Post-Apocalyptic 'Mad-Max', which game to use?
- Thread starter Wulfang
- Start date
Lawngnome4hire
First Post
There are a lot of systems that can handle this type of game and they all have different advantages. So it depends on what kind of game do you want to run. Mini's or narrative combat, heavy combat or story focussed, simple rules or lots of crunch?
Something that is aimed squarely at that sort of setting. I'd like to avoid the 'generic' RPGs like d20, Savage Worlds, GURPS etc.
For instance, Modiphius' Mutant Year Zero is a PA game aimed squarely at that sort of thing.
Just wondering if there is a hidden gem out there that I missed.
For instance, Modiphius' Mutant Year Zero is a PA game aimed squarely at that sort of thing.
Just wondering if there is a hidden gem out there that I missed.
Meliath1742
First Post
Sorry...with Fast, Furious, Fun as its motto, I think Savage Worlds is perfect for a Mad Max style of game. Its Chase mechanics would flow nicely with running battle scenes from the movies.
Technomancer
First Post
Atomic Highway is made to handle that, and it's free. Savage Worlds is also a good choice, as is the D6 System
I also second Savage Worlds with its chase mechanic. Its fast and easy to use.
I"m sure there are some post apocolyptic savage hacks out there somewhere you can strip for ideas.
For a crunchier system, I have a soft spot for d20 Modern, there was a post-apocolypse rules supplement that I bet you could find for cheap.
I"m sure there are some post apocolyptic savage hacks out there somewhere you can strip for ideas.
For a crunchier system, I have a soft spot for d20 Modern, there was a post-apocolypse rules supplement that I bet you could find for cheap.
Neonchameleon
Legend
I've two suggestions:
If you want to be fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic universe, Apocalypse World is an amazing game (although Vincent Baker's writing style is an acquired taste). With the option to be almost anything in such a world, and world building is part of character creation. Seriously, one of the best games of the past five years. As a system it's simultaneously fast playing and evocative, and is one of the very few games where you can have one player as the settlement leader and another as a medic and the two work together.
If you want instead of playing in a post-apocalyptic universe to go full on Mad Max: Fury Road with the rolling combat and working out just how many ways you can blow up vehicles, and the exposition in the background, Feng Shui 2 is a great fast, fun combat game with a post-apocalyptic future juncture (including two groups of warring uplifted chimpanzees). It's a great action-scene game and a worthy update of what in the 90s was one of the best cinematic games around.
If you want to be fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic universe, Apocalypse World is an amazing game (although Vincent Baker's writing style is an acquired taste). With the option to be almost anything in such a world, and world building is part of character creation. Seriously, one of the best games of the past five years. As a system it's simultaneously fast playing and evocative, and is one of the very few games where you can have one player as the settlement leader and another as a medic and the two work together.
If you want instead of playing in a post-apocalyptic universe to go full on Mad Max: Fury Road with the rolling combat and working out just how many ways you can blow up vehicles, and the exposition in the background, Feng Shui 2 is a great fast, fun combat game with a post-apocalyptic future juncture (including two groups of warring uplifted chimpanzees). It's a great action-scene game and a worthy update of what in the 90s was one of the best cinematic games around.
Lawngnome4hire
First Post
Savage Worlds would be my top pick, especially if you want to simulate the cinematic action of Fury Road. Apocalypse World, and Fate Core would both be great choices for a more narrative style game. If you want something with more D&D like you could use Gamma World. And while more super hero oriented Mutants and Masterminds could do a pretty good job without much work.
Nytmare
David Jose
A heads up before you try Apocalypse World: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?338339-A-Hit-and-a-Miss&p=6154925&viewfull=1
I'd also vote for Savage Worlds or Feng Shui as my top two picks. If I remember correctly Spycraft and... James Bond (maybe?) had really neat car chase rules built into them.
Has anyone here played the Car Wars RPG? I've only played the combat game.
I'd also vote for Savage Worlds or Feng Shui as my top two picks. If I remember correctly Spycraft and... James Bond (maybe?) had really neat car chase rules built into them.
Has anyone here played the Car Wars RPG? I've only played the combat game.
Elvish Lore
Explorer
Fury Road didn't seem at all pulpy so I would avoid something like Fate or Feng Shui 2.
If you're looking for a game that models Fury Road's fiction and not real-world physics, I will recommend Apocalypse World.
Their playbooks (character classes) fit almost exactly the characters we see in Fury Road. And the game does a great, great job of pushing hard choices, the same ones that we see play out in Fury Road.
There's a tremendous amount of flavor and tone in AW, baked right into the game mechanics, I can't recommend it highly enough if you're aiming for a small campaign or one-shot.
If you're looking for very long term play (more than 8-10 sessions), I'm not sure I'd recommend it. There's no increasing mechanical complexity (gaining bigger and badder powers) and there's no zero-hero arc and while characters become more capable; it feels like you can just as easily die like a dog in session 10 then you could have in session 1.
If you're looking for a game that models Fury Road's fiction and not real-world physics, I will recommend Apocalypse World.
Their playbooks (character classes) fit almost exactly the characters we see in Fury Road. And the game does a great, great job of pushing hard choices, the same ones that we see play out in Fury Road.
There's a tremendous amount of flavor and tone in AW, baked right into the game mechanics, I can't recommend it highly enough if you're aiming for a small campaign or one-shot.
If you're looking for very long term play (more than 8-10 sessions), I'm not sure I'd recommend it. There's no increasing mechanical complexity (gaining bigger and badder powers) and there's no zero-hero arc and while characters become more capable; it feels like you can just as easily die like a dog in session 10 then you could have in session 1.
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Zak S
Guest
Atomic Highway is free plus here's a Mad Max specific hack of it, compatible with D&D 5e:
http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2015/05/maximum-road-5eatomic-highway-postapoc.html
http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/2015/05/maximum-road-5eatomic-highway-postapoc.html
Neonchameleon
Legend
Yes, Apocalypse World acknowledges that characters sometimes have sex. And that sex has consequences. And adds some trivially removable rules for the consequences. If the concept of characters having sex or the idea that there might be consequences to intimacy is too much for you to even contemplate in a rulebook then avoid Apocalypse World. Vincent baker doesn't hold back in his writing.
Lawngnome4hire
First Post
Not to derail, but does anyone know where I can find a print copy of Apocalypse World? There's a price listed on their website but no link to where you can purchase it.
Neonchameleon
Legend
I think they've run out -and Vincent's working on a second edition. Which means that only the sort of FLGS that stock indy-games will have a copy these days.
Lawngnome4hire
First Post
Savage Worlds also has Broken Earth, The Day After Ragnorak, and some other post apoc settings available. There's also a fan made Gamma World conversion.
Gillywonka
First Post
I like Darwin's World, it's fleshed out well and many supplements. I've heard several folks like Exodus and it looks pretty cool. My favorite though, setting wise, is The Morrow Project. They just released a 4th edition. The earlier editions had many supplements which you can use.
