Ooh, another good one, that would be more like what your familiar with while giving you a taste of more free form RPGs is Alternity's Gamma World. It's out of print but you may still be able to find it, and it's not designed to run nearly as silly as the new WotC edition.
Recommend a Post Apocalyptic table top game?
- Thread starter Clive Howlitzer
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Kind of post-apocalyptic (in so far that its in the future and as far as the characters are concerned...) - Paranoia.
Seriously, every RP'er needs to try Paranoia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)] at least once in their life.
EDIT: Bawww, beaten to the punch by [user]Grouchy Imp[/user].
Seriously, every RP'er needs to try Paranoia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoia_(role-playing_game)] at least once in their life.
EDIT: Bawww, beaten to the punch by [user]Grouchy Imp[/user].
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If you are looking for something rules lite I would go for Savage Worlds. It is universal but there are several sourcebooks for different settings, Necropolis being a post-apocalypticish one.
The main draw of the system (in my eyes)is that it is designed to be simple enough the players are able to control mutliple groups in combat. As an example for something like a Fallout setting, the players might work for the Rangers,each having different roles in the organization. Not only would they get to control their own fully fleshed out characters they could also each have a couple of deputies and not slow the game down at all.
Had some great fun with Weird Wars 2 with this system.
The main draw of the system (in my eyes)is that it is designed to be simple enough the players are able to control mutliple groups in combat. As an example for something like a Fallout setting, the players might work for the Rangers,each having different roles in the organization. Not only would they get to control their own fully fleshed out characters they could also each have a couple of deputies and not slow the game down at all.
Had some great fun with Weird Wars 2 with this system.
The DnD 4E Box Set of Gamma World is wicked fun but it's a very oddball game driven by random rolls and card draws, so it's not everyones cup o tea.
For something more traditional I'd recommend Barbarians of The Aftermath, it's a really fun Post Apocalyptic Game Toolkit that uses the Barbarians of Lemuria system, a super easy to learn Sword and Sorcery RPG.
For something more traditional I'd recommend Barbarians of The Aftermath, it's a really fun Post Apocalyptic Game Toolkit that uses the Barbarians of Lemuria system, a super easy to learn Sword and Sorcery RPG.
I'd recommend giving World of Darkness a try. It's what me and my buddies play. I'm new to table top but it seems like an easy system to port across. We just did a Zombie apocalypse game, that the guy running made up.
I have recently been playing the Gears of War Boardgame, and been having a blast. It really gives you a feel like the the video game does. Intuative health system, cover (love those chest highwalls) and great way to make teamwork count for something (as its a co-op game).
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=167
they also have a card expansion pack out, which gives you some more scenario's
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=167
they also have a card expansion pack out, which gives you some more scenario's
"Survivors of the Fire" is pretty good, easy to learn, and cheap. It is however, set in 1986, but you can change that easily
"Other Dust", which is post-apocalyptic using ODnD rules. "Eclipse Phase" is technically post-apocalyptic, but it has a different twist. Both of these are in the far future, but well worth a look.
"All Flesh must be eaten" is amazing, both as a zombie game OR as a post-apocalyptic survival game.Just be sure to say no to inspired if you want a more grounded game. "Armaggedon" is also very good, but it's not technically post-apocalyptic (you can argue you're playing to prevent the apocalypse) and it's full of otherwordly stuff, but it's great anyway.
"Degenesis" is by the same guys that made Eclipse Phase. Unfortunately, the game hasn't been released in a translated version yet.
"S.T.A.L.K.E.R. the RPG", which is based on the novel and movie moreso than the games. Much smaller in scale, but very good. Also worth noting it's more concerned with storytelling rather than combat.
"Other Dust", which is post-apocalyptic using ODnD rules. "Eclipse Phase" is technically post-apocalyptic, but it has a different twist. Both of these are in the far future, but well worth a look.
"All Flesh must be eaten" is amazing, both as a zombie game OR as a post-apocalyptic survival game.Just be sure to say no to inspired if you want a more grounded game. "Armaggedon" is also very good, but it's not technically post-apocalyptic (you can argue you're playing to prevent the apocalypse) and it's full of otherwordly stuff, but it's great anyway.
"Degenesis" is by the same guys that made Eclipse Phase. Unfortunately, the game hasn't been released in a translated version yet.
"S.T.A.L.K.E.R. the RPG", which is based on the novel and movie moreso than the games. Much smaller in scale, but very good. Also worth noting it's more concerned with storytelling rather than combat.
Depending on how realistic a post apoc setting you're going for, just tinkering with an existing modern system would do the trick. Chaosium's 'Call of Cthulhu' works for a system that isn't particularly forgiving when it comes to gun play and injuries, while some tweaking of the various otherworldly horrors within could yield all the mutants and military experiments gone wrong you could want.
