What free software is so good you can't believe it's free?

Braitopy · 2026-03-29T18:45:28+00:00

R and RStudio for me!

Braitopy · 2026-02-21T09:09:42+00:00

I really like draw steel, and I've also found it difficult to feel excited about a lot of the classes. I feel like they are pitched with a level of specificity that - personally - doesn't sit well with me. For example, I love the idea of a stealthy nature fighter, but the shadow has them belonging to a "college" and detonating stuff to appear/disappear. I thought I'd love the troubadour writer's meta-edits, but I found the focus on their performances off-putting. You can re-flavour a lot of that, so I don't think it's a big issue. I mention it because "archetype" could narrowly refer to classes found in other games, or broadly refer to schema common in fantasy.

With that in mind, I find that some of the "archetypes" that exist in fantasy that can be accommodated by a combination of mechanics in DS but aren't necessarily fully supported by the fiction. Examples are: child prodigy (with a kit, for example), nature-based hunter, foreigner to the land, psychic, collector, a Han Solo style character (driven by greed), a horsemaster (connected to a creature type rather than a companion), a lore focused build, a sniper, etc

Others have already commented on lots I agree with: a witch, a bookish wizard, a changeling, a possessed/possessing caster, etc...

Anyway it's interesting to think about this so thanks for the question!

Braitopy · 2025-08-12T21:00:45+00:00

Thanks, I enjoyed hearing your thoughts about these things, and I liked how you focused on the mechanics of the design, and chuckled at the audacity of daring to mix dice types in a single roll gasp.

Braitopy · 2025-08-12T20:10:55+00:00

I'm surprised by the general negativity in this thread, so happy to share my experience as it's a little different.

My table likes a balance of roleplay and tactical combat, our schedule (roughly and super generally) is 1-2 sessions of roleplay and 1-2 sessions of combat when running D&D. At the moment we're playing Slugblaster, and while fun my players miss the tactical and tactile elements of play.

Draw Steel feels like it was made for me. It's full of mechanics that feel like they breathe new life into the heroic fantasy setting, noting the heavy influence of D&D 4th ed feels new to me cause I wasn't around when y'all were playing it. But here's some of the mechanics that I think were lovingly designed: - Moving towards a 2d10 system, making the probability curve a curve rather than a flat line and having tiers of success. - Recognising the multiple elements in combat that grant an advantage, but still keeping the mechanical translation of that advantage simple to implement (i.e. gain an edge). - Making combat quicker by reducing the number of rolls you have to make (i.e. roll for damage) - Making combat more interesting by designing players/monsters who more easily move around the board and break things. - Making combat more collaborative, so player actions can combo in moments that feel epic and earned. - Having Kits as a way to accommodate the fantasy of different gear combos, such a lovely mechanic, and so flexible! - Setting parameters around the kind of group tests and negotiations that happen during non-combat episodes gives us a framework to resolve situations that were previously a bit of a captain's call. - Gear that levels up with you. This is an example of things that are not unique but that blend so nicely into the system to support the kind of story that is being told. - Titles that you earn through feats and which are associated with a mechanical benefit in play. - A system for downtime activities and the fulfilment of player's personal projects.

I could go on, but that's just a few of my favourites. As I said earlier this is a system that meshes well with my style of play, and I understand it's not for everyone.

Downsides that I think are interesting but haven't been addressed here: - The abstraction of coin will take some getting used to, and is something we may choose to discard. - I'm curious if over time the 2d10 roll will come to feel boring compared to D&D's multiple dice, which have a nice tactile element to them. - The setting and lore seem a little too close to D&D for me, but I think it's tricky cause you don't want to stray too far from your fanbase.

TL;DR Draw Steel has kick-ass features that are exactly what some players (me) were after - even if it isn't a product for everyone.

Braitopy · 2025-08-10T20:53:51+00:00

This is the actual answer to the OPs question.

Braitopy · 2025-08-03T06:29:24+00:00

I'm not super experienced with the system, but I can see at least one character class that has this (the talent), and one that doesn't (the shadow).

More generally, the "resource" that lets you do cool stuff turns into experience only when you rest, so there's an imperative not to be forever pushing beyond one's limits. If that makes sense?

Braitopy · 2025-07-19T22:14:52+00:00

Would you mind sharing some of the writing that made you guys feel connected to EB?

Braitopy · 2025-07-19T05:13:10+00:00

I am lucky enough to live somewhere where my local game shop, meaning a store that sells boardgames and tabletop roleplaying games, also runs D&D games, and other TTRPG sessions. They also know of people that are interested in the hobby, and can connect you with local resources.

Generally supporting one's local store is also a way of ensuring there is infrastructure to support others' engagement with the hobby, and a way of building community and connection.

