Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So far I am loving Only War (still in beta) to the point where it is my favorite 40k RPG, and one of my favorites period. This game is a little more heavy on the combat IMHO when compared to Dark Heresy. But, you aren't as squishy as in Dark Heresy, and combat is much more enjoyable, without it being too combat heavy like in Dark Heresy. In my opinion it has the perfect mix. Its currently in beta, and as such is only available in pdf.
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=213


http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/103312/Only-War%3A-Core-Rules-Beta

----------------------------------------------------
If you liked the video game series S.T.A.L.K.E.R. there is a game called S.T.A.L.K.E.N. The RPG. It is a fan made RPG set in the same universe as the video game. It has a good mixture of combat/story. It is free and legal to download.
http://1d4chan.org/wiki/STALKER:_The_RPG


https://rapidshare.com/#!download|424p12|360985310|StalkerRPG_pdf.rar|3602|0|0

----------------------------------------------------

All Flesh Must be Eaten is a Zombie based RPG, and one of the best ones I have ever played. It has received critical success and rightfully so. There are so many options that this RPG gives you its amazing. There is a also a perfect balance of story and combat. Also the mechanics of the game are stupid simple. You pass any check on a roll of 9 or better (with modifiers) on a D10. It is freaking great. It is also highly adaptable. I am going to be running a WW3/post apocalyptic RPG (in the same vein as Twilight 2000)  with this system, and it works beautifully.
http://www.allflesh.com/flesh.html


http://www.amazon.com/Flesh-Must-Eaten-Core-Afmbe/dp/1891153315

------------------------------------------------------

Finally S.T.A.L.K.ER. The RPG . This game takes more influence from the 1979 Movie STALKER, and from the book Roadside picnic. This is more of a story telling game, in a similar style to Call of Cthulhu. It is great and moody RPG if that is what you are looking for.
https://www.facebook.com/StalkerRPG


http://www.lulu.com/shop/ville-vuorela/stalker-rpg/paperback/product-20046636.html

My favorite remains 1E AD&D:








Because it was my first serious RPG, and because you could do just about anything with the ruleset. I still pay it today!

I was also a big fan of Gamma World (the first edition - the others got a bit too wacky):




Because Science-Fantasy is my favorite RPG setting!

I remember playing this a lot too:



And currently I'm liking a mashup of 1E and 2E WFRP:




So yeah, actually... nothing too recent!

Still - good times!

I have loved all versions of D&D. They all have their own place in my heart.

I'm a fan of the old WOD games and that system, along with Aberrant.

FFG's stuff, mostly.

Alright, here we go ... in no particular order:

+1 for Only War

I think that it is my favourite of all of FFG's 40k RPGs so far. Though there are a few bumps and things I still hope to get ironed out, I really like what I've seen of the beta rules so far. Open progression ftw. The game's scope and setting also make for great party cooperation, and due to the squad-based military theme of the game, all of the characters would appear equally useful in just about any situation whilst still being unique. The ruleset makes combat lethal, yet at the same time offers many options to increase survivability with just a bit of clever thinking and teamwork. Last but not least, the Imperial Guard as a force naturally has a huge appeal all by itself, and the game caters to that by offering an easy-to-use customization toolkit for crafting your very own regiment, or copying one you like from the official material.
-- Hardcover: TBR
-- Digital: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/103312/Only-War-Core-Rules-Beta

Next up, Dragon Age

A game set in a fantasy setting I've grown to love in BioWare's computer games, the DARPG is set in a grimdark world where, not too dissimilar to Warhammer Fantasy, shades of grey replace the traditional construct of "good vs evil". Even less mainstream than Warhammer Fantasy, however, the setting of Dragon Age breaks with a lot of fantasy clichés such as the roles of elves (who either live in ghettos inside human cities or wander through the wilderness like gypsies), mages (who are feared and hunted) and priests (who do not have any "divine magic" at all and are just religious leaders). The ruleset of this game is also remarkably simple, yet extremely entertaining, and can be learned within just a couple minutes. The lack of complexity in the rules is balanced by a "stunt point system" that allows players to customize and spice up the otherwise bland effects of their actions. It all goes together really well, and the ease with how the system can be played and modified has inspired me to start working on an adaption for the Mass Effect setting.
-- Hardcover: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Age-RPG-Set-1/dp/1934547301
-- Digital: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/68991/Dragon-Age-RPG-Set-1

