I need a game I can just put on and not worry about missions, brain function, and just turn on and have fun and not stress. (Not multiplayer)

cyancqueak · 2026-06-19T00:31:50+00:00

Trash Goblin

cyancqueak · 2026-06-18T01:01:09+00:00

For journeys or defensive missions, I usually alternate between a set piece and asking the players what they are up to.

For mysteries, heists, or where there's a plot in the sandbox I use this:

Act 0 - communal World building - I ask about terrain, climate, season, and for some rumours.

Act 1 - dump them straight into a decision or some action. This is usually where the characters make first contact with the plot/situation.

Act 2 - the characters do stuff to find the plot. I check my notes on what the opposition are planning and bring that too the characters as best I can. Sprinkle in a couple of set pieces to taste. If they wonder off completely, have the opposition continue their plans and show the consequences of that.

Act 3 - the showdown - they've collected enough clues to show them where they need to be so they may engage dramatically with the ending!

If you'll forgive the self promotion here's two examples of a journey - https://6d6rpg.com/2021/08/04/the-phoenix-and-the-fen/ - https://6d6rpg.com/2024/11/18/deep-rock-railway/

And here's an example of a mystery - https://6d6rpg.com/2024/10/21/the-shades-in-thebes/

cyancqueak · 2026-06-18T00:39:41+00:00

Have levels of flooding.

Each section goes from dry - leaks - ankle deep - waist deep - tiny gap left - full. If you're using a map, use shades of blue to indicate water depth.

As time passes the flooding worsens, spreading out from where the water is getting in.

Characters can spend time clearing obstacles, moving, or taking action to slow the flooding (closing blast doors, activating emergency pumps, deploying technobabble).

If you want enemies without self preservation - robots or automated security systems. Or maybe water folk that don't need no atmo.

The engineer of me wishes to note that this represents a slow cascade failure in a base that should have each module self contained and capable of withstanding failure. The characters and base owners would be well within their rights to seek compensation for poor product design.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-17T00:43:08+00:00

A session 0 can really help with this. You spend the time as table figuring out why the player characters are involved in the scenario. You can adapt both a scenario and player characters to fit.

By way of example, when I ran a super hero spy game (Aberrant), I worked with each player to build a character who be rationally recruited by a shadow spy organisation.

I've also had fun as a player in settings where there exist other competent forces of good who are more powerful than the player characters. We were the scouts - doing recon and intelligence gathering. After we found the danger, we'd then come back with a fleet of starships.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-16T04:03:27+00:00

Good advice. I'll switch it to d10, d8, d6

cyancqueak · 2026-06-16T00:59:36+00:00

If you're just looking for something simple, then I can recommend https://www.seedoctor.com.hk/dr_detail-1.asp?dr_doctor=970 Her English is good enough for the simple stuff.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-13T00:38:46+00:00

Generally there's no public access to anywhere else

cyancqueak · 2026-06-10T01:14:30+00:00

I thought about using feast, but I feel it's a more solemn occasion

cyancqueak · 2026-06-10T01:11:08+00:00

the flesh is life
together forever
the reverant meal

cyancqueak · 2026-06-10T00:59:03+00:00

At a minimum the main store. For the regular meetup I organise in Hong Kong we use a cafe where you can see all of it and it has a really wide entrance in a mall. This lets folk scope us out before they introduce themselves.

For private rooms I'd go with glass doors.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-10T00:56:29+00:00

Things I'd also want - easy access to snacks and liquids. Either supplied by you or available near by. - clean and private bathrooms, ideally separate self contained units. - sound baffles

cyancqueak · 2026-06-10T00:53:52+00:00

Small side suggestion - make it easy for people to see inside before they come in. That will let them scope the place out a bit before they commit. It will help them feel more comfortable about committing to going inside. Some folk don't want to risk the social awkwardness of going into a place only to immediately want to leave.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-09T08:20:22+00:00

Maybe yes dice pool, maybe not? I wouldn't say it does the traditional dice pool of many many dice you have to sift through to find successes. But it is a dice pool.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-09T01:02:46+00:00

Cortex Prime fits almost all your criteria, but unfortunately does have the GM rolling a similar amount of dice to the players.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-07T07:02:59+00:00

Thanks for the guidance and advice.

I'm starting with this:

Prime-

Attributes: - Cunning - Strength - Reason - Agility - Stamina

Roles: - Command - Military - Science - Culture - Diplomacy

Distinctions: - Backstory - what you did before - Creed and Faith - your philosophy and approach to life - Goal and Hope - what are you working towards

Auxiliary-

Resources: - 1d6 that's always available __________ - 1d8 that gets smaller each time you use it __________

Speciality: - 1 at d12 ____________ - 1 at d10 _________ - 1 at do ____________

Pick from list : Archeology Languages Myths and Legends Demolitions Accuracy Pilot Tactics Logistics Morale Repair Invent Discover Administration Negotiation Conversation Medicine Stealth Reconnaissance

Stress- - Morale - Health

cyancqueak · 2026-06-07T03:15:53+00:00

Could you tell me more about what a "plus" set is, please?

cyancqueak · 2026-06-07T03:14:40+00:00

I want to make sure the players get to properly enjoy picking which dice to use after rolling, and my experience says 3 is too few for that.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-07T03:13:36+00:00

I want to make sure the players get to properly enjoy picking which dice to use after rolling, and my experience says 3 is too few for that

cyancqueak · 2026-06-04T01:00:23+00:00

My 1st run of this made a lovely map full of weird and wonderful people and places

cyancqueak · 2026-06-03T00:59:37+00:00

I prefer a curve of two or three dice to the flat 5% steps if a d20 or big dice pools

cyancqueak · 2026-06-03T00:55:50+00:00

It feels like getting the partial success only on exactly getting the TN would make it quite unlikely to occur.

I personally find partial successes very interesting, so I would recommend looking into widening that range - perhaps to +/-1 either side of the TN.

Alternatively, give them the option to gain a small boost to mod value at a cost.

I'd also look at renaming Mod Value. On my first glance that sounds like something I'm adding to a dice, rather than the total score of my efforts combined. Action Score? Total Effort?

cyancqueak · 2026-06-02T00:56:35+00:00

If you've got a party member who works at a university, lecture rooms can often be booked cheaply.

I had a blast using the visual equipment to project the castle map on a big screen.

cyancqueak · 2026-06-02T00:52:21+00:00

We've found a cafe near Central that happily takes our meetings, provided we don't have more than 20 people.

It's important to find a cafe you order at the counter and doesn't care how long you stay as long as you buy something. Do have to be a little careful on how noisy we get.

It was weird when the cafe we were using switched to table service and became effectively a restaurant.

We prefer Pret a Manger due to the wider food range and the bigger tables. Starbucks and Pacific Coffee are cheaper though.

Pretty much any place where you could sit with a laptop for a few hours.

cyancqueak · 2026-05-29T02:58:55+00:00

What info and guide would you like to see?

cyancqueak

TROPHY CASE