by leroy43

ctimmins wrote:

1- Design a character that has no combat capability. You'll figure something combat-like out, but you'll always suck at combat.

My current TFT character is built as a sneaky fast burglar with virtually no combat skills she has “knife”, but who wants to stand toe to toe with someone in armour?

A new episode has been added to the database: Undersea Shadows (Darksome Delve)

A new episode has been added to the database: Trailer for Undersea Shadows

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by MojaveMan

An item RPG Item: Blades in the Dark has been added to the geeklist RPG Math Trade September 2026

by Inkwan

mic_al wrote:

I think the system that you're playing matters a LOT.

I often harp on how great I think White Wolf's World of Darkness is, but the fact of the matter is that the setting and way mechanical resolution is handled really promotes immersion, investment in your character, and... well... roleplaying.

The first step in character creation is "Concept" not character class (like paladin or rogue or whatever), not rolling dice, but "Concept." Is your character a soldier? A hacker? A supermodel? A priest? A trucker? A musician? etc... etc..

Typically I'll begin a new character with a really cool idea and you kind of run with it and get lost in the character. And that's generally how everyone I play with is also like.

Then there's the fact that games like D&D are basically combat simulators. (That's where it originated from, miniature wargaming; i.e. Chainmail: Rules for Medieval Miniatures, and even though it spawned pen and paper TTRPGs with theater of the mind... it has never quite shaken free from it's roots.) If you have a game that spends the majority of the rulebook talking about combat effects like initiative, to hit/armor, attacks of opportunity, range, area of effect, and then there's 30 pages of spells/abilities that all center on combat (Whether it's fireball or magic missile or web or haste or improved invisibility - it's often a combat spell. And then when when we look at other characters, like even the rogue has backstab... why can't he just be a guy who does a heist? (Yes, I know you can design a character who's really good at fast talking and hiding and picking pockets... but... the base assumption is that rogues come with increasing levels of backstab, can maybe use dirty fighting tactics that inflict wounds/bleeding, poison, etc... and WHY is it always combat? In real life a professional criminal probably doesn't want to be seen and get into a fight. Why can't games be about blending into a costume ball and impressing the nobility or whatever? Or about examining forensics evidence? Losing a tail while driving? It always hearkens back to combat and effects that matter in combat- a druids wild forms, a cleric's turn undead, a bard's inspiration - often for combat bonuses, etc...) then players are going to treat it like a combat game. I know that a lot of people don't use minis and terrain, but there are also a lot who do.

And I think my point is that if a boardgame is designed bottom up like a tactical miniatures wargame, and if it's treated and understood ... like a tactical miniatures wargame, then people are probably going to play it that way. And when we play boardgames we attempt to optimize and do "roll playing."

Anyways, that's my two cents.

It's ironic that you chose the WoD GAME system as it has barely connects to the politics and backstabbing. Only the deep lore actually supports roleplaying.

In comparison, Undying , doesn't use dice at all.

by ChaoticPlatypus

Related Item: RPGG News

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

by robbbbbb

Jrtolf wrote:

As a Steelers fan, I think the Seahawks should give us a good draft pick for Mason Rudolph.😉

How are you feeling about DK Metcalf these days?

Drew Lock >> Mason Rudolph

If we get to the point where Rudolph is an upgrade, the season is lost and we don't want to throw resources into it.

by wildthayne

jorl wrote:

Have you played (and also liked) all the game you buy badges for?

Excellent question. Many of the games I have played and liked, and I've just been waiting to purchase the microbadge(s), but the majority of the game microbadges fall into one of various other categories. Some of the games are ones I want to play. Some of the games just have interesting names or have a very well designed microbadge. Some of them have an image that interests me (like gems and jewels, or sea vessels or spacecraft). Some I chose for other obscure reasons.