#dungeons-dragons — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #dungeons-dragons, aggregated by home.social.
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These Dungeons & Dragons Movies Are the Best Gateway to the TTRPG
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From the Notebooks of Jaspera von Kupferthal, Part 1
Highsun 8th 501 NMR
Some friends in the Natural Philosophy Society asked for my research from an expedition I did a few decades back. They are creating a book on the Faerie folk.
My little Cinni is one of the cowriters.
Naturally, I was delighted to share my research on modern agrarian fey culture.
Field Notes from an Expedition to Brugh na Ciorcal
Blossombud 10th 470 NMR
I have finished settling into my research blind outside Brugh Na Ciorcal. I found a suitably large hole in an oak tree to serve as my camp, although I am questioning my decision to disguise myself as a robin as I use my beak to write these words. It might be worth relocating to somewhere where a creature that could hold a pen could conveniently dwell. Ugh, I am getting distracted again.
An aerial inspection revealed that the village of Brugh Na Ciorcal is an almost unremarkable average specimen of Fey Enclave except for its location. It is located in the crook of a bend of Gilline Run river (although the locals most certainly do not use that name. Inquire about that at a later date). The village is roughly 1000 feet in diameter as the robin flies, which is rather large for a fey settlement, and is surrounded on 3 sides by the river (did the inhabitants change the river’s course?). The village is perfectly circular, elevated roughly 20 feet above the surrounding terrain and surrounded by an earthen berm about 7 feet high and a ditch 4 feet deep on the landward side. The entrance is flanked by a pair of unusual-looking standing stones, perfectly square columns, definitely fey-related from the spiraling markings, but they look older than the village.
The village itself consists of 120 faerie burrow houses, or brughs, of various sizes, arranged in the typical concentric-ring layout connected by spiraling paths. At the center is a large circular green with expected Fey paganism standing stones and an altar. Surrounding the green is a larger brugh which is almost certainly the headman’s dwelling, what looks like an alehouse, a general store (A rarity in a Faerie enclave, possibly a sign of outside trade), and several larger brughs which likely belong to the headman’s favorite lackeys or druids.
Outside the village for another mile or so on both sides of the river is another spiral, this one made up of paths through enclosures, orchards, and gardens enclosed by wild but trimmed hedges. The majority of these were gardens of semi-wild vegetables and fruit trees. However, I was surprised to see a plowed field at the very outskirts of the clearing and what, to my bird tongue, tasted like common wheat. They obviously were planting the stuff because a youth with a stick chased me away. The presence of domesticated crops certainly raises my eyebrows, and this might suggest a larger societal drift towards baseline mortality in the same region.
Tomorrow I will attempt a full census. This will require either a change in form or a more creative approach; robins, as it turns out, are not inconspicuous when taking notes.
Blossombud 11th
I am so tired.
I have completed my census of the Brugh Na Ciorcal, having changed my shape no less than fourteen times to get into every nook and cranny. This was, in retrospect, excessive.
I assume that none of the residents noticed me, except for the pets.
Note to self: scout villages for cats and dogs before transforming into a mouse, shrew, or bird.
Secondary note: Dogs are enthusiastic; cats are methodical
For the most part, this village’s population is utterly average except for a few deviations.
The village population stands at approximately 650 individuals—give or take a handful, as counting while being chased out of a burrow is imprecise work.
The largest group consists of satyrs and satyrkin (195), followed by a substantial goblinoid population (130) and a notable number of centaurs (95). This distribution is not unusual in isolation, but the balance between them feels… deliberate. I cannot yet say why.
The remaining population comprises smaller fey species (25), various others (30), and individuals of mixed or unclear lineage (65).
Of particular interest is the presence of 15 Fomorians. Their integration level remains unclear. I did not observe them in communal clusters, nor entirely apart. They occupy an uncomfortable middle, which may be more telling than either extreme.
There are 180 children, 115 adolescents, 250 adults, 90 elders, and 15 who are… significantly older than the rest. I am uncertain whether to classify the latter as elders or as something else entirely.
Most of the population (roughly 70%) are farmers and herdsmen working the fields, which aligns with my earlier observations regarding their agricultural tendencies.
Of the remainder, 95 are craftsmen and artisans, suggesting a healthy internal economy. Seven serve as resident druids, with fifteen apprentices—an unusually robust druidic presence for a settlement of this size, though perhaps necessary given the mixed population.
