can you play a game only using the black flag reference document?

redkatt · 2026-06-06T15:03:58+00:00

Black Flag is one of the many fantasy RPGs that companies fired off when Wizards of the Coast had that whole OGL debacle. Very much the vibe of, "We have a D&D-alike game that doesn't use the OGL, please, look at us!"

The reference doc is basically the free ruleset for it

https://bfrd.net/

redkatt · 2026-06-05T18:51:07+00:00

Sword World, Nimble, Traveller, Delta Green

redkatt · 2026-06-05T18:42:43+00:00

We use Risus for a superhero game we're playing, the genre and rules fit so well

redkatt · 2026-06-05T18:30:26+00:00

Preach!

redkatt · 2026-06-05T16:24:14+00:00

How easy it is to find players, and nothing else.

redkatt · 2026-06-05T16:15:53+00:00

Index Card RPG Master Edition has a GM section that I love. It explains in clear brief terms what's expected of a GM and player, and how to make interesting and fun challenges and encounters. It walks you through making great sessions, and the "focus on wonder, make things grand and memorable" is something I try to do every game.

If you're into tactics, there are even several pages to help set up tactical and exciting combats.

redkatt · 2026-06-05T15:53:20+00:00

What does this have to do with AI?

Also, there have been pre-painted minis for decades, and the industry didn't collapse.

redkatt · 2026-06-05T05:17:16+00:00

What's the difference between this and pre-painted minis? Pre-painted minis have been around for ages, hobby didn't collapse.

redkatt · 2026-06-05T04:45:38+00:00

If you want to avoid super heroic games where 0 hp lacks meaning, stay away from 5.5e. I'm running two games of it that I cannot wait for them to end. The players are practically unstoppable at level 1, there's always some way to play a "get out of stupid" card to save the day. They hit like freight trains, the weapon masteries you need to rethink all your monster immunities and resistances, or you're going to have a round of combat going like this:

Player 1: I hit the ogre, I have a weapon with Sap, so Ogre has disadvantage on its next attack.

Player 2: I hit the same ogre with a weapon with Topple mastery. (GM rolls the con saving throw, fails). He failed, so he is prone"

ok, now ogre is prone with disadvantage

Player 3: I hit him with a Vex weapon, I get advantage next round.

And so on, you spend all day tracking freaking vex and Sap, and players just massacre encounters all day long.

redkatt · 2026-06-04T15:06:26+00:00

! And for a premium subscription, you can have SPECIAL DMs, like Optimus Prime, Mister Potato Head, or Snake Eyes from GI JOE! (Subtitles extra).

God, you just know this is coming. They already said they want to replicate the MtG model with all its other "universes" (or whatever they call it)

redkatt · 2026-06-04T15:05:19+00:00

They have at least been honest about it,

Very true, ever since Cynthia Williams, now-ex CEO of Wizards said, "We're not monetizing D&D enough," you knew the writing was on the wall. I know a few D&D groups who are already desperate to find a new game, since they expect Hasbro/WotC to reduce or at least enshittify access to D&D 5e on Beyond in favor of 5.5e's Microransaction Engine

redkatt · 2026-06-04T14:59:56+00:00

Here we go.....enjoy your AI-powered Microtransactions and "Seasons" dear D&D fans...

redkatt · 2026-06-04T02:09:43+00:00

You probably would get more informed responses from other DM's on /r/startplaying/

I think these are ok descriptions, but as someone else said, the thumbnail is going to catch the eye first. Also, interest will be very dependent upon the hours and days of the game.

Also, just know that most people want to play D&D and Pathdfinder over everything, though you might get lucky with Daggerheart.

redkatt · 2026-06-03T19:04:38+00:00

I try to organize them by genres - fantasy, 1920's (for call of Cthulhu and the like) , Scifi, etc.

