Dragonbane Post-Mortem

[Retreater]

Pulp Cthulhu is a thing. It helps you create more action heroic characters for Cthulhu. There is even a campaign book for Pulp Cthulhu that I picked up and have heard good things about: The Two-Headed Serpent.

You could probably look at some of the adjustments that Pulp Cthulhu makes to the system and apply that to other BRP systems.

I have Pulp Cthulhu and also got the Two-Headed Serpent.

I have been playing in a Pulp Cthulhu game for a few months with a different group. I don't think it goes far enough in the "superhero" direction to appease Player A. This is someone who thinks 5E characters are too weak.

 

[Aldarc]

pulpy, Cthulhu, Crimson Skies, Feng-Shui...
Actually I am happy if all these terms did not annoy.
Perhaps Buzzword is the wrong term here, more like group-speak.

Ah... You were talking about your own post. Either way, not sure if I would call your post full of too many buzzwords.

I have Pulp Cthulhu and also got the Two-Headed Serpent.

I have been playing in a Pulp Cthulhu game for a few months with a different group. I don't think it goes far enough in the "superhero" direction to appease Player A. This is someone who thinks 5E characters are too weak.

I doubt that it would, though maybe it would work for Starfox.

Again, backing @The-Magic-Sword in recommending giving Fabula Ultima a shot. Even if you run Press Start as a one-shot, it might be a good trial run to see how your wife likes it. It does have a lot of "I do cool stuff!" and "woo! big damage!" as part of the game. Characters aren't as weak as 5e either, though HP does level out more than than 5e D&D since you don't get it per level but only when you pick a class that provides a HP boost.

 

[Wolfpack48]

This sums the entire Basic Role-Playing line of games up quite well, and many other lighter and/or more realistic systems as well. They work well in one-shots, but are just too random to build a campaign on.

We've years long CoC and RQ campaigns with the same characters (mostly) through both. What part of randomness isn't working? Do you mean chances for PC death?

 

[Staffan]

This sums the entire Basic Role-Playing line of games up quite well, and many other lighter and/or more realistic systems as well. They work well in one-shots, but are just too random to build a campaign on.

The Troubleshooters is descended from BRP but a bit farther afield than Dragonbane, and it's pretty non-lethal. It's pretty easy to be KO:ed, but you'll only die if you either do something obviously lethal or specifically escalate a situation by placing yourself in Mortal Peril.

 

[UnplayedRanger]

This is someone who thinks 5E characters are too weak.

that's certainly a take lol.

I haven't read the whole thread, but have you looked at 13th Age? That's probably the closest to "big damn heroes from level 1" fantasy I have seen.

 

[Wolfpack48]

The Troubleshooters is descended from BRP but a bit farther afield than Dragonbane, and it's pretty non-lethal. It's pretty easy to be KO:ed, but you'll only die if you either do something obviously lethal or specifically escalate a situation by placing yourself in Mortal Peril.

Classic Fantasy for BRP used CON+SIZ for HP which gave characters quite a bit more health even though HP do stay flat. I suppose you could do CONx2 (or 1.5) to beef up Dragonbane characters a bit.

 

[Starfox]

The Troubleshooters is descended from BRP but a bit farther afield than Dragonbane, and it's pretty non-lethal. It's pretty easy to be KO:ed, but you'll only die if you either do something obviously lethal or specifically escalate a situation by placing yourself in Mortal Peril.

If the setting is not about lethal damage, the entire situation changes.

 

[billd91]

Classic Fantasy for BRP used CON+SIZ for HP which gave characters quite a bit more health even though HP do stay flat. I suppose you could do CONx2 (or 1.5) to beef up Dragonbane characters a bit.

I'm familiar with BRP-family games setting hit points to (CON+SIZ)/2. I know there were early versions where it was just CON, but I'm not aware of it ever being CON+SIZ without dividing the sum by 2.

 

[Wolfpack48]

I'm familiar with BRP-family games setting hit points to (CON+SIZ)/2. I know there were early versions where it was just CON, but I'm not aware of it ever being CON+SIZ without dividing the sum by 2.

Yep, it was a specific BRP supplement called Classic Fantasy targeted at reproducing an old school D&D feel with Fighter, Magic User, Cleric etc. The BRP main book also lists it as an optional rule for higher powered games.

Classic Fantasy - RPGnet RPG Game Index

I was actually a bit surprised Dragonbane didn’t use some variant of it, but it would be easy enough to house rule.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I was actually a bit surprised Dragonbane didn’t use some variant of it, but it would be easy enough to house rule.

It'd be interesting if that were the only change made, letting some characters start with potentially 30+ HP.

But it would also put a bigger strain on Healing skill and magical healing. A stretch rest would also give you pack a smaller percentage of your overall HPs. Not saying any of those are bad things, just interesting.