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Thursday, October 22, 2015

Best Ruleset to Introduce Noobs to RPGs?

So, last night it happened. Well, actually, it started on Saturday night, but I was off so it really happened last night.

What am I talking about?

One of my Lts. and another Sgt. spent Saturday night tracking down my blog and attempting to track down my podcasts.

I was greeted by my blog shown on phones, +Douglas Cole 's interview of me playing on YouTube and questions about RPGs in general AND a desire to have me run a session. For cops that have never played before. Damn tall order, I know.

I'm so damn deep into RPGs I'm not even sure what would be the best choice to introduce them to the hobby. Free in PDF is obviously good, but I work with folks that want to READ the rules and come away with some knowledge of how it plays out.

So, I'm looking for suggestions from the fine readers of The Tavern.
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49 comments:

  1. Douglas ColeOctober 22, 2015 at 6:15 PM

    I would find out what kind of game they want to play first, and then pick a system that complements that genre very well. While of course, I could easily just shout GURPS GURPS GURPS like the Swedish Chef on crack, I think it would be better to have rules tailor-made to a setting.

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  2. Douglas ColeOctober 22, 2015 at 6:15 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Charles SaegerOctober 22, 2015 at 6:16 PM

    Basic D&D, of course! Mentzer might be the best version, as it assumes a 10-year-old who has never played.

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  4. TheShadowKnowsOctober 22, 2015 at 6:17 PM

    Moldvay Basic or (if it must be free) Labyrinth Lord.

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    1. TenkarOctober 22, 2015 at 6:19 PM

      I should mention they are all either detectives or their supervisors. I'm dealing with analytical minds, so the ability to put the rules in their hands prior to play is a must, which is why "free in PDF" is high on the list.

      Delete
  5. UnknownOctober 22, 2015 at 6:26 PM

    Hopefully they have a bit more of an attention span and ability to grasp new concepts as an average ADHD 7 year-old, but I have had a lot of success teaching B/X D&D to my son and his friends. Keep it simple. and treat it like a convention game or a one shot.

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  6. BillOctober 22, 2015 at 6:29 PM

    I've had a lot of success with both Swords & Wizardry Core Rules (for fantasy) and Call of Cthulhu 7th edition (in general).

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  7. Uncle SamOctober 22, 2015 at 6:31 PM

    I think the choice is pretty obvious, especially for you. S&W. Easy, free, and your obviously already very familiar.

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  8. UnknownOctober 22, 2015 at 6:31 PM

    If fantasy RPG is the genre, BFRPG is a really good introduction. The rules are very clear, and coupled with Gonnerman's essay on RPG play and Finch's essay on old school gaming, your novice players would get a good sense of what a play session looks like. LL and S&W are both excellent games, but BFRPG succeeds best at laying the core elements out cleanly.

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    1. Chris GonnermanOctober 22, 2015 at 8:49 PM

      Thanks for the kind words, Stuart!

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    2. UnknownOctober 22, 2015 at 9:22 PM

      You're very welcome. It's a fine game, and well-suited to Tenkar's purpose.

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    3. The Angry MonkOctober 23, 2015 at 12:17 AM

      Yup. BFRPG. Free rules and accessories. Inexpensive hard copies. Great community.

      Delete
    4. mbeacomOctober 24, 2015 at 4:48 PM

      You beat me to the punch. BFRPG is probably the best resource precisely for this scenario. It's as good or better (IMO) than S&W for quick streamlined rules and it's free in PDF and the hard copies are like $4 on Amazon. There is good module support, too. Not that it's needed. If it had Rangers and descending AC it would be the perfect system.

      Delete
  9. UnknownOctober 22, 2015 at 6:38 PM

    Quick question? Have they played any video game RPGs, or are those as equally foreign to them?

    For free intro RPGs, I think that Swords & Wizardry is a good idea for several reasons. It's minimalistic, it's one you've played a lot, and it won't overwhelm newcomers with option paralysis on all the choices.

    I heard very good things about FATE Accelerated, which is a PWYW on OneBookShelf. I should note that I haven't personally played it, though.

    Dungeon World I heard is something a lot of new players can easily grasp. I own the book but have yet to play it, but from initial impressions it's very quick to start up and run. It's not free, but there's an online SRD for it: http://www.dungeonworldsrd.com/

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  10. DougOctober 22, 2015 at 6:39 PM

    Dungeonteller. It's not just an "ok system" for what you need, it was designed from the ground up to be what you're looking for. "The RPG for Everyone." Available thru DTRPG. I'll send you a complementary copy if you're interested.

