPG, yes. > no one around me would want to sacrifice themselves It's not so much a sacrifice as it is simply a different game. Some people enjoy coming up with stories more than exploring other people's stories.
- neaden 3y ago
  D&D is the most famous tabletop RPG yes. There's a large variety in them though, so calling them all D&D games would be like calling all sports Football. Of these games it looks like Dead After Dinner, Desperation, Home, I'm Sorry Did You Say Street Magic, and What Dust Remains are all GMless games for groups. I'd also like to recommend Ironsworn and it's sci fi spin off Starforged for RPGs that can be played solo, GMless in a group, or a more traditional GM style.
  - detour 3y ago
    Seconding a vote for Ironforge/Starsworn, very cool settings and super easy to get started solo. There's a great webapp (customized for both flavors) IronJournal/Stargazer that makes it easy to track your adventures. https://nboughton.uk/apps/ironsworn-campaign/#/ https://nboughton.uk/apps/ironsworn-campaign/#/ https://nboughton.uk/apps/stargazer/#/ https://nboughton.uk/apps/stargazer/#/
- detour 3y ago
  "sacrifice themselves to play that role" The Gamemaster is a player too, they're just playing everyone that _isn't_ a protagonist. While there's some level of responsibility it would be a very toxic group that expects the GM to do all the "work" and they just get to "play". It should be everyone's responsibility to make sure the game is fun for the entire table.
- 3y ago
sleazy_b 3y ago
There are so many great games out right now but, like many others, I’ve found myself returning to games like Old School Essentials and other games from the Old School Renaissance. I’ve been inconsistently playing in this game - https://attronarch.com/wilderlands https://attronarch.com/wilderlands - and dying a fair amount . That game is perhaps more lethal than most, but the stories I’ve come away with have made it maybe the best game I’ve participated in.

70 points by webmaven 3y ago

k__ 3y ago

Nice, I was just looking for 2 player table top RPGs after playing "Mini Rogue" for some time. Any recommendations?

a-saleh 3y ago
I enjoyed the Microscope! But that one is very much on the creative writing side. Simmilarily I did enjoy Quiet Year. Several of those map-making/settings building should work well. I wanted to try Gun & Slinger, but that one wants to be 2 players and a GM so I didn't try that one yet.
- rotexo 3y ago
  I really want to play microscope, I bought the pdf but I couldn’t successfully tempt my gaming group with it on one of our off-nights. Wish I had a bunch of time and my friends did too. I also want to use it for generating a homebrew world for some other game system.
  - a-saleh 3y ago
    Microscope is one of those games that is easier to play solo than most RPGs that were not meant to do that, when you use it just like your creative writing exercise quide. And somebody even made a nice app - https://utgars-chronicles.app/ https://utgars-chronicles.app/ if you happen to have easier time tempting your internet-friends than your irl friends. Another fun thing to try with the irl group, if like having longer campaigns, is to start with a session of microscope first and then play in the world you scoped out :)
neaden 3y ago
Gumshoe is a family of mystery RPGs and they've come out with a spin off system Gumshoe one-2-one for a single player and GM. There isn't a base book for the system but specific ones for Cthulhu, sci fi, teen detectives etc. Ironsworn and it's sci fi spin off Starforged also work well one on one.
lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
A couple of friends do a 1-player (and 1 GM) game in the Chronicles of Darkness setting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Darkness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Darkness). It focuses a lot on mystery and investigation so it seems to scale pretty well to differing group sizes. While I don't play in that game, I assume there is still much of the usual prep work done on the GM side so it may not quite fit what you're looking for.

detour 3y ago

I was introduced to TTRPGs this year by my friend Robby Howell. He spent the past 10 years designing a system called Enclave [0] (which he successfully Kickstarted). Enclave is a diceless system that focuses on the character acting and collaborative storytelling elements. It was a very easy system to pickup and has been a blast to play. I've made several new friends and I'm now in a session every week. Even surprised myself in becoming a Gamemaster (Conduit in Enclave). I've found being the Conduit as a consistent way to enter "flow state" where time is just flying by as the story unfolds in my mind. Would highly recommend checking out Enclave or any TTRPG that strikes your fancy, you might find a new hobby. [0] https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/757240159/enclave-a-tableless-roleplaying-game https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/757240159/enclave-a-tab...

wincy 3y ago
I recently played The Zone[0], which is loosely based on Roadside Picnic/Stalker, and it’s the first time I found myself welling up with emotion in an RPG. I’ve played D&D since I was a teenager, but this game similarly has no dice, and describing my character’s tragic death that was poetic and heartbreaking was truly a different experience. Definitely recommend branching out and trying something outside your comfort zone. [0] https://play.thezonerpg.com/ https://play.thezonerpg.com/
namanyayg 3y ago
How did you make new friends through it, where do you play?
- detour 3y ago
  I've been playing online via the Discord server using their LFG channel. That might sound odd for TTRPG but Enclave is a bit unique in that its played almost exclusively as one-shot missions rather than a campaign. So you can bring your character to various Conduits (GMs) without much issue. I know what you're thinking, what about progression? Enclave does have a progression system that works in this format.

baby 3y ago

What’s a tabletop RPG? Are these D&D games? If so, which are the ones that don’t need a dungeon master. I’m not really attracted to those as I would think no one around me would want to sacrifice themselves to play that role.

magnusmundus 3y ago
D&D is an example of a tabletop RPG, yes. > no one around me would want to sacrifice themselves It's not so much a sacrifice as it is simply a different game. Some people enjoy coming up with stories more than exploring other people's stories.
neaden 3y ago
D&D is the most famous tabletop RPG yes. There's a large variety in them though, so calling them all D&D games would be like calling all sports Football. Of these games it looks like Dead After Dinner, Desperation, Home, I'm Sorry Did You Say Street Magic, and What Dust Remains are all GMless games for groups. I'd also like to recommend Ironsworn and it's sci fi spin off Starforged for RPGs that can be played solo, GMless in a group, or a more traditional GM style.
- detour 3y ago
  Seconding a vote for Ironforge/Starsworn, very cool settings and super easy to get started solo. There's a great webapp (customized for both flavors) IronJournal/Stargazer that makes it easy to track your adventures. https://nboughton.uk/apps/ironsworn-campaign/#/ https://nboughton.uk/apps/ironsworn-campaign/#/ https://nboughton.uk/apps/stargazer/#/ https://nboughton.uk/apps/stargazer/#/
detour 3y ago
"sacrifice themselves to play that role" The Gamemaster is a player too, they're just playing everyone that _isn't_ a protagonist. While there's some level of responsibility it would be a very toxic group that expects the GM to do all the "work" and they just get to "play". It should be everyone's responsibility to make sure the game is fun for the entire table.
3y ago

sleazy_b 3y ago

There are so many great games out right now but, like many others, I’ve found myself returning to games like Old School Essentials and other games from the Old School Renaissance. I’ve been inconsistently playing in this game - https://attronarch.com/wilderlands https://attronarch.com/wilderlands - and dying a fair amount . That game is perhaps more lethal than most, but the stories I’ve come away with have made it maybe the best game I’ve participated in.