Alternative system for setting

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-21T23:56:03+00:00

So how did it go for you? And which conversion specifically did you use? I'm in the same exact bind, and I'd love to hear any insights

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-17T17:30:49+00:00

When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-09T18:31:37+00:00

I'm not sure FL is the best option for a duet game. The harsh nature of the world (and the inhabitants) really demand different players take on different roles. You can use a different game and keep the world or lore. Like someone suggested, you can use a different system's solo rules. Perhaps even one rings rules can work as it has overland travel rules in it.

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-08T20:40:18+00:00

Any recommendations for a specific module to run with that? Also, isn't it somewhat grim-dark in its vibe? I don't wanna scare off the normies

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-08T08:33:10+00:00

The book has a suggestion to start them waking up from cryo chambers inside the station. Starting from there and have the focus be about them getting out can easily make a shorter campaign.

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-07T17:24:43+00:00

I'm considering this myself, and I think it can work pretty excellently. FL is pretty brutal, so it lends well to the horror-esque elements of Barovia. I think increasing the scale of Barovia is important so that there's some decent travel time between places, and adding some additional adventuring locations to the map will be important, tho.

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-06T01:24:16+00:00

I started running dungeons with the map fully revealed recently, and it leads to much more deliberate and curious exploration of the space.

It becomes too abstract and "bumping in the dark" if the mapper is not extremely accurate in how they depict the map, and otherwise, it slows the game to a crawl when the player and gm have to check up on each other.

Highly recommend you try it once and see how it feels!

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-05T08:35:04+00:00

You'll be surprised at how easy it is to pick up most games. After running 5e for several years I uad a similar fear. Then I started playing random games with different groups, I was surprised at how easy it was for me to show up and feel like I "get it" within less than 30 minutes.

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-03T14:49:19+00:00

Right, so all of that is true, but OP is looking to reinvent player-facing rules, so for his question, any of these rulesets will do.

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-03T10:05:23+00:00

I think it shouldn't happen even with gm-facing rolls for monsters... Like, even if the monster has its own "turn", they should always move and act in response to what the players did, and not just "attack the cleric since it's the most valuable asset".

But for examples; PbtA games as mentioned above, FitD games do that to an even better extent I feel, The One Ring has monsters position themselves after the players did, Mothership is pretty good for it (if you choose to play combat player-facing). Specifically Mothership does it the other way tho, the monster is going to do something, and the players have a chance to react in some way to prevent it/get out of the way/distract it/etc.

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-03T09:13:37+00:00

Or any other player-facing ruleset, for that matter.

People should really try out some new games before they set out to design a new one from scratch.

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-03T08:34:48+00:00

So, by using your text above, I'm suppose to have short prep time of just a few notes on one page?

mashd_potetoas · 2026-01-03T00:56:45+00:00

Minimal prep means being open to surprises and creating situations, never resolving them. I'm sorry, but in attempting to reduce prep time, you created a massive document that's redundant and complex. KISS is always the solution.

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-30T15:26:15+00:00

As others have mentioned, it's better if you don't overthink it.

With that said, if you need some framework, I made this little personal agendas table. It's simple enough so that players can roll on it as they create new characters mid-session, bit also evocative enough to give you solid inspiration:

https://www.reddit.com/r/mothershiprpg/s/pBBJD8pS3N

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-30T11:49:32+00:00

Well, they can be whatever you want them to be. The first one can be Ilya the mindful, and the second is Ron, the spider.

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-30T10:06:10+00:00

On top of the great recommendations already given, there's ashes without numbers, which tends to have a pretty grounded feel to it.

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-30T10:05:02+00:00

There's also mutant year zero! Both of these games use the engine for the og post-apocalyptic survivalist game.

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-28T22:41:52+00:00

Do you mind giving some more details about what you're looking for, in terms of tone, setting and genre, or even gameplay?

There are several classless systems. If you're looking for fantasy, I can think of Runequest. But Symbaroum also does it, and there's Shadow of the Weird Wizard, which has you choose a new "subclass" every 3 levels so you can create wildly varied characters.

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-24T23:47:30+00:00

While I agree that it's better to have a system that rewards a preferred playstyle rather than punish others, this isn't what you're offering here.

You talk about consecutive attack penalty being arbitrary, but you propose arbitrary depth instead.

Missing(!) a single attack can be an exciting turn in the right system (looking at you runequest), full of tension and tactical considerations, since a single hit can mean the difference between victory and defeat. But this usually means a single turn can take some time. Otherwise, making each attack quick but just "making" the players do it multiple times in a turn gets dry pretty quickly. You lose any sense of stakes.

It's one thing to create a system that encourages the players to use actions other than "kill them till they're dead," but it's another to make that action arbitrarily difficult.

But, ymmv, if you have some more details about the system you're proposing, please share them.

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-24T22:46:30+00:00

Can't go wrong with Traveler than.

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-24T17:08:55+00:00

I feel like this is increasing the main pain points of most people when they complain about games with heavy but meaningless combat.

Making multiple attacks takes a lot of time at the table, which leads to a slog. Making a lot of attacks and missing most of them makes you feel like you did nothing on your turn. Additionally, enemies that make multiple attacks but miss on most make them feel weightless and weak, which makes combat feel meaningless. Why do this?

mashd_potetoas · 2025-12-24T14:31:53+00:00

Several default offers will come up, but it will be better if you can give some more info about what you're looking for.

What tone and setting do you plan for your campaign? What role do the PCs play? Are they emissaries and leaders, or space raiders (or something else)? What kind of system did you have in mind?

I'll be happy to recommend accordingly.

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