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  11. AnonymousOctober 22, 2015 at 6:44 PM

    If you know it, I'd start with Call of Cthulu. Perhaps Delta Green to make it modern.

    Percentiles are natural to grasp. Modern background they already know. That's half the battle right there.

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    1. AnonymousOctober 22, 2015 at 6:45 PM

      Id also recommend prehensile characters and jumping them right in rather than explaining a lot. This applies no matter the rules. Character creation can be boring and confusing when you know nothing.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousOctober 22, 2015 at 6:45 PM

      Prehensile = Pregenerated. Damn autocorrect.

      Delete
  12. Willtij01October 22, 2015 at 6:53 PM

    I second the vote for Basic Fantasy by Gonnerman for the reasons stated above.

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  13. littlemuteOctober 22, 2015 at 7:03 PM

    Lamentations of the Flame Princess.

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  14. SimonOctober 22, 2015 at 7:04 PM

    Basic Fantasy & Labyrinth Lord are great, but as they're analytical types maybe something a bit heavier like 5e D&D Basic - give them the HTML link - http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop/players-basic-rules - and GM them something reasonably challenging.

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    1. SimonOctober 22, 2015 at 7:05 PM

      Call of Cthulu also a good idea, not sure if there's a free online version though.

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    2. chimericalrealmOctober 22, 2015 at 7:24 PM

      There are QuickStart rules.

      Delete
  15. chimericalrealmOctober 22, 2015 at 7:17 PM

    What genre? In addition to the ones listed above, my default newbie game is Vampire: The Masquerade (2nd Edition). The concept is bone simple ("You're vampires in the modern day, don't get caught"!), the setting is intuitive (modern day), you can be as narrative or free form as you like, and play up the crazy action, or gritty mysteries, or sexy roleplaying as desired. Of, and it's d10 bucket method, so the math is crazy easy.

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    1. chimericalrealmOctober 22, 2015 at 7:19 PM

      Of course, I'm aware that Vampire is anathema to everything the OSR holds dear, but I find it great for casual/ seat of your pants gaming. Not for everyone though.

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  16. UnknownOctober 22, 2015 at 7:19 PM

    Erik, didn't you get a bunch of softback Tunnels and Trolls deluxe edition recently? You gift a ton of stuff anyone, you should just give your co-workers those books and then run them in a game. Another option is Swords & Wizardry Complete or White Box. That's linked on your blog (at least complete is) and run them in that. Personally though, I'd run Castles & Crusades. Use their Quick-Start and run them through Blacktooth Ridge or Rising Knight.

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  17. HoundinOctober 22, 2015 at 7:34 PM

    I introduced my wife to the hobby via Fate Accelerated (pwyw) though it uses weird d6, but Savage Worlds can also be a good intro, it's action packed and pulpy. Both are generic games so genre is moot to a point. Savage Worlds does tend to be quite over the top with exploding dice and what not.

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  18. UnknownOctober 22, 2015 at 7:35 PM

    OD&D (S&W) or B/X (Labrynth Lord). That's the route I would go. There's always a certain feeling of nostalgia when DMing for first time players... might as well go Old School. Maybe run them through the Keep or Hommlet to intro them the game the same way many of us were.

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  19. HoundinOctober 22, 2015 at 7:37 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  20. UnknownOctober 22, 2015 at 7:37 PM

    OD&D (S&W) or B/X (Labrynth Lord). That's the route I would go. There's always a certain feeling of nostalgia when DMing for first time players... might as well go Old School. Maybe run them through the Keep or Hommlet to intro them the game the same way many of us were.

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  21. sburnetteOctober 22, 2015 at 7:40 PM

    Rolemaster!

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  22. Random RPG StuffOctober 22, 2015 at 7:46 PM

    Atomic Highway is free and is a great, easy game with a Mad Max feel which most people are familiar with, especially after the new movie.
    Hulks and Horrors and Warband! are kinda gonzo sci-fi games. Free also.
    LotFP also has a free version and is groovy to play.
    My favorite free game is D6 Fantasy. It's an easy game but I'm not sure if it's easy enough for a brand new player who has never played an RPG. I guess it depends on the players.

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  23. Matt FinchOctober 22, 2015 at 7:52 PM

    Erik, for NYPD after this last year, if these are your guys and if you decide to go with Swords & Wizardry we'll send you free copies of the Swords & Wizardry Complete Rulebook for them as thanks for their service. (um, up to 6 copies, that's how many I have on the top of my shelf). I used to work in 2WTC 96th floor.

