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My TTRPG, MyTaRoGa is not to be played but I want to make it seem playeble but I wont never use it for a game.

It's like an artwork, a challenge per say for me, and my adhd.

I put alot of random mechanic like Arms length, armor size, and stamina because I want to.

They are connected to other mechanic like arms length effect your range and armor size for more scrap.

Conclusion for this rambling, do you think this is a good idea?

Hi, I'm looking for easy-to-learn RPGs for a group of 40-year-old noobs who get together for a weekend every few months. I would appreciate any ideas.

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update: Thanks everyone — this community is awesome!!!
We got a ton of great recommendations in a very short time, so thank you all!

I went through the thread and asked a “friend” for help summarizing things, in case this is useful for others in a similar situation.

Complete Game List - Weighted by Recommendations

Most Recommended (6+ mentions)

Cairn (~8 mentions)

• Pros: 100% free (PDFs), extremely simple rules (only 4 pages of core rules), emergent gameplay, excellent for one-shots and intermittent play, low-cost boxed set available, great for exploration and problem-solving, OSR-style gameplay
• Cons: None mentioned

Shadowdark (~7 mentions)

• Pros: Streamlined "D&D-ish" fantasy, fast gameplay, free quickstart available, modernized Basic D&D with better 5e mechanics, reduces crunch, great for dungeon crawling
• Cons: "Old school" style requires more careful play

Dragonbane Core Box (~6 mentions, including top upvoted comment)

• Pros: Fantastic value, easier than D&D 5e, strong GM structure, high production value (maps/dice/standees/art), medieval fantasy, free quickstart available, substantial content (year-long campaign)
• Cons: Slightly more involved than ultra-light systems like Shadowdark

Strong Secondary Tier (4-5 mentions)

The One Ring (Starter Set/2e) (~4-5 mentions)

• Pros: Perfect for LOTR fans, familiarity lowers cognitive load, approachable system, good for weekend sessions
• Cons: A bit heavier than ultra-light systems

Call of Cthulhu (~4 mentions)

• Pros: Very approachable, excellent for mystery/investigation, works well for short weekend sessions
• Cons: None mentioned (horror/mystery genre if that's not your preference)

Mothership (~4 mentions, with explicit "seconding")

• Pros: Near perfect for short-form sci-fi horror, amazing value box set, easy to learn, exceptional GM advice (recommended even just to read), tons of published adventures available
• Cons: Sci-fi horror genre (not fantasy)

Mentioned 2-3 Times

Mausritter (3 mentions)

• Pros: Simple ruleset with gamey qualities, good if you like Redwall/Rats of NIMH, can play in modern world, essentially Cairn with mouse characters
• Cons: Mouse setting may not appeal to everyone

Lancer (3 mentions - MIXED)

• Pros: Mech combat video game feel, modular and fun, player rules are free, very intuitive for video game players who like tactics
• Cons: Explicitly NOT newbie-friendly per multiple warnings, not intuitive without video game/tactics experience

Basic Fantasy RPG (2-3 mentions)

• Pros: Completely free with tons of free modules, light rules, focus on roleplay
• Cons: None mentioned

D&D 5e (2-3 mentions - MIXED RECEPTION)

• Pros: Familiar, beginner-friendly with starter sets
• Cons: Expensive, unnecessary if you already have a group, heavier rules

Pathfinder (2 mentions - WITH WARNING)

• Pros: Free online resources, lots of customization
• Cons: "Most complex commonly played game" - not recommended for beginners

Daggerheart (3 mentions - MIXED)

• Pros: High fantasy, more roleplaying/fewer rules
• Cons: Not recommended - lacks enough structure/advice for new players

Delta Green (2 mentions)

• Pros: Modern horror mysteries, solid game
• Cons: None mentioned

EZD6 (2 mentions)

• Pros: Easy, fast, several short adventures in one book
• Cons: Weak on character development

Fiasco (2 mentions)

• Pros: Like being in a Coen Brothers film, great for one-shots
• Cons: Tricky for TTRPG/improv newcomers

Single Mentions

Dungeon World - Lighter than D&D, more character options than Cairn

Mörk Borg/Pirate Borg - Brutal dungeon crawler (marked as favorite by one commenter)

Vaesen - Horror setting (marked as favorite)

Blades in the Dark - Heist-focused, Dishonored vibe

Genesys RPG - Light, adaptable, dice mechanic takes time to learn

Index Card RPG - Great for beginners and veterans, lots of free content

Black Hack - Very easy rules, player-side rolls, low cost

Tiny Dungeons 2e - Ultra-simple (2d6, need 5-6), customizable abilities

Nimble - Streamlined modern D&D

B/X D&D / Old School Essentials - Classic, foundational, free options

Vagabond - New pulp fantasy, simple rules, has GM-less co-op adventure

Various others (single mentions): RISUS, Honey Heist, Savage Worlds, MERP, Brindlewood Bay, Trophy Dark/Gold, The Between, Liminal Horror, Slugblasters, Draw Steel, Mythic Bastionland, Dolmenwood, Blade Runner, Tales of the Loop, Things from the Flood, Kids on Bikes, Hard City, Tomorrow City, Knave, Worlds Without Number