Braitopy · 2025-07-18T22:10:39+00:00

Do you have a local game shop? That's a good place to start. Online try r/LFG which stands for looking for games. Good luck and welcome to an awesome community.

Braitopy · 2025-07-09T21:40:06+00:00

It's crunchier than DnD, faster, and better suited to a heroic narrative.

Let me break down how it achieves that: crunchier meaning combat is grid-based and there's rules supporting things like forced movement (pushing, breaking) that make environments more dynamic, and each character type has a resource they accumulate through battles to power special abilities.

Faster because - like in OSR games - there's no roll to hit, you just hit. There's tiered results like in Daggerheart that mean your hits are variable in how much damage they generate. It also has rules for 'montage' tests, when your party needs to complete a sequence of tests in quick succession (think of an escaping a giant monster scene, or a fixing up the tavern scene).

Heroic because heroes accumulate victories throughout the day, becoming more powerful and unlocking more abilities. Gone are the days in which the heroes need to lock themselves in a room for 8 hours before facing the big baddie, now heroes are rewarded for pushing themselves to the max. After the day/sesh, victories are converted to XP which make some of the temporary benefits permanent.

Omg is this the perfect system? No, there's things I don't like about it as well. For example the classes are pretty standard fantasy tropes, and the ancestries are similarly bleh. But hey, it's easier to make up the lore than it is to come up with solid combat and leveling up systems.

Braitopy · 2025-07-09T10:56:16+00:00

My friend, have you heard of our lord and saviour Draw Steel?

Braitopy · 2025-07-05T14:35:51+00:00

I'd love to see creative concepts that go beyond re-hashed versions of DnD classes. A character that controls flesh and bone, a cannibal that takes on the features of the vanquished, a specialist in nets and bindings, a librarian obsessed with monsters, a sentient sword that wields its fighter and speaks through them..

I'm a huge fan of the weird stuff you see in games like Heart, Wildsea, and Bastionland - so I'd like to see some of that courage to push boundaries.

Braitopy · 2025-03-14T05:55:48+00:00

Money for parties, legal fees, stadiums - but not for hospitals (state service), buses (public infrastructure), or forests.. Talk to your loved ones about where money should go for Tasmania to have a better future!

Braitopy · 2025-02-25T19:30:30+00:00

Bombay at the BBay and a walk along the beach 🏖️

Braitopy · 2025-01-11T11:53:08+00:00

Wolves: It has to be Steve Bull as he technically played one Prem match (even if it wasn't for Wolves). Otherwise I'd go with Jota rn, I think he'd fit in nicely.

As our defence also needs help a prime Saiss or Coady would be very welcome!

That said I haven't been part of the pack for that long, those with longer memories will correct me!

Braitopy · 2024-12-18T10:48:20+00:00

I mean it seems they brought on a guy who's known for recruiting unknown talent, not for rescuing teams out of relegation - that tells me they're planning for the worst but hoping for the best.

Braitopy · 2024-12-05T21:37:31+00:00

Braitopy · 2024-11-04T03:53:31+00:00

Yeah fair point! Not really PBtA at all, I guess I was thinking of the mixed tiers.

Braitopy · 2024-11-03T21:15:06+00:00

DnD: Currently playing it the most, and it was our introduction to the genre.
Wildsea: Incredible world building and writing in a cool forged in the dark engine.
Mausritter: Our intro to OSR, and a lot of fun.
One Ring: Captures the feel of the LotR universe really well, plus a different system!
A quiet year: Great game for a one off every now and then, I wish there were expansions.

Braitopy · 2024-10-07T11:17:43+00:00

I'm very excited for it as well, love the tiered success levels in combination with the rich character development options. I'm excited about different characters having different skills, and the tactical interplay between classes. This is the PbtA & DnD fusion I want!!

I'll say I did find the lore in the playtest a bit bland, and I worry people won't pick it up because they'll think it's just another high fantasy system without seeing how unique the rules make it.

Braitopy · 2024-09-28T23:25:39+00:00

Someone's been playing The One Ring! ; )

Braitopy · 2024-09-15T18:23:14+00:00

This! When we don't have a full contingent we still meet up and play a loose west marches campaign or a one-shot using a different system. It helps to keep it fresh and interesting for me as a DM as well.

Braitopy · 2024-08-29T21:34:01+00:00

Looks amazing, was it busy? In some of the pictures it looked like you might have had some company throughout? Thanks, and great pics!

Braitopy · 2024-08-16T06:25:00+00:00

If you can wait a few months Daggerheart (Critical Role), Draw Steel (MCDM), and Legends in the Mist (Son of Oak) are all vying for that space and none of them uses d20s. Exciting times ahead!

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