D&D 4E 4e Competition/Alternatives?

[dm4hire]

There's also RoleMaster Classic and WEG is rumored to be working on a new fantasy rpg based on the D6 engine. Also, Kenzer will probably have HackMaster 5 out sometime in the next 2-3 years.

I'm not sure about this. I heard rumor that WotC declined to renew the license Kenzer was using to write Hackmaster as it is based partly on AD&D 1st ed. If it is true then most likely they will not. If you get a chance though and look at Fantasy Craft I mentioned the cover gives a feel of Hackmaster when you look at. You can get to it at Mongoose's product list. WotC declined to renew quite a few licenses over the last year or so, first Gamma World, then Ravenloft, and then Hackmaster. I was thinking there was a fourth but can't remember off hand.

I'm wondering if that wasn't due to 4e as they have said a lot of stuff is on the table for possible renewal for settings and such. Gamma World, though not named out right, was actually covered in the d20 Modern stuff and might be a full campaign under 2e. We can cross fingers. I didn't like the 3rd party treatment of it, but did like the Alternity rules.

Ack!! Alternity! If you can get a hold of it, there is a decent game that was short lived. You could see a lot of 3.x precursor in that game system. Highly recommend it. Should petition to get WotC to do a 2e for it as well. I miss my books, but lack of interest and no real need for them I saw no reason to keep them at the time.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Earthdawn is my favorite system ever (mechanics included). It is also actually quite easy to divorce the implied setting from the rules. At least I was able to create an Arabian Nights setting with some new classes and races with very little difficulty.

Ars Magica is the one game that I've always wanted to play, but have never had the chance to.

Champions (Hero System supers game) is also good, but make sure you have a lot of d6s and a calculator.

 

[Jhaelen]

Earthdawn is my favorite system ever (mechanics included).

I've enjoyed playing it a lot, too. Lots of neat ideas that have found their way into D&D...

The game mechanics are very pleasing to the mathmatically inclined (in a way the opposite of the extremely ugly Shadowrun mechanics) but they're not the easiest to use - it can take a while to figure out, which dice to roll.
I also modified the system early on to get rid of the d20 - it added too much variation for my taste. Ah, the fun!

Ars Magica is the one game that I've always wanted to play, but have never had the chance to.

That's my personal favorite. I didn't get to play it very long - only a few sessions, but even then we had loads of fun just creating our Winter Covenant and all the inhabitants, the old archmages, the countless grogs, the infinite number of adventure hooks...and the troupe playstyle is super!

Champions (Hero System supers game) is also good, but make sure you have a lot of d6s and a calculator.

Don't know this one. Probably not to my taste, though.

I'd like to mention 'Runequest', though. The system with the best balance between playability and realism I've seen so far. The various derivates are also nice (Pendragon, CoC, Stormbringer, etc.)

 

[mhensley]

I'm not sure about this. I heard rumor that WotC declined to renew the license Kenzer was using to write Hackmaster as it is based partly on AD&D 1st ed. If it is true then most likely they will not. If you get a chance though and look at Fantasy Craft I mentioned the cover gives a feel of Hackmaster when you look at. You can get to it at Mongoose's product list. WotC declined to renew quite a few licenses over the last year or so, first Gamma World, then Ravenloft, and then Hackmaster. I was thinking there was a fourth but can't remember off hand.

Yes this is true, but the next version of HackMaster will not be based directly upon AD&D. AFAIK it will be based on Kenzer's western rpg Aces & Eights.

 

[HP Dreadnought]

The Black Company Campaign Setting - Pretty much the best gritty/dark fantasy campaign setting out there. It was published by Green Ronin and is based on a 3.x underlying engine with a completely new magic system, completely new classes, and some changes to the way combat/hit points work. Does a great job capturing the feel of the Black Company series of fantasy books by Glen Cook. If gritty fantasy/brutal combat is your thing, I'd highly recommend it.

 

[Minicol]

For real? Is it their own system or an extension of the GoO original. I really like the original but have never had a chance to play. My buddy owned the book but moved out of town and probably won't be back for a year.

There is supposed to be an HBO series of ASIF coming out as well. That promises to be pretty sweet.

Any news on that anywhere ? i am very interested

 

[The Little Raven]

*glances around*

Fine.

I'll say it.

EXALTED 2ND EDITION!

 

[BASHMAN]

I LOVE ASOI&F, and ran one of my best BASH! Fantasy Edition campaigns set in Westeros (using the low magic rules).

However, the claim that rape appears in the book is a little true. There is a scene in which the Mountain that Rides & his men are at an inn, and and they rape the innkeepers daughter, because the innkeeper complained about how she was being treated, then the Mountain gives the man a silver stag for her and demands the innkeeper give him his change. However, it should be noted that the Mountain that Rides is EVIL INCARNATE. When he was 17, he burnt half his 10 year old brother's face off for touching his things. His father died in a "hunting accident". He killed THEN raped the old princess, and killed both her children. The Mountain is Possibly the most evil character to exist in the history of fiction-- but there have been people in real life who may have been worse. I don't know if "rape exists in ASOI&F" is a legitimate complaint about a world so similar to a non-ideaistl medieval europe. That might be a legit complaint about a children's book, but ASOI&F is definately not for kids!

 

[Derro]

Any news on that anywhere ? i am very interested

If you're talking about the game, Chris Pramas let out a little info on the first page of this thread. If you're talking about the HBO series then Wikipedia has all the info and links I'm privy to. I haven't checked in a while so you might want to go and look for yourself.

But I veer off-topic so I'll suggest some of my favorite games to help out the OP.

1) FUDGE

Very good. Suitable for any style of play. I've run Star Wars, post-apocalypse, pirates, bronze age, late renaissance Europe (that one was the best), and modern horror. It is more of a tool-kit than a ready to play game. There's lots of material available most of which is free on the net. Some published material that varies in difficulty to find at any FLGS.

2) Warhammer FRPG

I vowed never to play Warhammer again after the last time. Then the new and revised edition came out. Hot Damn! is about all I can say to that. Way smoother play. The original rules that didn't make sense or just hindered play... gone. But so much of the cool stuff is still there. The career advancement system is worth the price of admission alone.

3) d20 Conan RPG

My non-D&D d20 du jour. Very familiar in its rules so super easy to pick up. The revised second edition has some nice additions but the first edition is just as playable. Armor as DR, spell-casting can be hazardous and corrupting, simple classes, and a few modifications to the combat system that really amp up the action. I highly recommend this one.

4) Mongoose Runequest

Similar to the early Chaosium or Avalon Hill stuff but a bit smoother in implementation in my opinion. I don't play much RQ any more but this release tempted me. It also has worlds for Elric or Stormbringer, Hawkmoon, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, and Slaine (not sure if that last one's released yet). Good game. Can be grim or heroic as you like. Check this link for the SRD and Wiki. There is a mountain of published material for this from Mongoose.

5) Heroic Golden Turbulence

Ha! Half joking on this one. I just really want somebody to play this game. The only response I get from any of my boys is, "That's a lot of frickin' dice." But here's the link anyway.

Good gaming.

Addendum to epochrpg: While what you've said above is true none of the rape stuff is gratuitous or graphic. I've read worse and even seen worse on prime-time TV. I know you're not calling it down but that sort of stuff is pretty tame throughout the series. Unless it gets all hentai in Feast of Crows. I'm not that far yet. Just my two cp. Read what you want.