Explicit Warnings

The Witcher RPG - Do NOT buy - has significant issues

Gloomhaven/Skirmish games - Suggested as non-RPG alternatives if you mainly want tactics/co-op

Hello, I'm not the best on it, but I kind have a experience as a DM, despite most of my games being one shots than really campaigns, I already runned a lot of differents systems like Lancer, D&D, Cyberpunk RED, Pathfinder 2e and proper systems, so I kind know how to run a game (at least a short one), but when it's a campaign, I really struggle at it, things just doesn't work well as I think it should, every time that I run a game, my players feels that they just doesn't have a main goal, or something like to justify they being together as a party, this even happened in a Sandbox game that I'm running rn (Lancer Blood Money btw), and I feel always pretty bad, because I already tried a lot of stuff, but this feeling still happening, I like to explore they backstories, I give them choices, give them hooks, but they always feels like they are just playing a sequels of one shots with the same character. Could someone help me solve this problem with any tips or advice? I really want to improve as a DM and give my players the best experience that I can.

Hi all, I'm feeling overwhelmed by game options like PBTA, OSR, ETC. and would like some suggestions. I've only ever played mothership and 5e so I dont really know where to begin.

I'm looking for a game that is role playing more than combat. Something that can be picked up quickly. I played mothership and loved it. However, I'm looking for something less..difficult to survive. Essentially the amount of dice rolling and simplicity that mothership brings, but in a non horror non typical fantasy (like 5e) setting that could make for a multiple session adventure.

Something that is powered by narrative, but still has specific plot points or quests/missions to complete.

Thanks!

Also, is rules lite the right term?

"To celebrate Titan Effect's creator birthday, TE RPG: Declassified Edition is "pay-what-you-want" for the weekend!" as it says on the game's DrivethruRPG page.
Titan Effect is a setting for Savage Worlds, the Declassified Edition specifically is for the newest iteration, namely SWADE (Savage Worlds Adventure Edition).

So happy birthday to Christian Nommay and thanks for the gift.

I’m super excited to announce my Transformers-inspired RPG, BRASS. It’s a rules-light love letter to explosions, car chases, silly action figures and, of course, my childhood.

Some of the things I’m proud of are: - narrative-first mechanics that let you cut between scenes of your two characters - a whole lot of original art - tons of random tables and GM support

Also, if you see this post this month, you can get the game as part of a bundle of 35 giant robot themed games and supplements for only 20 dollars! The bundle has everything from a robot-building card game to an RPG about going to war against your childhood classmate.

https://weirdandblue.itch.io/brass

To preface this, I’m a big fan of Dragonbane’s core gameplay. I want to love this game. But the issue I’m finding is that the game feels a little incomplete in terms of offering progression within a campaign.

I’m also asking this in r/rpg as I’ve found previous discussion in the game subreddit and Discord to be along the lines of “why would you want that” when discussing deeper rulesets.

The issue boils down to three aspects:

1. ⁠Limited number of heroic feats
2. ⁠Limited number of spells (player options limited further by stronger spells requiring knowing earlier spell ranks)
3. ⁠Limited gear list, and complete lack of magic items - except to suggest using the effects of the limited spell list above as magic item effects

There is a Magic book coming in (late?) 2026 that should introduce magic items, but it really feels like more should have been included in the core system rules, or had this book sooner than 3 years after release.

Expert rules have been alluded to, but at this point that has no chance of being any sooner than 2028 at the earliest.

Those who have played Dragonbane a fair bit, what has your experience been? Do you have to homebrew extensively? Particularly if you’ve gone further than just the campaign included in the box set.

Hey, I'm thinking about trying Tales of the Valiant. I want to move on from D&D 5e. Has anyone played it? Is it worth it? Or would it be better to try another heroic RPG like Nimble 2 or DC20 or Weird Wizard?

I've grown around RPGs for 30-some and most of my personal friends were people I played with. Due to a myriad of reasons (adult life mostly), no one I know is still interested or have time/energy for tabletop RPGs any longer, so I basically have no group anymore.

I favor playing in person over online, and in this day and age it's fairly easy to setup a group at some public place to play with but it never "clicks" with me. As decent folks (and players) that they can be, the whole experience always feels kind of boring or watered down.

How do you guys go about playing with people you don't really know? How to "get along" and actually have fun when you kind of don't care for those in the table with you?

Hi all!
Is quite some time (years!) I think of an unified attack table to be used with Rolemaster, whatever version.

I have finally decided to give it a try and I this is what I have come up with.

Is not complete by any means and I am keen of getting early feedback on this.
This is all parametric and everything can be changed.
Mostly everything.

https://pdfhost.io/v/mDqPCQjED6_NewRolemasterWeaponTable

This is probably a long shot, but does anyone have the original dice that came with Avalon Hill’s game Lords of Creation? If so, can you send me a photo of them? I’m trying to hopefully reunite the dice with the game in my hoard.