Come here and talk about anything!

This post will stay stickied for (at least) the week-end. Please enjoy this space where you can talk about anything: your last game, your current project, your patreon, etc. You can even talk about video games, ask for a group, or post a survey or share a new meme you've just found. This is the place for small talk on r/rpg.

The off-topic rules may not apply here, but the other rules still do. This is less the Wild West and more the Mild West. Don't be a jerk.

----------

This submission is generated automatically each Saturday at 00:00 UTC.

Whenever I see a group of players looking for a DM, I get (probably irrationally) irritated and make bad assumptions about these players.

It tells me that they're not really looking for another person to play with equally, they're looking for someone to entertain them like a movie or video game.

Why doesn't one of them DM? What sort of dynamic are they looking for? What sort of players are they at the table where they won't even run games for each other?

I stay away from these LFGs. And I'm probably wrong 90% of the time.

Title is pretty self explanatory. I'm looking for a system that's good for horror one shots.

One important consideration is I'm not looking for anything super crunchy. Ideally something where characters can be made pretty quick, and I explain the rules as the game goes.

Shadowdark and Blades in the Dark are both good examples of games around this complexity. Doesn't need to be like no rules level simple or anything. But a game where it won't grind to a halt due to players not getting the rules.

Ideally, players would narrate what they want to do, and then I explain the resolution mechanic. Versus games (like D&D) which require the players to have decently deep systems mastery to play (D&D players need to understand spell slots, action vs bonus action, etc to get anything done).

My first thought was Call of Cthulhu. I'll admit, the sheer size of that character sheet is a bit intimidating.

Just downloaded the Easy Mode version for this weekend's oneshot. I don't see the netrunner option or rule in it, so i think it's the developer's way of saying "yeah, netrunning is complicated, don't worry about that for now". I haven't read the original rulebook, so i must ask: Is netrunning/playing a netrunner really that bad/complicate? Is there a hack to simplify it?

Do You have any easygoing suggestions? Nothing super advanced. And if possible: A cool map to move around on and funny character-costumization.
Thanks in advanced!

I’m curious if anyone knows of a good RPG where the player characters are basically high level officials commanding a country through a war or other catastrophe. Alternatively, a system that can be reskinned to resemble that would also work.

As the title reads, what’s your favorite convention that you’ve attended?

I’m looking to expand my horizons and travel to a gaming convention this coming year. I’d love to hear the opinions of the sub on what conventions they found were worthwhile.

Specifically conventions that have some amount of their focus, dedicated to role-play games.

Any I should avoid? I considered GenCon but it seems quite massive and very… I don’t know… corporate? (tell me if this impression is not a fair critique.)

Anyone know conventions, pickup games and more in Toronto? Looking to meet new friends, lots of systems I can GM as well!

All the events and cons discussed here seem to be in the states which I don't have a tourist visa to attend.

As in title. I ran "If looks could kill" for WFRP with somewhat doubtful attitude, since it's written as railroad and I didn't really have time to tinker with it... But it turned out fine! Players bought the premise and made it very memorable and fun session.

What would be your similar experiences?

As the title states. I feel like in my local community, one-pagers are more like "an event is coming up, and we can't run anything long" type of deal. Of course, there are still TTRPGs played that are longer (looking at you, D&D), but when people start GMing for more than a few months, they suddenly shift to one-pagers because they're easier to set up and don't require that much prep time.

But the same can't be said about home games with friends. I've never seen any of my friends mention or suggest playing a one-pager, even though they know them pretty well.

Do you think one-pagers are naturally just something for event-play? Or does your table pick them up more often than not? And if so, do you dive deep into them, seeking new material to play (free or not), or is it just a one-time thing? I'm really curious about that.

Hey all, I have recently been getting into the hobby and been VERY interested in the OSR and PbtA side of things. I tried DND and Pathfinder but i like the lighter rule set and focus on problem solving of OSR more. To that end though, i had a LOT of question about it.

I read through a quick primer for old school gaming and principia apocrypha and took a LOT of notes link to my google doc if you are interested on what i have so far here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OEUpiUA8VnDRbnAUDWDiXXWHXWlFa6NlF5wNaZ80Rmk/edit?usp=sharing

I think i get the fundamentals, but i have a lot of uncertainty on the execution side of things.

my main questions are as follows:

1. What are thief skills for? How are they supposed to be used, since you usually just describe what you do. Thief skills seem to go against this idea

2. What are easy ways of tracking time, and resources for the party? Painless and fast ways to keep the resource management important but have little bookkeeping?

3. What counts as a turn in exploring? In crisis? In wilderness travel? In downtime? What kinds of actions?

4. Why roll the d6 to listen or detect a trap? Couldn’t you just describe what you are doing?

5. What are ability scores even for really? I get saves, as they are a fall back for risk or something going wrong, but do you roll for ability checks, and if so, WHEN and WHY?

6. How to easily track things like torches, rations, gold, or other consumables where you have a lot of them (arrows)

7. Does the party control hirelings, (and does it get clunky with too many?)

1. How do you handle prep? do you have a process you follow alongside some good random tables?

The main OSR systems i have on hand to work with are Shadowdark, Beyond the wall, Mausritter, Dolmenwood, mork borg, pirate borg, and (debatably?) Mothership.

I am COMPLETELY new to the hobby of RPGS, and i have to GM. And i've never been familar with improvising so it's a bit hard to wrap my head around. Which of the games i mentioned is friendliest to new gms? and if you have any answers i would greatly apreciate it!

I'm a big fan of the book. And, while like most people, I was introduced to it through the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, I do like the approach of the book more than Stalker and the games that followed, inspired by it. Less violence. The anomalies are the danger, rather than it being a big all-out war zone like in every game inspired by them. I want to run an RPG like that.

However, as a GM, I don't know how to run anomalies. How to make them a fun and interesting challenge and roleplaying effort, facilitate the mystery of the unknown, help guide players to the typically nonsensical solutions that are common to bypassing anomalies like how stalkers do it in the book, and just generally making it not a chore for players.

I can run mysteries and combats all day but I need help and advice on how to run, essentially these mini puzzles but in an organic way that doesn't just feel like I'm saying "stop everyone! Time to puzzle. You cannot go around"