Twenty (mostly the doddering ancients) appear to be unemployed, though I suspect this is a matter of perspective rather than reality.
25 make up the household of Sir Eochaid, the middle-aged centaur who serves as the village’s chief.
The reminder consists of the goblins of the Fòlais’ family, who run the trading post, and Giorsail, a young hobgoblin hedge witch and diviner who seems to serve as an advisor to Sir Eochaid (This is… highly irregular. A non-druid serving as advisor to a village chief suggests either a breakdown in traditional authority or an adaptation I do not yet understand. I will investigate further.)
The village has 2000 sheep, 30 geese, 20 donkeys, innumerable cats, and a few dogs.
The whole village is unified in its dress, which consists of woolen kilts and tunics for the men and boys, and woolen dresses for the women and girls, all in a frankly unfortunate tartan pattern that I suspect is meant to signify unity. The only real visible indicators of status among the villagers are the green robes the druids wear over their clothes at all times, and the jewelry clasps, pins, and broaches the chief’s family, household, and top underlings wear, bronze for the servants, silver for the henchmen, and gold for the chief and his family.
Tomorrow I will start observing Sir Eochaid and his household. Hopefully, I will uncover useful data on the villagers’ social structure and customs and maybe get to the bottom of Giorsail’s presence in the village.
Blossombud 15th
It has been difficult to keep from laughing at Eochaid’s household over these last few days—though I am beginning to suspect that doing so would be unkind.
I spent half a week observing the headman and his household as a mouse and had to stifle myself a few times in order to prevent them from noticing the novelty of a laughing rodent.
The family consists of the Patriarch Sir Labhruinn Eochaid the 10th, his wife, Saraid, his sons, Búadach, Luthais, and Torna, his daughters, Samthann, Teafa, Ealga, and Cathach, and the ancient grandmother, Sìonag. Along with these numbers, Saraid was heavy with child and barely able to move from the master bedroom without help.
Sir Labhruinn fancies himself a valiant warlord in the tradition of the knights of the Round Table—or even King Fredrick himself—and strives to live according to what appears to be a deeply sincere, if somewhat misunderstood, ideal of chivalry.
He refers to his Brugh as his castle, even though it is only marginally larger than the second biggest dwelling in the village and consists of only 18 rooms.
The focus of the brugh is a large circular room at its center, which houses the central hearth. Such chambers are universal to all burghs, but Sir Labhruinn uses them as his throne room and the great hall. He spends all days sitting upon a pallet, adjudicating secular matters, listening to counsel from the druids and Giorsail, and receiving reports from the villagers he calls his “men-at-arms,” a term which appears to confer more dignity than responsibility.
This chamber also holds the family’s greatest treasures: a set of bronze centaur armor, a lance, and a sword, all of Faerie design, all heavily enchanted, and several tapestries that supposedly show his ancestors, who, according to him, were famous Faerie knights in one of the fallen Faerie kingdoms.
The other chambers consist of a kitchen, the bedchamber he and Saraid share, the bedrooms for the children, two guest chambers, a bedchamber/workspace for Giorsail, a room for Sìonag, a library, and a nursery. All the rooms were well furnished compared to the rooms in the other brughs in the village, with well-worn, heavy wooden furniture featuring lots of spiral engraving and various personalization. The sleeping chambers featured straw pallets that centaurs seem to prefer.
When not sitting in court, Labhruinn insists on teaching his sons the “art” of knightly warfare. Every day, just after lunch, they go out to the meadow beyond the fields and practice swordcraft, archery, and jousting. I am no swordswoman, but their efforts resembled rehearsal more than practice.
I also discovered the reason for Giorsail’s presence in the household. Apparently, Sir Labhruinn is doing things quite literally by the book. Le Morte d’Arthur, The Errantry of Frederick von Mountainheart, and several other storybooks in the library. They are heavily bookmarked and have multiple underlined sections per page. Giorsail was recruited to be Sir Labhruinn’s own personal “Merlin,” though I am not certain Giorsail agrees with this designation.
I also have to correct my assessment of her ability; despite not being far out of girlhood, she is more than a mere hedgecrafter. Her spellbook suggests at least a modicum of tuition under a proper wizard. She also has the ability to see magic auras around people and things without using spells, a very inconvenient power for my purposes.
