What Is Your Go-To Pick-Up TTRPG?

zarionofarabel · 2025-12-22T12:45:32+0000

Oh, uh, mine changed recently!

For a long time my answer would have been Far Trek cause most gamers know enough about Star Trek to be able to buy in to the premise, and the system is pretty simple.

However, as I finally got involved in the horror genre this year, I think my new go-to would be Mothership! It takes all of 2 minutes to make a PC. The premise is pretty widely known so it's super easy for players understanding the theme and genre conventions. Also, as a bonus, you can end evey game with a TPK and it's okay because it's horror, TPK is standard practice!

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2025-12-22T18:51:14+0000

zarionofarabel said:
I think my new go-to would be Mothership! It takes all of 2 minutes to make a PC. The premise is pretty widely known so it's super easy for players understanding the theme and genre conventions. Also, as a bonus, you can end evey game with a TPK and it's okay because it's horror, TPK is standard practice!

The Mothership character sheet is genius as well, and doubles as a simple players guide. (And happily, more and more games are making character sheets that emulate it.)

TheHand · 2025-12-22T19:02:40+0000

I haven’t done a game like this for a while, usually we switch to board games as the backup plan… but if I were going to throw an instant game together I’d pick Shadowdark for fantasy (or possibly Dragonbane) and if the group was game to try something different I’d reach for Gamma World, either the actual “4th” edition of the game that was based on AD&D 2e or the even wackier “4e” Gamma World based on D&D 4e. The latter is practically made for one-shots.

zarionofarabel · 2025-12-22T19:13:50+0000

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
The Mothership character sheet is genius as well, and doubles as a simple players guide. (And happily, more and more games are making character sheets that emulate it.)

Yeah, I positively love the character sheet. I've seen a few games with character sheets that double as player aids, it's such a fantastic idea.

What Is Your Go-To Pick-Up TTRPG?

zarionofarabel

Hero

Whizbang Dustyboots

Gnometown Hero

TheHand

Hero

zarionofarabel

Hero

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