One-Shot: What to Run?

[Nellisir]

I'm thinking of running a one-shot, introductory type game for a group of friends with mixed RPG experience. I burned out on gaming a year ago, but hadn't actually played for a few years before that - I've never played or DMed 4e, though I have the core 3 plus some of the essentials books.

I've narrowed my choices down to running 4e via the Red Box, or running 0e via Swords & Wizardry.

My previous experience spans the end of 1e, and the whole of 2e and 3e, so I'm not really worried about mechanics as such - I just want a quick, simple, fun game that doesn't get bogged down.

 

[Piratecat]

I'd actually lean towards a non-D&D game. Simple mechanics, fast fun play.

 

[kitsune9]

Gotta agree with Pirate here. If you don't want to get bogged down by mechanics, you're better off looking for a very mechanics-light game.

Good luck!

 

[MortalPlague]

For a fun, rules-light one-shot, I strongly recommend Old School Hack. It's barrels of fun, and it runs on Awesome Points!

 

[Wightbred]

Dungeon World

I'd definitely recommend Dungeon World. Played with kids as young as 8 with no problems. Simply hand them a character sheet they can tick some boxes on and you'll be playing in 5 minutes. Plus it's free.

Link: Syntax Error | Dungeon World

 

[beldar1215]

Maybe try getting your hands on the last game day adventure. It would probably be a good introduction.

Beldar

 

[Nellisir]

I'd actually lean towards a non-D&D game. Simple mechanics, fast fun play.

Recommendations?

 

[Piratecat]

Sure, but first a question: just as a guess, are these folks who might prefer strong stories or the joy of a dungeon crawl? Are they really familiar with fantasy, or more familiar with action movies / comic books?

For instance, if my group was all literature majors, that might suggest something different than a group of engineers. That sort of thing.

 

[CleverNickName]

Piratecat speaks the truth...D&D is the standard, but it isn't really built for one-shot games.

Specifically, I would recommend Castles & Crusades. It has the heart and soul of classic D&D, but without a heap of complicated mechanics. You can even download a free rules primer for it at RPGNow.

 

[Nellisir]

Sure, but first a question: just as a guess, are these folks who might prefer strong stories or the joy of a dungeon crawl? Are they really familiar with fantasy, or more familiar with action movies / comic books?

For instance, if my group was all literature majors, that might suggest something different than a group of engineers. That sort of thing.

I think everyone is pretty familiar with the common fantasy tropes & literature. RA Salvatore has come up in conversation; both the Dark Elf stuff and the Cleric Quintet. This is an offshoot of our Meet-up group's board game night, so I'm leaning towards slam-bang dungeon crawl, with minimal backstory but an emphasis on "in-character in the dungeon" -- lots of battle cries and stuff like that. That's what I'm best at DMing anyhow.

Right now I've got one or two guys with what sounds like fairly extensive RPG experience, a woman who played Das Schwarze Auge when she was growing up in Germany, another woman who mentioned playing Kult as a one-shot, and a third woman with, insofar as I know, no RPG experience (but loves board games & fantasy novels). We're right here next to Cornell, so the education level is high but varied in interest (genetics, biology, landscape architecture, computer science, teaching, etc.)

It looks like interest is strong enough to consider making this a reoccuring event, so we can play a variety of games.

PS - PCat, saw your name in the Dragon Age adventure book. Congrats!