CoC quickstart: http://www.chaosium.com/forms/coc_quick_start_bw.pdf
I'm also a big fan of GURPS, but you did mention you didn't like a lot of rules and you felt that Pathfinder already had too many, so I don't know if this will be too crunchy for your tastes. However, note that GURPS can be run in a very scaled down fashion and can emulate pretty much anything and everything.
GURPS Lite quickstart (you'll have to log in, add it to your cart and then download it, but it's free) : http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG31-0004
If you want gonzo (both in rules and in setting) there's Palladium's Rifts, which is a wild trip as well as a time capsule of late 80s early 90s tabletop gaming. There's a huge amount of material out there for it, even if they can't be arsed to release a coherent 2nd edition printing. But if you've got a group that likes to latch on to cool concepts and isn't all that bothered by nonsensical and arbitrary rules, it'll definitely meet the need for post apoc and then some.
There's no PDF version for sale of the current edition rules, and the base book is $40 new, but it looks like you can find it used on Amazon for less. I'd say Kevin Siembieda should get with the times and provide an intro PDF, but then I chuckle and stop myself, because that would be a ridiculous thing for him to start doing now. Granted, he's started doing some in-house crowdfunded productions, so maybe there's hope after all.
https://palladium-store.com/1001/category/Rifts-RPG.html
CoC quickstart: http://www.chaosium.com/forms/coc_quick_start_bw.pdf
I'm also a big fan of GURPS, but you did mention you didn't like a lot of rules and you felt that Pathfinder already had too many, so I don't know if this will be too crunchy for your tastes. However, note that GURPS can be run in a very scaled down fashion and can emulate pretty much anything and everything.
GURPS Lite quickstart (you'll have to log in, add it to your cart and then download it, but it's free) : http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG31-0004
If you want gonzo (both in rules and in setting) there's Palladium's Rifts, which is a wild trip as well as a time capsule of late 80s early 90s tabletop gaming. There's a huge amount of material out there for it, even if they can't be arsed to release a coherent 2nd edition printing. But if you've got a group that likes to latch on to cool concepts and isn't all that bothered by nonsensical and arbitrary rules, it'll definitely meet the need for post apoc and then some.
There's no PDF version for sale of the current edition rules, and the base book is $40 new, but it looks like you can find it used on Amazon for less. I'd say Kevin Siembieda should get with the times and provide an intro PDF, but then I chuckle and stop myself, because that would be a ridiculous thing for him to start doing now. Granted, he's started doing some in-house crowdfunded productions, so maybe there's hope after all.
https://palladium-store.com/1001/category/Rifts-RPG.html
Yeah, for a while I was running a post-apocalyptic game using the nWoD rules (i.e. new World of Darkness rules or the Storytelling system), which worked pretty well because they are easy to learn and pretty intuitive. Also, they work easily for most modern settings, not just the World of Darkness (so if vampires and werewolves aren't your thing, don't worry; they aren't part of the core rules. You have to buy additional books to work them into a campaign). I didn't mention it with my recommendations because I was only suggesting games that are designed to be post-apocalyptic. But since a bunch of people have given suggestions for games outside that genre, sure, I'll second the World of Darkness suggestion.Blunderboy said:
All you need is the core World of Darkness rule book, which is pretty cheap now compared to what Pathfinder books cost. If OP does decide to go that way, one person in the group (such as the GM), might want to get the World of Darkness Armory and the Armory Reloaded since they add new weapons, combat abilities, and martial arts styles (what the core book provides is adequate, but pretty basic). Oh, and you'll need a bunch of d10s. Like 15 per person.
Everything you need to run a game. Covers character creation and advancement, as well as the rules for the Storytelling System. Also contains a section on equipment (combat and otherwise). This section is pretty basic, but provides generic examples that can be adapted to a wide variety of weapons.
Gives a lot of extra weapons and a bunch of background information on each one that is useful if, like me, you don't know much about guns. At the end, there is also a chapter with extra combat abilities like Combat Marksmanship (lets you shoot faster and more accurately) and Spetznaz knife fighting.
Has a section with a bunch of additional martial arts that your character can learn (the core book only has two: Boxing and "Kung Fu"), plus rules for making up your own (or implementing one that isn't in the book, like Hapkido). It also has a chapter on sci-fi and other fantastical weaponry and rules for characters that want to invent their own weapons. Finally, it has a section on optional combat hacks that GMs (or Storytellers as they're called in this system) can use to modify the combat rules to better suit a specific campaign (such as making combat more lethal or allowing bullets to ricochet).
Well, maybe not CIVILIANS, but outside of a food riot they aren't a threat to anyone who knows which end of a gun goes bang.Dumori said:
It's the criminal element that's the FUN bit! With Capo's jacked up on elixirs that remove the ability to feel fear and a few galvanic weapons that fell off the back of a truck... Suddenly that rubber armor is looking less silly now.
I absolutely swear by these two, but for anyone who isn't a fan of the inquisition (and I remind you all such action is heresy) then Rogue Trader is really good. The mechanics have a lot of cross over, but the setting can be very different.Soviet Heavy said: