Itching for something new? 4 Alternatives to D&D that you can check out

Hear that, dear players? It's time for your dose of roleplaying round-ups, where we rummage through some of our favourite systems for you to try out! Here is a list of a few systems and their tasting top notes, if you’ve got a thirst for something different!

Pathfinder

Top notes: Versatility in build, crunchy rules for any situation, the comforting familiarity of the olde reliable D20

If you don’t want to stray too far from a beloved D20 system, but are keen to try something a little crunchier, Pathfinder could be the perfect option for your table! Having split off from Dungeons and Dragons from the 3.5 edition, Pathfinder harkens a little closer to these earlier D&D models, with a focus on streamlining some classes, and introducing new ones, while remaining a versatile playground for players. With tonnes of classes and specifications, if your player can dream it, chances are Pathfinder has rules to mechanise it. This is a great strength, but also drawback of the system - as a Game Master, you won’t have to cobble together a ruleset for your players’ hyper-specific build, but you will need to learn it. I don’t personally find this too intimidating, and the rules as presented within the Core Rulebook are well structured, easily navigable, and become second nature quickly. Pathfinder allows plenty of customisation with a fully available System Reference Document (SRD), allowing players and game master’s access to the mechanics to have a play around with. 

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Top notes: Cosmic horror, 1920’s flair, skill based progression instead of levels where character’s gamble their sanity and health against the old gods!

Based on the classic horror of H.P Lovecraft’s work, Call of Cthulhu invites players to grimey 1920’s cities and haunting fishing towns alike, exploring cosmic horrors that sit intangible on the edge of madness. This rich game has you taking on the role of investigators from all walks of life, and has in-depth systems to catalogue all the skills and checks you might need to truly interrogate every facet of the horrors laid before you. This edition has the revised rules which create quick and brutal combat, streamlined character creation, and two beginning scenarios perfect for getting new players acclimated to the style of adventure and horror that await them in the deep. With punchy action, gruelling investigations, and plenty of intrigue, Call of Cthulhu contains excerpts of H.P Lovecraft’s work, as well as several authors who have contributed to build the mythos further, binding together an atmospheric and haunting narrative. Perfect for new and old player’s alike, Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition is a great entry point to the series, and the perfect adventure to try out!

The Fate Core System

Top notes: Roleplaying and story focussed, free form collaborative character creation and narrative direction, minimal dice rolls

The Fate Core system is not tied to any setting or place - it can be used to tell high fantasy adventures, just as well as super heroic antics, or modern high school drama. The power of this system is its adaptability to the narrative you and your fellow players wish to tell! Fate focusses on proactive characters who have skills and want to use them - whether for the good of the universe, or the ill. The system allows you to add the bonuses of these skills to attack, defend, overcome an obstacle, or create an advantage! If you’re looking for a hands off system that wants to be intrinsically tied to narrative, this is a great one to check out, and extremely easy to use and teach. The Fate system also has plenty of toolkits for accessibility, welcoming everyone to the table. The Fate system also has plenty of documents online freely accessible, running through its strengths and giving plenty of support to new players, which you can check out here!

Powered by the Apocalypse

Top notes: Simple dice system, evocative character creation experience, immersive and collaborative story pacing

Powered by the Apocalypse games are fast paced, getting you into the game and its world quickly. Each character class option is summarised in a 2 - 3 page playbook, that lays out all the moves your character class can make. These playbooks are narratively rich, giving emotive and vivacious descriptions of the kind of ‘moves’ your character can make to change the course of the story. Powered by the Apocalypse uses a simple dice system - where players roll 2 D6. A 10+ means the character gets what they want, a 6 or less means the Game Master gets to make the character's life ‘interesting’ and a 7 - 9 is a mixed success. Powered by the Apocalypse also encourages collective world building, but guides the Game Master through this process by providing leading questions that get players thinking about the world they are making together. Game Master’s are challenged by this system to be more reactive, allowing players to pull at the pace of a story and letting the Game Master provide resolution and conflict, interest and growth. If you’re looking for a system that will engage both your players and your Game Master, this is a great game to try out and so simple to set up!

We hope you enjoyed a tour through a few new systems doing interesting things in the table top scene! These are just a small taste of the game systems available at Vault Games - feel free to pop in and ask our friendly staff members for their favourite game systems too!