How Dragonbane Pointed out the Clashing Desires of My Gaming Group

[Doctor Futurity]

I have a weird suggestion: try finding a copy of Tunnels & Trolls and see if they can grokk it. T&T is not mechanically rigorous, but you can go from zero to hero with some luck easily. As GM its super easy to run, and you can control the power flow pretty easily. Combats are big dice pool rolls and you can throw low MR (monster rating) monsters at them to make them feel stupid powerful....if they have good math skills they will see through the veil and realize the odds are stacked in their favor (or against it if you feel mean) but if their maths are bad then they will never notice. T&T is all about action and dungeon crawling, and while you can inject roleplay into it all you want it is not in the least bit necessary. Like with D&D 5E, your level of inventory management is "set to taste" and you can easily ignore that component if you want....or let players decided.

If you try this idea, look for a copy of 5th edition T&T or later.

 

[BigZebra]

Oh Retreater your post mortem threads are amazing. I always cross my fingers and hope you and your friends have found THE system.

Anyway it’s obvious they want 3e with Nine Swords. But perhaps even 5e might do it (even if that makes you gasp).

 

[BigZebra]

Or if you want something different there’s Dungeon Fantasy (powered by GURPS). It’s a 3d8 bell curve system so you succeed a lot and it’s hugely tactical (stuff like facing matters).

 

[Retreater]

I have a weird suggestion: try finding a copy of Tunnels & Trolls and see if they can grokk it. T&T is not mechanically rigorous, but you can go from zero to hero with some luck easily. As GM its super easy to run, and you can control the power flow pretty easily. Combats are big dice pool rolls and you can throw low MR (monster rating) monsters at them to make them feel stupid powerful....if they have good math skills they will see through the veil and realize the odds are stacked in their favor (or against it if you feel mean) but if their maths are bad then they will never notice. T&T is all about action and dungeon crawling, and while you can inject roleplay into it all you want it is not in the least bit necessary. Like with D&D 5E, your level of inventory management is "set to taste" and you can easily ignore that component if you want....or let players decided.

If you try this idea, look for a copy of 5th edition T&T or later.

I've been curious about T&T for a while, but have never had luck finding it.
If I do get it, I'll try selling it to my group by saying, "It's TNT, it's ... dynomite."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Not only have I done this a few times, but it's also a good way to get a shot at some more obscure games.

Damn it, that's a great idea. I may have to take advantage of that myself.

 

[Retreater]

Oh Retreater your post mortem threads are amazing. I always cross my fingers and hope you and your friends have found THE system.

I don't know if there's a perfect system. I've spent lots of time and money trying to find it. More than likely it's going to take me getting my hands dirty and curating the experience with some GM skills I haven't used in 20 years. Honestly, I've been trying to find an out of the box solution for something that needs more finesse.

Anyway it’s obvious they want 3e with Nine Swords. But perhaps even 5e might do it (even if that makes you gasp).

Or heck maybe the answer is Level Up with the martial maneuvers?

 

[The Soloist]

Have you looked at Fantasy AGE with the random stunt systems? They might like that. It is based on the CRPG called Dragon Age. It's easy to run and less crunchy than 5e.

 

[JEB]

Just stop playing any RPGs through the end of the year. When January comes and they ask about gaming again, tell them one of them can run something but that you won't.

And just stick to that. Make them do the work for once.

To be fair, this is not without risk - I did this back in the 2000s, and it functionally killed my gaming group for years. I don't regret it at all, and the gaming since has been better, but you have to really believe that no gaming is better than bad gaming.

 

[Retreater]

To be fair, this is not without risk - I did this back in the 2000s, and it functionally killed my gaming group for years. I don't regret it at all, and the gaming since has been better, but you have to really believe that no gaming is better than bad gaming.

To clarify, the two "problem players" are my wife and my neighbor, so that has other considerations to not just nuke the group and risk damaging these relationships.
I'd rather turn "bad gaming" into the best I can make it.

 

[jdrakeh]

...they want 3E.

I came here to post exactly this. The good news is, I suppose, that you can get the three core books for 3e from Noble Knight in NM/EX condition for like $10 a piece (without the CD from the PHB).