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Make sure the system you use matches the kind of players you have, for an optimal experience

Admin Note: This is part of the ongoing series called “D&D isn’t the only TTRPG if you don’t want fantasy play another goddamn game!”

thydungeongal

I already reblogged this once but this is important:

Like I run a D&D blog. I understand that D&D is the most well-known and popular RPG in the world. But a lot of the time I see people going like “Hey I want to run a D&D campaign and throw out all the D&Disms and here’s all the notes I have for running a campaign about courtly romance and chivalry in a historical setting” and I’m just like STOP YOU DON’T NEED TO RUN THIS USING D&D

There’s a sort of a mistaken assumption that because D&D is the biggest game on the market and that it’s fantasy that it should be the go-to fantasy game but look it’s not D&D isn’t a generic fantasy game it’s a very specific kind of fantasy all of its own, one that steals liberally from swords & sorcery and high fantasy and adds fucking extradimensional cube robots for good measure

So next time you’re thinking about a fantasy campaign in a decidedly non-D&Dish setting consider instead of jamming the square peg that is D&D into a round hole trying to find a system that actually supports what you’re trying to do

And this is not to say that you shouldn’t play D&D: D&D is hella fun. But there’s a lot of genres and styles that D&D does a piss-poor job of doing, and because of that it’s so good we’ve got other games

dragons-bookshelf

*cracks knuckles*

All right then. I’ve been meaning to dust off my own D&D sideblog for a while, so here we go with providing some examples. I’m limiting this specifically to other types of fantasy outside of the standard high fantasy and sword & sorcery millieu.

Courtly Romance and Chivalry

There are a number of options for this, and they range from standard secondary world fantasy to more historical and mythological settings. My list here shouldn’t be treated as fully extensive.

Blue Rose - based on the romantic fantasy subgenre, specifically as seen in the works of Tamora Pierce and Mercedes Lackey. A lot of courtly drama and intrigue and swashbuckling, based in a fictional world.

Pendragon - naturally based off of Arthurian mythology, and having a lot of stuff given over to the court of Camelot and the chivalric adventures of the various knights. The same company also has a kickstarter for a spin-off called Paladin: Warriors of Charlemagne that might be worth checking out.

Historical Fantasy

This one’s a bit more prominent as historical settings serve as an inspiration for a variety of fantasy worlds and games, and this of course invariably extends to settings that actually use historical settings with a degree of fantasy elements thrown in. Note that I’m going to emphasise Europe here simply due to greater familiarity with games in that millieu, and as a European myself I’m ill-equipped to judge how accurate or respectful games using other settings actually are.

Because of this, feel free to add other examples in reblogs

Chivalry & Sorcery - one of the early tabletop games inspired by D&D, taking a more pseudo-historical approach. It’s based on 12th century France and strives for a degree of historical accuracy and medieval politics.

World of Darkness, Dark Ages (including Vampire and Mage) - while the World of Darkness has earned some negative attention lately (and for good reason), the dark ages RPGs are still an old favourite of mine. Also worth checking out is Mage: The Sorcerer’s Crusade, set during the Renaissance. The Mage stuff has a really cool open-ended magic system worth checking out.

Ars Magica - this exists along very similar lines to the dark age material above, based around mages and magic-users in a ‘Mythic Europe’ setting. It also has a really cool open-ended magic system, and one of my personal favourites.

thydungeongal

Awwww shit heck yes I might want to add to this list but this is a really good starting point

neddietrix-deactivated20220618

ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO FIND THE SYSTEM FOR YOU

13th Age RPG

A Song of Ice and Fire RPG

AEG (A Legend of the Five Rings)

Anima; Beyond Fantasy

Apocalypse World

Basic Fantasy System

Blades in the Dark

Burn Bryte

Burning Wheel

Call of Cthulhu

Castles & Crusaders

Chroniques Oubliées

City of Mist

Cortex

Cyberpunk 2020

Cypher System

D&D (All Editions)

