WotC non-OGL alternative to D&D

[Thomas Shey]

To make it clear, I'm not someone who objects to a non-linear power curve that flattens out over time. That's what things like BRP and to some degree GURPS do for example.

The problem with Dragon Age was that at a certain point any vertical progression doesn't just flatten, it outright stops, and it does so relatively early in a game that avowedly had a 20 level progression. By the time we hit tenth level, people were looking around trying to find something relevant to spend their Talents and Foci on, because all the ones they were likely to be using had already been exhausted.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Keep in mind that one reason for the higher HP is also a result of how Combat or Magic Stunts can enable extra attacks and/or damage. As characters progress, they will often be able to do some stunts more regularly or often. There are also spells and abilities that let PCs penetrate and bypass armor damage reduction. Moreover, there are mods that are part of the base game of Modern AGE and found in Fantasy AGE Companion that allow the GM to adjust the HP or damage, use a Wounds system, action points, or a Stunt pool. The game is almost effortlessly hackable IME.

Just a comment on this; we found on the whole that even with those advantages in getting combat stunts and the like, they stalled out well before hit point advancement did. (Ironically, however, the fact that damage did gust up to some degree is what ended up making the healing magic largely a waste of time in combat; it was difficult to even break even on one round's damage from the type of opponents you were getting at those levels. There were almost always better things to do with your action.)

 

[Lanefan]

To make it clear, I'm not someone who objects to a non-linear power curve that flattens out over time. That's what things like BRP and to some degree GURPS do for example.

The problem with Dragon Age was that at a certain point any vertical progression doesn't just flatten, it outright stops, and it does so relatively early in a game that avowedly had a 20 level progression. By the time we hit tenth level, people were looking around trying to find something relevant to spend their Talents and Foci on, because all the ones they were likely to be using had already been exhausted.

Just spitballin' blind here, but what would happen if you tried to hammer out something equivalent to the E6 idea for 3e, in effect eschewing those less-functional higher levels by capping play at a lower level?

 

[Lord Mhoram]

My three would be Pathfinder 1.0 - I just have all the stuff.

But for supported systems - Cypher and AGE (Fantasy and Modern)

 

[Thomas Shey]

Just spitballin' blind here, but what would happen if you tried to hammer out something equivalent to the E6 idea for 3e, in effect eschewing those less-functional higher levels by capping play at a lower level?

You could. You'd have to slow advancement way down to do it, and then there'd be little sense of it actually happening. Probably be fine for some people, but its been my observation that most players would have a regular but incremental advancement than a slightly more substantial one that only happens once in a blue moon.

 

[jdrakeh]

My award-winning micro RPG, Nazi-Killing Bear Simulator, which is currently on sale for less than a dollar comes complete with the core game, an optional rules supplement, an adventure scenario, AND an SRD licensed under CC! Get it here (obviously an affiliate link).

 

[Kimberly Burgess]

Cepheus. Uses the base Traveller system of d6s without the setting fluff or baggage. Can do sci-fi, fantasy, modern, or whatever you wish. Even has a few existing lines set up.

Sword of Cepheus, Cepheus Deluxe, d6s, paper and writing instruments, and your imagination are all you need.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Deluxe might work, but basic CE is still too wrapped around random character gen for the modern market, I think.

 

[overgeeked]

Cepheus. Uses the base Traveller system of d6s without the setting fluff or baggage. Can do sci-fi, fantasy, modern, or whatever you wish. Even has a few existing lines set up.

Sword of Cepheus, Cepheus Deluxe, d6s, paper and writing instruments, and your imagination are all you need.

Cepheus is great…but it is an OGL game.

 

[Weiley31]

I always wanted to play the Dragon Age TTRPG. Would totally jack the Stunts from Fantasy Age and just add em to Dragon Age.

 

[hojulation]

I always wanted to play the Dragon Age TTRPG. Would totally jack the Stunts from Fantasy Age and just add em to Dragon Age.

Do it! I ran a Dragon AGE campaign for about 2 years and it was a blast. There have been some comments on other threads about how it gets cumbersome into higher levels, which is true, but we never got past Level 8 and it was really fun up to that point. Ran nearly all of the official adventures at that time (2013-2015) and the ones in Blood in Ferelden were great.

I recently read the adventure that comes included in the updated GM Screen and it was a really cool delve into the Deep Roads that I wish I would've had the opportunity to run back then!

 

[Malmuria]

Bundle of Holding - License expired

bundleofholding.com

 

[eyeheartawk]

Assuming you want to roll a d20 three times and keep track of a pool of points to spend on each action:

The Dark Eye

 

[Thomas Shey]

I always wanted to play the Dragon Age TTRPG. Would totally jack the Stunts from Fantasy Age and just add em to Dragon Age.

Are they that different? When I looked at FAGE they looked much the same.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Do it! I ran a Dragon AGE campaign for about 2 years and it was a blast. There have been some comments on other threads about how it gets cumbersome into higher levels, which is true, but we never got past Level 8 and it was really fun up to that point. Ran nearly all of the official adventures at that time (2013-2015) and the ones in Blood in Ferelden were great.

Unsurprisingly, you quit just about the point it starts to break down seriously.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Not to turn this thread into a thread only about AGE, but this is how we modified the game:

• Character starts with 3d6+Con Hp (4d6+Con for fighter), add 1+Con for each level up
• Only 10 levels, all features are smooshed together.
• Foci only at every 2 level, without restriction, can take a +3 focus from lvl 5 and up.
• Talents at every level (meaning 2 from the class at 1st, +1 other free talents at 1st level + Specialization, then +1 talent rank at 2, 3, 4, 5 etc)
• +1 stat at every 3 level
• Specialization at 1-3-6
• Remove race and add a choice of statboost depending on Background and Class instead.

It worked great, just need a different pacing

 

[Desdichado]

What are the non OGL ones that use a widely used non-revocable license like CC?

Index Card RPG. Admittedly, not the catchiest title. But a lot of folks say it does D&D better than D&D does these days.

 

[Weiley31]

Are they that different? When I looked at FAGE they looked much the same.

I've heard that they are, but I've never played FAGE or Dragon Age TTRPG to confirm.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I've heard that they are, but I've never played FAGE or Dragon Age TTRPG to confirm.

They are 90% the same. Some rule changed between the 2 system, so the stunt chart was modified a little.

Modern Age has more Stunts and the new Fantasy Corebook will probably keep the same method of having Basic Stunts + specialized Stunt unlocked by classes and talents.

 

[Thomas Shey]

They are 90% the same. Some rule changed between the 2 system, so the stunt chart was modified a little.

Modern Age has more Stunts and the new Fantasy Corebook will probably keep the same method of having Basic Stunts + specialized Stunt unlocked by classes and talents.

Yeah, to make it clear, I was contrasting FAGE and DAGE. Modern AGE appears to have more profound changes.