u/Cliffypancake18

▲ 4 r/rpg

TTRPGs where the GM is a Judge more than a Storyteller?

I've been reading a lot of stuff from various internet sources about how the modern TTRPG climate is one in which the relationship between the GM and players is heavily one-sided: the GM is required to construct and portray an entire story with curated arcs and compelling characters, essentially writing a book they don't have full control over. Meanwhile, the players simply get to enjoy the hard work of the GM, giving at minimum their characters roleplay, and at most some ways to lean into the story. Now weither you agree with this claim or not is up to you. I personally agree with it but I also see thousands of games like this that everyone still enjoys, and I play and GM games like these, so I completely understand thinking the claim is bogus.

However, that's not why this post exists. I instead am simply inquiring as to if there is any TTRPGs that specifically go against this type of play, where the point isn't a curated story, but rather a journey forged by the autonomy of the players, where the GM simply acts as the arbiter for subjective situations such as social encounters, instead of making hooks for the characters to latch onto and drive a specific plot. Bonus points if the GM could essentially be replaced by an oracle.

What I'm not looking for is journaling systems, systems that are specifically made to be GM-less, or systems so lightweight that the GM doesn't do much because there's not a lot to work with.

Edit: for those saying 'any game works for this, its a GM/Player problem', show me where games like 5e have tools for the GM to use so that they don't have to come up with every single small detail on the spot that the players ask for, so they dont need to curate every combat encounter so the players dont die and dont have too easy a fight. Its not a person problem, its a lack of GM tools, especially ones the players can also interact with. a lot of people are saying OSR and after looking deeper at a lot of the recommendations, yeah I agree I think some OSR is in the future for me, I was just looking at essentially 'bad' ones. But to say any ttrpg can do what i am looking for, i just dont think thats true.

also, this post blew up a LOT more than i thought it would (likely cause of how accidentally controversial it was) and i simply dont have the energy to respond to all 67 (so far) comments, but i did read most of them!

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u/Cliffypancake18 — 1 day ago
▲ 0 r/lfg

[Online][DnD 1e, 2e, or 3.5][LGBTQ+][18+] Looking for GM and players for some classic dungeoneering!

Me and my partner are both much more interested in the mechanical side of the older editions where dungeoneering was much more important and complex, as opposed to the roleplay-first of the newer edition(s). Neither of us enjoy 'improv' roleplay (ie having to actively act out the characters) and instead lean towards description roleplay (describing character actions/discussions), so if thats a problem, then we probably arent a good fit.

Otherwise, we are just looking for a classic experience, things like resource management, careful dungeoneering, and deadly fights. Both of us are new to the earlier systems, but i pick up stuff fast, and wont be able to start a game for a month anyways, so there will be plently of time to be brought up to speed.

Feel free to send a DM or comment, i dont mind either way!

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u/Cliffypancake18 — 3 months ago

My Shrine(s)! [COMC]

Been getting more into board games for about two years now, and ive got just about every game on my bucket list, plus Sail (was a gift but ive been really enjoying it regardless). The expansions for Leaving Earth would be nice, but the base game is enjoyable enough. Interstellar will always be my favorite game, but I dont get a game unless I already love it, so they all share first place.

High Frontier used to be with the rest of the games, but after I got the Artemis Lego set, I knew what I had to do :)

u/Cliffypancake18 — 3 months ago