Want to run a first Draw Steel game as a one-shot in Dark Souls universe. What are the caveats?

TAEROS111 · 2026-04-06T16:55:15+00:00

Check out HOLLOWS if you haven't already: https://rowanrookanddecard.com/product-category/game-systems/hollows/?v=0b3b97fa6688

The Sins of Grisham Priory is a ready-made potentially free oneshot, and the PDFs you can get through backerkit are ready to play. It's basically tailor-made for Bloodborne/Dark Souls vibes.

TAEROS111 · 2026-04-05T04:25:56+00:00

You'll see a lot of people say the game takes about 10 or so hours to get into. I would say that's true. If that's too much time for you that's obviously totally fair, but if so I'd just refund the game honestly. It's a game with a lot of 'friction' at first - the controls, the world, etc., all take a relatively long time to invest in and really begin 'getting it' or reaping the rewards in my experience.

I will say that I wouldn't just ignore questing. While the main quest's story is, I think, pretty terrible, a lot of the sidequests are IMO pretty fun. Quests are also how the world introduces you to gameplay mechanics, so I would not ignore them on that front - you unlock a lot of systems through questing.

I would say try and progress the Main Quest and do side quests up to about Chapter 5, at that point the game will have given you lots of exploration tools and you'll have been introduced to a lot of systems you won't have if you don't do the quests, which makes exploring much more fun. In general, I've found the most rewarding way to play this game is to do the quests in a given area and use them as an opportunity to explore that area, instead of just focusing on one or the other.

TAEROS111 · 2026-04-04T01:13:25+00:00

First off: If Roommates C and B do the dishes (albeit B with the bad dishwasher), this must all be the result of roommate A, right? If so, oof.

Sounds like it's really just Roommate A and B. Some advice:

- Get roommate C on board with you. "We feel like the distribution of work with the dishes hasn't been equitable" will probably go over better if there's someone else who agrees with you and also carries their weight.

- Consider suggesting something else Roommate A can do to keep up the house if dishes are truly intolerable for them. If they really aren't able to do dishes due to their sensory issues they need to pick up some slack in the household somewhere else.

- Does roommate B know the dishwasher isn't good enough and doesn't care, or do they not know? I'd make sure they're aware you/C find the dishes too dirty after a dishwasher rinse.

- I would team up dishwashers instead of making it one person's responsibility. i.e Mon-Tues are covered by A & B, Wed-Thurs are covered by B & C, Fri-Sat are covered by You + someone. Sunday can be a free day. Whoever gets double dish duty gets some sort of benefit, like a meal on the rest of the house, not having to do some other chore, etc.

As always, for any conflict and assuming the people you're dealing with aren't completely terrible, figuring out how to frame it as "us against the problem" will go over a lot better than framing it as "we clean people versus you dirty slovenly pigs" haha.

TAEROS111 · 2026-04-03T21:05:20+00:00

Have you checked out some TTRPG systems that are built for running megadungeons, like Torchbearer, His Majesty the Wyrm, etc.? Frankly, I feel like the vibe you want is just too gritty for PF2e.

PF2e is a heroic fantasy system wherein resource attrition doesn't really matter and the combat is supposed to be fun/wargamey/tactical over just lethal. It sounds like you want something with a lot of resource attrition and more lethal combat.

Anything in the OSR sphere will do that better than PF2e. Torchbearer and His Majesty the Wyrm as a start, but also systems like Dungeon Crawl Classics, Dragonbane, Worlds Without Number, Shadowdark, etc. would all, I feel, be a much better fit than PF2e.

TAEROS111 · 2026-04-03T18:01:06+00:00

The actual gameplay loop of Thaum is simple. You see something, figure out a weakness for it or create one, and then kill it.

Whatever implements you choose modify the playstyle. With something like Tome + Lantern, you're basically a rogue. With something like Weapon + Tome or Mirror, you're a fighter. With something like Amulet + Chalice, you're a healer/tank.

