Tabletop Roleplaying Games (D&D, Pathfinder, CoC, ETC.)

[The Spoony One X]

For neutral evil, its mostly because at the end of the day, evil is evil, and evil needs to be slain (unless youre working with a lesser evil).

For neutral good, its because the more heroic characters tend to go for lawful good, while dangerhairs will often go for chaotic because its quirky. But I do think neutral good gets unjustly overlooked

Maybe it's because NG is what most people would see themselves as if you applied the alignment to real life and they want to be the chap they probably never will be - the righteous law man or the rambunctious ladies man. NG generally does the right thing, they wouldn't pirate a car, but they would probably pirate an old movie, perhaps it comes off as very beige.

Has anyone done a write up on the Stirxhaven adventures, what exactly is there to do in Hogwarts other than prom and drow revisionist classes, is there ever any danger? I can't imagine anything more boring. They really hate the Faustian man and the infinite space don't they. (Apologies if I missed a post on about it.)

 

[The Curmudgeon]

I'm interested in tabletop RPGs, but I've never played one before. A few friends and I would like to play one together, but we're kind of weary of D&D in light of all the awful news about it.

What would you guys recommend? Where should I begin? If you guys don't mind me asking, of course.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

I'm interested in tabletop RPGs, but I've never played one before. A few friends and I would like to play one together, but we're kind of weary of D&D in light of all the awful news about it.

What would you guys recommend? Where should I begin? If you guys don't mind me asking, of course.

Well, if you're keen on military, there's Twilight 2000, which is basically the Cold War ended with WW3 and France being the sole unscratched country (unbelievably.)

For cyberpunk, there's well, Cyberpunk 2020 or Red. There's Warhammer Fantasy if you want to try somewhat more gritty fantasy. Tons more I would recommend, though I haven't played many systems asides from the one's I've mentioned.

 

[The Curmudgeon]

Well, if you're keen on military, there's Twilight 2000, which is basically the Cold War ended with WW3 and France being the sole unscratched country (unbelievably.)

For cyberpunk, there's well, Cyberpunk 2020 or Red. There's Warhammer Fantasy if you want to try somewhat more gritty fantasy. Tons more I would recommend, though I haven't played many systems asides from the one's I've mentioned.

Nice! I'll check those out! Thank you!

Is GURPS any good? I've heard a little bit about it.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

Nice! I'll check those out! Thank you!

Is GURPS any good? I've heard a little bit about it.

Don't know, actually. Give it a shot.

 

[Waifuwars]

I'm interested in tabletop RPGs, but I've never played one before. A few friends and I would like to play one together, but we're kind of weary of D&D in light of all the awful news about it.

What would you guys recommend? Where should I begin? If you guys don't mind me asking, of course.

It really depends on what you guys want out of a game. Do you want something more combat heavy? Do you want something based around social interaction and detective work? Do you like lots of rules and minmaxing, or do you prefer something more rules light and roleplay heavy? I find a good place to start is to ask your friends what kind of shows/books/movies they enjoy and find a common theme between them. A lot of systems are tied down to a certain aesthetic or genre so this will help you narrow your criteria.

As much bad PR d&d gets, 5e really is a good starting point for tabletop. The main issue is that a lot of 5e players refuse to try or learn anything else. Call of Cthulhu is great if you like doing investigations with a side of horror in early 20th century to modern times. Want weeb shit? Play Kamigakari. Like Mecha? There's Lancer. Want to do some good ole dungeon crawling? Try Dungeon World.

Nice! I'll check those out! Thank you!

Is GURPS any good? I've heard a little bit about it.

I would not recommend it for your first system. It tends to get very clunky and rules heavy and you have to understand which modules you'll have to tack on.

 

[The Curmudgeon]

It really depends on what you guys want out of a game. Do you want something more combat heavy? Do you want something based around social interaction and detective work? Do you like lots of rules and minmaxing, or do you prefer something more rules light and roleplay heavy? I find a good place to start is to ask your friends what kind of shows/books/movies they enjoy and find a common theme between them. A lot of systems are tied down to a certain aesthetic or genre so this will help you narrow your criteria.