Finally, The Dark Eye

This is a native German pen&paper RPG which is currently in its 4th edition. It is a rules-heavy and complex game supported by dozens of supplements that have served to flesh out the setting in an incredibly great detail, with entire books dedicated to topics like the construction of castles or boats, the flora & fauna of the continent, life in the cities, important persons and, of course, the many regions and cultures. Aside from these rule supplements, the game also sells adventure books written by professional authors. The game does not have any classes or levels; instead, players pick a "profession" that simply determines what their character was doing before they became an adventurer, kitting him or her out with some stats and abilities as well as basic equipment befitting their background. There are well over 500 professions in the books, ranging from knights and mercenaries to courier riders and falconers all the way to thieves, barbers and whores. From then on, any increase in skills, stats or abilities is purchased directly with XP.
The second edition of The Dark Eye was my first contact with pen&paper roleplaying ever, back when I was still a teen and on vacation in Sweden with a few friends. The 4th edition actually has an English export version, but thanks to a botched release with little to no advertisement, only three of more than twenty books are available so far. Novels exist as well, but people from elsewhere on the globe are probably more likely to have heard of this franchise's newest computer game, Drakensang.
-- Hardcover: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Eye-Basic-Rules-FPR10450/dp/1932564020
-- Digital: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/744/The-Dark-Eye-Basic-Rules

Alpharius pretty much covered my list, though admittedly WFRPG has always been more something I like on principle then something I got to really play.

I think I might add Traveler and Twilight 2000.

4E DnD because it was the first pen and paper RPG I ever played and the first character I created in it is still my favourite.

D&D 4e because it's the only one I've played.

To run -





To play-

I love the changes made to 3.5, which in my opinion is the best version of D&D. We usually play when we want a higher fantasy setting where the heroes are almost always larger-than-life.



This game is fantastic if played with the right group. It's a quick game meant to be played in just a single session and plays out like a movie. You'll need a creative group to fully appreciate it.



Again, fantastically loose and rules-light, but greatly entertaining. It plays out like crime/noir films.



This one just feels the most like Star Wars. Everyone is a larger-than-life hero or villain and your characters are all moderately good at everything and never useless in any situation.



I love how brutal this game can be and how it forces players to be a little wiser to stay alive than D&D and PF.

This is one of my favourites that I've run and played. The idea is a modern world setting where angels and demons are engaged in a Cold War for the souls of humanity. A supporting cast of various ethereal spirits, human and undead lackeys and Arch Angels and Demon Princes fill out the setting. It's very easy to learn and plays smoothly and cinematically, and encourages problem solving and lateral thinking over "I hit it with my axe" style play. It also has a great character creation path based on the type of being you are and the Word or concept that you serve in the Symphony. Very fun, very adaptable and very easy.


I also love D'n'D, but often, I love settings more than the actual system, which is to me a convenient framework and not really all that elegant thought provoking.



The 3.5 edition Ravenloft stands out as one of the best put together settings with some of the best writing and line art that was around at the time. It also produces atmospheric and character driven games and some silly fun. I love it to bits.




The "do anything" and "be anyone" setting, this is the most Philosophical of the D'n'D settings while still managing to incorporate black comedy, epic scope and gritty realism all in one awesome, multifaceted capsule. Also probably the only time I will describe the typical PC in a game as a "cockney Space Pirate." Lots of chance for comedy, deep play and amazing exploration in this setting. It's the fething balls.



As a setting buff I'd be remiss to leave this one out. Monte Cook's gloriously detailed and extremely well thought out Ptolus setting is what I consider the "default" for D'n'D 3.5. It plays really well with the basic assumptions of 3.5 D'n'D and the book itself makes running an intricate urban campaign a piece of cake. It provides for every fantasy trope you might want, but often with an clever little twist that makes everything just that little bit more interesting.




Not a system I've looked at closely, but the whole "roll and keep" mechanic makes it extremely easy to pick up and the "action dice" mechanic encourages swashbuckling play and crazy stunts. I get the impression that this system could be used for a lot more than what we used it for (action farce). It's piles of fun and will have you yelling "AHA! YOU CAD, YOU BOUNDER, YOU SCALLYWAG!" as you duel masked men on the top of runaway carriages through crowded streets.

epy346 wrote:

I love how brutal this game can be and how it forces players to be a little wiser to stay alive than D&D and PF.

Ironically enough, the increased survivability of characters in D&D seems to be a more recent thing.

1E AD&D is shockingly brutal - so much so that a very big 'tactic' in that game is 'run away' - and that seems to be something of a "lost art" in later editions!

Alpharius wrote:

epy346 wrote:

I love how brutal this game can be and how it forces players to be a little wiser to stay alive than D&D and PF.

Ironically enough, the increased survivability of characters in D&D seems to be a more recent thing.

1E AD&D is shockingly brutal - so much so that a very big 'tactic' in that game is 'run away' - and that seems to be something of a "lost art" in later editions!

True. Spellcasters in 2nd edition and pretty much everyone in 3rd become hard to kill unless you were trying to do so and there wasn't a huge need for caution, but to be honest, those editions aren't that fun for me to go back and play. Most of my group isn't familiar with the rulesets and things like THAC0 just seem so idiotic now.