What to run when you are done with D&D?

[Mezuka]

I am broadly frustrated with 5E in general, but what I found when doing a session of OD&D was players unhappy with very stripped down characters. I want a not-D&D because I want to find an alternative that still silupports the dungeon fantasy playstyle with the associated expectations and baggage of some D&D variant.

I had the same problem. Tried Fantasy AGE but it was too action hero for my taste. Shadow of the Demon Lord has a really nice path system my players like. They feel the options are better than those in FAGE.

At level 1 you choose a Novice path (magician, priest, rogue, warrior). Then at level 3, you take an Expert path which opens up the Paladin for warriors, the Cleric for a priest, just to name a few. Later you take a Master path to further specialize. Players get something at every level. There are only 10 levels, which is something I really like.

The characters only do 2 actions per turn, with one possible Triggered action. The action economy is much simpler, which is something that irks me in 5e.

You can add more path and race options with The Companion Books 1 & 2.

I don't like the setting of SotDL. I ignore it and use Greyhawk instead. My game is already grimdark, so it works.

 

[Mezuka]

I would also add that the support for SotDL is extensive both in rule books and adventures. FAGE really suffers from that. Green Ronin (FAGE) is not very active on the adventure or campaign front.

To me that is very important. I never play official adventures 'as written' but I find they are great inspiration sources. They help me create adventures outside my usual habits. I suffered from the lack of adventures for FAGE.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

EDIT because it seems to be getting lost: I am talking about wanting to do the whole dungeon fantasy thing, but not with any version of D&D.

More specifically, what do you run when you are done with D&D specifically, but still want something "D&D like" -- dungeons, monsters, traps, treasure, etc...?

HERO is my #1 go-to system. Its flexibility means I can run a D&D style game, a M:tG campaign, WoD, a mix of types, or something most people have never seen.

 

[Aldarc]

I would also add that the support for SotDL is extensive both in rule books and adventures. FAGE really suffers from that. Green Ronin (FAGE) is not very active on the adventure or campaign front.

To me that is very important. I never play official adventures 'as written' but I find they are great inspiration sources. They help me create adventures outside my usual habits. I suffered from the lack of adventures for FAGE.

Did FAGE take a piss in your breakfast cereal, shoot your dog, or something?

FAGE and SotDL are both good systems, both of which I enjoy playing. You don't have to endorse SotDL by constantly taking shots at FAGE.

FAGE had a number of setbacks due to some legal issues at Green Ronin as well as the planned Titansgrave setting being gutted by Legendary's acquisition of Geek & Sundry. But Green Ronin has also published and supports Modern AGE (e.g., Threefold setting, the Expanse, etc.) and the Blue Rose conversion to AGE. Green Ronin has also just launched FAGE's community content program and published Trojan War for FAGE, and there is a revised core rulebook set for release this year.

If one is looking for adventure ideas for inspiration, there are plenty out there regardless of system. AGE is not exactly difficult to run or adjust to that, particularly given the overall ease of the system.

 

[DarkCrisis]

For me it was Shadowrun. Followed by Vampire the Masquerade.

 

[Reynard]

Did FAGE take a piss in your breakfast cereal, shoot your dog, or something?

FAGE and SotDL are both good systems, both of which I enjoy playing. You don't have to endorse SotDL by constantly taking shots at FAGE.

FAGE had a number of setbacks due to some legal issues at Green Ronin as well as the planned Titansgrave setting being gutted by Legendary's acquisition of Geek & Sundry. But Green Ronin has also published and supports Modern AGE (e.g., Threefold setting, the Expanse, etc.) and the Blue Rose conversion to AGE. Green Ronin has also just launched FAGE's community content program and published Trojan War for FAGE, and there is a revised core rulebook set for release this year.

If one is looking for adventure ideas for inspiration, there are plenty out there regardless of system. AGE is not exactly difficult to run or adjust to that, particularly given the overall ease of the system.

I didn't see that as attacking FAGE, they were just pointing out something that was likely important to anyone considering systems.

 

[Reynard]

For me it was Shadowrun. Followed by Vampire the Masquerade.

These don't seem like dungeon fantasy games.

 

[Sir Brennen]

Well, of my current games, one is D&D 5E and the other is a Savage Worlds sci-fi setting. But when those end, I'm looking at the following (already own them all) as a possible fantasy-but-not-D&D-alternative:

The Fantasy Trip - actual old school that has nothing to do with D&D. Have run a few games so far
Savage Worlds Pathfinder - d20 converted to a completely different system for a different feel. Haven't run SWPF, but plenty of SW games
Mörk Borg - OSR adjacent over-the-topness.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The Fantasy Trip - actual old school that has nothing to do with D&D. Have run a few games so far

I own most of the original products for TFT/In the labyrinth. Good game system. Dark City games used a version of the same system for their stuff, too.

Havent gotten my hands on the new edition, though.

 

[Parmandur]

@Reynard have have looked at RuneQuest? They have a new starter set, and it covers the usual sort of D&D tropes shut with a different take, with plenty of character crunch.