However, Giorsail’s presence seems to have disturbed the household’s harmony. Sìonag and Saraid have gotten into multiple nasty arguments with Giorsail over the last few days, including a few at the nightly feasts. I initially misinterpreted Luthais’s interest in Giorsail as romantic. This was incorrect. He appears instead to be drawn to her craft—specifically, to the possibility of becoming something other than what his father intends.
This is the limit of what I can glean through observation alone. To understand this household—and perhaps this village more broadly—I will need to participate. Giorsail’s abilities present a significant complication. I must consider my approach carefully.
#5e #dnd #dungeonsAndDragons #dungeonsDragons #fantasy #Fey #fiction #history #rpg #ttrpg #writing -
‘Dungeon Masters’ Host Jasmine Bhullar on Running D&D Without Licensing Restraints for New Actual-Play Show: ‘We Can Call Everything By Its Right Name’
#Variety #News #DungeonMasters #DungeonsDragons #JasmineBhullar #WizardsoftheCoasthttps://variety.com/2026/tv/news/dungeon-masters-premiere-jasmine-bhullar-dm-1236728254/
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Bog Wizard – Satanik Panik
#DungeonsDragons #Metal #doom #doommetal #sludge #stonermetal #Michigan
CC BY-NC-ND (#CreativeCommons Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives) #ccmusic
https://bogwizard.bandcamp.com/album/satanik-panik -
‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Maker Launches Official Actual-Play Show Amid Growing Popularity of ‘Critical Role,’ ‘Dimension 20’ (EXCLUSIVE)
#Variety #News #DungeonsDragons #WizardsoftheCoasthttps://variety.com/2026/tv/news/dungeons-and-dragons-launches-official-actual-play-show-1236722646/
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DUNGEONS & DRAGONS comparte su hoja de ruta para 2026
https://powerups.es/dungeons-dragons-comparte-su-hoja-de-ruta-para-2026/
#Coleccionismo #JuegosDeMesa #Noticias #DungeonsDragons #GAMA #HojaDeRuta #WizardsOfTheCoast
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BASIC DUNGEON – HDK 43 † Perils in the slums scenario 2: the corrupt magicians
#8bit #DungeonsDragons #Electronic #chiptune #commodore64 #dungeonsynth #rpg #soundtrack #zxspectrum #Milan
CC BY-NC-ND (#CreativeCommons Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives) #ccmusic
https://heimatderkatastrophe.bandcamp.com/album/hdk-43-perils-in-the-slums-scenario-2-the-corrupt-magicians -
Bog Wizard – Journey Through the Dying Lands
#DungeonsDragons #Metal #doom #doommetal #live #morkborg #sludge #soundtrack #stonermetal #Michigan
CC BY-NC-ND (#CreativeCommons Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives) #ccmusic
https://bogwizard.bandcamp.com/album/journey-through-the-dying-lands -
Quale edizione di #DungeonsDragons giocare? – LorenzoFabre.com
https://lorenzofabre.com/2026/02/06/quale-edizione-di-dungeons-dragons-giocare/
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PsyPost: Researchers are using Dungeons & Dragons to find the breaking points of major AI models. “A new study presented at the NeurIPS 2025 conference suggests that the tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons can serve as a tool for testing the intelligence of artificial intelligence agents. Researchers found that while current models can handle simple questions, they struggle to manage the multiple […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/01/26/psypost-researchers-are-using-dungeons-dragons-to-find-the-breaking-points-of-major-ai-models/ -
Tiranía de Dragones- El gran final en el Palacio de la prensa
https://powerups.es/tirania-de-dragones-el-gran-final-en-el-palacio-de-la-prensa/
#Eventos #Noticias #DnD #DungeonsDragons #LaMazmorraDePacheco #PalacioDeLaPrensa
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Hey, are there any Dungeons & Dragons nerdz on my feed? My kiddo is all too quickly (at least, as far as my perception of time) making the transition from kid to teen, and as she more & more abandons toys and lots of the activities we used to do together on the regular, I am still wanting to get her involved in some stuff that has "in real life" social elements that she would have some fun and interest in participating in, rather than just ending up with her in ever more screen time.
