What Is Your Go-To Pick-Up TTRPG?

[Gorgon Zee]

Friends you haven't seen in a while ask you to run a TTRPG for them TONIGHT. You have nothing prepared, but access to your TTRPG collection/library/whatever. They are ambivalent about what game to play, and you think they will like whatever you run. So, what do you run?

With an hour's prep I can run many systems so I'd probably pick something to contrast with my current campaigns. Also something that shines as a one-shot rather than a campaign.

Right now, I'd run HEROES OF THE HEARTH from Pelgrane Press's SEVEN WONDERS (Seven Wonders) because it's a fun-looking one shot I'd like to give a whirl.

If I think the people might prefer a more traditional feel, Call of Cthulhu is great for one-shots and the BRP system is both relatively crunchy and easy to explain a character sheet, so it's a great choice. I run a lot of FATE so if I want a more narrative feel, I'd go for that. But I might just look at something on my shelf and say "hey, Life With Master it is". So many simple, fun indie games ut there that work for one shots.

I guess that would be my answer. My go-to would be to pick an indie one-shot.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't usually do pick up games, but at this point I think I'd try Shadowdark. I've never run it, but I've played and it seems very familiar. Easy to play, fast to make characters for (a major factor in pick up games), and most scenarios are small and enclosed, easy for PCs to make decisions.

All the other games I generally prefer are crunchier, with more complex character generation and/or rulesets.

 

[CleverNickName]

I guess it's an unpopular choice in this thread, but my go-to is 5E D&D. Chances are, anyone who plays TTRPGs regularly will already know the rules, which means we can get right into the game without having to explain which dice are used and what a "save throw" is.

But on the rare and wonderful chance that folks want to play something else, I grab Dread and my Jenga blocks.

 

[LordEntrails]

Well, either D&D 5E (2014) or FrontierSpace.
D&D because I have so much experience I can run it in my sleep.
FrontierSpace because I'm running it now and creating a set of PCs and giving them an adventure would be simple.

 

[Nikosandros]

I would use my house-ruled AD&D 1e. I know it like the back of my hand and I can create encounters on the fly.

 

[mrm1138]

I'll throw out one more into the mix --- if it was with a group that had never played RPGs before, Tiny D6 would be a very possible option.

If the goal is to just get an adventure off the ground in as little time as possible, it's definitely on the list.

This would be my pick, too. Character creation takes maybe five to ten minutes (if that), and teaching the rules takes even less time. I also like the fact that they have so many different genres for the system. Sometimes I find myself in the mood for different types of stories. Right now, I'd be inclined to run Tiny Pirates, of which I previously ran a one-shot. By next week, though, I might be in the mood for spies or post-apocalyptic, and TinyD6 would have me covered.

 

[Alzrius]

Fainting Goat Games' memetastic Gorilla vs 100 Dudes (affiliate link). It's technically not a TTRPG, but I can't not see my group playing it like one!