Love at First Sight Top 5 Table Top RPGs

[Thierry-Advent]

Same. For example, 4e is my favourite version of D&D, but that's after playing it; it was not love-at-first-sight from reading the rule books.

Exactly, that is why I framed the survey like I did. Wanted different answers than the usual favourite 5 RPGs.

 

[pemerton]

Same. For example, 4e is my favourite version of D&D, but that's after playing it; it was not love-at-first-sight from reading the rule books.

The rule books did make me want to play 4e D&D. But I can't say it was at first sight, because I was following the long lead up on the WotC website.

 

[pemerton]

I've actually not played Ars Magica or FreeMarket, and I do worry that no actual play could match the game I imagine when I think of playing them.

I know that feeling - and have had it in relation to Ars Magica.

Also in relation to Pendragon, to be honest.

 

[Laurefindel]

Rolemaster - First RPG, first love, I dug pretty deep in this one. Cut my teeth on early versions of excel thanks to this game.
Planescape - A setting rather than a RPG proper but still, i fell hard for it. Mostly, Toni DiTerlizzi.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse - I played V:tM a lot but I loved the themes, aesthetics, and artistic signature (more DiTerlizzi!) of W:tA. I read everything there was to read, played with concepts, made characters, plotted a potential campaign... but I never played
Ars Magica - Lots of good stuff! Loved the medieval paradigm, loved the system, setting books were amazing. I just couldn't find a proper group to play it regularly.
The One Ring - LotR is what brought me into gaming in the first place but for the first time, here was a RPG that actually managed to capture the elusive "Tolkien feel" (Sorry MERP, you were great game but not quite Tolkien enough). Loved (and still love) many of its concepts and systems and was kind of an eye opener in RPG design.

 

[hawkeyefan]

I went for "love at first sight" as instructed, rather than favourite. For me, probably the biggest gap there is Prince Valiant. I bought it (when it was rereleased via Kickstarter) because of its historical significance. I decided to run a session of it as a curiosity. And it just turned out to be really good. (Because Greg Stafford was a genius.)

I resent your implication that the games I listed were not “love at first sight”, sir. I also followed the instructions.

I've been intrigued by this title for a few years now. Maybe I should pick it up and give it a try.

I recommend it. The setting is evocative and dynamic. And the rules are great. I loved the setting immediately and then also wound up running what is among my and my players’ favorite campaigns ever.

 

[payn]

Traveller 'goose 2E
Pathfinder Classic
FFG Gensys
FL Year Zero
PbtA

 

[Autumnal]

Traveller
Pendragon
Over the Edge
Kult
Ironsworn

 

[Tonguez]

Rolemaster - First RPG, first love, I dug pretty deep in this one. Cut my teeth on early versions of excel thanks to this game.

Rolemasters a funny one - I loved the presentation and the comprehensive range of options that the game offered, and still consult Spell Law for ideas, but the amount of fiddly maths and requirement to consult matrices was entirely mindnumbing. So while there was attraction at first sight it quickly turned to disillusionment

 

[overgeeked]

Star Wars d6 WEG.

Star Trek FASA.

Marvel Super Heroes TSR.

DC Heroes Mayfair.

Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme.

Honorable mention, the Discworld RPG.

 

[Greg K]

In no order
BASH: UE (Basic Action Games)
Ghostbusters
Icons (superhero game)
Mutants & Masterminds
Savage Worlds

Honorable Mentions:
Awfully Cheerful Engine (EN Publishing)
Barbarians of Lemuria: Legendary Edition (Beyond Belief Games)
BASH! Fantasy: Legends of Steel (Basic Action Games)
Black Star (Lakeside Games)
Dungeons & Dragons 3e: Currently, just like- not a go to
Honor + Intrigue (Basic Action Games)
Magnum Fury (Lakeside Games)
Rolemaster: Currently, just like enough to play, not a go to
Stranger Stuff (TinyD6) (Fat Goblin Games/ Gallant Knight Games)