To head off one suggestion, she has an aversion to team sports (similar to her parents when we were kids). And it has been amazing seeing her self direct in drawing & digital art, but again, that is still a solo activity. But one thing she has expressed interest is in role playing games. And the one I used to love and play all the time when I was close to her age was D&D. SO - I was thinking I could get in a set of dice, and a set of the rulebooks, and be "dungeon master" for an initial campaign with some of her friends to try and spark the interest, and have some fun in some nostalgic reliving my own kidhood, as well as still do some time with the kiddo in the little bit left before she goes full on teen, and likely not wanting to do anything with me. The linked pic is the core rule books I came up with (the iconic 1st edition of "Advanced D&D"). But since my time being obsessed with D&D 45+some years ago I know that there have been a ton of new editions, with some rule changes, as well as a good bit of it moved online too.
SO - long winded lead up to a question finally over: what would be a good equivalent edition to these core rule books I should get, that would give as equally a complete overview, but that would give us more current rules that are compatible with what most current D&Ders are playing these days??
#d&d #Dungeons&Dragons #dungeonsanddragons #gaming #games #rpg #roleplayinggames #fantasy #family -
Sirus DICE presenta sus novedades para 2026
https://powerups.es/sirus-dice-presenta-sus-novedades-para-2026/
#JuegosDeMesa #Noticias #DaggerheartDuality #DungeonsDragons #MagicTheGatheringXAvatar #SiriusDice #StrangerThings #TreasurePack
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Wizards of the Coast e Invoke presentan Warlock en los The Game Awards
https://powerups.es/wizards-of-the-coast-e-invoke-presentan-warlock-en-los-the-game-awards/
#Noticias #DungeonsDragons #InvokeStudio #WARLOCK #WizardsOfTheCoast
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Return to the world of Dungeons and Dragons with Warlock
Magic, gathering again!
https://www.sidequesting.com/2025/12/return-to-the-world-of-dungeons-and-dragons-with-warlock/
#News #DungeonsDragons #DungeonsAndDragons #warlock #WizardsOfTheCoast -
As ‘Stranger Things’ Comes to an End, Its Impact on the ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Renaissance Keeps Rolling
#Variety #News #DungeonsDragons #StrangerThings #WizardsoftheCoast -
What we've been playing - "I can't stop thinking about balls"
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¿Preparado para una nueva aventura de DnD? Demeo x DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Battlemarked ya se encuentra disponible
#Noticias #DemeoXDungeonsDragonsBattlemarked #DungeonsDragons #ResolutionGames #WizardsOfTheCoast
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Five-Hour ‘Dungeons & Dragons’-Themed Play ‘Initiative’ Rolls Into NYC’s Public Theater Amid Showbiz’s Growing Embrace of Role-Playing Fandom
#Variety #News #DungeonsDragons #Initiative #PublicTheater -
La demo de Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked ya disponible en Steam
https://powerups.es/la-demo-de-demeo-x-dungeons-dragons-battlemarked-ya-disponible-en-steam/
#Noticias #Demeo #DemeoXDungeonsDragonsBattlemarked #demo #DnD #DungeonsDragons #SteamNextFest
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Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: il nuovo titolo VR arriverà a novembre su tutte le principali piattaforme
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Ya disponible el nuevo starter set de Dungeons & Dragons, Heroes of the Borderlands
#Noticias #DDBeyond #DnD #DungeonsDragons #HeroesOfTheBorderlands
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El nuevo Manual de Monstruos de D&D ya está disponible en español
https://powerups.es/el-nuevo-manual-de-monstruos-de-dd-ya-esta-disponible-en-espanol/
#JuegosDeMesa #Noticias #DungeonsDragons #JuegosDeRol #ManualDeMonstruosDeDD #WizardsOfTheCoast
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This week on my #podcast the players join me to discuss our experiences with D&D at high level, what's the sweet spot for D&D level-wise? We talk about the end of the campaign and the final battle.
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Ich glaube ich mache das wirklich...
Ein bisschen Arbeitszeitbet....wichtige Recherche später, denke ich das ist machbar..
