D&D 4E 4e Competition/Alternatives?

[Belorin]

Arduin Eternal

Well as you can tell from my sig I am an advocate for Arduin Eternal. Which is the new incarnation of the Arduin Grimoires by Dave Hargraves that started out in 1977 as a rules supplement for D&D. However it quickly evolved into it's own system, since then it has gone thru a couple more evolutions.
The Arduin Eternal game differs from D&D in several different ways;
1) first and foremost, it uses a d100 game mechanic, this allows for a wider range of gameplay options.
2) it is a level-less system, advancement is by skill proficency, each class has 3 or 4 core skills that as you use them your proficency increases.
3) you have static hit points, these are determined at character creation and very rarely change.
4) there are 16 basic classes and 21 character races.
5) Arduin is the game and also the game setting, Arduin itself is a small country on the continent of Khaora, which contains over 70 civilized countries and other gatherings of peoples and civilizations. Khaora is one of five continents on the world known as Khass.
Arduin rose to prominence due to the discovery that there were a unknown number of nexus gates that opened on different worlds and/or dimensions. Adventuring in Arduin is a dangerous occupation and the only things that keep you alive are your wits, your skills and your friends. But, hey two out of three ain't bad.
Arduin is a world of ancient magic, starfaring cvilizations and horrific monsters, do you want to live forever?
One thing I should mention is that AE is not out yet, it should be finishing up the playtest phase and going through it's final adjustment soon. Check out the website in my sig for more details and news.
Also check out Emperors Choice for the Compleat Arduin, the previous incarnation.


Bel

 

[malladin]

I think Savage Worlds has to be considered a serious competitor. It's got similar underlying design and play principles to 3.5 and an ever broader toolkit approach, SW can do most genres not just fantasy and you get get excellent genre specific toolkits. Likewise, the ease of play and prepartion that 4th ed will allegedly offer are already, in my opinion, achieved by SW. Plus at $10 for a complete 160 page full colour rulebook (Explorers Edition) you can afford to take the chance and, if the net is anything to go by!, a lot of people, me included, are glad they gave it a try and have made it a go to game.

True 20 is a popular one that streamlines 3.5 somewhat and is going to continue to be supported so offers a 3.5 style alternative to 4th.

WFRP is a solid alternative if you like grim and gritty.

Qin, while very specifically historical Chinese fantasy, is truely amazing.

Ultimately, your best bet is to check out reviews on differing sites and ask about/play some games your interested in in your FLGS or RPG club if your area has either or both.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Mutants & Masterminds killed my D&D and didn't bother taking its stuff. M&M's stuff is better, is why. However, you can take d20 rules and tidbits and port them to M&M without much effort at all. It's d20++, basically.

There's an official fantasy supplement for it, coming out later this year (tentatively titled 'Warriors & Warlocks', I think.) However, fantasy is well and truly easy to do, as it stands. That goes for just about any genre, any setting, any feel. High powered, gritty, light-hearted, grim. . . etc.

If you like the idea of a totally flexible system, without classes, levels and HPs - check it out. There's probably a demo PDF at the Green Ronin website. I know there is for True20, so most likely, yeah.

The forums at atomicthinktank.com are also excellent, just as the ones at true20.com are. Helpful, and full of great fan-created material.

/fanboi sales pitch

 

[malladin]

Mutants & Masterminds killed my D&D and didn't bother taking its stuff. M&M's stuff is better, is why. However, you can take d20 rules and tidbits and port them to M&M without much effort at all. It's d20++, basically.

There's an official fantasy supplement for it, coming out later this year (tentatively titled 'Warriors & Warlocks', I think.) However, fantasy is well and truly easy to do, as it stands. That goes for just about any genre, any setting, any feel. High powered, gritty, light-hearted, grim. . . etc.

I'm looking forward to this as well, M&M will convert to fantasy fantastically.

 

[Halivar]

I hear FATAL is good.

Maybe World of Synnibar.

Wow. Why not throw Palladium into the mix, while you're at it?

 

[PatrickLawinger]

I suppose my question breaks down to
a) Is anyone else coming out with a new system/game to in any way compete with 4e?
b) What are the popular or well-done alternatives to 4e available in the coming year? (as I've played 3.5 to the point I want to try something beyond d20 should 4e be a bust)

Apologies if this is a newbie question, just trying to expand my horizons of the roleplaying game genre.

You have some suggestions for games above and some of those are pretty good. It pretty much depends on what you are looking for.

As for "competing" with 4e, let's face facts, DnD is the juggernaut of RPGs, nobody can really compete with it. The fact is, most of the people that buy or play other systems STILL buy a copy of the latest DnD rules to look at (and sometimes to complain about). 4e DnD sales, whatever they may be, will be many times more than the next best selling non-DnD game.

That said, I do believe that there are opportunities for new game systems now. These games will always have a smaller niche than DnD but 4e and the new system does not seem to have the attraction 3e/d20 did in terms of people switching "back" to DnD. A lot of those people have left, or been disenchanted with d20 and are actively looking for other systems. Remember, a small company doesn't have to sell anywhere near as many copies of a book as WotC to make a profit.

The problem with all lesser-known RPGs is finding a group of players. The internet does help solve that problem. I have heard rumors of other online "game tables" being worked on, and some are available already. We'll all have to wait and see what the future brings.

I am waiting to see what other games come out myself. Like a number of people on ENWorld, I have many more games than I can actually play and I am still suckered into buying more.

Patrick

 

[Center-of-All]

I'd recommend GURPS. It's a lot of fun, easy to wrap your head around, and the rules complexity can be scaled to match how complex you want them. There's a free preview on Steve Jackson Games' site. Not to mention it has the hands-down best written supplements in the industry.

 

[WyzardWhately]

There's a new game coming out, Eldritch Roleplaying, from Goodman Games. To my eye, it looks like BECMI and Savage Worlds had a baby.

 

[Derro]

Green Ronin is releasing the A Song of Ice and Fire RPG this summer, based on George R.R. Martin's novels.

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.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

Earthdawn's awful good.

Shadowrun 4th edition , too.

Of course there's the World of Darkness, Exalted and the new Scion line is just pure awesome in a can...er..book.