Well since this thread was bumped, just to follow up on the last post, that campaign ended pretty early. But over the last few weeks I got a group together to play over Skype. Same setting (superhero setting kind-of-sort-of inspired in some ways by Worm -- I may try to actually write a story in this setting at some point), but we're using FATE Accelerated since you don't really need a grid map and it's easier to keep track of.

 

Just created my very first rigger/arms dealer in SR5. Took me about 5 hours since I never played one before and there's just so damn much to buy and consider...

 

I've been looking for a nice setting for a new game. My friends have done a couple of games with me and we're looking to start a new campaign with a new setting. We've played in a Middle Ages/low fantasy setting.

I've been looking up different rpg to find a suitable one. I'm on the World of Darkness at the moment. Anyone got any suggestion if I find myself playing in that setting? Like should we start with Vampires or Mage or...? Which is easier basically for an inexperienced group. I'm also looking up the Pendragon universe since I've started to watch the Merlin TV Series and felt intrigue, and I am debating playing in Harry Potter universe as well with a custom set of rules Mordecai and I made up a couple of months back.

Any suggestions?

P.S. Does anyone know a good sci-fi rpg? I've tried (a bit) Firefly with Enembee earlier this year, but except for that I have nothing.

 

WoD seems to be what people really like. Personally, I'd recommend oWod (or cWoD) with 20th edition books out there, the systems flow quite nicely.

It's not a big difference which side you start on, but generally, vampires are what people tend to like the most.


If both the gm and the group have never played any WoD, I'd suggest finding some other GM to give you a short game to get the feel of the universe, and then dive into the pit yourselves.

Otherwise, you could start by being simple mortals, in over your heads, and then, get dragged into the vampire world.

What else - don't mix and match different settings - werewolves and vampires in the same party do not work. Period. Same with mages and all other supernaturals.

I'd suggest taking one of the many oWoD clanbooks and reading it back to back (for the GM, at least), and then focusing your game around a certain clan at first. This way, you'd have comparatively lots of background material, and even if only a part of the players belong to the clan in question, your focus would allow you all to learn as they play.

Otherwise, there are Anarch, Sabbat and Camarilla sect books respectively, if you want to approach the game from the sect based perspective.

The focus of a longer campaign could go as such
Mortals (low knowledge) -> Leaning about a single clan -> Introducing some larger details or yet another clan - > Moving to Camarilla, Sabbat or Anarch playgroud.

 

Inexperienced groups should probably try FATE or Savage Worlds-based games, because they're fairly rules light and put the focus on working together rather than against an opponent (be that the GM or other players). Both systems are designed to be able to fit nearly any genre you can think of, so if you've got a setting you want to play but no system, you wouldn't be amiss in using either.

The only difference between FATE/Savage Worlds and DnD-style RPGs is that the focus is most definitely not on the GM providing the story for everyone to work through. The stories you make often end up being as much a product of the players' imaginations as they are the GM's, especially with FATE.

 

Something I'll recommend is the 'Powered by the Apocalypse' engine. It's what Apocalypse World, Dungeon World and a dozen others are based on. There's a really awesome list of free hacks that cover just about every genre you can think of, and about 10 others besides.

The game works really well for new players, although like FATE, it shares narrative control of the game.

 

I'm assuming you're referring to the different editions of WoD. My friend lent me the nWoD book (rulebook, Vampire Requiem, Werewolf Apocalypse, Mage Awakening, Hunter Vigil) so I'm pretty much stuck with that edition except if I manage to acquire the other one. Either way, are the previous edition much better than the new one?

Thanks, that's definitely the kind of thing I wanted to know.

Good idea. I'm probably going to ask my friend to introduce me into a small game with my players (make my character die or part ways) and continue the adventure as GM.

I don't have those books and I'm not quite sure what the sect entails by themselves (haven't started reading much of the WoD book so far).

Thanks for the progression idea. Seems pretty standard, but considering they've only played one campaign in a completely different settings, I assume it's going to work great.

I just downloaded the FATE system rulebooks. I'll be reading them this week and see what I make of them.

That could be interesting. I've only ever played RPG where the GM was really involved in providing the story. It'd be a good experience for me as GM and for my player to play differently.

What you means by hack is basically some version of the system players/gm have adapted to different universes?

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be reading a lot in the following weeks! Lucky me I have a job where I sit in my car for hours doing nothing so I can read a lot. Just wished I had hardcopy of some of these books so I could read them without burning my iPhone's battery in a half a day.