Das Schwarze Auge

Dragon Age RPG

Dungeon Crawl Classics

Dungeon World

Exalted

FATE System

Fallout

Fantasy AGE

Fiasco

GUMSHOE

GURPS

Gamma World

Hero Games (Champions)

Hackmaster

Hârn

Iron Kingdoms

King Arthur Pendragon

Labyrinth Lord

Le Donjon de Naheulbeuk

Maid RPG

Marvel Heroic RPG

Mouse Guard RPG

Munchkin

Mutants and Masterminds

Open Legend

Palladium Games

Paranoia

Pathfinder

Pokemon Tabletop

Rolemaster

Runequest

Savage Worlds

Shadowrun

Star Trek Adventures

Star Wars

Starfinder

Stars Without Number

Swords and Wizardry

Tavern Tales

The One Ring

The Quiet Year

Tormenta

Traveller RPG

Unisystem

Warhammer

World of Darkness

COMPLETE TABLETOP RPG ARCHIVE

artmagine

Sweet dreams with the dark art of Artem Demura

sohin-3

foodffs

Blueberry Donuts

Really nice recipes. Every hour.

Show me what you cooked!

arnaerr

“Moon godlike are the most tolerated of the godlike. While their skin tone and a large moon-like growth on their foreheads may be strange to some, their appearances are generally considered more palatable by the other kith. Sailors have many beliefs about moon godlike and their propensity to bring luck, though there is little agreement as to what kind of luck they tend to bring.”

artmagine

Rebel book illustrations by Elena Bespalova

charliebowater

Oh my fucking g- OH MY FUCKING GOD.

wordsnstuff

Resources For Fantasy & Mythology Writers

Designing A World

City and Town Name Generator

How To Create a Believable World

Fantasy Religion Design Guide

Fantasy Map-maker

The Language Construction Kit

Fantasy Name Generator

The Pagan Name Generator

Writing Fantasy: Tools & Techniques

Fractal World Generator

Creating a Magic System

The Middle Ages

A Large List Of Articles On The Middle Ages

Middle Ages Weapons

Medieval Clothing

Medieval Clothing Pages

Medieval Name Archive

The Domesday Book

European Nobility Titles

Mythology

General Folklore

Various Folktales

Heroes

Weather Folklore

Trees in Mythology

Animals in Mythology

Birds in Mythology

Flowers in Mythology

Fruit in Mythology

Plants in Mythology

Folktales from Around the World

Egyptian Mythology

African Mythology

More African Mythology

Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

The Gods of Africa

Even More African Mythology

West African Mythology

All About African Mythology

African Mythical Creatures

Gods and Goddesses

Aztec Mythology

Haitian Mythology

Inca Mythology

Maya Mythology

Native American Mythology

More Inca Mythology

More Native American Mythology

South American Mythical Creatures

North American Mythical Creatures

Aztec Gods and Goddesses

Chinese Mythology

Hindu Mythology

Japanese Mythology

Korean Mythology

More Japanese Mythology

Chinese and Japanese Mythical Creatures

Indian Mythical Creatures

Chinese Gods and Goddesses

Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Korean Gods and Goddesses

Basque Mythology

Celtic Mythology

Etruscan Mythology

Greek Mythology

Latvian Mythology

Norse Mythology

Roman Mythology

Arthurian Legends

Bestiary

Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Gods and Goddesses of the Celtic Lands

