What games should I have on my shelf?

[T. Foster]

Here's my favorite games that I have on my shelf:

Dungeons & Dragons (1974, 77-78 (Holmes), 81 (Moldvay), and 83-86 (Mentzer) editions)
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st edition)
Empire of the Petal Throne
Metamorphosis Alpha (1st edition)
Gamma World (1st & 2nd editions)
Traveller (& MegaTraveller)
Traveller: 2300 (& 2300 AD)
Space: 1889
Dangerous Journeys: Mythus
RuneQuest (1st-3rd editions)
Stormbringer (1st edition)
Call of Cthulhu (3rd & 5th editions)
King Arthur Pendragon (1st, 3rd & 4th editions)
Prince Valiant: The Storytelling Game
Mekton (II and Zeta)
Cyberpunk (1st edition)
Amber Diceless Role-Playing
Ars Magica (1st edition)
Bushido (1st edition)
Dragonquest (2nd edition)
HeroQuest
James Bond 007
Paranoia (1st edition)
Sorcerer (& Sorcerer & Sword)
Tunnels & Trolls (5.5 edition)
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st edition)

Almost all of these (AD&D being the big exception) are at least theoretically complete and playable with a single book or boxed set, even those with tons of supplements. The vast majority of them I'll likely never play again, but who knows, maybe someday...

 

[JustKim]

While not RPGs, I can heartily recommend both Apples to Apples and Dreamblade. Settlers of Catan is wicked fun as well.
-blarg

You know, I bought Apples to Apples while I was on a party game kick, because it comes so highly awarded and recommended. I should have done some research first because I didn't realize that the game is essentially random words written on cards which you match together to try and create something funny.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with the concept of the game, but paying $30 for it left me with a bad taste.. it's just a lot of words written on cards.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Ooo! I used to play this in high school, but don't have the book anymore. Is there a version currently in print?

There sure is. Mongoose brought out a new edition a couple of years ago. See here for more details. The new edition was originally known as Paranoia XP but then Microsoft stepped in and asked them to drop the XP (party poopers).

I don't know what you know about Mongoose but I would say it is a lot better than most of the D&D stuff they put out in terms of quality, editing and proofreading. I think they did a really good job of it (although I haven't played any other editions).

Olaf the Stout

 

[Sound of Azure]

There sure is. Mongoose brought out a new edition a couple of years ago. See here for more details. The new edition was originally known as Paranoia XP but then Microsoft stepped in and asked them to drop the XP (party poopers).
<snip>

Olaf the Stout

You mean there won't be a Paranoia Vista?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've often heard it suggested that you should get The Magic Box supplement to round out and strengthen the already good magic system.

Way, way, WAY out of print. You can still get Angel and the rest of Buffy, but the Magic Box was OOP before the line was even cancelled, unfortunately.

 

[jeffh]

If you seriously want a good idea of the range of stuff that's out there, start by getting some of the "evergreen" RPGs, those that have lasted a long time and proven influential. GURPS, the Hero System, and the World Of Darkness line (especially Vampire) jump to mind immediately, then, ranking a little below those, Rolemaster or one of its descendants such as HARP and perhaps the d6 System (encompassing, among others, the pre-d20 Star Wars game). Savage Worlds is a relatively new system that seems poised to join that list, if it doesn't belong on it already.

Still talking about mainstream RPGs, one that is less successful and well-known, but as deserving of such status as anything I've named so far, is MEGS, the system that was used for the old DC Heroes game (not to be confused with the more recent DC Universe, which is a d6 System variant). This was last in print, that I know of, as a very-small-press game called Blood Of Heroes. Another system I might say similar things about, though not quite so enthusiastically, is the "roll and keep" system used in Legend Of The Five Rings and Seventh Sea.

Then you might want to start looking at some of the far stranger titles that are out there, such as Amber (no random elements, more or less auction-based) and assorted small press games (Burning Wheel has some innovative, or at least very unusual and interesting, mechanics surrounding character motivation and social interaction, for example). That should help give an idea of the range of stuff that's out there.

If that's all too adventurous for you, then two d20 games jump to mind as well worth picking up in some form - Iron Heroes and Star Wars Saga Edition. These are close enough to D&D to feel familiar but take the game in new and interesting directions that few other such products do. Honorable mentions, for similar reasons, go to Arcana Evolved and d20 Modern.

 

[paulsometimes]

You know, I bought Apples to Apples while I was on a party game kick, because it comes so highly awarded and recommended. I should have done some research first because I didn't realize that the game is essentially random words written on cards which you match together to try and create something funny.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with the concept of the game, but paying $30 for it left me with a bad taste.. it's just a lot of words written on cards.

I just want to second this. Luckily, I didn't pay for the game, but I still have a hard time understanding its popularity.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Call of Cthulhu. Chaosium's classic Lovecraftian horror rpg. Elegant, clean, simple and intuitive system, derived from RuneQuest/basic roleplaying. Game revolves largely around investigation and buildup ending in a climatic confrontation with cultists or a monster.

Mutants & Masterminds. Popular d20 superhero rpg from Green Ronin.

 

[Mercule]

Rolemaster...Amber

Interesting you mentioned those. Rolemaster is one I'm ditching -- after D&D, I'd use Fantasy Hero, and I don't need a third-string fantasy game on my shelves. I'm keeping Amber, though, because I really want to give the system a try sometime.

 

[Festivus]

I just want to second this. Luckily, I didn't pay for the game, but I still have a hard time understanding its popularity.

Talk to my non-rpg playing family and you would understand why it's so popular. It's easy to learn, 5 year olds can play it and it is get this... fun to play.

You do get a lot of cards with it. Price point probably is a bit high but you can find it used all over the place.