#rules lite rpg

[1-50thofabuck]

The cat faces going from frustrated/upset to fierce as the numbers increase is too cute!

[dungeonofthedragon]

I've added some more free community copies of Explorers. Get in there and start adventuring today!

[magicalinternetwinner]

Hello.

I am a real person and not a spam bot. I'm based in Ireland, and didn't really know what to do here at first. I was just liking and reblogging stuff, but not posting, and that certainly looks like bot behaviour.

Anyway, I wrote one post about ttrpg stuff, so I think I'll keep it on that trajectory with this blog.

I play d&d when other people are running it, but I run "scum & villainy" and "kids on bikes" for my friends, because I'm more into rules-lite and keeping the story moving. I once spent 9 hours (3 different sessions) in a single combat encounter in d&d, so I'm trying to get away from that.

[greatwyrmgold]

"Roll-A-Die" mechanics

There's a distinction in TRPG design that I haven't seen anyone articulate. To explain it, let's consider Dungeons and Dragons, the Mt. Fuji of tabletop RPGs.

On one hand, you have skills. You say you want to do something, you roll a die, and that die tells you whether you succeed or fail. That's the whole mechanic; everything else has to come from the players.

On the other hand, you have combat. There are well-defined guidelines for what you can do, when you can do it, and how it works. Success and failure are meticulously defined; if you succeed on an attack or fail a save, the effects are quantified and tie into the game's other mechanics in key ways.

The latter are "real" mechanics, with all the depth and complexity needed to produce interesting mechanics to play with. The former is just rolling a die.

I think this is a useful distinction to make in many contexts. On one hand, I've had lots of discussions where people argue that D&D's Persuasion and Survival skills are sufficient mechanics to justify its claim that social situations and exploration are pillars equal to combat.

On the other hand, it's hard to articulate what I like about PBtA's moves without explaining what sets them apart from roll-a-die mechanics. The explanations about what success and failure entail, in ways specific enough to be useful but vague enough to apply to any situation, are nice in a way that's hard

Two quick caveats!

First: This is a spectrum, not a binary. In fact, it's a spectrum that extends beyond the examples I've given in both directions. On one end of the spectrum, you have detailed simulationist mechanics, more specific and intricate than even typical "real mechanics". On the other end, you have mechanics that work without even rolling a die. (For instance, 5e's jumping mechanics define how high you can jump without a running start, no die roll required.) And there are plenty of mechanics in the middle.

Second: Roll-a-die mechanics are not always bad! They're simple, easy to remember, and quick. Roll-a-die mechanics are good for things that need to be resolved, but which aren't important to the game as a whole. It's only a problem if mechanics that are supposed to be important are reduced to roll-a-die mechanics.

[littleeyesofpallas]

LAST REQUIEM ~NEO GOTHIC RPG~[ラストレクイエム ~ネオゴシックRPG~]

[lesser-vissir]

Having just read Reactors and Romance, I think I've come to the opinion that we have evolved past the need for rules-lite TTRPGs.

Every single self described "rules-lite" TTRPG I've read is only able to have a small ruleset because it banks on being a GM Theme Park.

Like,,, what they do is strip out all setting guidance, strip out most mechanics, strip out characterization and other important tone setting rules, then make the scope of the type of story played HUGE.

Wedding Crasher: A bride's ex has shown up to her wedding with mechs committed to win her back by any means. What is each PC’s role in the wedding?

The only rule that exists is combat. Nothing regarding story mechanics, nothing regarding how to handle story arcs between missions. Just vibes.

Which ultimately means the GM has to handle all of that and design rules for it themselves. This is especially so because players are strapped into the proverbial rides. The only control they have is combat so the GM must pick up the rest of the slack.

Honestly, if you're going to be rules-lite you NEED to give the players certain creative controls cause otherwise you're just recreating the worst aspect of D&D.

And even beyond that, you need to drastically shrink your scope if you're going to add, I cannot stress this enough, a SINGLE rule.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good and interesting rule, but it doesn't fit the announced scope.

[martianmuckraker]

Under a Hostile Sun at GENCON!

Are you going to GenCon? Want to try out the game of survival against impossible odds? Saturday August 3rd I will be running two games of Under a Hostile Sun at GenCon! The Saturday morning session is almost sold out, BUT there are still seats at the 4pm game! Under a Hostile Sun uses a currency system to track mined planetary resources and an Opportunity Die to track the health of the party’s…

[polyhedralmice]

It’s Saturday night and the comic convention has shut down for the night…

The industrial light slams off with a crash, and for for several heartbeats you are plunged into darkness. When the dim auxiliary lights finally come on, you find that you feel somehow…different. As you survey the lobby of the convention center two things feel certain- one, you’re definitely trapped here, and two, you definitely aren’t alone.