As much bad PR d&d gets, 5e really is a good starting point for tabletop. The main issue is that a lot of 5e players refuse to try or learn anything else. Call of Cthulhu is great if you like doing investigations with a side of horror in early 20th century to modern times. Want weeb shit? Play Kamigakari. Like Mecha? There's Lancer. Want to do some good ole dungeon crawling? Try Dungeon World.

I would not recommend it for your first system. It tends to get very clunky and rules heavy and you have to understand which modules you'll have to tack on.

I'll peruse my friends about what they have in mind. We agree that we'd like to do some of the following: character-building, adventures, and storytelling. It sounds like we can do that with D&D. Is there anything that has a Twin Peaks vibe to it? Sci-fi themed games would be cool too!

 

[Raoul_Duke]

I'll peruse my friends about what they have in mind. We agree that we'd like to do some of the following: character-building, adventures, and storytelling. It sounds like we can do that with D&D. Is there anything that has a Twin Peaks vibe to it? Sci-fi themed games would be cool too!

Delta Green, which is just military meets Lovecraft roleplaying games, though you can tailor it how you see fit.

 

[Waifuwars]

I'll peruse my friends about what they have in mind. We agree that we'd like to do some of the following: character-building, adventures, and storytelling. It sounds like we can do that with D&D. Is there anything that has a Twin Peaks vibe to it? Sci-fi themed games would be cool too!

Dittoing Delta Green. It probably has a lot of the themes you're looking for. As for sci-fi, there's Cyberpunk which has been mentioned before and Shadowrun. The latter is different as it also has magic in the world. There's also the Alien rpg which is published by Free League who puts out some really good stuff. They also released Tales from the Loop which is an alternate history 1980's Stranger Things-like setting, which could work for a Twin Peaks lite setting.

 

[Jet Fuel Johnny]

I'm interested in tabletop RPGs, but I've never played one before. A few friends and I would like to play one together, but we're kind of weary of D&D in light of all the awful news about it.

What would you guys recommend? Where should I begin? If you guys don't mind me asking, of course.

I'm gonna be that guy.

Play Rifts.

Learn to play the system. Play Rifts.

Join the Coalition. Save Humanity. Shoot a deebee in the face for Mommy.

 

[Ghostse]

This feels appropriate to the topic.
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I think what a lot of people forget is Alignment isn't supposed to be static. Its not supposed to be a trait. Its supposed to be the consequences of your actions. Unless you really play your character has holding to the true neutrality grey, your character likely won't stay in a Neutralallignemnt,especially true neutral. Just like your usual Chaotic Neutrard won't really stay Neutral with the selfish and vaguely evil shit they get up to.
Alignment is supposed to be the players thoughts about about how early life shaped their character, but it should evolve.

Alignment, before people forgot, was supposed to open or close items & classes. The DM, given they are responsible for NPCs, are supposed to use the alignment (including, horrifically, RACIAL alignments) to help RP a character but that's it.

This is the upside to the 4e alignment dumbing down simplification, where it helps a player think about their general personality/views to the outside. But a GM should still be tracking actions and adjusting alignment based that on the traditional 9-point grid.

One of the things I like to do is frame their actions as supporting a Deity. If you are doing Pelor's will, even if you need to do some questionable things, you are still getting lawful good points. When you do some Salem's Lot type of shit by assisting people in the service of Asmodeus, you're still evil.

I think its also important to implement a Nice/Asshole axis.
You can be lawful evil and still a nice person, since being nice allows you to collect power.
You can be lawful good an asshole, since you sometimes need to make hard choices for the good of all.

 

[40 Year Old Boomer]

VtM's Nature/Demeanor provides players with a better idea of how a character should behave rather than the mental gymnastics they go through to justify their atrocities as good or lawful.

 

[Capsaicin Addict]

I'm gonna be that guy.

Play Rifts.

Learn to play the system. Play Rifts.

Join the Coalition. Save Humanity. Shoot a deebee in the face for Mommy.

Original Palladium or Savage Worlds version?

I've been playing SW-Rifts, and it's pretty good. Not perfect, but what is?

 

[Techpriest]

I'll peruse my friends about what they have in mind. We agree that we'd like to do some of the following: character-building, adventures, and storytelling. It sounds like we can do that with D&D. Is there anything that has a Twin Peaks vibe to it? Sci-fi themed games would be cool too!

