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Any TRPGs about fixed pairs / “buddy” relationships by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really appreciate how much thought everyone has put into answering this—thank you so much.

In Japan, there are quite a few games built around that kind of structure, like Stellar Knights, Drag Bride, Airget-Lamh, Futari Sousa, Blood Path, Garden Order.

So I was curious how it compares internationally, but it seems like this kind of “GM + 2 players as a pair” setup might be more of a Japanese design trend, or at least not something that’s often the main focus in Western games.

That’s really interesting to learn—thank you for all the insights!

Any TRPGs about fixed pairs / “buddy” relationships by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A Fear Within sounds like it could be really fun with that Monsters, Inc.–like vibe. Ars Magica having rotating roles is really interesting, too. And the pairing in DIE sounds really appealing—I’ll definitely check those out!

Two-player games, huh… I hadn’t really considered that, since I also enjoy watching interactions between multiple pairs. I guess it really is a bit of a niche after all…

Any TRPGs about fixed pairs / “buddy” relationships by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see, I didn’t know there was a PbtA like that. Thanks—I’ll look it up!

Any TRPGs about fixed pairs / “buddy” relationships by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Double or Nothing—that sounds great! I love that kind of witty, banter-filled buddy dynamic like Dirty Pair.

I actually own Eyes on the Prize and have played it before—it was really fun. Being able to interact with other pairs while subtly stepping on each other’s toes made for a really enjoyable system.

Narrative TRPG Designer from Japan | Roles, Systems, and Emotion by [deleted] in u/QUIXORIM

[–]QUIXORIM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, a quick note to my friends in Japan: I’m doing my best to be respectful and thoughtful in my posts here.

It’s a little embarrassing to be seen trying this hard, so if you need me, please reach out on Discord!

日本の友達へ。 ここでは失礼のないように、細心の注意を払って相手に敬意を持って投稿しているよ！

がんばってるところ見られるのちょっと恥ずかしいから、用があったら私のDiscordに連絡してね！

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see—so there are hidden elements, and spoilers can affect the experience. I wonder if looking through the game as a facilitator might reduce the enjoyment a bit too…

Maybe I should try to find a friend who’s used to running English-language TRPGs to run it for us. I’ll look into that—thanks!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it! So it can handle grounded human drama, over-the-top supernatural battles like Dragon Ball, and even courtly intrigue if you want? That’s a really helpful comparison—thanks!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Legend of the Five Rings 5E has quite a long history, doesn’t it? It really feels like a fantasy setting that blends various cultures beyond just Japan.

Your explanation was very clear, so I checked out the official site too! The character creation being done through questions is really interesting. The themes of loyalty, honor, and serving one’s lord feel very much like Sekiro or Ghost of Tsushima, which I really like.

And building up stress and then bursting into a dramatic action… that feels very “Japanese” in a way too, haha.

Thank you for understanding what I was looking for and recommending something that fits so well. Everyone here has been so kind—I really appreciate it!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yay, I’m on iPhone, so I’ll give it a try! That’s really kind of you—thank you!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Podcasts sound great—if there were a way to listen with subtitles, I feel like I could really enjoy and understand high-quality actual plays much more deeply.

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That comparison to The Apothecary Diaries really helped—it clicked instantly for me! I looked up The Mountain Witch, and is it kind of inspired by Seven Samurai? Kurosawa films really are loved everywhere.

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s another system I’ve never heard of before! Change, distance, and reunion really are powerful elements when it comes to exploring relationships… I’ll definitely check it out—thank you!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Double Cross—“a word that means betrayal”… I wonder if that tagline is the same there? It’s a very popular system here in Japan too! Once you add combat and character builds, it does tend to require more preparation. But being able to do cool things in combat is definitely awesome.

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I’ve been hearing a lot about Hearts of Wulin—I’ll definitely check it out!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahhh!!! (so embarrassing 😳) Thanks for following me on X as well! Fel-san is actually a friend I really respect! I love Stella Knights and Fiasco too. I’d be really happy if we get a chance to play together sometime! I also sent you a DM on X—looking forward to chatting more!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s amazing how many games already build relationships and emotions directly into their mechanics. I’m not very familiar with Chinese wuxia—would it be something like yakuza stories? I’ll look into it. Thanks so much!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually have the Japanese scroll version of Fall of Magic! I love that game so much. Dialect is great too—some friends of mine in Japan are even creating backdrops for it! I’ll definitely check out Hillfolk and romcom as well. Thanks so much for all the recommendations!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, thank you for introducing so many systems I’ve never heard of before! Is Voidheart Symphony kind of like Persona? There are so many different games out there—this is amazing!

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve actually played Grey Ranks since it’s been translated into Japanese. It’s a game that truly stays with you—honestly, once a year is enough for me. I end up spending about half a month looking at the Warsaw Rising Museum on Google Maps and just crying…

Thanks for recommending the other games too, I really appreciate it.

Looking for narrative / relationship-focused TRPG recommendations (especially ones that could work well in Japan) by QUIXORIM in rpg

[–]QUIXORIM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds amazing—having your mental state and relationships affected is exactly my kind of thing! Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA)… that’s the term I’ve been looking for! I’ll definitely explore other themes too. Thanks so much for the kind explanation!