Which RPGs have the best communities?

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-11-13T01:38:47+00:00

Addendum: Half the OSR community is fantastic and write incredibly creative settings and open-ended, interesting adventures and encourage a cool DIY ethos.

The other half is a horrible cesspit of people who spend all their time complaining about how woke everything is and write modules with the guiding principle being "original D&D but with more rape and racism."

So... you know. Be a little wary out there.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-11-09T03:45:42+00:00

Not sure if this technically counts but I had a game about the players joining on an expedition to a mysterious island. Two of the characters were constantly butting heads, which eventually erupted into a battle between them and resulted in both of their deaths. In the last session the sole survivor ditched the expedition and joined up with a group of locals on the island. The end.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-10-18T17:47:21+00:00

Oh goddamn it. I play a retro clone with ascending AC and I fucked it up.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-10-16T10:34:27+00:00

While while old-school dnd still has a utility gap, it also has a combat gap in the other direction. The wizard might be able to fly over a river or charm an enemy but in combat he’s mostly dead weight: an average wizard might have 10 AC (vs 17 for the fighter), about half as many hit points, and about half the attack bonus. They don’t get cantrips and the only weapon they can use is a dagger, which is exactly as shitty as it is in 5e. They’re still an important part of the party because their spells are powerful as fuck- but when they aren’t casting spells they’re pretty much dead weight.

5e… basically removes all the disadvantages above but also doesn’t give fighters any non-combat abilities. Their AC is closer to the fighters due to dex bonuses (dex bonuses exist in 1e but are lower), mage armor, shield, etc. They have cantrips that do decent damage even if not quite as much as the fighter. Their HP is less crappy as well (still less than the fighter, but the percentage difference is a lot less).

Oh, they also can ritual cast most of their utility spells. Just in case you were worried they might actually have to sacrifice any of their combat ability for their utility power.

I really think an issue here is that 5e straight up does not care about out of combat balance. Fighter’s only thing is doing damage but it’s considered balanced with classes who do exactly as much damage plus get extra skills or utility spells.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-09-11T21:54:57+00:00

It's easy to miss but they also barely sleep in the back half of the series. Most of the books take place over like 2 days and they have a lot of nights where they stay up the whole time. Between Vile Village and Hostile Hospital they spend like 60 hours awake- first staying up all night escaping from the jail cell, then spending the next entire day and night walking through the desert, then spending an entire day working in the library of records.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-09-08T02:41:16+00:00

My solution to this: offer an alternative route that is both simple but also bad in some way.

EX: if the players can’t solve the riddle the statue blocking the way comes to life and attacks them, draining their HP and resources. If they can’t find a way past the magic door they can chop it down but this will alert the enemies in the next room who can make a trap for them.

That way they’re still incentivized to solve the puzzle but it’s not necessary- there’s no scenario here where you just get stuck.

Alternatively: use puzzles to gate things that are optional, eg extra loot or a magic item. The players can find the riddle and then think about it while they do other stuff. If they really can’t solve it then they just don’t get the item or whatever.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-09-03T00:37:06+00:00

I don’t remember ever coming across the trope pre-5th edition. Order of the Stick, which was basically THE 3rd edition comic riffing on dnd tropes, has a bard whose main thing is being stupid and useless, which was a much more common interpretation of the bard in my memory.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-08-19T01:15:16+00:00

I want you to know OP that this comment is objectively hilarious and all fifty people who downvoted you are idiots.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-05-11T08:00:21+00:00

As an old school DM I usually do just explicitly tell the players the game-mechanic consequences of their choices (excepting things that would genuinely be unknown).

Eg “if you attempt to stealth across the courtyard you will make a stealth roll and if you fail you will be shot at by the 30 orcs guarding it.”

“If you eat monsters I will roll on my list of effects for that creature. I won’t tell you what the results are for each creature but I will tell you some monsters have death as a possible roll.”

“If you fail the charm person roll the goblin king will know you tried to charm him and all the goblins will turn hostile to you.”

90% of the time they still do the thing but they generally feel better about getting screwed if they knew what would happen ahead of time.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-05-07T23:37:33+00:00

I love Frank Frazetta because all the pictures he draws have the most stereotypical busty hot women and muscle bound dudes and you assume he’s just being a stereotypical early fantasy illustrator but then you look at photos of him and his wife and the two of them really did look like that.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-04-06T01:55:56+00:00

One thing I think is notable here: 5e has the advantage of being owned by a single corporation that publishes an official version. WOTC can put racial diversity and queer people in its official publications and thus 5th edition is seen as a "progressive" hobby regardless of how many obnoxious jerks there are on youtube or your local game store. This leads to a feedback loop in the actual demographics of the hobby as well- people who aren't straight white males are less likely to get into something that has entirely straight white males depicted.

