Favote Fantasy RPG(s) other than D&D

[M.L. Martin]

The SAGA Rules System (used for DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE and MARVEL SUPER HEROES, adapted in DRAGON Magazine to Ravenloft and Masque of the Red Death, used by fans for bunches of other things) remains a favorite, and I'd like to see it brought back to fill a niche that 4E doesn't fill. Wishful thinking, of course, given WotC's "One system to rule them all" philosophy. OTOH, I believe Mike Mearls was a fan.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Besides D&D, I've had great fun with:

1. The Fantasy Trip
2. Fantasy HERO
3. Stormbringer and the other Moorcock-inspired games like Hawkmoon and Corum
4. Earthdawn
5. Talisanta
6. Call of Cthulhu
7. World of Darkness games like Mage, Vampire and a few others
8. And mixed genre games like Urban Arcana, Shadowrun, RIFTS, and Deadlands

In addition, I've even used games like Space: 1889 to run mixed-genre games, including fantasy elements.

 

[ggroy]

If one were interested in the world of Glorantha as a setting, but had no interest (positive or negative) in the rules set... What book/edition would be best? That is, what product focuses most on the setting, and least on the mechanics?

Mongoose has been doing the second age Glorantha setting.

For the first Mongoose edition of Runequest (MRQ1), they released a Glorantha campaign setting book which has almost no crunch. (It's probably out of print).

For the second Mongoose edition of Runequest (MRQ2), they recently released a Glorantha campaign setting book which has the relevant MRQ2 crunch. Essentially it's like an updated version of the MRQ1 version of the book, with the relevant MRQ2 crunch added in.

Mongoose Publishing : For All Your Gaming Needs ...

 

[tenkar]

MERP

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st or 2nd ed)

HARP (Rolemaster-esque)

(of course, MERP and HARP are fairly compatible)

 

[kaomera]

Mouseguard
Burning Wheel
In A Wicked Age
Barbarians of Lemuria

 

[Doug McCrae]

If one were interested in the world of Glorantha as a setting, but had no interest (positive or negative) in the rules set... What book/edition would be best? That is, what product focuses most on the setting, and least on the mechanics?

I think the Avalon Hill boxed set, Glorantha: Genertela, Crucible of the Hero Wars, is the best presentation of Glorantha as a whole, but it's long out of print.

 

[Bluenose]

If one were interested in the world of Glorantha as a setting, but had no interest (positive or negative) in the rules set... What book/edition would be best? That is, what product focuses most on the setting, and least on the mechanics?

For the world as a whole, I can't do better than the previous posters recommending the Mongoose Glorantha: The Second Age, or the old AH Glorantha: Genertela book. If you can find the Moon Design reprints of the 2nd edition RQ material, the Cult Compendium gives an overview of the setting that's pretty good given the emphasis on mythology in the setting (though it includes a fair amount of mechanics too). The Heroquest material shouldn't be overlooked, though it does tend to be rather specific to particular regions/cultures. Frankly, at the moment the Mongoose material is a lot easier to get and is generally good - that's what I'd suggest.

 

[steenan]

I love Earthdawn for incorporating game tropes and mechanics into a coherent, verisimilar setting (in contrast to D&D, which has similar building blocks, but often makes them inconsistent and jarring).

I also count Exalted among my favorite games and I think it counts as fantasy. The setting is great and the general style is well fit to playing powerful characters without breaking the game.

I also played WFRP, MERP and several quirky indie fantasy games (from Donjon to Polaris). Many of them were fun, but I have quite a high standard for calling something my favorite.

 

[Technomancer]

Dungeonslayers-Gives that same old school D&D feel, and surprisingly robust for 20 pages. And it’s free.

Fighting Fantasy and Advanced Fighting Fantasy (the former when I want to add house rules)-Simple as all get out and can simulate generic fantasy as well as any game I’ve seen.

Barbarians of Lemuria and Legends of Steel (BoL Edition)-Quick and easy, and I love the idea and implementation of careers.

I’m also digging Ancient Odysseys: Treasure Awaits, another rules lite nod to old school dungeoneering, and am eagerly awaiting the full version

 

[sjmiller]

Hands down, all-time favorite fantasy RPG is still DragonQuest. Find a second edition copy if you can. Everything you need to run a fantasy RPG in one book.

Second favorite would be GURPS. Pick an edition, really, they are all good.