Modern Action RPGs

[Ahzad]

Thanks for all the replies. It's looking like Outgunned seems to be the favorite. I've heard of it so I'll have to check it out.

Wushu looks really cool, but it's not something I think I could get most of my players onboard with a bit to narrative for them. They say want something with some depth and crunch, but they've all gotten to old and lazy to do the work and the narrative heavy games don't have enough crunch for them. It's like Goldilocks and 3 bears with these folks trying to find a new system that they will try out .

 

[Aldarc]

Cypher system can do it, but cinematic action isn't its strong suit. Moreover, I don't know of a published or common hack that specifically sets you up for the genre - most of them lean a little more fantastical.

Yeah, I really only use Cypher System for Numenera, which I don't really think lends itself to Action RPGs. There could be an action supplement out there, but I haven't paid too much attention to MCG's offerings as of late.

Might want to look at Shadow of the Century for Fate approaching the modern pulp-action genre.

Also a good choice. I like the young adult version: Young Centurions.

 

[Kannik]

I'll have to look into Outgunned as well! Sounds interesting.

I'll also second Cortex Prime as being excellent for action-oriented play: when you can have an encounter that includes a badland raider ripping a flagpole out of the ground and hopping onto a dune buggy to use it as a mount for a lance attack... only to have the PC defend by yanking the stop sign of a decommissioned school bus to use as a shield against said flagpole lance attack, in my book that's very much the definition of cinematic action.

It also can handle fantastical/magic/psionics seamlessly alongside the non-fantastical.

 

[pigames.net]

Supergame: Agents & Vigilantes is designed for modern action heroes and integrated with Supergame 3E (both are stand-alone games). Supergame

Action and Adventure is a simpler game mechanically, but has lots of abilities to build action heroes, superheroes, and horrors, and fantasy heroes/creatures, with a ton of sample characters/creatures to use as NPCs and threats. Action and Adventure

 

[johndesmarais]

Outgunned is where I’d start for something action-y with a fairly light weight system. If you want a little more mechanical heft, I like Modern AGE.

 

[Greg K]

My top recommendations for action games in no order:

• Outgunned and Outgunned Adventure by Two LIttle Mice which has been mentioned
• Black Star (and the Black Star Companion) and Magnum Fury (80's Action) by Lakeside Games. However, I don't know if there is VTT support

Black Star is pretty much Star Wars with the serial numbers filed off. However, the Companion widens the game. It has more Star Wars flavored options, but there are also options that expand the game allowing along the lines of Andromeda, Farscape, Firefly. Traveller. For example, the Companion's Psychic can replace the core rules Mystic (not Jedi).​

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And, while Black Star is designed for sci-fi, Len, (@Lakesidefantasy) demonstrated on the Prowlers & Paragons Discord how to build Dakota James (I.e. not Indiana Jones). I would really like to see Len put out either supplements for other genres he had mentioned plans for in the past or a supplement along the lines of Outgunned's Action Flicks with options and advice tailoring the game for those genres.​

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If I have any issue with Black Star and Magnum Fury (the latter is an earlier implementation of of the system used in Black Star, it is that I wish there had been an optional rule for GMs to run the game like a more traditional game as the game is narrative and player facing. Some groups either might like narrative games or some players may not be in the mood on a given night for supplying narrative. Len's superhero game offered such an option which I thought was a nice addition.​

Another nice thing about these games by Lakeside Games is that they are really good games at inexpensive prices. The print versions of Black Star and the Black Star are $8.95 each on Lulu while the PDFs are $.4.95 each on Drivethrurpg. And, while Magnum Fury, does not have a print version, the pdf is $3.00 on DrivethruRPG.​

• Savage Worlds would have been my third, but you are ruled it out for

Other options for non-narrative would be Modern Age (already mentioned) or, for a 5e based class/level system, Everyday Heroes.

 

[Ulfgeir]

The Troubleshooters might be something you would be interested in if fictitious mid 1960s setting would be something to your liking. The characters are competent from the start. In the archives you have quickstart rules, example characters and some adventures. The quickstart rules does not come with rules for character creation though. But some people have extrapolated it from the rules.

 

[Ahzad]

The Troubleshooters might be something you would be interested in if fictitious mid 1960s setting would be something to your liking. The characters are competent from the start. In the archives you have quickstart rules, example characters and some adventures. The quickstart rules does not come with rules for character creation though. But some people have extrapolated it from the rules.

This does look like a lot fun. It has that modern pulpy adventure vibe i like, stuff like Modesty Blaise, Jonny Quest, or even a bit earlier with the Doc Savage, and the like.

 

[Thomas Shey]

My initial reaction was Savage Worlds, but barring that I'll join the crowd suggesting Outgunned or Outgunned Adventures.

 

[Ulfgeir]

This does look like a lot fun. It has that modern pulpy adventure vibe i like, stuff like Modesty Blaise, Jonny Quest, or even a bit earlier with the Doc Savage, and the like.

It is very fun.

There are also 3 longer adventures available: The U-Boat mystery, The Ghost Knight, and The Great Champagne Galop.

Work is being done on more stuff. Modiphius handle international shipping.

The core book and U-Boat mystery is also available in French. It is available in German and I believe Spanish as well but not sure how much they have done.