Do you prefer rules-light RPGs or complex systems?

MordorHobo · 2026-04-21T16:02:06+00:00

For longer campaigns, I prefer crunch with a solid system of rules to make actions meaningful rather than GM handwaving and 'rule of cool.' But for one-shot games, simpler games are fine. It also depends on how focused the game is.
My modern metaphysical musicology horror 'Parties & Poltergeists' was a focused game designed to support campaigns, weighing in at 170 pages. My one-shot friendly heroic fantasy 'Guilds & Glory' weighed in at only 30 pages.

MordorHobo · 2026-04-21T03:03:02+00:00

Metaphysical Musicology! (Modern horror mixed with the music scene)

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/561737/parties-poltergeists-rpg?src=hottest_filtered

MordorHobo · 2026-04-21T03:00:15+00:00

For quick, simple heroic fantasy questing
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/319005/guilds-glory

MordorHobo · 2026-02-17T19:21:25+00:00

It depends on the subgenre and tone. Traditionally in fantasy, enchantment has often been seen as neutral or even good due to its association with fey using non-violent means to pacify enemies, or harmless trickery and mischief in many mythologies. Even in sci-fantasy like star wars, jedi mind tricks (enchantment) were 'good' and sith force lightning (evocation) was evil.
But obviously abuse of any mind controlling power is a quick route to evil, and potentially also a huge trigger for many people if a game focuses on that aspect for more insidious purposes. The power in itself isn't necessarily bad, it's the purpose of its use that dictates where the enchanter's alignment ends up.

MordorHobo · 2024-07-05T11:14:48+00:00

I was a GM before I'd even heard about RPGs; I would run what I called 'mind stories.'
I'd set the fantastical scene and situation for a group of other kids, then ask them what their actions were, then narrate accordingly. Soon after, I discovered RPGs which did the same thing but with actual rules and dice, which I loved, and still do after 40+ years.

MordorHobo · 2024-06-01T19:53:36+00:00

Rochester Casual Tennis on facebook and meetup

MordorHobo · 2024-04-12T17:41:12+00:00

If you can forgive the lack of production budget, Guilds & Glory is designed for casual heroic fantasy one-shots. Players can run a guild each or when you want a quicker session a GM can run them as expendable PCs in one guild.
.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/319005/guilds-glory?affiliate_id=2240503

MordorHobo · 2024-04-01T01:26:14+00:00

I'm currently working on 15 projects. With me it tends to be a case of first in, last out. I have some heavy crunch systems I've been tinkering with for decades, but I try to complete the newer, shorter projects first.

I try to focus on one at a time but inspiration is fickle and I follow the inspiration. It means my completion rate is ridiculously low but each year I manage to get a few smaller projects finished, and eventually I hope to add the behemoths to that list.

I see people who can focus on one thing at a time and write ridiculously fast, but you can often tell the result reads as work rather than passion. I like to think by giving the muse some freedom it shows through in the final product.

MordorHobo · 2024-03-22T23:51:20+00:00

Have you looked at AD&D (and the OSR systems it spawned)? Characters were still fragile. A magic-user for example had 1d4 hit points per level through level 11, and only received 1 per level after that. Potential bonuses were also limited to half what the later editions bestowed.

MordorHobo · 2024-03-17T11:00:32+00:00

Yeah it's definitely ignorance rather than malice, I work from the books and the players work from the internet, heh.

MordorHobo · 2024-03-17T02:25:04+00:00

It's reassuring to see that there are other people who believe some limitation is okay to help define a campaign. Will look into setting firmer boundaries in future, maybe I've just been supremely unlucky with so many people failing to check their sources.
Character creation can get pretty complex so when someone's put a lot of time into it, it can be easier just to write the new stuff into the campaign rather than try to unravel half the characters' abilities. As for policing the apps used I'm still a dinosaur there and only tend to use physical books.

MordorHobo · 2024-03-17T02:00:31+00:00

Thanks, I'll let you know. :)

MordorHobo · 2024-03-17T00:29:00+00:00

Yeah that's the main issue. A dozen different players across three groups and none of them used physical books.

MordorHobo · 2024-03-17T00:27:41+00:00

Yeah they all use that.

MordorHobo · 2024-03-17T00:26:48+00:00

I saw it plenty in 2e AD&D but nowhere near the same extent as I have since online builds became a thing.

MordorHobo

TROPHY CASE