Ich werde versuchen Fallout in DnD zu porten..und bevor irgenjemand was sagt: ICh weiß es gibt ein ttrpg Fallout gibt. Ich mach das eher für mich...so als Übung
#pnpde #fallout2d20 #Dungeons&Dragons -
Finshed my husband mtg ocs ref sheet .mi love you @blasteradreis.bsky.social #mtg #dnd #magicthegathering #Dungeons&Dragons #ocs #art
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Updated ref for marry goose . And design. #magicthegathering #dnd #Dungeons&Dragons #ocs #art #fairy #fantasy #dndoc
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I gathered up all D&D 3e and 3.5e main books. Thanks @internetarchive !
Now I might finally be able to play a 3.x campaign... decades after I first attempted and failed at it.
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Eyes On The Moon Studios – A Thousand Thank Yous
#Alternative #DungeonsDragons #Instrumental #TabletopRPGMusic #orchestral #Romeo
CC BY-ND (#CreativeCommons Attribution No Derivatives) #ccmusic
https://eyesonthemoonstudios.bandcamp.com/album/a-thousand-thank-yous -
My Favorite Games (2025 Update)
My best-performing video over the past year has been My Favorite Games. Well, I’ve played a number of new games since I posted that video, so I thought it was time for an update.
Introduction
The games included in this list are ones I have played over the past year since my previous “favorite games” video and they have to be available to pick up as physical copies. So, while I have played a session of a game called Nuts, by Skrat from the A Squirrel Plays channel, it’s not eligible. I also haven’t played a session of one of my favorite games over the past year because I’ve been running other things, so Basic Fantasy RPG doesn’t appear on it. Go check out those games, though, folks, they are way fun—and Basic Fantasy RPG has one of the best communities in the hobby.
10. Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme
I was given a review copy of this game by Exalted Funeral, but was so impressed by it I went out and purchased the Head of Light Entertainment Screen for myself. I’ll also be purchasing another set of their odd dice.
What can you expect in The Programme? You can expect Monty Python. The world is dangerous, the denizens will drive characters loony, and the mechanics are simple. But, the GM will play different personas, which impacts game play, and beshrewments can send the entire table into something completely different. Watch those demerits, and get ready for a good time! You can pick up The Programme at Exalted Funeral for $50, but I recommend also picking up the HoLE screen for $33, as well as a set of their peculiar dice for $25.
9. Land of Eem
The Land of Eem has mechanics which bear a kinship to Powered by the Apocalypse games, with narrative twists and fail forward obstacles so the game is always moving. The world looks like someone combined the Muppets and Lord of the Rings, and it’s as subversive as you’d expect from The Muppets. If you’d like a game that’s light hearted and fast, but still has a good amount of depth, give Land of Eem a try.
There is a free QuickStart guide, but the beautiful Core Rulebook will set you back $40. I’d recommend going for the Deluxe Box Set—which includes a GM screen, a map, a terrific bestiary, and a mind-blowing setting book. That runs for $150.
8. Forbidden Lands
Forbidden Lands has wild lore, robust exploration, fun stronghold building, and a meta-narrative that’s there if a group wants to use it. The game also runs off of Free League’s excellent Year Zero dice pool engine, so game play is fast and dangerous. I ran a crawl of this a few months back because we had an off week and I wanted to toss something from Forbidden Land’s “Book of Beasts” at the group to see what they’d do. One character came out alive, mostly due to poor life-choices, but we had a blast getting to the end. This is a game I have not played enough.
If you want to pick up Forbidden Lands, you can pick up its beautiful box set for about $65. This set comes with a Player’s Handbook, a Gamemaster’s Guide, and a frame-worthy map. I’d have loved to have dice included in the box set but the two A5 books are hardbound stitched binding, have faux leather covers with gold foil imprints, and book ribbons. My only complaint about the game is I want to show off both the box and the books on my shelf.
Check this game out if you enjoy some grit that is challenging and fun. Oh, and it also has a fantastic FoundryVTT system.
7. Tales of Argosa
I just reviewed Low Fantasy Gaming’s successor, Tales of Argosa, on my channel. “Wow.” It carries over the low magic setting of its predecessor, while also incorporating a number of improvements to the system which were made in Pickpocket Press’ second game, Lowlife 20290.
Argosa uses a roll-under check system, which is my favorite way to play a game, but it’s combat system is the same d20 roll high many TTRPG players will find familiar. Despite the familiarity, Tales of Argosa stands out through a phenomenal exploit mechanic that is what 5e bonus actions should have been.