Finnish Mythology

Celtic Mythical Creatures

Gods and Goddesses

Islamic Mythology

Judaic Mythology

Mesopotamian Mythology

Persian Mythology

Middle Eastern Mythical Creatures

Aboriginal Mythology

Polynesian Mythology

More Polynesian Mythology

Mythology of the Polynesian Islands

Melanesian Mythology

Massive Polynesian Mythology Post

Maori Mythical Creatures

Hawaiian Gods and Goddesses

Hawaiian Goddesses

Gods and Goddesses

List of Gods

Encyclopedia Mythica

Mythical Creatures & Beasts

Questions To Ask When Worldbuilding

The World

Physical and Historical Features

Magic and Magicians

Peoples and Customs

Social Organization

Commerce, Trade, and Public Life

Daily Life

Basics

Alternate Earth

Not Earth at All

Climate and Geography

Natural Resources

World History

Specific Country(s) History

Rules of Magic

Wizards

Magic and Technology

Miscellaneous Magic Questions

Customs

Eating

Greeting and Meeting

Gestures

Visits

Language

Ethics and Values

Religion and the Gods

Population

Government

Politics

Crime and the Legal System

Foreign Relations

Waging War

Weapons

Business and Industry

Transportation and Communication

Science and Technology

Medicine

Arts and Entertainment

Architecture

Urban Factors

Rural Factors

Fashion and Dress

Manners

Diet

Education

Calendar

Magic

The Hypertext List of Spells

Gemstone Properties

Gemstone Meanings

Crystal Healing

Fairy & Other Spirits

Elven Phrases

stevviefox

neat stuff.

faemytho

BARGES IN HERE, GRABS THIS, AND NYOOMS AWAY TO HIDE IT IN MY “REFERENCES” CAVE

canuckianhawkbi

Visit Original Link

I’ve had this post saved up for days, waiting to release it when I ran out of other posts, because this is easily the greatest thing I have ever voiced, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to top it

but people keep sending me stuff, and I keep finding stuff on my own, so here it is! based on this hilarious comic by @liberlibelulaart

please do keep sending me stuff! I’ve really enjoyed doing this the last couple of months, and even though there’s still more to come, it’s mostly down to dumb luck, and the well is going to dry up real soon

sorenkaecilius

this is beautiful

odioart

罵倒少女 c o l o r f u l オディオ O D I O

tumblingtumbleleaves

musterniillustrates

The Marigold Tarot Classic and Gilded Gold Editions are both coming to my new shop tonight.

• Both feature 78 cards, pip minor arcana cards, and fully illustrated court and major arcana cards •

• No “little white guidebook” - these cards were created with the Rider-Waite-Smith value system in mind •

• A guide to the symbolism of the deck is in the works for Fall 2018 •

• Specs: 310gsm German black-core linen playing cardstock, gold ink printing on the cards (not foil as it flakes and isn’t as kind to thin details), a two-piece foil-stamped nested box •

• The only difference between the two editions is that the Gilded Gold edition comes in a smaller print run of decks with a gold gilt edging upgrade on the sides of the cards, as seen in this short video here •

| shop | instagram |

usuallyhats

All in Together | music by Professor Elemental feat. Nick Maxwell | Critical Role (Campaign 2) | Content notes: None

We’re just having a good time here at breakfast.

Downloads and more info here

weareadventurers

All in Together

Don’t be sad! And don’t be nervous either, there’s no - there’s no need! We love you just the way you are! Come on in, join the rest of us, we’re all in here - yes! Oh, it’s going to be a lovely night!

You’re not the tallest or the strongest or the fastest or the cleverest Legends last long, but not forever, so remember this We’re all together, so don’t be frightened He who knows least is most enlightened

It might be that ignorance is bliss It’s inherently ridiculous we even exist So why be inconspicuous, a reasonable risk Just to give it all in, it’s as easy as this

Ah! Isn’t that all better, Better than a call center till it’s all pallbearers? We’re all aware of all of life’s pleasures And how little time’s left, let’s all all treasure

Set sail, all crew, all weathers Odd individuals look awesome together! Everybody gather - gather together, we’re going to have a group shot! Oh yes!

