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Post by vyrrk on May 9, 2017 13:12:26 GMT -8
So after watching a lot of Masks from our wonderful Happy Jack's crew and seeing Dave Kazay run Spirit of 77... I think I'm finally ready to try one of these game with my friends. Of the, what feels like millions of PbtA games out there... what do you consider to be a great entry point into this type of system? I have mostly DM'ed DnD, Savage Worlds and Edge of the Empire but would like to try something different with my group. See how they deal with it. Help me Jackers!
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Post by Probie Tim on May 9, 2017 13:37:16 GMT -8
Have you ever considered trying an OSR game instead? I'm a big fan of Swords & Wizardry, but Labyrinth Lord is very popular. As is Lamentations of the Flame Princess, if you like a "weird" aspect to your fantasy. The cool thing about OSR games is that they focus on rulings, not rules, and really support the GM in that role. I'm totally just kidding. I'm not a big PbtA "guy", but the games thrown around here frequently are Dungeon World, Monsterhearts, and, now, Masks. And, of course, Spirit of 77's own Monkeyfun Dave haunts our forums himself, so there's good support for that one, too. For what it's worth, I did support Dave's Bedlam Hall kickstarter, and I'm looking forward to getting that book in my hot, little hands.
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Post by vyrrk on May 9, 2017 13:51:59 GMT -8
Have you ever considered trying an OSR game instead? I'm a big fan of Swords & Wizardry, but Labyrinth Lord is very popular. As is Lamentations of the Flame Princess, if you like a "weird" aspect to your fantasy. The cool thing about OSR games is that they focus on rulings, not rules, and really support the GM in that role. I'm totally just kidding. I'm not a big PbtA "guy", but the games thrown around here frequently are Dungeon World, Monsterhearts, and, now, Masks. And, of course, Spirit of 77's own Monkeyfun Dave haunts our forums himself, so there's good support for that one, too. For what it's worth, I did support Dave's Bedlam Hall kickstarter, and I'm looking forward to getting that book in my hot, little hands. HAHA. Honestly I have been thinking about trying a old style game for awhile now as well. I only started playing RPGs since DnD4e so I'm pretty new. When I'm ready for that... I'll remember who to ask.
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Post by kurtpotts on May 9, 2017 14:33:42 GMT -8
I love Dungeon World for a D&D feel and while I have yet to play it I think the Sprawl would make for a very interesting cyberpunk game.
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Post by lowkeyoh on May 9, 2017 17:38:36 GMT -8
I've run a 10 session Urban Shadows game and it is still my favorite PBTA game. It has fantastic rules for generating plot collaboratively, and the play books are some of my favorite. I ran a one shot with my group with the Dark Streets material and we fell in love with The Vessel and The Hallowed playbooks. Some of my favorite rules out there.
The Sprawl is a game I've only run twice. Both times for a Con and both times were pretty rules light. Didn't get into the the corporate clocks or anything like that, so I'm not really familiar with the nitty gritty of how the underlaying narrative machines work, but it seems like a well enough designed game. If you're looking for Cyberpunk, its definitely worth checking out.
Monster of the Week. I've only played it and only a handful of times. It really excels at being a game about solving mysteries and hunting down the bad guys, however I personally prefer the Faction Based intrigue of Urban Shadows. Still, if you want modern Buffy style monster hunting, MOTW is designed for you.
Masks is Masks. You can listen to the AP to hear it in action. I think the idea of Labels and Conditions are brilliant for a Superhero game. I've played in Gritty Masks games, I've played in Silly Masks games. I think it does better with a lighter tone, but it'll handle what you throw at it.
Shout out to Spirit of 77 which I own but have never played. I'm intrigued with Bluebeard's Bride and Bedlam Hall but I don't think they'll mesh with my tables.
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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on May 9, 2017 18:20:34 GMT -8
I dunno, check out these jokers. They seem to be having fun...
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Post by lowkeyoh on May 9, 2017 18:46:44 GMT -8
*SHILLING INTENSIFIES*
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Post by vyrrk on May 9, 2017 23:04:37 GMT -8
I dunno, check out these jokers. They seem to be having fun... So... I'm not going to lie... your game never sounded fun to me. I have heard you interviewed (you seem like a rad guy!) and people rave about how great the system is. I was like meh. 70s aren't my thing. Then.... this game happened and I was instantly intrigued!!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2017 23:26:46 GMT -8
Of the PbtA games I've actually played / read it was Dungeon World that first clicked with me. Both the level of overlap to D&D and the way it's written helped me get the system in a way that Apocalypse World never did (I don't think I will ever enjoy the way that game is written though I do understand why it is presented the way it is).