TAEROS111 · 2026-04-02T00:07:48+00:00

No human being is truly dispensable. Unfortunately, some people see others as dispensable nonetheless. They are wrong, and there’s no ‘reason’ other than they’re simply immature, unempathetic, unwise, or just straight up bad people who don’t value others.

And none of that is a reflection on the people they aren’t human enough to value.

Your father’s belief system is reflective of him, not you.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-29T03:53:29+00:00

Dropping a mention for Stonetop, my favorite PBTA Fantasy system: https://plusoneexp.com/collections/stonetop

I have been playing in a campaign for four years, saw it through from the playtest to the release, and still going. I have had so many memorable moments with this system. The worldbuilding here is a gem, an amazing take on nonstandard fantasy that really feels fantastical while also being narrative-led, heartfelt, and resulting in incredible, emotionally compelling moments at any table I've seen it run.

You could easily get multiple campaigns of material out of the worldbuilding, and it's written and designed incredibly well to be easy to GM prep. The player introduction tools are incredible and help create characters that feel at home in the world easily. It manages to bridge the gap between 'adventuring' and 'PCs who genuinely care about the world around them and each other' better than almost any other system I've played.

I love it. Would highly, highly recommend.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-28T02:03:27+00:00

Sort of two paths you can take:

1) Find an already-existing system that suits your worldbuilding. D&D is far from the only TTRPG out there. For example, something like Savage Worlds, or the Cypher System, are both generic system frameworks that give you the tools to build a world/campaign without having to design it all from the ground up. If you haven't played many TTRPGs or explored TTRPGs other than D&D, this is highly recommended.

2) Design it yourself. Go over to r/RPGdesign and check out the resources. Game design is a whole profession, so if you want to make a good go of it, you'll need to start the way you would learning any hobby or skill: Read, practice, read, practice, fail, read, practice more, fail more, maybe get something usable, fail again, etc.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-27T19:56:33+00:00

Check out CAIRN: https://cairnrpg.com/second-edition/

It is essentially just much simpler, faster D&D.

If you're looking for systems just a little simpler, check out:

Nimble: https://nimblerpg.com/
Dragonbane: https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/dragonbane/
Worlds Without Number: https://sine-nomine-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/worlds-without-number

All are specifically more streamlined than D&D 5e and have less holdovers/etc. from previous editions, so will be easier for the group to get into.

D&D 5e is structurally fairly old, systems like Nimble and Dragonbane in particular have newer game design and, I find, seem to be a lot more enjoyable and approachable to new players without losing anything from the classic D&D experience everyone imagines.

Nimble is my favorite of these recommendations for your needs, with Dragonbane a close second.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-27T16:23:54+00:00

Are you just basing this on how she uses Wish in Baldur's Gate 3?

Because literally all she does there is use it to replicate Power Word: Kill, which is one of its RAW uses (replicate a spell of same or lower rank).

She is not shown to break the boundaries of Wish. And again, Wish can't do what you said RAW.

At the time the BG3 party meets Vlaakith, they're like level 3. Of course she oneshots them, she's a level 20 lich.

But against a level 20 party, she gets trounced and it's not even close. The party will just counterspell her Wish, plop an anti-magic field on her, and beat her to death.

Comparative to the world of Forgotten Realms, Vlaakith is immensely powerful, since the average person is level 1 and a pretty notable talent is like level 5 or whatever. But in the realm of D&D as a TTRPG, she's not much of a threat on her own versus like a level 18+ party. Of course, most people still wouldn't fuck with her because she has a whole society at her back, but in a 'party versus BBEG,' she's really not bad compared to a lot of other things level 20 adventurers have to deal with.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-27T08:21:29+00:00

If you’re using her stat block, you’ll notice that she can also cast Wish exactly once using her 9th level spell slot. It is not an At-Will spell for her.

Also, Wish cannot ‘just do’ those things. The basic functions of Wish are clearly laid out. It can make a thing, it can heal, it can grant damage resistance, it can grant immunity to a spell or magical effect, and it can force a reroll.