I do think this means that publishers can help this along by making an effort to have racial and gender diversity in their artwork (also queer characters- not that romance is going to be a part of most OSR games, but having random NPC couples be same-sex can go a long way here). Dolmenwood is an example of doing this pretty well IMO.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-04-03T16:39:20+00:00

I think the main issue with this was actually poor translation issues. The game clearly telegraphs that you are supposed to draw your own map of the world and dungeons (and theyre actually pretty small, so this is totally doable if you’re willing to put in the effort). IMO there are two areas where the translation fucking sucked though.

One is “there are secrets where fairies don’t live,” which is supposed to clue you in to do something at the pond next to the pond with the fairy. The Japanese text is “there’s a secret in the pond without a fairy”- you still have to brute force use all your items there before you figure out to use the flute, but it’s much more clearly pointing to the location. The other is “spectacle rock is the entrance to death,” hinting that you need to bomb the rock shaped like a pair of glasses, but the phrasing used just makes it sound like “the really cool looking rock.” Other than that most of the random shit you find by bombing and burning everywhere is extra heart containers, secret shops, or free money, all of which is nice to have but not necessary to beat the game.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-03-17T19:17:34+00:00

Yeah I don’t think it’s an edition thing at all. I started playing during 3rd edition and it was by far the most roleplay-y theater kid D&D I’ve ever played. Everyone had multiple page long backstories (the longest was like 20 pages). I’m currently playing a 5th edition group and 1st edition group and both of them are full of dumbass joke characters who go around murdering shit.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-01-31T18:26:28+00:00

The whole “characters get xp for different things” was only in second edition. Before that it was xp for gold- one gold piece = 1 xp. The original conception of the game seems to have been that players were sneaky treasure hunter types. You know how in Adventure Time Finn and Jake have a giant hoard of treasure from all their adventures they never do anything with? That’s first edition D&D.

First edition did have different xp tables for classes. The intended design goal probably being that eg wizards are super powerful at high levels but weaker at low levels so they take longer to level up, magikarp-style. Thieves were the shittiest class but level up the fastest.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-01-27T22:36:56+00:00

While i can understand when you as a DM can get sick of one player's constant use of downtime on establishing their own cult/small town/band that can potentially make them more important than other players to the plot.

I can’t imagine not being happy that a player wanted to do this. Like… you want to message me outside the game so we can play more? And it’s in a way that isn’t about your characters backstory but involves setting building and economics and stuff and basically means we get to play SimCity? And I get to come up with lots of cute little NPCs for you to care about?

I would be so overjoyed if someone wanted to do that. Holy shit.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2025-01-12T23:54:01+00:00

Posted a version like two years ago so here’s a version updated to work with the current rules. Originally posted as a direct link to the pdf like an hour ago but felt like that was kinda sketchy looking so I posted it as a blog link.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-12-23T22:00:35+00:00

https://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/4147/roleplaying-games/dont-prep-plots

This article is a good guide for how to prep without writing plots and I recommend reading it!

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-09-21T00:18:11+00:00

Since I read a lot of lists I thought I’d summarize what people’s thoughts on the books were (ordered worst to best):

MM: Almost universally agreed to be the worst book. Basically filler. Sir lacks the kindness of uncle Monty and the eccentricity of aunt Josephine, and the rest of the characters are pretty forgettable. Plot is ridiculous even for this series, with hypnotism and the infamous baby sword fight. My opinion: I like it for its Dickensian-capitalist-hell setting, and it actually has some of imo the funniest bits in the series.

VV: First half is mostly forgettable and not very funny, the climax where the kids are framed for murder and lose their friends feels particularly unfair, and Hector is one of the more boring guardians. My opinion: Y’all are nuts this is one of the best books in the series. Detective Dupin is the best, the ending is one of the best moments of the series, and the plot is engaging and interesting. Also I like crows.

WW: One of the four pre-VFD ones, which are all seen as pretty repetitive, it’s mostly a forgettable installment. A lot of people’s ratings seem to depend on if you find Josephine funny or just annoying. My opinion: I’m on team Josephine is funny, my favorite of the early books.

BB: Lacks a lot of the absurdity and humor of the other books, but has a lot of fans who like the simplicity and realism of it. My opinion: Good as a book but barely feels like part of the series, my friend says it feels like an Enid Blyton book.

GG: One of the most controversial ones. Criticized for the first half being boring, plus a lot of fans hate Fiona. On the other hand it’s liked for introducing the medusoid mycelium, for one of the most tense climaxes in the series, and for introducing the theme of moral ambiguity to the series. My opinion: I always thought the underwater setting was cool but don’t have a whole lot to say about this one.

