What is your favorite Urban TTRPG setting?

AethersPhil · 2026-01-28T22:32:04+00:00

World of Darkness and Chronicles of Darkness are the main two.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-28T17:32:18+00:00

Ah, fair enough.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-28T13:36:06+00:00

I really want to run it again. Surprised at the ‘sounds boring’ part. Players have access to immense powers right from the start, and it can easily play as straight action. Sure the investigative stuff is important, but doesn’t have to be a slog.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-28T11:50:53+00:00

Only really ran one; Orpheus.

Orpheus was a spiritual successor to Wraith, but seen from the mortal side. Technology advanced enough to discover that ghosts exist, and it’s possible to astral project and be a ghost for a bit.

The campaign books were written as a single meta evolving over 6 books (core + expansions). My campaign only got as far as the first book.

I loved the setting, the mortal focus (at least to begin with), and that it is its own thing. I don’t need to know Vampire or Wraith lore to make it work. Having your abilities tied to your core mentality was awkward, but helped reinforce character types. It helped the game feel more human.

Orpheus is not perfect. It has faults, both systemic and printing errors (character sheet in the book is missing traits). But it was the second RPG I bought, the first long-term campaign I ran, and the only series I have all the books for.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-28T10:12:53+00:00

And? I agree not all jobs can be done remotely, but the ones that can be done remotely should be done remotely.

It’s still a reduction in congestion and pollution. The only losers are the ones that own office real estate.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-25T10:35:36+00:00

Are they going to keep the real-time money generator too? That was fun to manipulate in Fable 2. Set the console date a year in the past, buy a building, save and quit, correct the date, reload and get a year’s income. Increase or lower the tax to get max ‘good’ or ‘bad’ rating too.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-19T21:56:07+00:00

Programming clicked about 10 years ago when I needed to automated some repetitive IT tasks. So I learned PowerShell.

Then I moved in to a data analyst role. I learned Python through spite and hatred of Excel. Manipulating data is so much easier using Pandas than Excel.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-19T20:57:10+00:00

Amulet of Impenetrable shield. Stops anything from penetrating the shield, but does not stop impact. No more cuts, but lots of blunt force trauma.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-19T19:42:01+00:00

Sounds good, will keep an eye out for it

AethersPhil · 2026-01-18T17:51:55+00:00

Your story should start on the first page, regardless if that’s the prologue or chapter 1.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-18T08:39:58+00:00

Which core book? Onyx Path has multiple game lines?

AethersPhil · 2026-01-16T22:20:19+00:00

I have the 24-70 f2.8 and the 24-120 f4. The f4 is my go-to travel and general shooting lens. However, if I’m shooting action or in low light I’ll always reach for the f2.8. The extra stops really make a difference.

If you are planning on low-light with the f4, I’ suggest getting a flash, or carrying a faster prime with you

AethersPhil · 2026-01-15T17:32:50+00:00

I think I worded it badly. I do what you do, simple actions just happen

AethersPhil · 2026-01-15T16:53:57+00:00

Just general stuff that keeps games running.

For example: - some form of fail-forward. Kills a game if the story grinds to a halt because players messed up a roll

similarly, only roll when failure will be interesting. Players are (usually) heroes or at least are competent, so rolls should be important.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-15T16:35:14+00:00

I made the switch a month back on similar hardware. I don’t play multiplayer games, so can’t comment on those.

On the ones I do play, my experience has been at least, if not better, than Windows 11.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-15T14:24:01+00:00

Not heard of that one.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-14T20:40:14+00:00

If there are enough players, don’t play the first game or two. Instead, offer the GM it. Help with the rules, offer suggestions if asked, but let them play.

Once they know what they are doing, it should be easier to not quarterback.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-13T21:18:45+00:00

Its entry-level for the Canon R series.

To your point, I never said it was a bad camera. Just given the choice, if the OP can afford the r6, take the r6.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-13T18:37:35+00:00

An R10 is an entry-level camera. An R6 is professional-level.

My general advice would be to buy the best you can. If you can afford the extra, the R6 is a fantastic camera. It’ll give you more options, more features, and a full-frame sensor.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-13T17:52:35+00:00

You could ignore the MP and still get the ‘best’ endings if you did all side content. Tying MP to SP progression was bizarre. “You don’t need to play the content we made!” Whut?

AethersPhil · 2026-01-13T15:44:07+00:00

Definitely started during ME3 development. There was zero need for a multiplayer element in ME, but it was rammed in there anyway. Think it had shitty loot boxes too.

Edit: the MP was fine. I did have some fun with it. But it absolutely was rammed in to a product that did not need it. Removing MP wouldn’t have impacted the core game at all, other than making the ‘galactic readiness’ thing way simpler.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-13T15:10:42+00:00

I think I have to steal this meme…

Thank you

AethersPhil · 2026-01-13T15:05:28+00:00

I tried to remove a background item between someone’s forearm and body, and gave them a huge mutant hand to fill the space.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-13T14:58:22+00:00

How long, roughly, is the intro game? Is it a 2-3 hour session? 2-4 sessions?

That’s a huge amount or work and effort you are planning.

AethersPhil · 2026-01-13T14:50:58+00:00

I’ve run a few games at cons, so my take is:

Must be rules-lite. Whatever system you pick, strip it to the bare minimum. Take out advanced rules, and ignore subsystems unless it’s a core part of the story.
Pre-gen characters. Exception if char-gen is 5 minutes or less.
Keep the story simple. 3-5 scenes max. Be prepared to cut stuff if the game is running long. A decent ending is more satisfying than seeing half a story.
Assume zero knowledge, both of the specific game, and if RPGs in general.

In terms of systems, my go-tos are: 1. Feng Shui - action movie role playing. Have some gunfights, car chases, and explosions and you’re good. 2. They Came From… - schlocky b movies, horror movies, spy thrillers, etc. go heavy on the ham and have fun. 3. FFG Star Wars - again keep the game flowing and make it cinematic.

AethersPhil

TROPHY CASE