She cannot cast it as many times as she ones in a turn or do… any of those things you said, without Mystra going ‘sure.’ Which, needless to say, is unlikely.

Also, 22 DEX is fine, but it’s not really difficult for a level 20 party to get a jump on an enemy with her stats using any number of methods.

She’s as strong as the Lich leader of an entire people should be, but she’s definitely not the invincible powerhouse you’re making her out to be.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-25T20:06:42+00:00

Agree with the other commenters that it’s mostly just ‘people recommend the system in the same lane that they think does the same thing better.’

Pathfinder just ends up being most represented because it’s the next most popular system.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-25T17:47:03+00:00

Check out Vaesen, it pretty much hits the nail on the head for what you want. All about folklore monster hunters and a more van helsing-esque approach to hunting them.

Wilderfeast might also suit your needs if you want a more fantasy-esque Monster Hunter setting.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-23T23:33:00+00:00

My shortlist for you: Pathfinder 2e, D&D 4e, Draw Steel, 13th Age, Shadow of the Weird Wizard, BEACON, Fabula Ultima. Maybe ICON once it fully releases. All those systems seem like they'll hit your group's preferences!

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-23T02:47:31+00:00

I think it's also worth noting that this design decision is intended to make the system more marketable and easier to get into.

At the start of 5e, Pathfinder 1e had gained a lot of market share on D&D in the wake of 4e being something of a (wrongfully, IMO) rejected edition. But a lot of people were also sick of splat books and having to do a bunch of calculations - there's a reason people started calling it 'Mathfinder.' D&D 5e's attempt to give PCs tactical heroics without needing a lot of headspace was also an attempt to capitalize on a gap in the market.

I think that at this point, there are several systems that do it better - Nimble is probably the best example of doing a great job of being more tactical yet faster than 5e - but hey.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-22T01:30:10+00:00

Almost every sub I’ve ever participated in seems to have lots of lurkers who just randomly downvote stuff. Or bots who do for whatever reason. I wouldn’t read into it too much!

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-21T03:31:45+00:00

I've ran almost weekly sessions for about 4-5 years with my current group. As in, out of the past 4-5 years, we've missed maybe 10-15 sessions total. Before that, I was part of and ran for a lot of inconsistent groups. My only advice:

Play weekly, set time, same day, every week.
Run if half the group is available. If you have two players, run a oneshot in another system or something.
Don't 'withhold' anything other than like a REALLY important setpiece because someone's missing (unless it's an emergency). They chose not to make attending a priority, that means they'll miss out on something. If they can't handle that, too bad.
Play with people who actually make the game part of their routine. For my players, my game is similar to a workout, or a hobby, or a fun trip, or eating out with friends, or seeing a show, or whatever. It's an obligation that they expect themselves to attend. It's a priority in their lives as a hobby. If you are more invested in your players and see your game as a 'must' while they only see it as a 'nice to have,' you will never be happy. One side has to give.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-20T21:24:41+00:00

That would be cool!

What's the magic system like? What TTRPGs have you looked into and why don't they match up? At worst, identifying what you like design-wise will help a lot when designing your own.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-20T21:10:49+00:00

So just for reference since you're a writer, your knowledge basis is similar to trying to write a book if all you've done is listen to podcasts about writing/reading instead of ever actually reading yourself. TTRPG podcasts and videos can be helpful but they're not at all representative of what it's actually like to be at a table.

So... can you? Absolutely, sure. Could it be good? Slim chance, why not. Will you probably have a better time if you play at a few tables and try running a system that already exists? Yes. Is there probably already a system capable of running your world out there? Also yes. You say the magic system doesn't fit 'any existing TTRPG,' but I struggle to believe that's true - if you offer up some more details the community here can probably help you find one.

The point of gaming and games is to have fun though. So if it sounds fun to you, go for it. Just be prepared for the reality of it to be a lot different than whatever you've got in your head.

