Obryn
Hero
Another vote for WFRP2.
It's dark and brutal, but it's pretty much the opposite of an arthouse game or a gothic emo-fest.
It fits every single one of your criteria, from high production values to relatively simple rules.
-O
Other fairly recent, high-quality, professionally-produced, original fantasy RPGs?
- Thread starter firesnakearies
- Start date
It's dark and brutal, but it's pretty much the opposite of an arthouse game or a gothic emo-fest.
It fits every single one of your criteria, from high production values to relatively simple rules.
-O
Nebulous
Legend
I'll have to vote Warhammer too. The production value is top notch (full color and prettier than the 4e PHB i think), simple to grasp rules and a startling dangerous magic system that will make your spellcaster always treading the edge of all-powerful wizard, or madness, or death.
And the system has a large amount of supplements too. Granted, i haven't had a chance to PLAY Warhammer yet, but the books are just fun to read. The Monster Beastiary is one of the best i've seen, it's great. The monster descriptions come with short essays about the Common people's opinion of a monster, a Scholar's opinion, and often the monster's opinion (if they're smart enough to do that).
WFRP2 is a d10 game that just uses percentiles. And it is flat out dangerous. Character can get maimed and killed in no time, so keep that in mind. Of course you could easily houserule the game to make it much less dangerous.
Gothmog
First Post
I have to throw in my voice for Warhammer FRP2 as well. For the last three years, it was my group's fantasy game of choice. Now we split our time between 4e and WHFRP2. WHFRP2 fits every one of your criteria, and its very well supported, as well as having a very active fan community with tons of freebie adventures and materials.
SteveC
Doing the best imitation of myself
I'd suggest Anima from Fantasy Flight Games. The game has a Final Fantasy feel to it, so there is the presence of some technology in the background, but it tends to be in out of the way places. We played a quick game of it, and completely ignored the rules.
When I initially looked at Anima I thought it was incredibly complex, but it turns out to be a fairly standard % based system. For our game we converted the core mechanic to a D20 and nothing went amiss.
--Steve
When I initially looked at Anima I thought it was incredibly complex, but it turns out to be a fairly standard % based system. For our game we converted the core mechanic to a D20 and nothing went amiss.
--Steve
Scribe Ineti
Explorer
I'd recommend checking out Decipher's Lord of the Rings RPG. Great production values, fairly crunchy system, well-written source material and GM advice, etc.
Middle-earth is the classic fantasy setting. Tons of reference material for it.
And, if you don't want to go Middle-earth, the game is flexible enough that you can ignore the Tolkien trappings and use the system as a solid generic fantasy RPG.
And, now that Decipher is no longer publishing the game, the books can be found for great prices.
Middle-earth is the classic fantasy setting. Tons of reference material for it.
And, if you don't want to go Middle-earth, the game is flexible enough that you can ignore the Tolkien trappings and use the system as a solid generic fantasy RPG.
And, now that Decipher is no longer publishing the game, the books can be found for great prices.
Yair
Community Supporter
My favorite game is Ars Magica Fifth Edition. I'm not sure it actually meets what you're looking for, however:
1) It isn't at all founded on the pure-fantasy setting ideas you seem to be interested in pursuing. Instead, the setting is Mythifc Europe, which is anywhere between a high-fantasy realm of giants and flying castles and a historic-reenactment game but in practice the setting that is supported is something like medieval Europe with lots of mythology thrown in and the supernatural heavily embraced (demons, angels, dragons...). This is a very different direction from the one you're writing about.
2) It isn't new. The fifth edition is pretty new, but the game itself is old. Not sure what a "classical" feel is, but I wouldn't say the game feels "contemporary".
So, probably not what you're looking for, but in case you are - it's a very good game, and has very enriching supplements.
1) It isn't at all founded on the pure-fantasy setting ideas you seem to be interested in pursuing. Instead, the setting is Mythifc Europe, which is anywhere between a high-fantasy realm of giants and flying castles and a historic-reenactment game but in practice the setting that is supported is something like medieval Europe with lots of mythology thrown in and the supernatural heavily embraced (demons, angels, dragons...). This is a very different direction from the one you're writing about.
2) It isn't new. The fifth edition is pretty new, but the game itself is old. Not sure what a "classical" feel is, but I wouldn't say the game feels "contemporary".
So, probably not what you're looking for, but in case you are - it's a very good game, and has very enriching supplements.
pawsplay
Hero
Talislanta. It is now in its 5th edition, although I am a 4th edition loyalist. It's an incredible mashup of classic swords-and-sorcery with slightly hallucinogenic fantasy. Think The Dying Earth meets Swords Against Deviltry meets The Dark Crystal. It's probably slightly less complex than you were aiming for and it has a venerable history, but from the sounds of it, you are looking for something fresh, and Talislanta would feel fresh to anyone. Forget paladins and elves and holy avengers, and think Zandir duelists, four-armed, battle-mad Ahazu, and ice giants.
Warhammer FRP 2nd edition is, of course, awesome. It's one of those games that's great just to read, but it's also an easy game to pick up with a new group, and the combat system is just a beauty in action. The milieu is sort of The Lord of the Rings meets Stormbringer meets Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
I know you said no GURPS, but the new GURPS is very slick, and GURPS Banestorm is a very slick revision on their Yrth setting, which gives you an alternate world in which the Crusades are still going on against a backdrop of mythological and alien races like elves, lizard folk, and octopus people.
Warhammer FRP 2nd edition is, of course, awesome. It's one of those games that's great just to read, but it's also an easy game to pick up with a new group, and the combat system is just a beauty in action. The milieu is sort of The Lord of the Rings meets Stormbringer meets Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
I know you said no GURPS, but the new GURPS is very slick, and GURPS Banestorm is a very slick revision on their Yrth setting, which gives you an alternate world in which the Crusades are still going on against a backdrop of mythological and alien races like elves, lizard folk, and octopus people.
firesnakearies
Explorer
Wow, lots of intriguing suggestions here. Thanks, folks.
This thread got me to thinking. I've noticed something. Most of the older RPGs that I've played/looked at that have released various new editions over the years seem to be very, very similar in their latest incarnation to the original.
You pick up a 2nd/3rd/4th/5th edition rulebook for most of the long-running games out there, and it looks a LOT like the 1st edition did. The changes are often very minimal, very subtle. Nearly invisible in many cases, to a casual glance. Even the same old art tends to be re-used again and again.
I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It might even be a good thing.
I've just noticed the huge contrast between that, and D&D. The differences between 4E and 1st Edition AD&D are so massive, it's like one game isn't even recognizable as a version of the other. Interesting. I wonder why that is?
This thread got me to thinking. I've noticed something. Most of the older RPGs that I've played/looked at that have released various new editions over the years seem to be very, very similar in their latest incarnation to the original.
You pick up a 2nd/3rd/4th/5th edition rulebook for most of the long-running games out there, and it looks a LOT like the 1st edition did. The changes are often very minimal, very subtle. Nearly invisible in many cases, to a casual glance. Even the same old art tends to be re-used again and again.
I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It might even be a good thing.
I've just noticed the huge contrast between that, and D&D. The differences between 4E and 1st Edition AD&D are so massive, it's like one game isn't even recognizable as a version of the other. Interesting. I wonder why that is?
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