If you want Twin Peaks and X-Files, chronicles of darkness is pretty simple to do, plus there’s splats for playing wizards, ghost people, psychics, the KGB, and more. It’s more roleplay focused but has plenty of crunch if you’re willing to dig and lots of historical settings to play around with.

 

[Wormy]

I'm gonna be that guy.

Play Rifts.

Learn to play the system. Play Rifts.

Join the Coalition. Save Humanity. Shoot a deebee in the face for Mommy.

Go fuck a rake and eat my oversized chainsaw skeleton armor wearin dirtbags! (All Juicer party, GOD it was a blast)

Delta Green, which is just military meets Lovecraft roleplaying games, though you can tailor it how you see fit.

The best way to do Resident Evil outside of All Flesh Must Be Eaten.

If you want Twin Peaks and X-Files, chronicles of darkness is pretty simple to do, plus there’s splats for playing wizards, ghost people, psychics, the KGB, and more. It’s more roleplay focused but has plenty of crunch if you’re willing to dig and lots of historical settings to play around with.

Hell, if you want X Files, Hunter: The Vigil, all Project Valkyrie party.

 

[Adamska]

VtM's Nature/Demeanor provides players with a better idea of how a character should behave rather than the mental gymnastics they go through to justify their atrocities as good or lawful.

Speaking of the ST system, if you want something goofier that isn't dark and allows you to play over the top characters, try White Wolf's Street Fighter RPG. It's genuinely one of the first ST systems I'd recommend if you just want to get into using D10 pools and don't feel like being a mopey monster or furry coomer bait, two of the biggest turn-offs I've encountered from people who don't like the ST system or the games that use them.

Even if you do, you can still port your Street Fighters over due to compatibility and fuck up their world. Want Blanka to rage through your party of minmaxing Brujah dickheads? Sure. Want the gang to dunk on Dan Hibiki and laugh? Sure can do. Want to do a mixed bag game where someone plays a blaxploitation kung fu artist fighting Kuei Jin? You do you.

Also going to premiere part 1 of our reading on it tonight.

 

[PaladinBoo]

For neutral evil, its mostly because at the end of the day, evil is evil, and evil needs to be slain (unless youre working with a lesser evil).

For neutral good, its because the more heroic characters tend to go for lawful good, while dangerhairs will often go for chaotic because its quirky. But I do think neutral good gets unjustly overlooked

I am one of those players that likes to mostly play as neutral good. Mainly because I like to play as a diplomatic type character and neutral good gives me a bit more freedom in that regard. I can balance out the Lawful and the Chaotic members of the party as well as help others without prejudice.

 

[The Spoony One X]

I'm interested in tabletop RPGs, but I've never played one before. A few friends and I would like to play one together, but we're kind of weary of D&D in light of all the awful news about it.

What would you guys recommend? Where should I begin? If you guys don't mind me asking, of course.

Since you are all new you could even go back to Moldvay Basic DnD or one of the OSR games that build on basic, it's a good way to learn the basics as the name suggests as it cuts out a lot of the fluff and complications. That's if you are interested in playing a fantasy themed game and don't mind being a lvl 1 cleric with no healing magic.

 

[Mr. Manchester]

I'm interested in tabletop RPGs, but I've never played one before. A few friends and I would like to play one together, but we're kind of weary of D&D in light of all the awful news about it.

What would you guys recommend? Where should I begin? If you guys don't mind me asking, of course.

Find something that you sort of understand and that you know your players will. If its dnd 5e then so be it, its designed for new players after all. Then just run anything, it might be something dumb and you might fuck everything up but if you have a good attitude then your session will work out. Don't worry about the bitching and moaning about editions and lore until you've become a wretched husk like myself.

Go and play, everything else will come in time.

 

[anti SJW]

I want to make a adventure to be run at a convention. Not organized play and living characters like they are doing now, old school with pre made characters.
Characters will be first level. They need to go clear a multi level cave complex of goblins.
Everyone of the characters will be in a wheelchair. The caves are in an area where no magic, even divine magic will work. So they have to navigate the caves and fight the goblins with normal items.
One character will be black, one lesbian, one gay, one trans, one furry, and one straight white male that everyone else will blame their own issues on.
Did I check all the boxes so I won't get canceled?