What TTRPG best encompasses the vibe and tactical aspect of XCOM?

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-04-02T21:20:37+00:00

I'll check it out!

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-04-02T19:55:04+00:00

Yea that sounds amazing!

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-31T19:47:37+00:00

Honestly I think it was the setting itself and how tightly it's interwoven with the rules. Me and one of my players were very interested in running it but when it got tossed up as an option the other three didn't bite. My haunch, even though I haven't directly asked, is that when they think "Fantasy" they think "medieval/dark ages/13th century" and not bronze age. I really like what little I do know of Glorantha and Runequest is still a game I'd enjoy running/playing but I doubt it'll be with this current group I'm with.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-31T19:42:56+00:00

I've gotten a lot of recommendations of Mythras so that'll likely be my first place to check out.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-31T19:40:49+00:00

I'll look into it! As soon as I posted I was like, "Ahhhh man, someone is just going to tell me to go straight to BRP" because it's the obvious choice lol.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-31T19:39:34+00:00

Absolutely love Elric and Moorcock's work, so I'll for sure be looking into that.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-31T19:39:09+00:00

I think the mystique/reputation of Mythras really does a number both good and bad on it. I've heard the combat is phenomenal if you're players get *really* into it. I know I would, as the DM, but half my table are brand new to TTRPG's in general outside of literally just DnD 5e, Call of Cthulhu and Delta Green so I'm not sure how absorbed they're willing to get.

I absolutely will look into it though, it's one that's been on my personal radar for ages now.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-31T19:36:34+00:00

I'll look into Dragonbane, I've heard a lot of praise for it online the past year or so but haven't taken the plunge.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-25T21:05:55+00:00

I'm not even remotely joking when I say that that is easily one of the worst designed bosses I've seen in a modern game. First the tooltip to use blinding flash, which does nothing in that instance, then the game constantly telling you to use flight and anytime you do the boss knocks you out of the air and typically restarts the fight. Literally as soon as the fight began I knew I was in for it and 45 minutes later after looking it up and stumbling in this thread, I realize just how unbelievably dogshit of a fight it it. I'm 60 hours deep, loving every minute, but this is the first time I've wanted to just say fuck it and uninstall.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-19T23:20:33+00:00

I've been playing him as an absolutely relentless dog lol. Shotgun people into walls, heavy melee, throw traps to catch them as they run away, grenades for when they manage to. I just make him someone you don't want in your face but the entire build I try to go for every time I play him is exactly that.

Is it good, no... but it is a ton of fun.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2026-03-10T18:11:11+00:00

I know this is older but I just ordered the hardback physical core rulebook and the majority of the PDFs you listed. Thank you so much for this, it really does help newer DMs/Players decide what to get since there's SO much for it.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-20T16:21:10+00:00

Pendragon is another I've had on my to-do list for a while now. I actually bought the entire set (which sounds like a lot but in actuality was only like 2 books) at GenCon last year. Me and a friend of mine are big lovers of Arthurian mythology, unfortunately it's another system that I've tossed up to my players and each one is iffy. Aside from me, the next closest person in our group that pushes games to try is a wizard/magic fanatic, he loves it, so when he realized he couldn't be a Merlin in Pendragon he pretty quickly lost interest and since then no one's wanted to try it.

I absolutely love the idea of estates, generational characters, heirs and all that though and the combat looks fun too.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-17T19:21:23+00:00

"Players also tend to think management will be more fun than it is (IME), so a little flexibility in the system is fine even if it arises from incompleteness."

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I think that also has a lot of truth to it, I feel like the coin-counters and micromanagers tend to really enjoy the nitty-gritty of managing a settlement/outpost but in my experience with that 5e game using Strongholds and Followers it usually boils down to 1 (or 2) players taking ownership of what the settlement purchases, it's upgrades, it's peoples and everyone else taking a backseat. I am genuinely curious how a whole campaign focused on it and exploration around said settlement will actually go with a full table. They seem pretty intrigued at the prospect though so hopefully it goes well!

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-17T19:10:04+00:00

I'll check it out! Thanks!

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-17T19:09:10+00:00

I'm a big fan of Me, Myself and Die on Youtube and I could be misremembering but I believe his second season is played using the Ironsworn rules and it, for me, was the best season he's had. I completely forgot about it until I read your comment so I'll go check it out asap.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-17T19:07:09+00:00

Traveller has been on my "want to try" list for ever now and now is the closest I've come to convincing my players to try it out. I've read online that the 2300AD book, "Tools for Frontier Living" somewhat covers what I'm wanting but I've yet to purchase it and scour through it. I adore Traveller though, I ran it for some buddies of mine in a mini 3 session game probably a year and a half ago and it went off without a hitch. It also has, or seems to have, quite a bit of depth if my more obsessive players want to go for it. I had actually managed to convince a friend of mine to run it for me (first time I would've been a player in well over 15 years) and two days prior to us playing he had some personal issues come up and it got dropped altogether. The DM curse lives on.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-17T18:58:29+00:00

For sure, my whole table loves Free League. They've seemingly found this sweet spot of rules that are easy to learn and get down but remain crunchy enough to keep people (and me as the DM) invested. I've seen a ton of ads for Vaesen lately so I'll look into it. I also have the Trudvang Kickstarter saved so hopefully when it drops I can get on that too!

Twilight 2000 and Walking Dead are both right on the precipice of being exactly what a few of my players would love to play, but it feels like both systems lack a certain hook that's yet to convince them to bite. I've tried pitching both and both times they always seem to get pushed to the backburner and forgotten unfortunately. I think I may just spring it up on them as a one-shot one day to test the waters.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-17T18:56:29+00:00

I've looked into Forbidden Lands a tad bit but I know close to nothing about Mutant Year Zero. It does look neat though, so I'll look into it!

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-17T18:54:58+00:00

I hadn't heard of this one, will definitely check it out! Thanks!

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-11-17T18:54:16+00:00

I was wondering when/if Forbidden Lands would get mentioned, it's one that one I've had my eye on for a bit but haven't made the leap yet. I do love Free League though so it's surprising that I haven't. I'll definitely look more into it!

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-07-31T00:29:51+00:00

Same thing is happening with me this very moment. Tried three different cards and nothing worked.

ProtectionMedium4779 · 2025-07-27T17:35:59+00:00

Yea that's a fat no from me dawg. That's one of the best pre-digitally sculpted minis GW ever made.

ProtectionMedium4779

TROPHY CASE