Tales of Argosa is very much an old school game but it’s not a retro-clone. Nor is it simple a distillation of modern mechanics which has old-school potency brought to the fore. It’s familiar, while being its own thing, and I love it. Check out Tales of Argosa if you’re looking for a game that’s fast and dangerous, but where the characters also aren’t overly squishy. You can pick it up at DriveThruRPG, a hard back copy costs about $45.
6. Shadowdark
Shadowdark is, at its core, a distillation of modern mechanics with some twists blended in to give it an old school feel. And the combination is brilliant. Torches run in real-time, so players can’t sit around dithering. Magic is roll-to-cast so a player has to question the wisdom of unleashing a spell in a particular moment. Sheets are spartan, so players need to spend more time interacting with the world instead of paging through their copious abilities. And initiative is always on, so attention seekers have to share the spotlight. I ran a Shadowdark gauntlet of zero-level characters last fall and it was amazing.
Shadowdark is an excellent bridge between old school and new school play. It’s terse presentation is clear and engaging, the artwork is a perfect vibe, and everything you need is in one book. Check this game out if you want to introduce folks who have only ever played Dungeons & Dragons 5e to some old school tropes. You can pick it up from The Arcane Library for $59.00. And if you’re worried about the game being supported, not only is Kelsey Dionne creating additional content, several other creators are following suit. There are new classes, the game’s been shifted to space, and monsters abound. This game is both good and popular. And it’s well deserved. Kelsey Dionne is an amazing person. Had I run Shadowdark more this past year I may have swapped it with the next entry on this list.
5. Into the Odd
When I first read Into the Odd I didn’t get it. It didn’t seem there was enough to it to function as a fun game! But I returned to it later and found I was more ready to comprehend how it’s designed.
The rules are so lite they can be missed with a blink! There are no to hit rolls, HP replenishes in each room, but the strength score drops when any damage taken exceeds HP and that remains. Movement is abstract. Keeping track of time is abstract. Wandering encounters help build an adventure’s fiction. And characters die, a lot. Into the Odd is a game where running and hiding from, tricking, or avoiding danger rewards a party with more dangerous spaces to investigate. Now, it’s not limited to dungeon or wilderness crawling, there are some lite rules for running a business or managing detachments of soldiers, so Into the Odd anticipates a widening experience as play continues. But it starts with crawling. And the lucky ones survive to delve a second time.
Into the Odd has become a favorite one shot game because I can have players roll their characters up at the table and be off and running in minutes. If you’re looking to try out a dungeon crawler, or looking or for some excellent tables to flesh out a world, check this game out. It’s a ton of fun and a nice change of pace. You can pick it up through Free League for around $45.
4. Sentinel Comics RPG
I first picked up Sentinel Comics RPG when it showed up in a Prime Day sale list for a ridiculous price in 2024. Since then it’s been listed for various sale prices, even as low as $9.99. This caused me to fear the system was going to be orphaned, which proved to be true. The game’s publisher, Greater Than Games, was recently shuttered in response to the tariff crisis. This is a shame because the game is phenomenal.
Sentinel comics is the first super hero game I played which felt like a comic book since the old TSR Marvel Game back in the 80s. Everything is narrative. If a player has a teleportation power and wants to use it for an attack they narrate how they do that. They don’t need a feat, there are no power points to spend, and there’s no formulas to tell people how much of an effect they can have. Instead, the player describes how they want to use their teleportation power, connects it to a quality the character has, and then adds in their current status. Each of these elements has a die assigned to them and, if a character does a “basic action” they use the middle value as the result. If they use one of their abilities, which are ways characters may use powers which have a bit of guidance, they use the dice that ability indicates. It really fast.
But what makes Sentinel Comics RPG shine is how barriers to success are dealt with. If a character is faced with any obstacle—a forcefield, a hostage being held, some bystanders standing under a falling building—they must be dealt with through an Overcome action. To deal with the obstacle the collected dice are rolled, and the result is read. But the way the results are designed means players will often have to accept a twist to be successful in the attempted action. A character might teleport through a forcefield, for example, not knowing that it was keyed to their dimensional signature. The character succeeds passing through barrier but it shocks them as they pass through and now they are hindered for a turn or two. The Overcome action is the heart of Sentinel Comics RPG.
