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.

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

I was looking to get an universal RPG and most of my friends pointed out to Gurps, especially since 4e revised has just been released.

I’m ignorant with the system but I understand Gurps as a very easy and streamlined RPG, but also contained a massive toolbox of rules that you can plug n play to make your game as tactical/crunchy as you seem fit. Most of my friends pointed out the system to be the one where you can actually build any type of character and run any setting on it (although they did highlighted that over the top settings like superheroes might fail with the system).

For people who played/DMed multiple universal systems, how does GURPS compare to other universal systems like SWADE, Cypher 2e, Fate core, BRP, Genesys and etc?

Thank you everyone!

I just read Cy-Borg and it has blown my mind. The creative ideas are oozing out of this book and I want to start playing right now.

What RPG books have inspired you lately and why? Was it a rulebook or setting book?

Back at it again with a few updates and additions. It would be nice if I could do this regularly, but I am a habitual procrastinator and I often fail to see things through. These will be ordered with the newest bundles since last week appearing first, then any still ongoing bundles. Edit: Ordered from ending soonest to latest as well. Also going forward I'm just going to copy/write the exact name for each bundle.

Previous post for anyone who wants to see discussion about ongoing bundles (like Castles and Crusades).

Disclaimer: I am unaffiliated with any of the below sites and publishers and I have not as of yet read any of the books (unless I mention it). Basically just don't want people to miss out on books and plus I can get recommendations on what to buy.

Humble Bundle

Edit 3 for a quick gripe: Humble updated their website. I would like to say I approve, but their new Library section is currently worse. There's no immediate way to see WHEN I purchased a bundle, as it doesn't show the date anywhere in the Purchased or Bundles are of the Lbirary. Instead, I have to go to Order History, which only shows the Date, Order #, and Status. Which means to browse through each past purchase/order, I have to click on each one to see the actual name and not just the number. Bad design.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 40th Anniversary Celebration Bundle

24 items, $25, all Fourth Edition corebooks with the Enemy Within campaign and other supplements. About 15 days and 22 hours left.

My thoughts: I've actually purchased a previous WFRP bundle from Humble, so I own most of these. I think the Enemy Within has some interesting stuff and The ~~Monuments~~ Buildings of the Reikland book is cool. Would be easy to use it and throw in some buildings for other settings/systems. Worth mentioning though that there is a new edition, Fifth Edition, of WFRP apparently. Edit 2: Also just remembered that the previous bundle did not include the books on DriveThruRPG, but this new one does. Which is annoying. There also a few new books like The Imperial Zoo and Monuments of the Reikland (which I got confused with Buildings and have now fixed).

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Castles & Crusades RPG Experience

65 items, $20, seems like the 2024 version. Ending soon, only about 1 days and 22 hours left.

My thoughts: I actually thought this ended already, but it got extended for an extra week (unlike Candela Obscura). It's also in the Software section for no reason.

Beadle & Grimm's D&D Classic Module Dice Sets (Physical)

6 items, $84, each is a fancy dice set with a coin and some cards with facts or something. US only, shipping averages $30. About 8 days and 22 hours left.

My thoughts: the expensive dice set bundle is still active. I'm still debating on it, because realistically I don't *need* more dice. It is cool though that Matthew Lillard is one of the founders of the company.

And that actually does it for Humble.

Bundle of Holding

Play to Win

2 items, $7.95. These are actually books talking about board games and TTRPGs. One is about the history of award winning board games and the other has essays from game designers. Ending VERY soon, only about 15 hours left.

My thoughts: Pretty interesting actually and overall cheap. I do think I might own Everybody Wins already though. And honestly, I'm just not too interested at the moment in reading the history/thoughts of board games.

Tales of the Old West

4 items (If I notice then I don't count the GM screen), $9.95. Looks like it uses the Year Zero Engine, but isn't published by Free League. About 14 days and 15 hours left.

My thoughts: I am not typically into Western RPGs. No idea how Tales of the Old West compares to something like Old Gods of Appalachia.

Ker Nethalas

5 items, $19.95. A single-player dungeon crawling RPG. About 19 days and 15 hours left.

My thoughts: For a long time I've looked down upon solo RPGs. I thought they were a neat little niche, but I had no desire to play them. Then my girlfriend mentioned being interested in the idea of journaling for one, so I began to actually look into a few and I'm actually very intrigued. I enjoy learning how the mechanics of a game work and play out, so I'm definitely considering this one.

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Death in Space

$19.95 for the core rules from Free League Publishing, four third-party scenarios, and three mini-scenarios (mini-scenarios are on itch and not DriveThruRPG). About 13 days and 8 hours left.

My thoughts: I ended up listening to a video from Dave Thaumavore about the game to see if I wanted to buy it. Overall it sold me on it, but I haven't looked it over yet. The Hub mechanics sound interesting and I like how bleak and gritty seems for a space RPG.

Household

$14.95 for three books in the Household collection from Two Little Mice. About 12 days and 15 hours left.

Household Volume II

Separate bundle. $12.95 for two campaign supplements for Household. About 12 days and 15 hours left.

My thoughts (copied from last time because I have nothing new to add): Playing as miniature people/creatures could be cool. And the art looks nice.

Fanatical

Symbaroum Dark Fantasy RPG Bundle

25 items, $14.99. Made by Free League, this bundle is returning after having been posted a few months ago. About 50 days left.

My thoughts: I bought this back in April and haven't put much effort into reading the books. I think the setting is neat though. Who doesn't like a big spooky forest? Worth mentioning that these are NOT the revised editions, so if you're wanting the most updated versions then you'll need to wait.

