Looking for a new RPG - Recommendations?

[Tayne]

Hey gang

I'm a 3.5/Pathfinder player looking for a change of pace. My best friend and I are having more and more trouble organizing play time around busy real life schedules and we were looking to try a new RPG that we could play one-on-one. I know that may seem weird, but we even did that with pathfinder a few times.

What we'd be looking for would hopefully be doable without a game board, and probably kind of 'rules-light.' I put that in quotes because I'm not even sure what a 'rules light' system looks like, to be honest. All I know is one of our current complaints is we no longer have time for hours of combat, and we'd prefer to get through stories a little faster.

It would help if the rules were online somewhere (like the pathfinder SRD) or if we could in some way otherwise preview it before we jump into a purchase.

 

[Quickleaf]

You know it's a shame True20 died out. It generated a lot of interest at the beginning and for good reason: the learning curve was fast for players already familiar with d20/3e system and the game is rules-lighter (not rules light). Combat is dangerous and fast, there are no HP rather a condition track, there are no opportunity attacks, the rules don't assume or require minis, spells are replaces by flexible powers, a single character can multi-class in any of the 3 roles (warrior, adept, expert). And there are QuickStart rules: http://true20.com/files/True20_quickstart.pdf.

That's probably the least dramatic change from your current Pathfinder game.

 

[scourger]

Try Savage Worlds for free: Test Drive Savage Worlds: The Wild Hunt | Pinnacle Entertainment Group

We really like Savage Worlds. It is fast, furious & fun. There are only 3 of us left in our group, so I think it could work for the 2 of you.

 

[Greg K]

You know it's a shame True20 died out. It generated a lot of interest at the beginning and for good reason: the learning curve was fast for players already familiar with d20/3e system and the game is rules-lighter (not rules light). Combat is dangerous and fast, there are no HP rather a condition track, there are no opportunity attacks, the rules don't assume or require minis, spells are replaces by flexible powers, a single character can multi-class in any of the 3 roles (warrior, adept, expert). And there are QuickStart rules: http://true20.com/files/True20_quickstart.pdf.

That's probably the least dramatic change from your current Pathfinder game.

True20 is my current choice for d20 class/level. I would be running it if it were not for Savage Worlds.

 

[Greg K]

Try Savage Worlds for free: Test Drive Savage Worlds: The Wild Hunt | Pinnacle Entertainment Group

We really like Savage Worlds. It is fast, furious & fun. There are only 3 of us left in our group, so I think it could work for the 2 of you.

I don't know how this version of the Test Drive is, but a previous version of the Test Drive had, initially, turned me off to Savage Worlds. I am grateful that I looked at the full version of the game which covered Tricks, Tests of Will and some other things not covered in the TD. If I had not looked at the full game, I would have missed out on what became my favorite non-supers rpg.

 

[TrippyHippy]

Mongoose's Legend (based on RuneQuest) is the original 'alternative' system to D&D. It's current version is a truly excellent generic fantasy system, which is pretty intuitive, and it's core rules can be purchased for $1 on drivethrurpg.

 

[fireinthedust]

mine's almost ready, but you'll have to wait.

 

[Tayne]

Thanks every one. We'll definitely be test driving Savage worlds as soon as we can.

 

[nedjer]

There are two full, rules-light fantasy systems for download at Thistle Games. One a clone system, the other comparable in some ways to Traveller. Free, so help yourself if you like

 

[Tayne]

We are enjoying the look of savage worlds so far. Thanks everyone for the recommendations - I'm sure we'll get to trying the others out when we can.