Looking for a fantasy system

[Jd Smith1]

So I've got a campaign concept I would like to try, but my go-to fantasy system, Zweihander, is not going to serve.

So I need a fantasy system (Not setting; I have a setting). I will not use D&D, Pathfinder, GURPS, or products in Kickstarter.

What I need is a system supported by Roll20 that does not have the spell & classes bloat of D&D/Pathfinder. The more tactical the combat system the better, and the less emphasis on spell-casting the better.

I am currently looking at Castles & Crusades; while it is d20 (not my favorite system), it doesn't have excess classes and the 'spell for literally everything', but it is fairly vanilla. It will suffice if I cannot find anything better.

I had hoped that Elden Ring might be true to the video game, but the English version may not make it out in 2023, so that's out.

Any suggestions?

 

[GMMichael]

"Supported by Roll20" is an interesting request. Does that mean "no narrative dice?" (Those are probably supported by Roll20 now, for all I know.) And why doesn't Zweihaender serve?

 

[Dioltach]

No idea whether it's Roll20 supported, or how tactical the combat is (but early d20 era so... ) but have you considered the Conan d20 game? More focus on martial classes than D&D, with (as you might expect) a strong Sword & Sorcery slant.

 

[thullgrim]

Savage Worlds/Savage Pathfinder. It's a good solid fantasy ruleset, generic power, flatish power curve. Combat is tactical swingy. 'Class based' with the same core classes as in the PF1 core rulebook.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

Savage Worlds/Savage Pathfinder. It's a good solid fantasy ruleset, generic power, flatish power curve. Combat is tactical swingy. 'Class based' with the same core classes as in the PF1 core rulebook.

Seconded, great system!

 

[Morrus]

or products in Kickstarter.

What a weird thing to say. Will you also not use products made by people wearing blue shirts or who had eggs for breakfast?

 

[Jd Smith1]

What a weird thing to say. Will you also not use products made by people wearing blue shirts or who had eggs for breakfast?

I want a system now. KIckstarters are released sometime in the future.

 

[TerraDave]

Savage Worlds—core rules. It’s on Role20.

 

[Jd Smith1]

Savage Worlds/Savage Pathfinder. It's a good solid fantasy ruleset, generic power, flatish power curve. Combat is tactical swingy. 'Class based' with the same core classes as in the PF1 core rulebook.

I specified I wasn't interested in Pathfinder.

 

[thullgrim]

I specified I wasn't interested in Pathfinder.

It’s not Pathfinder. It’s Savage Worlds with a class based skin laid over the top to emulate D&D style games. The book uses Paizo’s Golarion setting but you indicated you have a setting and needed rules.

That said core Savage Worlds with the Fantasy Companion would also work and would have 0 association with ‘Pathfinder’.

 

[innerdude]

If you want tactical, but are eliminating D&D, PF, GURPS, and Zweihander from the get go, about all that's left is some version of Rolemaster/HARP/MERP/Against the Dark Master, HERO, something vaguely OSR-ish, or something BRP based (Mythras, et. al.), or maybe EABA.

Do you want something D20 based at all? Shadow of the Demon Lord might suit, it's D20 chassis but considerably removed from mainstream D&D. Fantasy Craft might also work, but I doubt it has Roll 20 support. It's highly crunchy but very consistent, and about the best representation of the true intent of 2000s era D&D I've ever seen.

If Fantasy Craft was off the table, out of all of those choices I'd probably go with Mythras or Against the Dark Master.

 

[Jd Smith1]

It’s not Pathfinder. It’s Savage Worlds with a class based skin laid over the top to emulate D&D style games. The book uses Paizo’s Golarion setting but you indicated you have a setting and needed rules.

That said core Savage Worlds with the Fantasy Companion would also work and would have 0 association with ‘Pathfinder’.

OK, thanks, I did not know that.

 

[Jd Smith1]

If you want tactical, but are eliminating D&D, PF, GURPS, and Zweihander from the get go, about all that's left is some version of Rolemaster/HARP/MERP/Against the Dark Master, HERO, something vaguely OSR-ish, or something BRP based (Mythras, et. al.), or maybe EABA.

Do you want something D20 based at all? Shadow of the Demon Lord might suit, it's D20 chassis but considerably removed from mainstream D&D. Fantasy Craft might also work, but I doubt it has Roll 20 support. It's highly crunchy but very consistent, and about the best representation of the true intent of 2000s era D&D I've ever seen.

If Fantasy Craft was off the table, out of all of those choices I'd probably go with Mythras or Against the Dark Master.

Fantasy craft is on Roll20; I'll look into it.

 

[Jd Smith1]

OK, I had downloaded free material on Conan and Fantasy craft. Of the options presented so far, these seem to be the best choices