 

Precisely that, yes.

 

For WoD, I'd advise playing Hunter. You play a mortal or mortalish person who hunts the supernatural. Awesome fun, without getting too 'out there'.

On the front of sci-fi rpgs, I swear by Traveller. The best generic yet non-generic sci-fi system you'll find. Really simple mechanics, nothing complex to it at all. Enough crunch to get the job done, but the rule book is only 188 pages, and the font ain't exactly small.

There is a Traveller universe, all there for you to read about and play in. But I've run so many different sci-fi settings using this system. I've run Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate, generic far future sci-fi, generic dark futures, generic near future sci-fi. The system can cope with everything from modern day through to as far in the future as you can imagine.

There are rules for psychic shenanigans if you want to involve them as well, but you can just as easily leave them out.

 

Hmmm, is anyone interested in some Pathfinder play by Skype(or similar program) with roll20 on the side for dice rolling? I've been having an off and on hankering for it since my last group imploded when one of the players decided to kill their character(by seemingly intentional negligence), forcing another player to effectively cause their own character's death as well due to a geas effect(from their background) on them.

Personally, I would love to retain my existing level 2(we were almost 3, but... shenanigans happened) character, because of the flavor, but I wouldn't entirely mind degrading to level 1 again if we actually got a group going.

 

That sounded really dark before I finished it. Maybe player characters would've been better to say. >_>

 

I fixed it, in light of your comment, heh.

 

Considering we've been playing in a low-fantasy setting for our last campaign (no spellcaster of such) and my players have expressed their desire to see themselves have magic, I might go with the Vampire first like suggested by Nauro. However I still don't know a thing about either (not even sure if they have magic!) but either way I'll take your suggestion under consideration and read up a bit more on the Hunter than originally planned.

I'll look it up, thanks!

 

Just a repeat question. I'm chatting with the GM from my previous campaign right now, and he's eager to go again with a willing group. Otherwise, we might just try a more personal campaign of sorts... which would be different.

 

I'm interested. Couple of questions though. What would the timing be like? And what sort of campaign would it be?

 

Well, due to his work schedule, it would likely either be early afternoon(U.S. Central is his timezone), or late evenings(He gets home at around Midnight). Aside from days off, I suppose.

As far as the campaign... He could re-purpose his previous one(he made a lot of notes), but he's willing to adapt some ideas of the players if there is enough interest. Even potentially going in a completely different campaign concept.

For the record, his previous one started in a desert trading hub metropolis of sorts, which could really go any direction. According to him, he had broad stroke notes for several different contingencies of player actions.

Our group of the time decided to abandon the city and steal a pirate ship but, well, only one of us had any knowledge of sailing, and another knowledge of geography(at least the ship had a map to help, and the player still barely got a passing roll), so...

 

You can have some types of magic in Hunter. The campaign I played in, I played a black Souther Baptist preacher who's prayers actually affected the real world. I could lay on hands, do holy damage, bless shit etc. There are other types of magic Hunters can have as I recall, and also the option to have monster killing technology.

It really depends what sort of campaign you want. Go for vampire if you want a social/political focus. But if you're wanting to be smashing things and rolling dice, then Vampire is a waste of time for you. Werewolf is a good fit for that sort of campaign.

Only play Mage if you have a maths degree and are desperate to get a migraine.

Changeling is the most modular of the 'out there' WoD settings. You can do a whole different variety of stuff with it, but it can be difficult to wrap you're head around the actual setting of it, and the characters you're playing.

Another option, if you're looking for a WoD-like system, would be to go for Scion. It is also by Whitewolf, very similar mechanics to WoD. However its a different setting. You play the children of the Gods. There are various pantheon options, I usually run either Greek or Egyption, but there are a bunch of other ones. Its basically like playing Percy Jackson...but better.

 

Well, we're at three intrepid(*cough*) companions right now. Presuming the time scheduling actually works out. Anyone else?

 

I've been warned about the Mage setting, I'm assuming it's atrocious for new players and will stay away from it for a while. I'll probably read it once I'm done with the Vampire/WW/Hunter one, but that's going to be in a while anyway.

When I talked with a friend of mine who plays lot of RPG, he briefly mentioned Scion. Since you're suggesting it, I'll look it up as well!

 

I've fancied playing a WoD game for a while now. Time allowing I'd be up for a campaign. Only ever glanced at the rules though.