**Come here and talk about anything!**

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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.

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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.

Look at getting into a new RPG system over vacation and I like the look of the Land Of Eem Deluxe box.

I like the idea of the muppets crossed with LoTR. Only thing I’m concerned about is that it’s too childish for my group, we’re all 20 year olds that have been playing D&D 5e for the past 6 years.

Would love to know what you thought of Land of Eem if you’ve played it.

This week's RPG is Mouseguard [2E]!

Have you played it? Have you run/GM'd it? How did it go?

What's your favourite memory from the game?

What is the best thing about this game?

What is the worst? How would you improve it?

How does it compare to previous versions?

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Last week was Cyberpunk Red. Join us again, next week!

Hey all.

Experienced DM and player here, and I'm in need of some assistance on sourcing a system for a possible game with my Thursday players who are great role players, but strongly dislike crunchy systems.

Please note: they consider 5e crunchy, so that's what I'm working with.

We just wrapped up a World of Darkness Mage chronicle (35 sessions) and they loved it. The single die Attribute + Ability freeform classless system was a great match for their interests, but we're all wanting a more traditional D&D campaign experience, and I'm not sure what skeleton to build it on top of.

I'd love something with structure like classes or paths, but also somewhat simple mechanics. They prefer to learn as they play, so big system dumps at the start will lose them. I'd say just reskin the Storyteller system, but no one in the group actually wants that, and the fantasy options for the system just aren't what we want.

What are some ideas? Any recommendations you have experience with?

I'm working on an alternate history concept where human civilization has faced a continuous existential threat since antiquity—something that violates the laws of physics and reality itself.

In this scenario, empires don't fall due to internal decay, but survive only if they constantly adapt to total war. Science, religion, and politics intertwine because survival demands it.

My question is more philosophical than narrative:

Would a humanity that has lived in constant war for millennia become more united… or inevitably more authoritarian?

Is true freedom possible in a world where "lowering your guard" means extinction?

Hi there, Ive been recently going through the to big amount of RPGs I own and got a question to yall.

Basically Ive seen a couple of abilities (especially in games with playbooks) that I would qualify as Writers Room Abilities. The classic ability for me is: I know someone! Here the player usually gets to invent an NPC that helps in the situation.

While I dont love the full on writers room approach, I do really love when players can take control that way through a mechanical ability.

The thing Ive noticed though is that a lot of games kind of only halve lean on them. What I mean is that there is like 1-2 Abilities of that kind while most are regular abilities.

So my two-fold question:

a. Do you know a game that really leans on them?

b. What are your favourie "Writers-Room-Abilities"?

I have run and played in a bunch of different TTRPG systems, and while almost all of them have been fun, I've found that there is a certain level of rules crunchiness that really hits the spot.

Masks: A New Generation and Kids on Bikes are not crunchy enough and too rules light for me.

Pathfinder (both 1e and 2e) and Gubat Banwa are too crunchy and a bit overwhelming.

But then Cyberpunk RED and D&D 5e are just right in terms of crunch.

Does anyone have any recommendations for systems that are fun and have a similar level of rules crunch to those two? Bonus points if they are set in space (or any sci-fi), have wuxia elements, or are fantasies not based on medieval Europe.

Thank you in advance :D

Hi everyone,

I ran Brindlewood Bay for the first time today, and we absolutely loved the setting. However, the ending—the fact that there's no predetermined ending—was rather disappointing for my group.

Is there an RPG featuring grandmothers (doesn't have to be horror) that's similar to Brindlewood Bay, but with a fixed storyline?

Thanks in advance!

Decided on making a Science Fantasy in the style of a Sandbox, but I want my friend to collaborate on creating the world together. Is the somewhere witha good checklist or something to help with the process? I'm new to GMing, only started doing so 2 years ago for at max 10 to 20 sessions.

"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.

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've got a ton of great recommendations in a very short time, so thank you all!

Here's an AI summary based on your comments so far, made with Claude

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.