That is, pen & paper RPGs / table-top RPGs, to be exact. One free, one Arthurian, one Viking.
Basic Fantasy RPG
If you liked the early editions of Dungeons & Dragons (pre-AD&D or AD&D) or you like free RPGs, let me recommend the free and open Basic Fantasy RPG.
It's based on early D&D and was started when Wizards of the Coast created the Open Game License (OGL). The creator, Chris Gonnerman, keeps it "open source" and free -- you can download PDFs of all of the books, adventures, etc., for free on the website as well as the LibreOffice files if you want to edit them and create your own version of the game. You can also order print versions for cost from Amazon, DriveThru RPG, and Lulu.com. Gonnerman makes almost nothing on these, e.g., the softcover 208-page core rulebook is only $10 on Amazon as of this posting and since it's print-on-demand, that mostly covers printing.
The BFRPG community is great and has created all kinds of supplements for the game. Want more character races or classes? There are free supplements for that. Want more monsters? There is a free 3-volume field guide for that. Want a ton of ready-made adventures? Free supplements. Want to write some free supplements? The community is happy to look at your work and give feedback. If you come up with something you think others would like, you can share it on their website. (Check out the downloads page for most of the free PDFs and LibreOffice files.)
Pendragon
Want to play an Arthurian RPG? Chaosium's Pendragon is the best I've seen.
In addition to the Arthurian setting, there are two features that are particularly interesting. The most interesting to me is that it has rules for virtues and vices which come into play, as well as passions (loves and hatreds). These don't control the character, per se, but encourage the player to play to the character's virtues, vices, and passions. Like such things in the real world, the character's actions can improve or worsen the scores for these. E.g., one's character becomes more courageous by doing courageous things. Although maybe it's not a common use for RPGs, I thought this virtue / vice aspect could be a fun way for a group of youngsters to learn about virtue ethics.
The second feature I found interesting is that the player will play several generations of a family. Rolling up a character begins with rolling up the feats, battles, and deaths of the character's father and grandfather, events that can result in passions if, e.g., one's father was killed by Irish raiders which could result in a hatred of the Irish. This gives the family a history. The player's first character is the heir of a knight with a manor which he will inherit, and marriage and family are part of the game. When the character dies, the player takes up the character's heir as a new PC.
I played the 5th edition and have a couple of small complaints, although these may have been fixed in the 6th edition. First, there is a huge amount of material, which is great, but it's not entirely well-organized and I spent too much time looking at the table of contents and index to see where the rule for one thing or another was. Second, I don't know why, but it seems that every medieval story I have read lately has to have the local priest shacking up with some young woman and Pendragon's starter adventure carried on this sordid tradition. But that can be easily changed by the GM.
I only played it for a few months, but it was engaging and I really hope I get the chance to play more sometime. It would be fun to do the entire campaign from Uther to post-Arthur.
Age of Vikings
Another Chaosium title, Age of Vikings looks pretty good. I haven't played it, but I think I'd enjoy it and since Vikings are a common topic here, I thought I'd mention it.
Here's the product blurb:
Age of Vikings covers the history of mythic Iceland in minute detail. The book outlines the life of a Viking, laws and government, religion, and the wild and wondrous creatures of legend. Take to the frigid seas with extensive rules for ships and seafaring, including naval combat—No other roleplaying game so effortlessly thrusts you into one of the most fabled cultures and time periods in history!
If you play, let us know how you like it.
I remember Pendragon from decades ago. I can't remember if I ever played it, but I did own some of the books because I was interested in how accurately they captured the spirit of Malory. I remember reading through them; I may even still have one of them somewhere.
ReplyDeleteRole-playing games are a good way to explore what kind of person you'd like to become. In the old days they were, anyway, because they assumed a heroic endeavor: the characters were all aspiring to heroism in some form, to become one of the masters of their chosen art (class), to overcome hardships and evils, and to do great and noble deeds. I think they can, in that way, perform part of the work of a good upbringing; they can help the young tell noble stories to themselves, and find the parts that resonate in themselves with such stories.
"In the old days" indeed. There are a number of games out now that do not assume a heroic endeavor.
DeleteThat said, at some point it's important to get out and do noble and virtuous things in the world. Learning how to get your mind and aspirations right then needs to be actualized. I'm not saying that one should stop playing games or 'put away childish things,' but to be most worthy there has to be a gear-shift from developing your potential to actualizing real virtue. One cannot be in upbringing forever, though I suppose one changes at all stages of life and might periodically benefit from a return to exploration and consideration of alternatives.
ReplyDeleteYes, like all entertainment, it can't substitute for the main thing.
DeleteIn fact I do still have a copy of the Pendragon core rules. The one on my shelf is 4th Edition.
ReplyDeleteWhat was your conclusion about Pendragon?
ReplyDeleteBack in the day, say 47 years ago, I was talked into playing an early version of D&D when I was in the service. Personally, I didn't like the game. Perhaps I didn't have enough imagination to get anything out of it.
ReplyDelete