Cosplay After Dark is a rules lite narrative TTRPG designed for spooky one-shots. It features

Low GM prep

1d6 core mechanics with degrees of success

A pool of flex points to enhance rolls

Zombie bites don’t turn PCs until sunrise so the whole party can play ‘til the end

[facelessoldgargoyle]

Pfmdmgmd literally me, I would love to play a game about controlling a fish with a knife

Anyways, here’s a better rec list for expanding your horizons. The things I assume people enjoy about D&D are:

- collaborating with a group to go on an adventure

- having a DM who guides the story and helps make things happen in the world

- rolling dice to see what happens

- wide variety of character stats, fun options for character advancements that come as tangible rewards for doing hard things

If you like D&D for other reasons, good on ya, but this isn’t the list for you. All of these games have a different flavor and genre, but preserve the above features.

Blades in the Dark Cost: $20 pdf/$30 book

Play as a crew of criminals pulling off operations. You could be doing a heist, an assassination, or an illicit trade. Clash with cops, rival gangs, and g-g-g-ghosts! Roll dice to when you try to do something difficult. The result, whether success or failure, gets modified by how risky the action was and how great an effect it could have, so your rolls have a lot of flavor. If you fail or try something desperate, you’re rewarded with XP. Character advancement lets you upgrade your skills or gain esoteric new powers! When you get paid for a job, spend it to upgrade your crew hangout, reduce the heat brought on by the cops, or relieve your ever mounting stress. Play this game if you like to think your way through challenges.

Troika! Cost: £5 pdf/£22 book

Play as a weird being, such as a Member of the Beefeater Society, a Giant of Corda, or a Parchment Witch. Waltz through a weirder world! The initial scenario that comes in the rule book involves making your way up 6 floors of a hotel to get to a party on the rooftop. On the way, you navigate past a sentient cloud of gas, a giant slug king, and an old lady handing out magical candy. Skills range from astrology to etiquette to second sight. Combat is fast and dangerous, be prepared to die and roll up a new character. If you’ve read Abarat, I would consider it a touchstone. Play this game if you like whimsy and risk.

Call of Cthulhu Cost: $10 pdf/$25 book

Play as a team of investigators poking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Face horrors and stand your ground, or crack and suffer a bout of madness. Character advancement can occur by upgrading skills. Character corruption can occur by losing traits or memories from your background or gaining phobias or manias. You roll a percentage dice (1-100%) instead of d20’s, so I find choices in this game easier to visualize. Play this game if your like to struggle for survival and dig into mysteries.

indie ttrpg writers be like...

[legionofmyth]

Risus: The Anything RPG

🎲 With its simple and flexible rules, Risus: The Anything #RPG allows you to create any character you can dream up and embark on any adventure you can imagine. #Risus #RulesLight #DnD #OSR

Risus: The Anything RPG – [PDF]Risus: The Anything RPG is a game that defies limitations and empowers players to unleash their imaginations. With its simple and flexible rules, Risus allows you to create any character you can dream up and embark on any adventure you can imagine. Whether you want to play a time-traveling ninja, a space cowboy, or a wizard detective, Risus gives you the tools to…

[guidedbynors]

I’m excited to Play Isle of Ixx! If anyone wants to join, which it out. We have 3/5 players already!

[dungeonofthedragon]

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[lostpathpub]

New game just dropped!

Made a game in a day for the Minimalist TTRPG Jam! Want to skip the rules and jump straight into the action? All you need is a d6 and your imagination! Link below (its free but go on and chuck us a couple quid would ya?)

[dixy]

TROIKA DICE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

[aaronsrpgs]

I couldn't find a roommate for August after my sister moved out, so all the rent's on me! Not an emergency, but a little bit of extra cash would be welcome. You can buy my games at the link above. Lots of them are pay-what-you-want!

Patchwork World is a fantasy PbtA game where you can burst into cats, harness your fungal weirdness, and track down the whale that ate your parents.

SpeedRune is a rules-lite ancient fantasy game. Go on adventures and engage in seasonal downtime like communing with spirits or flirting in saunas. With excellent art by A. Degen!

In a Mirror Brightly is a millennarian action RPG where you fight mainstream culture with hex, sex, and tech. It's in the vein of The Matrix, The Invisibles, and Mage: The Awakening.

You Are a House is a solo RPG based on Sam Leigh's Anamnesis. You become a house. What happens in you?

And much more!

[indie-ttrpg-of-the-week]

Costume Fairy Adventures

Costume Fairy Adventures is... well, its about fairies, who wear costumes, and have adventures. Ok that's not ALL it is, but that's a good bulk of the game, CFA is a fairly rules lite and simple system for running games about whimsical fey getting into weird shenanigans using weird costumes they made or found lying around, character creation and gameplay are both very simple, and this game is a biiit more niche than my usual spotlights, but I guarantee this one's good.