D&D 4E 4e Competition/Alternatives?

[DamnedChoir]

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

Does it include lots of downer endings and rules for violent rape scenes, just like in his novels?

 

[Spinachcat]

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

Pour, this is an excellent question.

I highly recommend expanding your gaming horizons beyond D&D. Not because D&D is bad in any way, but the RPG world is much wider than most gamers know. Also, I suggest not just looking at new games or currently sold games, but checking out out of print games that can be found cheap on eBay.

Making any kind of recommendations is tough not knowing what you like to play. Finding players can be a challenge sometimes, but I find that most groups are pretty flexible about trying out a new game for a one-shot or a short campaign. When introducing a new game to friends, don't say that this is the D&D replacement for the next decade. Introduce it as something fun to try for an evening or a few weeks.

The game I always suggest new players try out is Call of Cthulhu. CoC is extremely different from D&D and incredible fun. Outside of D&D, CoC is the most popular game run at conventions in the US. It's about investigating strange horror in the 1920s and great spooky fun when run correctly. CoC is not about becoming powerful, or even surviving, but saving the world from That Which Should Not Be.

If you are looking for just another fantasy RPG, then I agree with the Warhammer suggestions. It is an powerful setting for great stories and combat is wonderfully brutal. If you enjoy low-level D&D, then you might like Warhammer. However, if you much prefer high level D&D play, then you need to check out White Wolf's Exalted RPG which is anime fantasy with an exciting setting and huge company support. Personally, I prefer Exalted 1e.

BTW, if your group likes spellcasters, hunt down an RPG from Key20 Publishing called Eldritch Ass Kicking: the Game of Old Men with Sticks. It is a humorous RPG where everyone plays a crazy wizard and you create spells, counterspells and golems on the fly to battle each other and the various villains across the setting. Every time I have run this game at conventions, 3.5 players get really excited because of the freedom of play.

 

[WyzardWhately]

Does it include lots of downer endings and rules for violent rape scenes, just like in his novels?

Downer Endings: Not sure I understand what you're saying here. The series hasn't ended. Main Characters do die, but it doesn't seem to be purposeless, if that's what you're referring to.

Violent Rape Scenes: Did you actually read the books? It's stated clearly that rape happens in the world, but I don't recall any of it happening on-screen. Yes, it's a much harsher dose of brutal reality than typical, but you've implied some kind of splatter-punk torture porn where it doesn't seem to exist.

I'm not even going to try and suggest these books are for everyone, or appropriate for younger readers, but your characterization is drastically unfair.

 

[Derro]

Violent Rape Scenes: Did you actually read the books? It's stated clearly that rape happens in the world, but I don't recall any of it happening on-screen. Yes, it's a much harsher dose of brutal reality than typical, but you've implied some kind of splatter-punk torture porn where it doesn't seem to exist.

I'm not even going to try and suggest these books are for everyone, or appropriate for younger readers, but your characterization is drastically unfair.

Hear here! Martin's books are definitely adult oriented but there have never been any graphic scenes of rape and the violence is simply unadorned. I'd hardly call any of the books gratuitous. I guess some people just prefer things fluffy...

 

[Coldspell]

Story Games?

RPGnet has lots of helpful reviews of many games, with a variety of systems and genre.

Here are some reviews of "Indie RPGs" award-winning games: http://index.rpg.net/display-search.phtml?key=award&value=Indie+RPG

A new sword & sorcery "story game" that looks very cool: In A Wicked Age: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13669.phtml

 

[frankthedm]

Does it include lots of downer endings and rules for violent rape scenes, just like in his novels?

F.A.T.A.L. has more details for violent rape scenes than you could ever want.

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Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. I like the new edition, and there should be a lot of useful material out there (even stuff from the previous edition should be useable - at least the adventures.) This might be one of your best bet for playing Fantasy, though it's a lot grittier then D&D. The atmosphere is dark, nobody trusts anyone, and anyone that seems trustworthy probably is actually consorting with demons. And everybody dies.

Really good. Can be rough around the edges, but pretty solid none the less. The setting is really good and fan material abounds.

 

[KarinsDad]

Hear here! Martin's books are definitely adult oriented but there have never been any graphic scenes of rape and the violence is simply unadorned. I'd hardly call any of the books gratuitous. I guess some people just prefer things fluffy...

His books are moronic.

Lots of scenes of improbable events, people changing personalities, and characters doing incredibly stupid actions with little worthwhile explanation or motivation as to why.

Gratuitous violence and profanity for the masses, but not worth the paper they are written on.

 

[Pramas]

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.

It's a new game with a custom-built system. We'll be releasing a Quick Play in June on Free RPG Day, so you'll be able to get a taste of the system then.

 

[FireLance]

Lots of scenes of improbable events, people changing personalities, and characters doing incredibly stupid actions with little worthwhile explanation or motivation as to why.

So, the books are based on a typical RPG campaign?

I kid, I kid...

 

[mhensley]

His books are moronic.

Lots of scenes of improbable events, people changing personalities, and characters doing incredibly stupid actions with little worthwhile explanation or motivation as to why.

Gratuitous violence and profanity for the masses, but not worth the paper they are written on.

Yeah, stupid books for the masses usually go on for 1000's of pages and are acclaimed as the best fantasy books written since LOTR. < i cannot roll my eyes enough > Perhaps you just weren't smart enough to follow the story.