If you enjoy Super Hero RPGs pick up Sentinel Comics RGP while you still can! As of this writing it’s on a fire sale for $20 at Greater than Games. Amazon also still has the excellent GM kit on sale for $25. The GM screen alone is worth it.
3. EZD6
EZD6 is a game of gonzo fun, present danger, and ridiculous moments. DM Scotty, who is the brains behind the game, designed it because he wanted a game that didn’t need math. It really is easy, I can have people versed in the rules in a few minutes, and if we forget anything during the briefing we can just tackle it when the situation arises.
For all its simplicity, however, character creation is fun. Different inclinations give the character a leg up in certain situations, hero paths grants some boons and abilities, and character aspects help flesh out their personality. Scotty has also created some additions to the system, including a full post-apocalyptic version, which extends the core ideas while keeping the simplicity intact. He’s currently working on a horror version, which I was able to play in, and it’s awesome.
If you want a game that is “grab and go” and sets the players imaginations free, EZD6 is a game I recommend. I love it. You can pick up a hardback/pdf combo at DriveThruRPG for around $25.
2. Cypher System/Numenera
Imagine a game where all the crunch was done before the roll. Everything in the game has a level, to make the level beatable players apply skills, spend points from their pools to give extra effort, or utilize a tool they have at their disposal. Once the final number is reached, it’s multiplied by 3, and that’s the target on a d20. Oh, and it can be played with any genre and in any setting, with minimal tweaks to the core system.
That’s Cypher System, and it’s amazing. Right now I’m using it to run a lunchtime super hero campaign once a month and have run a couple fantasy-themed one shots as well. I’m also looking forward to testing out more genres using Cypher System in the near future.
The Cypher System Reference Document contains all the mechanical information you need to run the game, and that includes their “white spine” genre books. So you can dive in to Cypher without having to lay down any cash if you want (but the books are beautiful, and look wonderful on a shelf).
Cypher’s publisher, Monte Cook Games, also has some distinct IPs which are not found in the reference document. The best known of these set a billion years in the future in the Ninth World. Numenera is science fantasy at its finest. The world is a weird mix of high technology and mediaeval fantasy. The game is set just as civilization is growing back from whatever caused the last world to collapse, an unknown number of years ago, and there are hints everywhere that the current batch of humans haven’t been around on the planet all that long. My campaign’s been going on for just about two years and I love the weird things the party encounters.
If you want a flexible system with fast mechanics that’s designed to be narrative forward, check out Cypher System. The core rulebook is about $77 for the hardback and PDF. For Numenera I recommend the two book box set, which costs about $130 for the book/PDF combo. There are also some starter sets for both systems, which can be found on Monte Cook Games’ web site. These cost around $30.
1. Dragonbane
Dragonbane is one of the first products Free League sent me as a review copy, but that’s not why it’s on the top spot of this list. It’s in the top spot because Dragonbane is amazing. In fact, I love this game so much I’ve picked up a copy of the box set to give to one my friends.
Sometimes people will call the Dragonbane box set a “starter set,” because that’s what most box sets are these days, but that’s a misnomer. The Dragonbane box set is the entire game. It includes the full rulebook, blank character sheets, creature and character standees, some pre-generated characters so a group can dive right in, a full adventure book, a reversible battle map on which terrain can be placed (but it is paper, don’t draw on it), and a set of lovely emerald-green translucent dice. And how much does this cornucopia of TTRPG goodness cost? The core set can be purchased for about $56!
Why do I love Dragonbane? Well, it’s a skill based system with roll-under mechanics. Magic is rare, but powerful, and combat is fast and dangerous. The game is fair, but it’s unforgiving if players don’t learn to make good choices. Also, monsters are both unpredictable and deadly. All this combines to create a game where negotiation needs to be on the table whenever possible, and retreat needs to be an option. That might not sound fun to folks who are used to a “clear the room” mentality, but I have so much fun seeing what my group gets into. They’ve befriended a troll, gotten swept up into an ancient conflict, and have forgotten that they are just a bunch of armed people and have no actual authority to do any of the things they do.
They’re even beginning to learn how to keep their party alive, well…most of them.
If you want to try something that scratches a fantasy itch, has players roll the familiar d20, but which also breaks away from concepts like armor class or hit point bloat Dragonbane is a terrific go to. My group has been playing it ever since our Basic Fantasy RPG campaign wrapped up and it’s a ton of fun.
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