With Wizards of the Coast planning to make changes to the Open Gaming License and the Dungeons and Dragons itself, a lot of game designers and gaming groups are looking for alternative game engines.
So for all of you here’s my guide to modern TTRPG game systems to try for your gaming table or indie content.
All of these allow for creating and publishing content based on their mechanics, including creating hacks, customized versions of the base mechanics.
Fate Core
A cinematic and easily extensible universal game system, tying mechanics closely to the story and character’s backgrounds.
Features:
- Cinematic
- Fast
- Mechanics strongly tied to story
- Very easy to customize
Comparison to D&D 5e
- Conflict resolution: action-based
- GM role: Classic
- Player role: Classic, with resources to influence the story (a’la inspiration)
What you might miss after switching from D&D 5e:
- Tactical combat
- Complex character advancement (leveling)
- Defined character classes
Toolkits and materials to help you customize mechanics:
- Fate Systems Toolkit
- High Fantasy Magic: A Simple Magic System for Fate Core, Condensed, & Accelerated
- Fate Plus Dark Fantasy
Fantasy settings and hacks to try:
- Age of Arthur, roleplaying in the world of Arthurian myth
- Loose Threads, a dark twist on fairy tales and happy never after
Savage Worlds
A universal game system with a good amount of crunch to play with for both players and game masters.
Features:
- Large and easily extensible set of character options
- Very easy to customize
Comparison to D&D 5e
- Conflict resolution: action-based
- GM role: Classic
- Player role: Classic, with resources to influence the story (a’la inspiration)
What you might miss after switching from D&D 5e:
- Tactical combat (though it is possible to add some elements)
- Defined character classes
Fantasy settings and hacks to try:
- Beasts & Barbarians, an grim sword and sorcery setting
Powered by the Apocalypse
Features:
- No-prep start and improvisation
- Collaborative storytelling
- Well-defined, evocative character arechetypes
- A spiral of consequences driving the plot and story forward
Comparison to D&D 5e
- Conflict resolution: scene-based
- GM role: run the world, do not plan a story, follow the consequences
- Player role: push the plot forward via decisive action, and co-create the world
What you might miss after switching from D&D 5e:
- Complex mechanics and “combos”
- Tactical combat
Further reading for game designers:
- Using Apocalypse World to Outline and Draft Your Own RPG by D. Vincent Baker
Forged in the Dark
A game design style that branched off from the larger Powered by the Apocalypse family.
Features:
- Well-defined, evocative character archetypes
- Episodic, mission-based story structure
- Excellent downtime action mechanic
What you may miss after switching from D&D 5e:
- Tactical combat
The ones I haven’t tried yet
I know of at least two popular game engines that I have not yet had the chance to experience as a game master or player, and so I can’t tell you much about what to expect.
But do check these out! They are:
A living document
I’d like for this to be a living document, a growing list of extensible – hackable – game systems, available to use thanks to open licensing.
I will be adding more items to the list as I read through and play more games.
If you have a game system that belongs on the list, let me know in the comments or over on Twitter.
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