    However, I also think that Call of Cthulhu is a really good contender for an intro game, if you're good at running CoC.

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    1. TenkarOctober 22, 2015 at 9:23 PM

      yeah, these are my guys. good people, from detective thru Lt.

      Delete
  24. Chris GonnermanOctober 22, 2015 at 8:53 PM

    I'd stick with any classic D&D type of game. The archetypes are recognizable without needing any source material exposure (i.e. everyone knows about knights and wizards and dragons). The only other thing that is as easily understood might be a superhero game.

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  25. David RollinsOctober 22, 2015 at 8:54 PM

    Swords and Wizardry is a great system to use to introduce new players to the game and it fits your criteria. The gang you describe would probably be good to start with the Complete Rules that Matt is generously offering.

    The S&W system gives people a good grounding in all the basic assumptions of D&D without a lot of fiddly bits to slow things down. It's complicated enough to give a GM lots of options without overwhelming the new players.

    I've also used LotFP with great success for the same reasons and I'm using 5e D&D right now because that is what my current NooBs wanted to play. All three systems have free versions and they'll all do the job. Honestly, I think your comfort level is probably way more important than what they'll get when reading the system.

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  26. Peter DOctober 22, 2015 at 9:49 PM

    Like I said over on G+, just pick a game you're comfortable with in a setting they'll be interested in. That's been where I have had my best experiences introducing people to RPGs - running my best system for them in a setting they like.

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  27. Daniel LuceOctober 22, 2015 at 11:24 PM

    I'm gonna be a wiseacker and say Mutant City Blues ;)

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  28. JonathanOctober 22, 2015 at 11:35 PM

    I'd definitely start with Basic Fantasy. Best new to RPGs rules I've ever read.

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  29. Evan EdwardsOctober 23, 2015 at 12:13 AM

    Stepping away from the pack, while I think you could do well with any of the systems listed (I like B/X, LL and S&W), I've had great luck in bringing over card game and board game players with GENERALA, which is designed specifically for one-shots (no levels, you start out being able to do cool things, and you are introduced to the basics of roleplaying games). Character creation is basically "pick cools stuff off a menu and start playing", the magic system is the same as the talent/feat/shtick system, so you only teach one set of rules. Meanwhile, the core attributes are pretty standard and carry over, and the basics follow through.

    Plus it's D6 poker dice. Or Yahtzee. Which is easy for people to grasp as a familiar point.

    http://generala.playaarg.com/

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  30. The Angry MonkOctober 23, 2015 at 12:19 AM

    Maybe Rotworld? Zombies are a thing now, right?

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  31. Robertson Sondoh JrOctober 23, 2015 at 12:49 AM

    Savage Flower Kingdom? http://experimentalplayground.blogspot.my/2013/12/savage-flower-kingdom-version-2.html

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  32. Luke GOctober 23, 2015 at 2:02 AM

    I'm going to suggest Mutant Future. It's D&D enough to learn the terminology, but the characters start out high-powered enough to keep n00bs interested.

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    1. JDsivrajOctober 23, 2015 at 7:06 AM

      And mutations get to be rolled up so parof character generation has a game feel and doesn't require a lot of decission making.

      Delete
  33. Marcelo PaschoalinOctober 23, 2015 at 6:55 AM

    My best recent experiences (consider the last 2 years) is Barbarians of Lemuria. Never had a problem with newbies and they were hooked.

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  34. ButtmonkeyOctober 23, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    I'd go with S&W Whitebox or Labyrinth Lord. There are games I like better, but those are great rules sets for beginners. I flirted with FATE last year, but came away kind of hating it. I think it requires smart, skilled players to make it run well. Not a good choice for newbies, but maybe others have had a better experience with it.

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  35. Reid San FilippoOctober 23, 2015 at 11:45 AM

    If they are into Sci Fi then I recommend Stars Without Number. The PDF is free and I still prefer it over Whitestar.

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  36. Tim SniderOctober 27, 2015 at 3:02 PM

    Meant to chime in when this went live. You should use the Pacesetter system, of course! It worked well for Rach, didn't it? One table to deal with, and most of the games using the system are investigatory in nature, which would be right up their alley (Timemaster = find out why the timeline went wrong and fix it; Cryptworld = find out what's killing folks, and kill it right back; etc.)

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