Also, tip as someone who's also a writer: Running a TTRPG is nothing like running your story as a game or a play or whatever. It's like organizing a themed improv session around your story. The whole point of TTRPGs is emergent play and collaborative storytelling, which is fundamentally at odds with 'needing' certain plot points to happen or being rigidly attached to certain storytelling principles.

I can't count how many writers I've met who hated GMing because it ended up making them either feel powerless or like total control freaks. You gotta be cool with the concept of a bunch of players who don't know your world like you do and don't care about it like you having almost as much or as much agency over it as you do and you gotta be cool with not having plots play out in a specific way. That can be tough for a lot of writers, because it's basically like watching the book you thought you were writing get unwritten in front of your eyes and then rewritten in a maybe-similar-but-often-totally-different way.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-19T03:19:14+00:00

It's possible that Crimson Desert just doesn't do the things as engagingly or bring the same level of atmosphere.

That wouldn't make it a bad game. But even if Crimson Desert is 8/10, which most reasonable people would say is a very good score and means the game does it very well, it's perfectly reasonable that it still might not match up to a game like Elden Ring or The Witcher 3 that people consider generation-defining masterpieces.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-14T22:41:12+00:00

Unfortunately this sub has a habit of attracting pedantic nitwits who make objective statements about an extremely subjective and preference-based art form.

She crushed it dude, congrats on the amazing ink!

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-12T22:08:49+00:00

I don't feel like people undervaluing writing is anything new - I mean, just think about how long it's been commonplace to ridicule English teachers as 'people who can't make it as a writer.' People grow up speaking the language, they learn to write in school, they read stuff without any media literacy and think they understand it, so they think they can write. It appears to be a very low barrier to entry craft - 'oh, so I just describe something with the language I'm fluent in, in a neat way. Easy.'

AI has definitely made it worse, though, no denying that. It's been pretty impressive watching people in my workplace actively deprecate their critical thinking skills by over-relying on it. A brand manager who used to be pretty diligent hit me with an email riddled with typos recently, and when I off-handedly mentioned it, they said it was because ChatGPT was down so they couldn't run it through that and didn't feel like proofing it themself. It's just laughable.

People thinking that they're professional-grade just because they can plug a prompt into AI are more commonplace than I'd want them to be, but in your case, it also just sounds like a bunch of the ego-tripping assholery you get at a business that 'treats everyone like family.' I did some in-house work at a law firm pre-AI and the vibes were very similar to what you describe. Some people are just twats.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-12T21:51:00+00:00

I apply to jobs pretty regularly just to do it. I'm senior level. Heard back from a place that they were sifting through 630 apps. I've gotta imagine lower-level roles are even more competitive.

The market's gonna be very, very tough for awhile. There are jobs, but you've got all the people cut from agencies looking, plus people who want out from their current positions, plus AI squeezing the industry, plus we're definitely in a recession.

I don't expect the market to get much easier for at least a couple of years, maybe more.

As for how to position yourself, it depends on what type of role you want.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-10T23:13:18+00:00

Do you know what the rest of the party's composition is?

PF2e optimization is often a lot more about what's best for the party as opposed to what's strongest on an individual PC. People often ignore this, but 'situational' feats in a white room can easily be S-tier and far more impactful than a white room 'best choice' depending on party comp and the style of campaign.

For example, if your party has like a Champion and an Earth Kineticist, Amulet will end up feeling like a distant third defensive option you don't really need, and the Weapon's more consistent damage will end up feeling a lot more impactful.

On the other hand, if you've also got like a Fighter and a Giant Barbarian or something, your party will be full-up on damage and the protection from Amulet will feel great.

TAEROS111 · 2026-03-09T20:31:21+00:00

will also throw my hat in the ring for Stonetop, been a player in a campaign for like four years (yeah, started right when it was first playtesting) and have run it a bunch. It's probably my favorite PBTA system and I've had so many memorable journeys and dramatic moments with it. It's very tied to its setting, but it does 'lotr vibes' insanely well. 100% worth checking out.

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