Celebrate your oddities, your work, your sexuality Celebrate your urges, celebrate humanity Celebrate your fetishes, my message is clear There’s no such thing as normal, everybody’s weird

Celebrate your oddities, your art, your own insanity Celebrate your birth, celebrate humanity Celebrate your everything, and let me be clear There’s no such thing as normal, everybody’s weird

All in together now, all in together All in together All in together now, all in together All in together

Don’t be beaten by the bullies or the bigots or the bosses Or the system or the sods in all their boxes and in offices Don’t let the silly sausages say your mission is preposterous Accomplish it, and if they demolish it, repolish it!

Climb on top, life is yours to conquer Plant your flag, roar like a monster Hooray for small joy, rise and shine Make time for a lie in, make time for wine

Make time for fine nights, it’s our ship to charter Nobody’s on their deathbed wishing they worked harder More wagging, less barking All in the spotlight, none in the margins

More unicorns and a lot less trolls We’ll never rest and we’ll never get old We’ll never get gold but the air’s so fresh Just be you - I’m incredibly impressed.

Celebrate your oddities, your work, your sexuality Celebrate your urges, celebrate humanity Celebrate your fetishes, my message is clear There’s no such thing as normal, everybody’s weird

Celebrate your oddities, your art, your own insanity Celebrate your birth, celebrate humanity Celebrate your everything, and let me be clear There’s no such thing as normal, everybody’s weird

Oh yes, you see? There! Feel better, everybody’s weird! Everybody - everybody has their strange side! Deep inside, none of us really grew up - There’s no such thing as a grownup - it’s all imaginary! So with that in mind, you take my hand! Let’s go off together, oh yes

foodffs

14 Comics Reveal What Would Happen If Movie Directors Were Chefs (click for more)

More info: Cheekylicious

Follow for recipes

Get your FoodFfs stuff here

eponymous-rose

D&D Classes, Simplified

Playing 5th edition for the first time and feeling overwhelmed? Here’s a quick glimpse into the classes.

Barbarian

Fundamentally: It’s like when you step on a Lego in the middle of the night and for a moment your capacity for rational thought is eclipsed by the fact that the entire world must tremble before the unfathomable depths of your wrath. Only with fewer Legos and more swords and stuff.

Mechanically: You can go into a rage in battle that diminishes the damage you take and increases the damage you deal. A lot of your fighting is based on high-risk, high-reward strategies, intimidation, and instinct rather than careful calculation.

Bard

Fundamentally: The words you speak change the shape of the minds around you. You’ve taken motivational speaking to a whole new level. You can also insult someone so hard they die from it.

Mechanically: Your day-to-day repertoire of spells stays the same (once you’ve learned a spell, it tends to stick in your head) and also pulls from a lot of different specializations. You can also inspire your allies, mess with your enemies’ morale, and, yes, insult someone so hard they die from it.

Cleric

Fundamentally: You’re pretty tight with some sort of higher power who’s granted you abilities commensurate with their sphere of influence. You might be a warm and fuzzy beacon of light and love, you might heal the sick, or you might make swarms of insects descend on your screaming foes. God stuff, you know?

Mechanically: You have access to a huge number of spells but don’t know them all off by heart, so every morning you spend some time in prayer and contemplation to make sure a few of them are ready at your fingertips when you need them most.

Druid

Fundamentally: You can turn into animals and control a lot of powerful magic that’s tied in with nature and the elements. You also may have read too many Animorphs books as a kid.

Mechanically: Much like clerics, you have a huge number of spells potentially at your disposal but have to concentrate each morning on picking out which ones you’ll pack with you. You can also, you know, turn into animals. That’s a thing.

Fighter

Fundamentally: You probably watch a lot of action movies and wince every time a character pulls off an amazing fight despite not having any experience or training. You’ve worked very hard to learn strategy, tactics, and precision, and when the stars align, the whole battlefield is yours to control.

Mechanically: Depending on your specialty, you’ll have a variety of abilities to make combat go a little more smoothly for you and your friends: taunting enemies so they focus on the right people, shielding your squishier allies, or just doling out an absurd amount of hurt.