The Sprawl is also great if you're after cyberpunk but it's focused very tightly on one very specific type of cyberpunk - doing the job, getting screwed along the way. Deviate from there and it might start to unravel a bit.
Haven't played / read '77 yet but from being on a table opposite them at a previous Gateway it sounds like a great game, though like you I wouldn't have said the 70's were my thing.
All in all the big question I'd ask is what genre are you looking for? PbtA games are typically tightly focused on one specific type of game so that's a really important question.
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HyveMynd
Supporter
Dirty hippie, PbtA, Fate, & Cortex Prime <3er
Posts: 2,273
Preferred Game Systems: PbtA, Cortex Plus, Fate, Ubiquity
Currently Playing: Monsterhearts 2
Currently Running: The Sprawl
Favorite Species of Monkey: None
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Post by HyveMynd on May 10, 2017 1:59:12 GMT -8
If you're brand new to PbtA games, which sounds like the case here vyrrk, my advice is to pick a game with a genre you're really familiar with or very excited about. I started with Apocalypse World, and, as I've said many times before, things didn't really click. I wasn't that familiar with post-apocalyptic media tropes, and so the examples and move in AW didn't make that much sense to me. It was hard to see what the game intended me to do. Monsterhearts made a bit more sense to me, because as it turns out, I really like young adult paranormal romance. Things clicked more for me with MH than with AW because I had a better idea of the fiction the moves wanted me to create at the table. But like other people, it wasn't until I read Dungeon World that everything made total sense. I could draw on my D&D gaming experiences, as well as nearly ubiquitous fantasy media example to understand what the moves and framework of DW wanted me to do. After I understood DW, everything in AW and MH made sense when I went back and reread them. So I would really recommend starting with a PbtA game that emulates a genre you're really familiar or interested in. If you can list some media examples I can offer some suggestion.
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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on May 10, 2017 8:39:23 GMT -8
Damn straight. And buy a Chrysler.
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Post by Stu Venable on May 10, 2017 12:13:02 GMT -8
I got me a Chrysler. It seats about twenty.
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tomes
Supporter
Hello madness
Posts: 1,438
Currently Running: Dungeon World, hippie games, Fallout Shelter RPG hack
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Post by tomes on May 10, 2017 12:39:19 GMT -8
...other than bringing the jukebox money, I'd concur with what many priors had said: Dungeon World is a great starter for getting the feel of the system. A few listens to the little "comic strip actual play" at the end of Discern Realities podcast will give you a feel for a possible tone and how to deal with conflicts and combat in interesting (and non-D&D traditional) ways.
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Post by kurtpotts on May 10, 2017 13:42:52 GMT -8
Also one of Dungeon World's creators Adam Koebel has run a couple great actual plays that can be found on youtube.
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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on May 10, 2017 15:16:49 GMT -8
If you're brand new to PbtA games, which sounds like the case here vyrrk , my advice is to pick a game with a genre you're really familiar with or very excited about. I started with Apocalypse World, and, as I've said many times before, things didn't really click. I wasn't that familiar with post-apocalyptic media tropes, and so the examples and move in AW didn't make that much sense to me. It was hard to see what the game intended me to do. Monsterhearts made a bit more sense to me, because as it turns out, I really like young adult paranormal romance. Things clicked more for me with MH than with AW because I had a better idea of the fiction the moves wanted me to create at the table. But like other people, it wasn't until I read Dungeon World that everything made total sense. I could draw on my D&D gaming experiences, as well as nearly ubiquitous fantasy media example to understand what the moves and framework of DW wanted me to do. After I understood DW, everything in AW and MH made sense when I went back and reread them. So I would really recommend starting with a PbtA game that emulates a genre you're really familiar or interested in. If you can list some media examples I can offer some suggestion. Hold on. Genre should be factor, sure. But you also have to take into consideration the player group's experience, comfort level and maturity - as I've said previously in other places, Monsterhearts is more than just about playing a monster, for example. Part of the core rules involve in social and sexual complications and not everyone group would comfortable with the use of sex moves against one another. Other systems also are simply not written well and require a bit of tinkering in order to be playable for certain groups. That has nothing to do with its genre. Finally, I dont always recommend Apocalypse World for a first exposure, because the system requires the players to really be involved in the initial set-up, which can be overwhelming for first-timers (both GM and player alike). That's a lot of risk. For a brand new group, yes Dungeon World is the best first taste - everyone who has played an RPG can wrap their mind around the setting, its rules are sturdy and accessible to a first time group. After that comfort level is achieved, then they should spread their wings to a genre of choice (provided everyone knows what they're getting into.)
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