#I haven't read this entire run but I may need to pick it up someday

[spider-mand]

You know that saying "I trust you as far as I can throw you?"

Aww, see? They're besties.

[keplercryptids]

Hi! I'd love your advice/thoughts if you have the time: a friend is interested in trying ttrpgs. Theyre, uh, scifi/fantasy-curious? (such a normie & I love them for it) They love strategy games and stories but are a little nervous about the freeform/rp elements. I'd really like to NOT use 5e as the intro game but having a lot of trouble thinking of another good option for someone who has zero sff/ttrpg background.. (I love reading about your new campaign 🥰) thank you!

hi! there's a bunch of possibilities and almost certainly your friend will need to try out multiple things to find something they really vibe with, but! here are some suggestions. i tried to include a wide variety in terms of mechanics, vibes, genre etc.

Savage Worlds. this system is setting-neutral so it can be as SFF (or not!) as you like. it has some mechanical crunch but not nearly as much as, say, d&d or pathfinder so it's likely easier for beginners to pick up. easy to prepare encounters on the gm side and character creation is super customizable.

Fiasco. this is a gm-less oneshot-style game that i think does a great job of dropping players into narrative roleplay with JUST enough guidance from the rules. the game is designed to simulate a caper gone wrong. all players share narrative control, which can be intimidating for newbies, but is also great practice of doing that kind of thing.

Shadowdark, for a dungeon-delving OSR style game. i haven't gotten the chance to play this myself but I've read through the rulebook and hope to run some games someday. the rules are not as complicated as d&d, but still provide great structure and opportunity for strategy. there's also a cool real-time element of tracking light sources (each torch only lasts for one IRL hour) which is fun. i feel like it's a good introduction to old-school style ttrpgs with a modern twist.

systems like Powered by the Apocalypse (i.e. Monster of the Week) and Forged in the Dark (i.e. Blades in the Dark, Scum and Villainy) are narrative-driven and fiction-focused games that are often recommended for beginner players. IMO, these kinds of games really push players (and GMs!) to approach games entirely from the fiction side of things, which can be challenging, especially if your friend isn't comfortable with that kind of thing yet. i did want to suggest them though because they might be the flavor of game your friend would enjoy, and there's a ton of varied genres within these systems.

and finally, if you're looking for a mechanically crunchy game similar to d&d that's better than d&d, Pathfinder 2e is your friend. it's high fantasy and rules heavy, so it may not be the vibe, but if your friend is looking for strategy, combat, and tons of character options, pf2e is great. (and, importantly, all the rules are free online!)