Trying out some indie RPGs...

[Cerebral Paladin]

Ah. As far as I can tell, that game named Dread is completely unrelated to the Jenga-based Dread that I love. It's great that you like it, and since it's free anyone can download it to see if it fits their interests, but people who are interested in the other Dread may be disappointed.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Fiasco and Dread are both must-plays, IMO. And I liked what I read of Hollowpoint enough after getting it the other day I'm going to run it at DC Gameday in a couple weeks.

 

[Greg K]

Ah. As far as I can tell, that game named Dread is completely unrelated to the Jenga-based Dread that I love. It's great that you like it, and since it's free anyone can download it to see if it fits their interests, but people who are interested in the other Dread may be disappointed.

Oops. I stand corrected (and saw a review to verify that I was wrong). I received wrong information and assumed the person that recommended Dread to me knew what they were talking about. Still, I recommend Dread: The Pandemonium. Just saw several reviews today that rate it highly. All of them were 4 out 5 and 5 out 5 on both style and substance.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

Thanks Crazy Jerome, I'm a big fan of Arachaia and Mark Smylie's Artesia, but I've yet to delve into the Mouse Guard graphic novels. However, I was/am a HUUUUGE fan of Redwall (the children's novels by the late Brian Jacques). I'm worried that BW might be a bit too....esoteric?....for my group's simpler tastes. And since this would be a one-shot the rules need to be easy to grasp.

Just to be clear, BW is detailed and involved, and not at all suitable to play as a one-shot introduction unless you invest a lot of time up front so that you know what you are doing. In effect, you really need to play the two introductory pieces first--then make characters, then really delve into the system. Players have to know how it works before it sings.

Mouse Guard uses some of the same underlying mechanics, but is highly stream-lined and accessible. If you spent a bit of time getting the gist of it, you could run it as easily as you would run Toon. In return for this accessibility, you pretty much will use the pregen characters in the introductory situations, with the topic being small, talking, tool-using mice adventurers dealing with appropriate threats. As long as that last part isn't a reservation, the rules themselves will be a cinch. (It will take a bit more prep on your part if you have more than 4 players.)

 

[Piratecat]

Yeah, I just read through the first 4 pages. Was this a face-to-face game?

It was indeed. Feng Shui is an awful lot of fun. I usually cobble together a loose plot and a half dozen awesome places to fight, then I improv the rest.

Confirming that my true love is the Dread horror game that uses Jenga. I haven't tried the other Dread game.

 

[Piratecat]

Other games on my radar right now:

Savage Worlds
The new Marvel superhero RPG
Leverage
Danger Patrol! (free)
Old School Hack (free)
Ashen Stars (GUMSHOE space opera)
Night's Black Agents (GUMSHOE super-spies)

All superb. All fun to play.

 

[Quickleaf]

Mouse Guard uses some of the same underlying mechanics, but is highly stream-lined and accessible. If you spent a bit of time getting the gist of it, you could run it as easily as you would run Toon. In return for this accessibility, you pretty much will use the pregen characters in the introductory situations, with the topic being small, talking, tool-using mice adventurers dealing with appropriate threats. As long as that last part isn't a reservation, the rules themselves will be a cinch. (It will take a bit more prep on your part if you have more than 4 players.)

Hmm I checked out the character/conflict sheets and it looks doable as a one shot at a glance, though pregens look like the way to go.

It was indeed. Feng Shui is an awful lot of fun. I usually cobble together a loose plot and a half dozen awesome places to fight, then I improv the rest.

Well my FLGS doesn't carry it but I'm going to keep looking for a local shop before buying online. Would you do pregens for a one shot or let players make their own characters?

And how's this for a Feng Shui setup...?
[sblock]
Tibetan monk refugee, fresh off the plane, who knows where other refugees are hidden needs to be escorted into witness protection in San Francisco. Triad enforcers, corrupt cops, the assassin Johnny Nines are gunning for the poor monk, and a vindictive PRC general (with his mercenary cohorts) has followed the monk over by private jet. PCs are good cops, martial artist friends of monks, action movie celebrity activists, etc.

Highway tunnel assault on police car train
A glow in the dark night club with karaoke and live seafood
Out of control trolley speeding down San Francisco hills toward Chinatown Gate
Fortune cookie factory where McGuffin fell into recent batch
San Francisco shipyards with whirley cranes[/sblock]

 

[Nytmare]

People have already thrown out most of my standbys, indie and non-indie alike, but I'll repeat them anyways.

Roughly in order of appearance:

Paranoia
Mouseguard
Feng Shui
Dread
Fiasco
The Shab al Hiri Roach
HoL
Tales from the Floating Bartender
Kobolds Ate My Baby

To Be Played in the Hopefully Near Future
The One Ring
Savage World

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Hmm I checked out the character/conflict sheets and it looks doable as a one shot at a glance, though pregens look like the way to go.



Well my FLGS doesn't carry it but I'm going to keep looking for a local shop before buying online. Would you do pregens for a one shot or let players make their own characters?

And how's this for a Feng Shui setup...?
[sblock]
Tibetan monk refugee, fresh off the plane, who knows where other refugees are hidden needs to be escorted into witness protection in San Francisco. Triad enforcers, corrupt cops, the assassin Johnny Nines are gunning for the poor monk, and a vindictive PRC general (with his mercenary cohorts) has followed the monk over by private jet. PCs are good cops, martial artist friends of monks, action movie celebrity activists, etc.

Highway tunnel assault on police car train
A glow in the dark night club with karaoke and live seafood
Out of control trolley speeding down San Francisco hills toward Chinatown Gate
Fortune cookie factory where McGuffin fell into recent batch
San Francisco shipyards with whirley cranes[/sblock]

Sounds like fun to me!

You just need to think of some scenery for the PC's to use and interact with while they're fighting. Oh, and don't be afraid to let the PC's have a long leash as to what might be available for them to use. Let them know that they can think up things that might be on hand. As long as it isn't too far fetched it is there!

The thing to remember is Feng Shui is all about working together to come up with some awesome fight scenes, just like you remember from any good action movie.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Piratecat]

Nytmare, the author/artist has told me that HoL isn't actually meant to be played. If you can manage it, I salute you.