Four non-D&D games that show the breadth of TTRPGs

[Cadence]

This popped up on BlueSky this week...

and has got a bunch of answers from that site's denizens. Some of the answers reshared by Shannon Appelcline included:

I don't think I have four that far from D&D and each other that I played more than two sessions. If you had to pick four what would you go with?

 

[jdrakeh]

I've had great fun with my own Nazi-Killing Bear Simulator (currently OOP), as well as Call of Cthulhu, Night's Dark Agents, and Cthulhu Deep Green.

Of those, NKBS is the furthest removed from D&D. You play as Spetsnaz soldiers whose brains have been uploaded via super science into Russian brown bears, which are then air dropped into enemy territory with one mission: UNALIVE NAZIS. There might also be some Frankenstein's monsters and cyborgs involved. I sold the rights to another publisher. I hope it comes back into circulation soon-ish!

 

[overgeeked]

Over the Edge 3E. Fiasco. Toon. Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme. Mothership.

Yes, I know that’s five.

 

[Koloth]

Pathfinder 2(ORC version)
Traveller Original - because of the possible death during character generation....
GURPS
Some variation of a superhero game.
If you combine GURPS + superheros, then Star Wars for #4.

 

[The Soloist]

In order of play:

• Fantasy: Dragonbane
• Horror Investigation: Vaesen
• Post-apocalyptic survival: Mutant Year Zero
• Sci-Fi: Coriolis The Great Dark.

Why?
1) Because while the system is similar, it is tailored to the logic of each setting.
2) The strength of the settings.
3) Low crunch
4) Contemporary sensibility of the writing.

 

[Parmandur]

• Traveller
• Call of Cthulu
• Adventures of Baron Munchaussen
• Amber

 

[SableWyvern]

Not sure why it matters that the players are "sort of familiar with 5e". Someone else's level of familiarity with D&D is going to have zero effect on what I'll run.

I wouldn't be great at showing "the breadth of the TTRPG hobby", and I don't generally do one-shot type gbames, but if I was looking to pick four reasonably different games, I'd probably go with something like:

• Mythras
• Mythic Bastionland
• Blades in the Dark
• EABA

 

[zarionofarabel]

Burning Wheel - Extremely PC focused, as opposed to most D&D which is usually GM plotline, or adventure focused.

Mythras - Very realistic combat engine and diverse skills for all PCs, as opposed to D&D cinematic (unrealistic) combat and PCs that are quite restricted in skill.

Pendragon - Has a very different playstyle and play loop which includes personality mechanics and generational aspects, quite different aspects from D&D.

Mausritter or Mothership - Shows that a TTRPG can work very well without a plethora of rules. Bonus: Shows that a system doesn't need to use "rules exception" special abilities or artificial niche protection to work properly.

There are way more awesome games that I could mention, but the above were the first ones that came to mind, so there ya go.

 

[SableWyvern]

Pendragon - Has a very different playstyle and play loop which includes personality mechanics and generational aspects, quite different aspects from D&D.

Very nearly included Pendragon in my own list but, if I did, I'd feel obliged to remove both Mythras (BRP) and Mythic Bastionland (Questing Knights).

 

[GMMichael]

The breadth of TTRPGs? They're narrowing. AI will soon be everyone's personal GM. I recommend Skyrim's ultimate version: