What TTRPGs Excel At Not Having Combat?

[MichaelSomething]

Golden Sky Stories is a heartwarming, non-violent role-playing game from Japan, by Ryo Kamiya. In this game, players take on the role of henge, animals that have just a little bit of magical power.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/118784/golden-sky-stories

 

[dbm]

Another option could be Chuubo’s Magical Wish Granting Engine. While it can include combat it can also do pastoral, slice-of-life kind of stuff. It’s more about the journey than the destination s I understand it.

 

[Mongoose_Matt]

I would raise a hand for Traveller - a popular starting-off adventure is High and Dry, which can be completed without any combat at all (unless the players poke a space dog, which really just wants to share their food).

Also, Pioneer (plug, Kickstarter beginning today), which does not have a Combat chapter. There is a single combat skill, if you really feel the need to hit something that moves, but otherwise it is all focussed on the environment as an adversary.

 

[Aldarc]

I am feeling the need to stretch my GMing skills beyond my comfort zone a little, and since I generally like high concept, high action games, I thought I would ask about games that don't rely on action, especially combat, to be compelling.

Whether it is romance, mystery, horror, politics or just slice of life, what games do you think excel at being engaging and compelling in play without being focused on action adventure or combat?

Good Society: A Jane Austen RPG

Ryuutama: A Natural Fantasy RPG. Sometimes lovingly referred to as "Hayao Miyazaki's Oregon Trail." Combat can be part of the game but it's entirely dependent on what the GM puts along the way on the pilgrims' journey and what Ryuujin (a weird sort of background draconic GM character) the GM selects that sets the tone.

Vaesen: Nordic Horror Roleplay by Free League. Can you fight? Sure. But the goal is investigating the best ways to deal with the supernatural creatures.

Wanderhome and Golden Sky Stories have already been mentioned.

 

[Distracted DM]

I've heard good things about the Discworld rpg. I have it but foolishly have not yet read it.

 

[Ben from Periapt Games]

I've heard good things about the Discworld rpg. I have it but foolishly have not yet read it.

I've read but not played the old GURPS Discworld RPG. There's a good amount of non-combat content in that typical GURPSy way, including lots of character options and some scenarios and adventure seeds.

(I backed the new Modiphius one too, and I'm hoping to get time to read through it soon)

 

[Reynard]

Thanks everyone that has made suggestions so far.

A little background: I was trying to get a friend of mine to try Daggerheart, and he said "If a manager for a Punch and Judy puppet show can't be a viable PC in the game, I probably won't last long." and "I don't want to be forced to be a tactician in a role-playing game" in the ensuring discussion. Now, I don't necessarily want to run Punch and Judy: Behind the Scenes, but it did get me thinking about running something more dramatic. Not cozy, and with real stakes, but where choices and interactions are the driving force rather than action and violence.

I don't really want to default to a monster/murder mystery though. Maybe something bleak, like The Road or Looking For a Friend at the End of the World, or something weird like a time loop or dream world RPG.

 

[Aldarc]

Thanks everyone that has made suggestions so far.

A little background: I was trying to get a friend of mine to try Daggerheart, and he said "If a manager for a Punch and Judy puppet show can't be a viable PC in the game, I probably won't last long." and "I don't want to be forced to be a tactician in a role-playing game" in the ensuring discussion. Now, I don't necessarily want to run Punch and Judy: Behind the Scenes, but it did get me thinking about running something more dramatic. Not cozy, and with real stakes, but where choices and interactions are the driving force rather than action and violence.

I don't really want to default to a monster/murder mystery though. Maybe something bleak, like The Road or Looking For a Friend at the End of the World, or something weird like a time loop or dream world RPG.

In before someone unhelpfully says, "Oh you can totally play 5e D&D [or insert their favorite TTRPG here] that way!"

That said, I'll need more time to think on your clarified prompt Reynard.

 

[Parmandur]

Lots of modern narrative RPGs can do thst sort of thing.

I heard good things about Good Society, a Jane Austen Regency RPG: Good Society: A Jane Austen Roleplaying Game

 

[Parmandur]

A little background: I was trying to get a friend of mine to try Daggerheart, and he said "If a manager for a Punch and Judy puppet show can't be a viable PC in the game, I probably won't last long." and "I don't want to be forced to be a tactician in a role-playing game" in the ensuring discussion. Now, I don't necessarily want to run Punch and Judy: Behind the Scenes, but it did get me thinking about running something more dramatic. Not cozy, and with real stakes, but where choices and interactions are the driving force rather than action and violence.

Ah, given this background, let me bear my drum: the Cosmere RPG would support this. It is entirely viable to create the character your friend wants to play who literally contributes nothing in combat, while another player is freaking John Wick and...it will work. It does require the DM provide Scenes where pupper show management take center stage (as it were) where punching is no good, but...it will work. It bridges the combatant/non-combatant balance problem that D&D has spent 50 years actively ignoring.