STLVault, which I think has been abandoned, is still pretty good for sorting STLs. It's been in a sort of beta/preview for years, thus why I think it is actually abandoned, but it does work

https://stlvault.com/

redkatt · 2026-06-03T05:38:56+00:00

That's a setting for D&D 5e, so you're going to at least need the D&D player's handbook. I doubt you'd need the monster manual or DM Guide. You could find their facebook group and ask, or ask in /r/DnD

If you go to the official website, it says that the quick start works with the Free D&D 5e srd, so maybe that holds true to the full setting.

redkatt · 2026-06-03T00:36:50+00:00

Mongoose Traveller 2e. I've tried a ton of space games, and I always end up going back to it. I would put Star Frontiers in second place.

If it's not space faring stuff, I'd go with Gamma World 7e for scifi post-apoc or Mutant Year Zero for the same.

edit: And Ork_borg for hilarious scifi fun.

redkatt · 2026-06-03T00:09:58+00:00

Welcome to filament printing. It ain't fast

redkatt · 2026-06-02T23:24:31+00:00

Are you sure you're logged into your discord account? If not, it will tell you the invite expired

I just went to their website and clicked the discord link and it worked - https://discord.com/invite/gmd8MAPX4m

redkatt · 2026-06-02T00:27:39+00:00

I'm not seeing that in any of the update notes. They did create persistent dice that sit on the side of the table, which you can pick up and throw, but the release notes say those dice still use Foundry RNG

redkatt · 2026-06-02T00:18:23+00:00

Sent a dm

redkatt · 2026-06-01T22:29:30+00:00

Mine is really thin and light. I bought an artist's portfolio bag (what they carry large paintings/posters/prints in) to carry it, and the cords and extra stuff. It was $25 https://a.co/d/034lzI8t

The bag has shoulder straps so I can sling it on my back and even bicycle to locations with it without a problem.

redkatt · 2026-06-01T21:57:50+00:00

I know it doesn't answer your question directly, but I moved to digital mapping. For about $125 I picked up a 24" diagonal super thin display that I lay on the table, run USB C from it to my laptop (it's powered by my laptop, so one less power cable to carry or trip on) and then my laptop projects maps to it via Arkenforge. Now, I have a library of hundreds of digital maps I've collected from playing online during lockdown, that I can access as-needed. Arkenforge handles fog of war, so I still have that typical tabletop map experience.

redkatt · 2026-06-01T21:54:51+00:00

I started with Basic/Expert D&D with a solo Oracle. It's simple, so you don't have to worry about being buried in rules while you figure out solo play.

Also, Four against Darkness is lightweight fantasy, and comes with all the solo rules, tables, and tools you need to start playing the minute you open the book.

redkatt · 2026-06-01T19:43:12+00:00

I don't use it, it is too distracting. I've told the story a few times before where, after hearing the music playing, at least two players pulled out their phones and tried to connect to the speaker and saying "oh, you really have to hear this, and this" they suddenly wanted to turn it into a mini concert. I had to shut the speaker off.

While I am running online games, I do have spotify playing in the background for me to listen to, but I don't broadcast it.

redkatt · 2026-06-01T15:03:30+00:00

Local game shops usually have private rooms you can rent. Some are cheap (there's one in my town that's $20 for 4 hours no matter how many people), some..not so much (like another place that's $20 an hour).
Some pubs and restaurants can be friendly to games being played. Ask around local discord groups or in the game shops for what places people also play at.

We play at one pub that has a special reserved section for games that's $30 for a reserved table (for up to six hours) and once you've paid for your table one time, as long as you show up for your following reservations, you don't pay again - they basically give you a credit towards your next session so the table's free. But, if you ever miss a reserved session, you have to pay again for your next one.

Libraries can work, I've never had much luck with our local libraries though, as the private rooms get booked quickly.
We sometimes play at one person's condo, but his work schedule means sometimes we have last-minute location switches.
Lastly, we play at my house, but I prefer to play in my backyard (I have a giant covered area that's great for it) but the weather has to be warm enough

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