Ask for Recommendations for Roleplaying Games Here, Please.

I've been wondering what a good tabletop RPG to play with my parents would be. My mom hasn't liked the idea of starting a character from the beginning, so it'd be nice to do one that was either levelless or at least gave starting characters a lot to do. Also I haven't DM'd before so I'd like to be able to learn to do that.

I'd like to ask what you think a good game would be for a new person just getting into tabletop rp where the learning curve isn't too steep, where you are free to weave the story as you fit (that is, fighting through everything in front of you is not your only way forward, you can keep moving another ways if you don't feel like fighting at the moment instead of having to go level up if you are not sure you could take on this enemy) and where being the DM is not a steep learning curve either.

I'd suggest FATE. It's a fairly versatile, rules-light system. It doesn't really have tactical combat, so if that's what you want, you should look elsewhere, but I've found it to be a simple system that works well for story-driven games.

The Atomic Robo RPG is a pretty solid first FATE outing, since it gives examples of various rules using pages from the actual comic.

DM It All had a video a month ago about the different editions of D&D, as well as games that are streamlined alternatives, such as Pathfinder for 3.5. One of the games they mention is Swords & Wizardry, as an alternative to 1st edition. Has anybody tried it? I'm curious about how fun it could be to try some very retro D&D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKuI-O2WMDQ&t=

Welp The Darkest House is pretty amazing :O Now to one day run it

Presume this is where the inquiry goes; I'm thinking about picking up a new miniatures wargame. Leaning toward something fantasy based, maybe skirmish-level but larger is acceptable. Been thinking a lot about the late Warhammer Fantasy Battle and how I never had a chance to play it. I'm aware of Kings of War and the The 9th Age as far as successors to WFB, but in general looking for new options. I know War Machine exists but there was no painting involved and I do enjoy that.

Looking for something that specializes in UFO conspiracies. I strangely can't find something that specializes in it. I'm thinking of maybe adapting either Hunter: the Vigil or Call of Cthulhu though I'm not actually familiar with either. Maybe just take the World of Darkness character sheet and adapt it to a new type of game?

Edited by Braincogs on May 27th 2021 at 8:58:07 AM

Conspiracy X owes a lot to The X-Files, while Delta Green has the UFO conspiracy turn out to be secretly backed by the Mi-Go, if either of those help.

Are the players supposed to encounter actual UF Os (X-com or MIB style) or are they supposed to be more unsure about whether the all the conspiracy theories they encounter are true (X Files style)?

In the latter case Unknown Armies might also fit the bill.

Edited by Robrecht on Jun 28th 2021 at 7:43:57 PM

x9

I know this question is 4(?) years old but I'd like to throw in my two cents for anyone else needing a good introductory system and recommend my favorite TTRPG System of all time, Sentinel Comics: The Roleplaying Game. It's a fairly rules light system that is very story driven. It's mainly geared towards Comic Book Superhero games but can be used for most other settings (I'm currently in a game using D&D's Spelljammer setting and it works just fine. Heck, I'd say it works better than if we were playing D&D).

Also, a High Power game is much easier to set up cause you Don't need to go through multiple levels at once during character creation to be a badass.

Edited by BackSet1 on Jan 8th 2023 at 10:37:07 AM