D&D 5E Best D&D 5e alternate ruleset?

[Lakesidefantasy]

Is Shadowdark completely built for dungeon crawls, or can you do outdoor adventuring all types of fantasy with it?

Shadowdark is built for dungeon crawls but it has rules for outdoor and urban adventuring too. You just don't have to worry about not being able to see in the dark.

 

[Stormonu]

Best alternative to 5E? Savage Worlds!

Bar that, I have a fondness for Dragonbane's design though I haven't actually had the opportunity to play it yet.

 

[The Soloist]

Reusing some of the good concepts that 4e had isn't a sin, don't dismiss 13th Age just because it has lifted good ideas from multiple editions of D&D, including one that they were willing to try out ideas outside the comfortable sacred cows of D&D.

I bought the book, read it and it didn't work for me.

 

[Theory of Games]

The D&D Rules Cyclopedia: it does everything your favorite fantasy ttrpg can do PLUS everything it can't

 

[Arilyn]

I bought the book, read it and it didn't work for me.

I'm not being pushy here, and it may very well not be the game for you, but I wasn't too sure about 13th Age until I played it. Playing and running the game made it sing.

 

[Micah Sweet]

After the WotC fiascos, many companies decided to develop their own in-house alternative D&D 5e rulesets that are based on the skeleton of D&D 5e. I recently picked up Tales of the Valiant by Kobold Press, formerly known as Project Black Flag, but haven't gotten to read it yet.

I am curious what alternative 5e rulesets have my fellow gamers looked at out there and/or ran or played and what ones you think are best. I am also going to include a few OSR adjacent rulesets that interest me as viable alternatives to D&D 5e to get your thoughts as well.

Tales of the Valiant
Level Up: Advanced 5th. Edition
Nimble
13th. Age 2e
Cubicle 7 D20 (C7D20)
Pathfinder 2e

Dragonbane

Castles & Crusades
Dungeon Crawl Classics
Hyperborea 3e
Worlds Without Number
Old School Essentials

Level Up is my favorite 5e ruleset, bar none. I like DCC and WWN, and am intrigued by OSE, but I don't see those as alternate 5e rulesets since they're not derived from the 5e base. Those are OSR games (like my favorite OSR game ACKS), a different animal from 5e.

 

[The Soloist]

I'm not being pushy here, and it may very well not be the game for you, but I wasn't too sure about 13th Age until I played it. Playing and running the game made it sing.

Nobody wanted to play it which is one of the reasons it didn't work for me.

(edit) in those days I didn't play solo like I do today. I'll give it a chance when the 2e pdf comes out.

 

[Micah Sweet]

We've been doing a lot of outdoor stuff with Shadowdark. Works great. There is also a pulp mode if you want more epic heroes.

I've read Shadowdark and it looks like a great game. I'd love to play if circumstances allow.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I appreciate the classes in 13th Age being specifically designed. I love the fact that averages of stats are used for defenses. You really don't want to dump any stat in 13th Age. And the one unique thing is brilliant. Also love the freeform use of backgrounds as skills. The way a background is written not only defines what potential skills you have, but the vibe of the character.

I tried 13th Age, but it turned out to be too focused on narrative mechanics and balance to suit my preferences, much like its ancestor 4e. Cool bestiary though.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The D&D Rules Cyclopedia: it does everything your favorite fantasy ttrpg can do PLUS everything it can't

It is a beautiful game. I treasure my physical copy.