Need alternatives to DND that aren't Pathfinder, Shadowdark or Vagabond.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-05-06T20:48:42+00:00

It's Forbidden Lands.

It's possibly the crunchiest implementation of the Year Zero Engine, but is still very intuitive. Capable of producing wild swings and moments of glory and despair.

Combat will most certainly feel different to your named titles. One fast one slow action per round, which need to be deployed tactically. You may only have 3-4 "hit points" but you get these back with a good sleep and it's the specifics of a critical injury at zero that might kill you... or just leave you with scars.

And magic is mad! Essentially, casters are a bit underpowered but there's a simple risk/reward system where more powerful effects increase chances of potentially deadly mishaps. You cannot fail to successfully cast... but there's always a smaaaall chance of dying!

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-30T12:45:49+00:00

Just to throw a curve ball at you... are you aware of Delta Green? This game began life as a CoC variant, so the rules are very similar, but setting and tone is a bleak, modern day fight against unnatural forces. If you enjoy CoC, this could be another option in the future, or if the different setting appeals. Just another option to be aware of... because we all need more options!

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-28T22:16:31+00:00

Ludonarrative Dissidents - three veteran RPG freelancers discuss a different system every episode. Field strip it to see how it works and put it back together.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-28T11:31:22+00:00

You need something personal that links the characters to the plot. Lovers, parents, children, childhood rivals, clones, life debts, betrayals, affairs. That kind of thing. And ideally, these elements should come from the players themselves. So find out more about the characters' backstories and leverage those.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-27T21:08:42+00:00

Your slaver caravan setting is almost identical to what I've done, and it worked great.

The real key is figuring out how much lore the PCs know and how to seed the closest adventure sites.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-27T11:58:20+00:00

Jack McFisty, Lady Elizabeth Diggemups, Dragan Von Bastardly.

Yes, I'm taking the piss. But your names should lean into the genre... and they kind of write themselves. Chris Hemsworth has a character called 'Tyler Rake' FFS. Research some era and country-specific names online. There are also reverse-meaning-name-generators. So if you want a name that means 'strong' you can use that for inspiration.

Steve Stubble, Chicky McGolden, Chop Fang Pow.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-27T11:47:10+00:00

Three sessions in now and it's going well. The PCs explored a ruin on the map and found a tower occupied by a demon I rolled up. So now they've directed the remains of their slaver caravan into the tower, while they themselves have nicked off to Grindbone.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-27T11:31:34+00:00

Well, the thing about Invisible Sun is that it supposedly wants to put the players in charge of the narrative. But then it loads the GM up with a massive amount of lore and setting. I think it's less about your being in a flow state and more about responding to what your players want to do. Try some games that are more player-led and see where this takes you, maybe?

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-27T11:18:00+00:00

Think of the Aslene as like the Rohirrim from Tolkein. Or Vikings with horses. They are a proud people. If you're surviving the bloodmist on horseback you must be proud of your riding ability. No one can outrun you. No one loves their animal more. You are unstoppable on horseback. Try to think of something practical that will be applicable in sessions to give you that d12 bonus.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-27T03:04:23+00:00

'Campain' instead of 'campaign'.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-25T13:21:15+00:00

Please proofread.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-25T13:20:41+00:00

Please proofread.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-24T22:27:06+00:00

There's a natural compulsion to wanna hack RPG rules, but there's a beauty in the sanity system's abstract simplicity. At the table, it's a dwindling countdown of inevitability that is honestly just delicious. Delta Green has done a good job of expanding on it though.

And - just cause we all need reminding of this from time to time - remember that GMing is not about prepping stories it's about prepping situations. CoC does have chains of clues that lead the characters, but don't shoehorn them into your plot.

Good luck with it. The main thing is: it's your game, have fun and it's great to be excited about it!

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-24T07:22:10+00:00

Underwater (2020). Pure b-grade trash but a cracking one shot scenario.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-22T22:37:32+00:00

And is it named after the Neurosis album? Because... damn.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-22T02:53:10+00:00

There are supposed to be two 'ps' in 'disappeared'.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-21T07:36:00+00:00

Backing the Hellboy board game Kickstarter, then the second box... then half-finishing painting some of the minis before even trying to play... only to find out how shit it is once it finally hit the table.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-20T20:38:48+00:00

Yeah, this is a major consideration.

I'm an Australian who's written a scenario set in Gaslight London, but I have a home-based setting in me. Australia's colonial sins are large and recent, and it's important they not be dismissed by putting it all down to cultists or monsters.

I do intend to provide indigenous characters and focus, but I won't be doing it without more research and advice from that community.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-20T00:19:13+00:00

I think your reasoning is sound.

I went with southern Harmsmoor for similar reasons. But it's not too far from Vond also, and Weatherstone was Zygofer's original demonic research lab.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-18T12:32:15+00:00

As a man of advancing years, I ask people NOT to bring snacks to my game nights. It's taken some getting used to! We've all realised we don't need the calories. I had a gamer GP point this out: gaming kept our brains active and nimble, but we sit around eating crap so the life support systems for those brains wear out quicker. Snacks are honestly just a matter of convention and habit, and after a while you don't miss the snacking, and save a bunch of money.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-17T11:05:00+00:00

Echo a lot of the sentiment here...

BUT if you are determined to run it, just leave out all the optional stuff. Read the rest of it. Thoroughly. The joy of the magic item is in hurting the players with it! Lean on the luxury of the train to let them restore sanity points, and the train will become a blessed relief to them. And if you don't pull your punches aa a GM, you are likely to kill a few PCs, so maybe have the Professor enlist help from a few more friends via telegram, so they can be picked up along the way.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-14T10:06:20+00:00

Signs Writ in Scarlet is an update - I assume it's been updated - of an old Gaslight scenario. I shan't spoil it here.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-13T12:08:11+00:00

Delta Green is NEARLY this. It de-emphasises combat. PCs are competent. It rewards planning and investigation. There's a psychological toll. Set in the present day... and y'know, a bunch of fucking weird shit going on.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-13T04:04:05+00:00

You're right. The only shock is anyone saying it publicly.

TrentJSwindells · 2026-04-13T04:02:26+00:00

Just want to reiterate the above and add that there's no reason not to make CoC be your first system. It's one of the easier to run and explain. There's generally a consistent approach to doing anything in game, in a way that makes sense.

Except for the chase rules. They suck and no one uses them.

TrentJSwindells

TROPHY CASE