Looking for new fantasy RPG - story & roleplay oriented !

[Shadowlord]

Many answers I did receive... Thanks a lot, but many aren't really suited neither.

Maybe I should stick to D&D, with some twist. I did change the massive damage rule but dropped it later on/ It worked, but I could simply have put a bigger threat since I don't use CRs and award XP more freely (based on mission & RP).

I started with Forgotten Realms and loved that world; it seemed so vast! And it was, maybe too vast. Now it has become a default setting for every d20 module.

I like DragonLance though; it's more classic, has more a LOTR feel. It's still D&D, but as long as they don't change the setting to the system, this can't become bad I guess. Looking forward to it.

Then there's Midnight, very new and unknown. Looks too LOTR I think and they could insert the changes in any D&D setting. No need to make "another" world; it's the approach that counts.

I saw Wheel of Time too and the book looks great! What I especially like is that it all comes in one book and one adventure and you aren't spoiled with tons of products (which leaves some space for your own thinking). D&D should get the same approach: compile everything into 1 rulebook and 1 setting book. The bad: no elves & dwarves and stuff...
If it had a more classic fantasy feel to it, it would be perfect. I think I'll have to wait for DL.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Then there's Midnight, very new and unknown. Looks too LOTR I think and they could insert the changes in any D&D setting. No need to make "another" world; it's the approach that counts.

Midnight - So far I have been VERY impressed with this book. It takes a lot of things from a lot of places, but it has it's own unique feel. Very gritty, and it's low magic. The focus is on the characters, not their equipment or spell list. Can't recomend it enough.

I saw Wheel of Time too and the book looks great! What I especially like is that it all comes in one book and one adventure and you aren't spoiled with tons of products.....

Just 10 full length novels and counting. But yea, wonderful setting.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Re: Re: Looking for new fantasy RPG - story & roleplay oriented !

Lord of the Rings? - That's going into 'zillions of books' mode though

True, but I've yet to see any of the additional stuff except the Narrator's screen. The Core Book for the game is amazingly versatile, and could be looked at as d20 Lite - except you use 2d6 instead of a d20.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I recommend Pendragon. It's a great game, the core book is very complete, and it captures the Arthurian feel beautifully. If you only get one supplement, try to find the Boy King. This book lays out an 80 year timeline, chronicling all the important events in the backstory and giving you lots of ways to involve PCs. You can run a truly epic campaign, over multiple generations of knights. Good stuff.

Pendragon is one the most beautiful RPGs ever written. Very good call, and one I should have made myself.

 

[CaptainCalico]

I second the Pendragon and Ars Magica suggestions. Really nothing more to say.

 

[Capellan]

Thus I'm looking for an old-school RPG that emphasizes roleplay and is story centered instead of filled with numbers & stats and combat oriented.

'Old school' and 'not combat oriented' are, in my experience, mutually exclusive. OD&D originated in a war game, and it shows it. That combat focus is common to all 'old school' games I've seen.

Unless, of course, you have some very different definition of 'old school'.

But really, I have to go with Mark, alsih20 and some others: the system does not define the game. The GM and the players define it. I could - and have - played games of D&D with little to no combat.

That said, there are lots of great games out there, many of which have already been suggested. My personal suggestion would probably be Warhammer FRP. It's all in one book, has relatively simple mechanics, and has a great setting built in.

Pendragon is also very good.

 

[Anavel Gato]

hey Shadowlord,

I am sorry to hear of your delimma. You many want to try the four Hero's Journey modules by Citizens Games (i think) I have only played one of them Castle Dunmere and it was a lot of investigation and I was suprised at the few fights that were in the module. I am under the impression that all four modules can be played in order or as stand-alones. All of the pertinant information is in the front of the Castle Dunmere module. Things like the names the elves use instead of calling them elves, etc.
This is also a cheaper alternative you get setting, story and adventures for l think it was like $9.95.

About the Wheel of Time. The book is pretty to look at, but if you are not a fan of the novels or have not read them (as I have not) i don't think you can get as much out of it and it becomes more like regular D&D...plus they have released a few more books I think they have three.

If you like Dragonlance maybe check out Soveriegn Stone.
Looks the same (Elmore did the artwork). Most of the rules are contained in one book. Its not as filled with color art like Wheel of Time...but its cheaper...

hope that helps

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Atlas games has put out some stuff under their Coriolis line that combines some of the better gaming systems, Unknown Armies and Feng Shui for example, with d20 to create very interesting and differently flavored adventures with lots of neat rules for giving d20 a very different feel.

They are cheap, the adventures are pretty nice, and the flavor of the rules variants are excellent.

If you are looking to change DnD I highly recommend picking up the Unknown Armies and Ars Magica fusions and playing around with them till you find something that convinces both you and your players you are going to have a good time not fighting all the time.

 

[MerricB]

Despite of D&D's popularity, it isn't the best RPG. D&D has become, or always has been, a game with lots of combat that often takes place in dungeons.

There's nothing like leading with your chin. "it isn't the best RPG". Right. "It isn't the best RPG for me", I think you left out. Really, saying that "It isn't the best RPG" on a board devoted to D&D is a bit... tactless.

For me, RPG is more than that, much more. Thus I'm looking for an old-school RPG that emphasizes roleplay and is story centered instead of filled with numbers & stats and combat oriented.

Well, Cops and Robbers comes to mind.

More seriously, I understand where you're coming from, although "Old School" doesn't quite mean to me what it means to you. To me, it means dungeon-crawling, combat and puzzle-solving. An old-school RPG focusing on the role-playing aspects? Seems contradictory to me.

You sound like you're looking for a rules-light system that would fit a mediaeval/fantasy world. I'd suggest Gygax's "Lejendary Adventures", but I'm not familiar with it myself.

Cheers!

 

[MattyHelms]

Many answers I did receive... Thanks a lot, but many aren't really suited neither.

If you really have your heart set on trying something other than D&D for a bit, then do try Gygax's Lejendary Adventures. Only one book, the Lejendary Rules for All Players, is truly necessary for play. There are two other "rule" books, and the rest are modules and a world overview. The system, as others have pointed out, is rules-lite, the feeling is incredibly old school (it IS written by Gary Gygax, after all), and the game can quickly capture any level of fantasy you want. Check out the "unofficial" community at www.lejendary.com for more info.

Good luck and don't forget to try Creative Mountain Games' stuff!
Matt