Monk

Fundamentally: You think people get a little weird about their swords; you’ve never needed more than just your fists and maybe a good stick. You’re highly trained and absurdly dexterous: if someone tries to pull a coin out from behind your ear, they’ll probably find themselves with a rabbit in their hand instead and no idea what happened.

Mechanically: You’re so quick that you can snatch arrows out of mid-air. You’re also very centered on precise, devastating strikes, and have a store of ki points that allow you to do special attacks/defenses.

Paladin

Fundamentally: While clerics are generally a little more buddy-buddy or reverential with their divine patrons, yours is something more of an… employer. You know how it is when you’re on the clock: sometimes you gotta do your best to be the good you want to see in the world, and sometimes you gotta swear to enact vengeance for ancient wrongs. It’s a living.

Mechanically: Your singularly goal-oriented abilities are a blend between magic and more traditional combat, and you can frequently use magic spells to imbue weaponry with divine power. You also have an impressive ability to suss out both strong good and strong evil.

Ranger

Fundamentally: You know the wilderness pretty darn well (and probably complain about weekend hikers a lot). Your idea of a good time is being dropped in the woods without a map and having to puzzle your way out, preferably while hunting a few monstrosities along the way…

Mechanically: Your experience and survival instincts will serve you especially well in particular regions (a favored terrain you select) and against particular enemies (a favored type you select). You pick up a bit of magic here and there, mainly to help yourself and your friends make it through the wilderness unscathed.

Rogue

Fundamentally: You’re a very sneaky person who figures the best battle is the one that you ensure is over before it even gets a chance to start… mostly because you know if you get cornered you’ll probably get squashed like a bug. It’s probably a good thing that you’re so stealthy you practically vanish into another dimension.

Mechanically: You get huge bonuses and incentives for attacking first or when an opponent is distracted. You’re also notoriously quick-fingered and can be assured that if something ever goes missing, every eye in the room is going to be looking at you. Whoops.

Sorcerer

Fundamentally: You’ve got some powerful magical abilities that just sort of… happen, and your control over them is a little shaky at best. But it’s fine, it’s all good, you’ve got it handled. That tree was always on fire, right?

Mechanically: You learn a limited selection of powerful spells that are always at your disposal, and also gain access to a pool of Sorcery Points that will let you further manipulate your magic as you get more and more comfortable with your spellcasting.

Warlock

Fundamentally: Some incredibly shifty and absurdly powerful ancient being decided you seemed kind of neat, so they were all, “Hey, how would you like to have some seriously freaky magic in exchange for making a sorta dodgy pact with me?” and you were all, “alksdjflgk???” because hey, otherworldly and unfathomable, and they were all, “Cool, have fun,” and now you can kill things with your brain.

Mechanically: You have an extremely limited number of very powerful spells, but your spellcasting recharges very quickly, since the channel between you and the source of your magical abilities is pretty darn open. You also made a pact with something strange and a little bit unknowable. What could go wrong?

Wizard

Fundamentally: You’re the kind of person who got all A’s in school but also studied their ass off to do it. It’s like you read Harry Potter so many times that you managed to will magic into existence. You’re probably going to drag the party to every used bookstore on the planet.

Mechanically: You have a spellbook that contains every spell you know. Every day, you have to study up on a handful of these spells that you want to have immediately at your fingertips. You can add to the spellbook by finding more spells out in the world and copying them down using fancy-ass stationery.

thecindercrow

A dnd party where the ranger’s companion, the wizard’s familiar, the warlock’s patron, and the cleric’s deity are all the same creature

thecindercrow

I want to be clear - it’s not that each of these is the same breed of cat, it’s that one cat plays each of these roles, whether it meant to or not, and they all have to share

thecindercrow

On second thought, both options are good, because imagine the confusion. Imagine the cleric throwing open the wizard’s door, switching orange tabbies with them, and leaving in a huff with, “I’ve been praying to your mouse-catcher for three hours.”