Let's Make A TTRPG Shopping List
So the DnD 2024 core set's price has been announced. $240, or $179.79 with a discount, for the core books + PDFs.
This isn't a sleight on anyone who wants to spend that. If you really like DnD specifically, you really like DnD specifically. But I come from the era where if you liked TTRPGs you liked a bunch of different systems---one of which was usually DnD, and the rest of which were super varied---and I want to demonstrate what $240 can buy when the bulk of that pricetag isn't going to propping up Hasbro.
-I won't be picking used books
-I won't be using discounts
-I'll be sticking to bigger indie titles
-I'll be picking physical books
-This list will be price accurate as of 6/18/24, thus if you are from the future the prices in your time-realm may be different
So, what can we get for $240?
Mork Borg (https://www.boardingschoolgames.com/products/mork-borg) - 26.55, atmospheric and class based, TONS of third party content, spells feel scary and choices feel perilous
Ryuutama (https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Ryuutama-Print-PDF.html) - $40, cozy and class based, very easy to learn, cottagecore antics like dressing for the weather and cooking a big bowl of soup play a big role in how strong you are at the start of combat
Mausritter (https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/mausritter-boxed-set) - $55, halfway between the two games above, Stuart Little as a mighty ranger, the closest we've gotten yet to a Redwall TTRPG, spells and swords and little acorn hats
Fabula Ultima (https://studio2publishing.com/collections/fabula-ultima) - $29.90, a big GM-friendly toolbox of a game for crafting your own Final Fantasy style world and adventures, there's more moving parts so it's trickier to learn than the others, but it puts a lot of work into having game elements that you can build on, think of it like Minecraft
Mothership (https://www.tuesdayknightgames.com/pages/mothership-rpg) - $59, hard-fi space pulp, often horror but there's a ton of third party content that veers towards action as well, if you want to see your characters get in dangerous situations and claw their way back out this is the pick
Blades In The Dark (https://evilhat.com/product/blades-in-the-dark/) - $30, cinematic dark urban fantasy heist sim, lots of mechanics designed to remind the GM that your characters are competent professionals, lots of mechanics designed to help the GM spiral long term consequences out of your short term decisions, Thief + Dishonored
This brings us to a grand total of six core systems (plus some extra stuff like the goodies in the Mausritter box) for $240.45. And if we want to cut back to that discounted price of $179.79, it's as simple as dropping Mothership or Mausritter.
Now, these systems aren't DnD! This is important! But they're also not exclusive. I run 5e on Saturdays and Geist on Sundays. Folks I've played DnD with I've also played Fate Of The Norns, Coyote And Crow, Shadowrun, Blades In The Dark, Mork Borg, Vampire, To Serve Her Wintry Hunger, and a bunch of other systems with. Most non-DnD books are *really* good at oneshots and mini campaigns. A lot of them (like Mork Borg and Mausritter) have free PDFs. Shop around and see if anything catches your eye.
It's all one hobby, and the scene as a whole is healthier when Hasbro has to work for its chunk of the pie.
(If I goofed anywhere or if you have your own $240 TTRPG list, feel free to reply with it.)