Epic/High fantasy game for a one-shot introductory game

[John Lloyd1]

Fate Accelerated or Condensed?

 

[Aldarc]

Fate Accelerated or Condensed?

Good for a generic one-shot to introduce people to roleplaying but it’s probably not I would go to for running epic high fantasy even as a one-shot.

 

[Theory of Games]

Was there a decision?

 

[John Lloyd1]

Good for a generic one-shot to introduce people to roleplaying but it’s probably not I would go to for running epic high fantasy even as a one-shot.

Why wouldn't you?

 

[Aldarc]

Why wouldn't you?

I don't think that Fate does everything well.

 

[Theory of Games]

Okay I've chosen Barbarians of Lemuria set in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age!!!

 

[aramis erak]

Anyone can suggest me an Epic/High fantasy game to run a one-shot for new players?

For reasons I've already discarded D&D, The One-Ring, Pathfinder, Against the Dark Master, Burning Wheel, Unity, Palladium Fantasy. Please refer other games than that.

By now I'm considering Fantasy Age, Index Card RPG, Soulbound, Barbarians of Lemurian (I know, not much High Fantasy), Savage Worlds. Any prons and cons on these games.

I'm open to any other suggestion.

Thanks for your help.

If you can handle the metacurrency and being attribute driven, the introductory module for Fabula Ultima is Really good. But it puts some worldbuilding in player hands during it, so the GM has to adapt on the fly.

Dragonbane's straightforward. The intro adventures are good, if a bit deadly. The biggest issue is likely to be either the deadliness or the roll low mechanic.

What about Dragon Warriors? Any experience with beginners anyone?

Not with beginners. but the roll low elements may bother some.

Savage Worlds may be a problem due to excessive choices in character gen; use of pregens for a session or two can overcome that easily. It's also prone to "explosive decharactering"... an NPC open-ends a damage roll and drops a PC to dead.

 

[RolRàpid]

My partner is a TTRPG noob. After floating a variety of different fantasy TTRPGs their way over the past five or so years, they have so far found Dragonbane and Fantasy AGE the easiest and most enjoyable. (They also liked Fabula Ultima, but they ran that one as a GM using the Press Start tutorial adventure.)

I talk a bit about running DB for my partner for the first time here and here. While there are some tactical elements to combat in DB, it mostly entails understanding the interaction of turn order and the one-action economy. This basically boils down to whether it's best to Attack, Dodge/Parry, or do some other action based on when you go versus when the monsters go. There are not that many moving parts for starting characters, as you will generally only have about two abilities (apart from mages): a kin ability and a profession ability. The roll under skill-based system also meant that players have any easy time knowing what they had to roll without me telling them. IME, the card-based initiative also makes things a bit quicker than typical d20 initiative, and flipping the card over after a turn provides a clear visual/interactive component to rounds.

Fantasy AGE is basically like a fantasy d20 system that is played with a 3d6 resolution system that uses stunt points when doubles are rolled. Players can spend the stunt points on cool effects. My partner found FAGE easier than D&D 5e, because again there were less moving parts. They liked the stunt point system as well as the magic system, which they found easier to manage than D&D.

Sure! I found FAGE stunt points with a high coolness factor. My sons really enjoyed them.

 

[RolRàpid]

Have you considered Pendragon?

Starter set here: Pendragon Starter Set

Note the pre-generated character sheets you can download towards the bottom.

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for besides "Epic/High Fantasy," so I don't know exactly how well this fits your bill. The game is pretty tightly tied to the setting of Arthurian Britain; that's at least close to what I think of when I hear, "Epic/High Fantasy."

I'm afraid not, players stated they wanted high fantasy elements with dwarfs, elfs, magic users...I thing Pendragon (with all its virtues, I love it!) it's out of this equation. Thanks! In fact, I have to tweak Dragon Warriors to fit some of the fantasy races as there aren't included in the core book.

 

[RolRàpid]

Not with beginners. but the roll low elements may bother some.

Savage Worlds may be a problem due to excessive choices in character gen; use of pregens for a session or two can overcome that easily. It's also prone to "explosive decharactering"... an NPC open-ends a damage roll and drops a PC to dead.

Why low rolls bothers?

Agreed. My main criticize to SW is the randomness of the combat related to open-ends damage. It's cool in theory from the PC POV but it sucks when an Extra inficts massive damage to a PC. I know it is intended to make combat meaningful, dangerous and dramatic but I don't thing it really fits on the Pulpy theme of the game.