I have a friend who runs an open table, weekly, game at a local pub. There’s normally between about 8-12 players. He’s been using the Fantasy Age system with the Freeport setting.
Recently he commented that he was looking for a new system to use (preserving the setting and characters as much as possible). He is after something a little lighter, that will play well with a large number of players and that has more horizontal, rather than vertical, character growth. Basically the game runs on the basis that you get XP for the session you attend, so there is a substantial level difference at times (he doesn’t want to change this mid-way through and screw over the more committed players who have attended on that basis).
My question is, does anyone have any good ideas about what systems might be worth checking out (noting that he isn’t big on Fate, and I don’t think playing Fate with 12 players would be very functional anyways)?
Savage Worlds, Cypher System, The Black Hack, Dungeon World, and Freeport FAE are some rule systems that come to mind.
Savage Worlds, Cypher System, The Black Hack, Dungeon World, and Freeport FAE are some rule systems that come to mind.
We use Dungeon World for our drop in/drop out games on Wednesdays, so I’ll second the vote for that.
We use Dungeon World for our drop in/drop out games on Wednesdays, so I’ll second the vote for that.
Black Hack and Dungeon World
Black Hack and Dungeon World
The problem I see with Dungeon World is that running any PbtA game for 8 to 12 players is super hard work for the DM (when I say 8-12, I mean that many attending each session, from a bigger total pool). Also porting characters across seems difficult given that notionally only one of each class is allowed.
My impression from reading Numenera is that progression is pretty vertical. Does that change in the generic Cypher System?
The problem I see with Dungeon World is that running any PbtA game for 8 to 12 players is super hard work for the DM (when I say 8-12, I mean that many attending each session, from a bigger total pool). Also porting characters across seems difficult given that notionally only one of each class is allowed.
My impression from reading Numenera is that progression is pretty vertical. Does that change in the generic Cypher System?
Cypher is also totally vertical.
Cypher is also totally vertical.
12 players at one table? Wow
12 players at one table? Wow
Daniel Fowler That was my thought. I’ve heard of groups that do that, and I just can’t fathom it. It seems like there would be huge gaps of time when some players simply aren’t doing anything.
Daniel Fowler That was my thought. I’ve heard of groups that do that, and I just can’t fathom it. It seems like there would be huge gaps of time when some players simply aren’t doing anything.
Maybe consider LARPing
Maybe consider LARPing
Oh man, if I had a huge in-person group like that, we would be doing LARPs!
Oh man, if I had a huge in-person group like that, we would be doing LARPs!
Jason Cordova Player down time is definitely an issue. I’ve only played in the game a couple of times and one reason I don’t play more often is that, as someone who mostly GMs, I am a massive spotlight hog as a player so I find the down time to be a problem. Nevertheless, they’ve made it work for a year or more.
Jason Cordova Player down time is definitely an issue. I’ve only played in the game a couple of times and one reason I don’t play more often is that, as someone who mostly GMs, I am a massive spotlight hog as a player so I find the down time to be a problem. Nevertheless, they’ve made it work for a year or more.
I use Dungeon World at our local open table game and it works really well. It’s light enough that it’s easy to learn, and character creation takes about five minutes. Plus, you only need two six-sided dice, which anyone should be able to scrounge up (they usually have them at the dollar store too). It’s an easy game on the surface with lots of potential depth.
I use Dungeon World at our local open table game and it works really well. It’s light enough that it’s easy to learn, and character creation takes about five minutes. Plus, you only need two six-sided dice, which anyone should be able to scrounge up (they usually have them at the dollar store too). It’s an easy game on the surface with lots of potential depth.
It may be a good idea to split the table into two groups.
As for a lite system. Check out “Warrior, Rouge and Mage”. It’s a simple system without classes. Instead it has three attributes that determine your proficiency in WR&M.
You can also try “Risus”. It can be played seriously, I’ve done it. It’s the lightest system I’ve ever seen, only second to a system without mechanic at all.
It may be a good idea to split the table into two groups.
As for a lite system. Check out “Warrior, Rouge and Mage”. It’s a simple system without classes. Instead it has three attributes that determine your proficiency in WR&M.
You can also try “Risus”. It can be played seriously, I’ve done it. It’s the lightest system I’ve ever seen, only second to a system without mechanic at all.
I’ll second (third?) Black Hack. $2.00 for less than 20 pages. That’ll take about 20 minutes of your time to read. If you’re familiar with any form of D&D, you’ll be good to go.
DW is $10.00 for 400+ pages. If you’re familiar with PbtA, you should be good to go… otherwise… YMMV
Another way to go to prevent level disparities (if using D&D 3.5, 5 or Pathfinder) is to go the E6 route, where leveling math caps at 6th level, bu there is still horizontal growth. (more feats). This, of course, is not “simpler”, but it works as intended.
I’ll second (third?) Black Hack. $2.00 for less than 20 pages. That’ll take about 20 minutes of your time to read. If you’re familiar with any form of D&D, you’ll be good to go.
DW is $10.00 for 400+ pages. If you’re familiar with PbtA, you should be good to go… otherwise… YMMV
Another way to go to prevent level disparities (if using D&D 3.5, 5 or Pathfinder) is to go the E6 route, where leveling math caps at 6th level, bu there is still horizontal growth. (more feats). This, of course, is not “simpler”, but it works as intended.
Into the Odd — very quick character generation, minimal rules, quick and deadly combats. It’s great!
As a newbiew-GM, i could handle 6 players without too much trouble.
Into the Odd — very quick character generation, minimal rules, quick and deadly combats. It’s great!
As a newbiew-GM, i could handle 6 players without too much trouble.
Into the Odd has a “Maze Rats” variant that’s a ton of fun if you’re looking for a fantasy dungeon-crawl vibe http://questingblog.com/maze-rats/
Into the Odd has a “Maze Rats” variant that’s a ton of fun if you’re looking for a fantasy dungeon-crawl vibe http://questingblog.com/maze-rats/
As a thought, has anyone released a more high fantasy magic system compatible with Barbarian of Lemuria?
Edit: Does Honor + Intrigue have a magic system?
As a thought, has anyone released a more high fantasy magic system compatible with Barbarian of Lemuria?
Edit: Does Honor + Intrigue have a magic system?