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Post by Tesla Ranger on Oct 27, 2015 0:11:22 GMT
I've been considering a new campaign setting for a fair while now and I'm really getting interested in running a campaign in it. However, it doesn't seem like I'll be able to fit into a D&D system. There's a lot I'd have to homebrew (like totally different races and classes) but the biggest obstacle is the magic system. In this setting the closest thing to magic are persons who might be said to have a superpower rather than a list of spells to cast. So rather than rewrite/homebrew every nook and cranny of 5e I figured I'd look into some other game systems. Unfortunately I'm really only familiar with 3.5, 4e, 5e and GURPS. I was hoping I might get some recommendations here that I could look into. Fortunately I wouldn't be starting this campaign for quite some time so there's no particular rush.
Ideally I'd be looking for something that's relatively easy to modify, skill-based (as opposed to class-based) and preferably with a focus on story/RP over combat. I've been curious about AGE (from the glorious Ashes of Valkana series) and Animus Prime but haven't had the opportunity to try either of them out. I'd appreciate any opinions if anyone's had any experience with those systems or any others that might be suitable.
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Post by friartook on Oct 27, 2015 0:59:00 GMT
I'll recommend The Cypher System. This is Monte Cook Games' engine (the system that runs Numenera and The Strange). They recently released The Cypher System Rulebook. I haven't run the system yet as a GM or player, but the system is almost made to be easily customizable.
It has what you are asking for: narrative in focus, xp buy system for leveling, simple mechanics that allow a GM to focus on story.
I have future plans to home brew a steampunk setting with it.
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Post by DM Kiado on Oct 28, 2015 21:24:19 GMT
I'll recommend The Cypher System. This is Monte Cook Games' engine (the system that runs Numenera and The Strange). They recently released The Cypher System Rulebook. I haven't run the system yet as a GM or player, but the system is almost made to be easily customizable. It has what you are asking for: narrative in focus, xp buy system for leveling, simple mechanics that allow a GM to focus on story. I have future plans to home brew a steampunk setting with it. I second this. |
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Oct 29, 2015 17:46:04 GMT
Thanks ya'll! I'll definitely have to take a look at it. =)
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shadowykittenwizard
Commoner
I play a loveable Half-Orc Ranger, Raagakush the Flower. He loves flowers and all things pretty.
Posts: 15 
Favorite D&D Class: Ranger 5e, Paladin anything else
Favorite D&D Race: Half-Orc
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Post by shadowykittenwizard on Oct 31, 2015 15:10:21 GMT
The Cypher system is really good, also you should look at the Cortex Plus system, used by the Marvel Heroic RPG, if your magic is close to superpowers it'd fit very nicely but also the whole system is designed to be like a skeleton that you can apply any skin to. It's very simple to pick up and apply your setting to.
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Post by robosnake on Jan 24, 2016 20:26:47 GMT
Late to the conversation, but I highly recommend Fate Core for any story where the heroes are highly skilled, you want lots of action, and you want the story elements to matter mechanically. It also has a lot of things for every character to do in a conflict, even if they have no combat skills at all.
You also might want to look at Mutants and Masterminds, since it is powers-based, skills-based, and rooted in a d20 mechanic that might be familiar for you.
You could also take a look at Savage Worlds, as it is also skills-based, and has plenty of support for various kinds of powers. You can also get the basic rules for about ten bucks in the Explorer's Edition. It's easy to modify, and the powers they present are generic - you provide the color and description based on your setting.
Good luck!
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Post by maiyrcordeth on Feb 3, 2016 18:57:39 GMT
I highly recommend GURPs. The scenarios/campaigns you can run are endless. Want a gunslinger in space? Why not? Wizards and steampunk?
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Feb 4, 2016 6:16:58 GMT
We had been running a campaign in GURPS for the better part of a year without much fun. We're using Cypher instead now and enjoying it a lot more. GURPS was just far too mechanic-heavy for what we were trying to do. We could never figure out how to make the PCs we wanted or how we were really supposed to be using the mechanics. Or if we did figure it out we'd forget by the next session. And there didn't really seem to be any potential for homebrewing anything.
I can see how it'd be good for deep, social campaigns that probably don't involve that much combat. It just wasn't working for our situation, which is fine. Cypher seems to be fitting in perfectly as a replacement and I'm anticipating using it for that future campaign.
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Post by maiyrcordeth on Feb 4, 2016 16:47:48 GMT
I have 4th edition, and what I like is that there are no classes, anything you want to be is home brewed based on your alloyed character points
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Post by maiyrcordeth on Feb 4, 2016 16:48:03 GMT
I have 4th edition, and what I like is that there are no classes, anything you want to be is home brewed based on your alloyed character points
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Post by Tesla Ranger on Feb 4, 2016 18:50:05 GMT
Cypher's a skill-based system too, though the Types are sort of like classes in an extremely general sense. We were using 4th edition but had a lot of trouble trying to figure out how to build the characters we wanted out of the options listed in the books. One of the players has been part of a long campaign in GURPs 3rd edition and he's really enjoyed it. There's lots of good systems out there with lots of variety so I'm inclined to think that there's probably a "best" system for any given group/campaign combination, but there's no one, overarching "best" system.
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Post by DM Kiado on Feb 4, 2016 23:45:24 GMT
What about Fate? That's an extremely loose system. |
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GM Yoshi
Squire
Posts: 33
Favorite D&D Class: Warpriest (yes, yes, yes, Pathfinder, Hybrid class, Awesome)
Favorite D&D Race: Oread (Pathfinder race... I know) (Earth Genasi in D&D)
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Post by GM Yoshi on Feb 8, 2016 15:03:11 GMT
I second the Fate comment.
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Post by swordnut on Apr 4, 2016 16:16:43 GMT
Another recommendation for FATE core. Its really easy to create new magic systems, NPCs, Mobs etc on the fly
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