6 ms·

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 o

by 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.
dukeyukey 3y ago
> would want to sacrifice themselves to play that role Fuck that, I love being the DM! It's a good bit of prep but it's _so much fun_.
kayodelycaon 3y ago
Some people do enjoy the role of DM. Personally, I like it. I get to create the world and decide how it and its inhabitants react to player actions. I’m also not limited to the character options or a single character. I can create anything I like and run with it. Do I want a village of fox people? Grab a monster, adjust the stats, and decide on a few personalities. The goal isn’t to tell a story. The goal is to create a playground and let the players tell the story while you get to play anything they encounter. I have asked players to not do certain things because I’m running out of a book to save prep time and don’t have as much flexibility as I’d like to give them. Any players that have an issue with that are free to leave my game. We’re here to have fun and if everyone (including me) is not having fun, something needs to change.
yifanl 3y ago
The ones that don't need a DM are usually classified as board games. Assuming you want an experience where an unfolding story presents challenges across play sessions, you can look at Gloomhaven (as well as the shorter Jaws of the Lion and the "sequel" Frosthaven), Sleeping Gods or Seventh Continent.
stevenwoo 3y ago
Gloomhaven the board game might fit bill.
ED_Radish 3y ago
Alice is Missing is a pretty good GMless game. Although very specific in its tone.
mbork_pl 3y ago
I am an extremely inexperienced GM (only played a few times, and never as a non-GM), but believe me, GMing for one's own kids is a very (a) stressing (at least in the beginning) and (b) rewarding experience. I look forward to doing it again!
deleted 3y ago
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by baby 3y ago

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.

dukeyukey 3y ago

> would want to sacrifice themselves to play that role Fuck that, I love being the DM! It's a good bit of prep but it's _so much fun_.

kayodelycaon 3y ago

Some people do enjoy the role of DM. Personally, I like it. I get to create the world and decide how it and its inhabitants react to player actions. I’m also not limited to the character options or a single character. I can create anything I like and run with it. Do I want a village of fox people? Grab a monster, adjust the stats, and decide on a few personalities. The goal isn’t to tell a story. The goal is to create a playground and let the players tell the story while you get to play anything they encounter. I have asked players to not do certain things because I’m running out of a book to save prep time and don’t have as much flexibility as I’d like to give them. Any players that have an issue with that are free to leave my game. We’re here to have fun and if everyone (including me) is not having fun, something needs to change.

yifanl 3y ago

The ones that don't need a DM are usually classified as board games. Assuming you want an experience where an unfolding story presents challenges across play sessions, you can look at Gloomhaven (as well as the shorter Jaws of the Lion and the "sequel" Frosthaven), Sleeping Gods or Seventh Continent.

stevenwoo 3y ago

Gloomhaven the board game might fit bill.

ED_Radish 3y ago

Alice is Missing is a pretty good GMless game. Although very specific in its tone.

mbork_pl 3y ago

I am an extremely inexperienced GM (only played a few times, and never as a non-GM), but believe me, GMing for one's own kids is a very (a) stressing (at least in the beginning) and (b) rewarding experience. I look forward to doing it again!

deleted 3y ago

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