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Going to just copy the bundles from last post without my thoughts and with updated timers/countdowns as I have no new info.

Traveller RPG Ultimate GDW Collection

128 items for $32.99. The GDW version of Traveller, I assume. Ending soon, about 1 days and 4 hours left.

My thoughts: zer0k0ol pointed out that the previous collection is included specifically in the top tier of this bundle, so you can easily just opt out of it and get only the new stuff by buying the 67 items for $19.99.

X-Crawl RPG Bundle

41 items for $17.99. These are the same books that were included in a previous Humble Bundle a while back. Ending soon, about 6 days and 4 hours left.

Call of Cthulhu RPG Bundle

33 items for $24.99. A few new additions compared to a previous Humble Bundle, like Children of Fear and Secrets of Tibet. About 16 day left.

Mutants and Masterminds Classic RPG Collection

57 items for $19.99. Superhero RPG from Green Ronin Publishing. About 36 days left.

Old-School Essentials RPG Collection

31 items for $14.99. Basically everything for OSE. About 50 days left.

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RPG Trader

RCRF Charity Bundle

125 items, Pay What You Want with a minimum of $10. A lot of indie RPGs and since it's an alternative to DriveThruRPG your books will be on the RPG Trader site. About 19 days left.

My thoughts: I'm not sure if I'll be browsing RPG Trader consistently enough to include bundles from it, but PatRowdy mentioned it last time so I'm throwing it in. Anything for charity is always nice. I have virtually no idea if there are any books that stand out in such a big collection, so feel free to share.

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Alright that's everything (that I'm aware of).

Edit 1 for a sentence at the opener, Edit 2 for a fix on WFRP, and Edit 3 for a complaint about the new Humble Bundle website.

I have been playing (and DMing) -DND 5e for two years now, I should love it, but I don't. What I did love however, was being a player in Call of Cthulhu, with lots of roleplay. No combat, but if the situation called for it, I could pull my gun out. But little initiative and so on.

I have also played(and GMed) some OSR games: Old-school essentials and Shadowdark. I love it. Until we get to combat. Then that takes all my energy, and so much time and it feels like a slog.

Games I own- but have not played: Vaesen, Dungeon World, and Fabula Ultima.

In conclusion, I would like to play a game that is roleplay heavy, extremely low-combat, yet still forces people to be creative. I want people to use their inventory and so on.

Recently I played in an "Onia" game("forged in the dark system" of some sort) - loved it. There was a conflict scene- but not combat. Any other games that could give me that experience?

Like instead of picking the "Space elves" or "space orcs" it lets your players pick species maybe based on real living things and sci fi concepts that are common. Like if you wanted to be an insect like species of origin or a fungus or some other crazy thing that is less humanoid.

It would be fun have someone be a lizard running around camouflaged with knives while some one else is a centipede with a bunch of laser pistols at the ready. Or maybe someone picks a roach species that is resistant to radiation.

The species could have unique abilities or disadvantages based on the real creatures they are based on.

I'm not officially associated with this project, but my group had a lot of fun with the free quickstart earlier in the week and I'd love to see the final stretch goal get hit! Consider checking it out: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/gwendolyn-clark/sophont-visceral-symbiotic-roleplaying

I've got someone in my group who's so focused on character moments and dialogue that they barely engage with the actual rules or combat encounters. They're not disruptive or anything, just kind of checked out during tactical stuff. Is this a common thing, and does it mean I'm running the wrong kind of game for them or should I be adjusting how I present things?

I've always enjoyed stories where the characters don't know how magic works. They know magic exists, they have access to it, but they don't know all the rules so they have to experiment and figure out how to use magic.

I think playing a game where you have to discover how magic works, and such sounds delightful. It also sounds like it would be difficult to make the system fun and balanced for the players.

Are there any systems where the players specifically don't know how magic works and have to discover some/all of it?

Grew out of it? Don’t have the time? Don’t have a group? Tired of current systems? Bad experiences? Do you miss it? Do you want to come back? What would bring you back?
I’m curious what sometimes drives away from one of the best hobbies.

I'm trying to establish a TTRPG club in my company. Company clubs are a pretty common thing here in Japan and they often receive funding from the company once they become official.

I was thinking of running lasers and feelings in order to keep the hurdle of entry low. I want to see if I can get maybe up to 6 people to sign up to a session and run a quick oneshot.

I am curious if anybody has a recommendation for a one shot that can be run in like 2-3 hours.

Also, how should I handle the session zero stuff? I've been playing in the same group since the start and I joined experienced players, so things like what they don't like, what style of play they like etc were rather easy to establish. But with people who've never done anything like this, it'll be quite different. I would also like to wrap up the session zero and the one shot in one rather short session, so no extended discussions are possible.

I'm going to prepare characters for the people, so that I can tailor them to the adventure. Do you have any advice for me for things that I'm forgetting?

Looking for sources of inspiration for a campaign in a fantasy world. So far I’m aware of:
• Dolmenwood
• Doomsong
• Dungeons of Drakkenheim (D&D 5e)
• Forbidden Lands
• Kingmaker (PF2e)
• Misty Vale (Dragonbane)
• Mutant: Year Zero
• Symbaroum
• The Dark of Hot Springs Island
• The Estate (Mausritter)
• The Mythic North (Outcast Silver Raiders)
• Western Reaches (Shadowdark)

What would be a perfect match for me? A campaign set on the frontier, with a single settlement and lots of ancient ruins around it, and with as few friendly places to stay as possible — so the heroes always have to go back to the settlement or sleep in the wilderness.

Additional credits if you can advice tools to generate the world.