yord's Pen & Paper RPG List

Definitely my favorite RPG thus far, and by far. There is so much to love, and not just about the lore and the wonderfully detailed setting. Yes, even the rules are interesting--albeit, counter-intuitive, especially if you've played nothing but Dungeons and Dragons. The biggest point is that low d20 rolls are GOOD. This is particularly awesome for that cursed set of die that you have stored away (or, in my case, refuse to shelve, EVER). Travel is mainly space-based, but there are plenty of rules for surface travel as well, and lots of opportunity for co-op rolling while your group comes together to keep your ship navigating smoothly. It really has a Firefly-esque feel to it, despite being years ahead of the series.



One other feature of the game is the Perks/Flaws system. To help with roleplaying, each character needs to choose at least one Perk or Flaw--and you can choose from their long, entertaining list to fuel your ideas, or you can come up with your own and work out the details of how that affects your character with the GM. The character building is pretty involved, with the Skills page taking up about 75% of the time it takes to roll a fresh one. This helps flesh out a rich backstory for each person playing and also keeps the main focus of the game less on the combat and moreso on the roleplaying, which, of course, is mainly up to GM discretion, but when you're travelling through space with no limits as to where you can go in a world as rich as Alternity's, the RP in RPG comes easy and plays very well. Highly recommended to anyone interested!

Currently my longest-running campaign ever, clocking in at over one year, and going strong! I see this edition as a major upgrade from 3.5, streamlining a lot of the old clunky combat rules to make for an easier understanding for everyone involved--not just the rules lawyers of the group. Another perk of this edition are the new powers/spells that each class gets to choose from. They really makes it fun to be any class right from the start, with unique starting spells and skills that make everyone feel they are part of the action without having to advance multiple levels. Just finally reached the Prestige class, things are getting intense!

UPDATE: One of our party was turned to stone by a basilisk, and during our attempt to haul his bulky form to cure him, we were ambushed and killed by a black dragon. On to Dark Sun!


The Dark Sun campaign setting is high on my list of D&D settings that I must explore. The lore and the unique environments have already ignited my imagination.

Just recently got into Pathfinder with a couple different groups and I must say that I do prefer the overall feel of Pathfinder to Dungeons and Dragons. That being said, this RPG uses a lot of v3.5 core rules, and so the combat is likely to get complex, especially with a Monk in the group. There is a lot of content that can accompany this ruleset, which helps keep each campaign feeling fresh. I must say, though, that I just cannot seem to get into character in a fantasy setting, no matter the setting or what character I roll in the 4+ years of gaming. The characters come alive in combat and, unless you have a committed idea or personality, they seem to sulk back into the shadows in moments of peace. So, it's a matter of preference--if you like rolling damage and getting into long, engaging encounters that is lighter on the RP side, Pathfinder/Dungeons and Dragons are the games for you.


My Pathfinder travels brought me to the ancient city of Kaer Maga.

My first ever experience with Dungeons and Dragons was with v3.5 and could be summed up in one word: overwhelming. I feel like this would be the case with any individual's very first pen and paper RPG game, but it seems doubly so with the amount of technical rules that inhabit this version. That is not to say the game isn't fun--it is! It just has a steep learning curve that will require a few knowledgeable (and patient) friends.


My first and only DM experience was with 3.5. The group was killed by an ancient dragon after they relentlessly pestered him. Good times were had by all, despite that turn. And, just to clarify, I am just kidding--our sessions ended after they pissed off the dragon, so we will never know if they would have stood a chance. Something tells me it wouldn't have went well... Dragons are a fickle crowd (:

Arthur C. Clarke famously stated: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." This game is the closest representation of that idea in the form of a pen & paper RPG. The artwork is phenomenal, but what intrigues me most (second to the setting) is the character building. No longer are players chained to the standard STR/CHA/INT/DEX/WIS/CON attributes of the past--no, this game introduces a vastly different system governed by only three main attributes. I have not delved too deeply into this yet, but I aim to make it the next RPG that I play.


Breathtaking visuals lend themselves to my imagination.

This is the game that inspired one of my favorite computer games of all time--Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines. And so it rests here at a very high position, waiting for me to get into its juicy details about the trials and tribulations of daily vampyre life and all that entails. One of these days... one of these days!!

I'm already a fan of the Warhammer 40K universe, particularly the maddingly detailed art, and so when my roommate showed me this core rulebook, I took the opportunity to learn a hell of a lot more about the setting. I absolutely love the lore, and the "grimdark" nature of the series, and so it was a bit of a bummer that our plans to start up the game were nixed... but not a really big bummer, because we started playing Star*Drive instead :D

Do I even need to say anything about this game? It's friggin' Firefly!! It's pretty safe to say there will never be new episodes, so this is the closest I'll ever get to fresh content. The universe Joss Whedon created is already rich and very interesting, so it will be very easy to become immersed. Looking forward to trying it out!


Fetch me that horizon!

I had heard the word Shadowrun tossed around for years--probably over a decade by now--without knowing the first thing about it. I assumed it was just another standard fantasy RPG. Boy was I surprised to see what it actually entails! Seems basically like Dungeons and Dragons set in the distant, sci-fi future. So, gnomes with laser pistols. Awesome!

This is the game I know the least about. It's basically on here because my friend has a lot of good things to say about it. I am not too terribly enthralled by werewolf lore, but the idea of being a lumbering behemoth with an insatiable desire for carnage sounds... oddly satisfying.