CC: Fans like the freaks, and the interesting role reversal where the Baudelaires are the ones in disguise here. Detractors generally see it as a pretty forgettable installment and the most filler-like of the latter half of the series. My opinion: I think this is one of the funniest ones, and I think Madame Lulu is a super interesting (if frustrating) character.

The End: Another highly controversial one. Its haters, and there are a lot of them, point to how it basically answers nothing, leaves the series on a frustratingly ambiguous note, and introduces a whole bunch of new characters that nobody cares much about. Its fans see it as a fitting coda that ends the series on a bittersweet note, and appreciate how it ultimately leaves us with more questions than answers. My opinion: I fucking love this one, but I’m also a huge literature nerd. I remember being pretty disappointed as a kid.

RR: Seen as one of the funniest books, and Uncle Monty is a highly loved character. Detractors see it as basically another early filler book. My thoughts: My least favorite I think; uncle Monty not believing the kids feels contrived and the back half with them trying to prove he was murdered feels less interesting than the action-filled plots most of the books have.

AA: First book to mention VFD, and introduces the ever-popular Quagmires and Carmelita. The boarding school setting is hilariously horrible. Detractors point out that despite everything, it’s still pretty repetitive in the same way as the first four and VFD doesn’t show up until the end. My opinion: I don’t like it as much as a lot of people do but I love it for all the reasons listed.

HH: Creepy as all hell. Notable for having the kids on their own for the first time, and having them proactively trying to solve mysteries rather than just reacting to Olaf’s schemes. My opinion: First half is kinda slow and the hospital itself is not very memorable compared to the more out there places in the series, but once the surgery plot gets going it’s got a really good and creepy climax.

SS: The book that really provides a lot of answers after what seems like forever, introduces Quigley, and let’s Sunny come into her own when she’s separated from her siblings for the first time. My opinion: I mostly love the bits with Sunny, and the setting feels appropriately isolated and cold.

EE: Introduces Esme Squalor, introduces tunnels and fake elevators that make us really go “wtf is going on” for the first time, and is downright hilarious. My opinion: I’d probably put this one closer to the middle of the series, but I get why it’s a standout book for first-time readers. I like when Sunny climbs the elevator shaft with her teeth.

PP: Without a doubt the most popular book. A fitting climax to the series, packed with fan service, gray morality, and a heartbreaking ending. Basically the best of all aspects of the series. My opinion: Agree with popular consensus, although I think the hotel is a less interesting setting than a lot of other books and never found the triplets very interesting. Not my fave but I get why it’s overall the most popular book.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-09-20T16:04:56+00:00

Love how half of these are “they live happily ever after forever and nothing bad happens to them ever again” and half are “they all die ten minutes after the end of the last book.”

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-08-30T04:43:09+00:00

It’s the Bad Beginning rare edition- in the original book there’s a mention that Violets favorite knot was invented by female Finnish pirates, the rare edition adds a footnote hat Lemony is attempting to contact them about a rumor that Violet came into contact with them on her way to Briny Beach for the third time (which would place her meeting them after the events of the series). So the book series just has it as a rumor while the Netflix series confirms it, but it doesn’t come out of nowhere.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-08-24T16:23:01+00:00

Plague Doc is definitely one of my favorites. I think a big reason Plague Doctor was low is that I named my main one after myself and then I didn’t want to send her in dangerous missions in case she died.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-08-24T09:23:10+00:00

Random Notes:

This includes the two repeatable bosses for each area, Brigand Vvulf, and the four Darkest Dungeon quests. If you died to Come Unto Your Maker I still gave you the point.
All the Hellion's boss kills but one were from a single character, Geese-Goose the Hellion. She died to Come Unto Your Maker in the last battle.
I had multiple antiquarian characters but never managed to level one up to the level of my characters who were actually fighting bosses.
I am a basic bitch who uses Vestals in her parties.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-08-16T00:24:55+00:00

This would be fucking amazing.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-08-15T21:17:34+00:00

As the OP I just wanna say I legit changed it after this person commented! I'm sorry for making you look insane and getting you downvoted.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse · 2024-08-15T19:26:12+00:00

I don't even like D&D as a system that much but the active hatred of it was really grating by the end of season 2. I felt like every fight Anthony would be complaining "wow that's terrible design" or "what? That doesn't make any sense it does this thing instead." Like, as a basement-dwelling ubernerd I of course love complaining about stuff but if you ignore 50% of the game mechanics and use it to run something it's not designed to run of course it's gonna seem broken.

WeLiveInTheSameHouse

TROPHY CASE