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.

Hello, I'm curious which games have the best laid out scenarios, I'm looking for some good narrative driven games.

To elaborate, I want scenarios that gives you more than: player A deploys here, player B there, deploy objectives, controlling objectives gives you vps, the player with most vps wins the game. I was looking through modiphius's Fallout Wasteland Warfare, and I really liked the scenarios - you have a bit of a background, the objectives are more specific, you have to rescue a dog, or attack a caravan, defend/destroy a rocket, etc.

So, which games did you play that have the best scenarios, which ones would you recommend? Games with scenarios that gives you a bit of story/context, motivations, interesting missions/objectives, creating some meaningful, deep gameplay? It can be small skirmish or big wargames, but I prefer fantastical (fantasy/sf/etc) not historical, and preferable still supported (or purchasable). Thank you.

Rangers of Shadow Deep is very narrative driven. Solo or co-op play only. You don't have missions, but scenarios and each scenario you have a set objective and adversaries. The closest you'll get to a roleplay game whilst playing a tabletop miniatures game. Miniature agnostic, so use whatever you like.

Here's GMG showing the first scenario:

I have just finished Hunters 2114 AD and it was a very satisfying experience, with player choices being the main component of the game. The medieval version is currently in late pledge afaik.

A different approach that I absolutely recommend to at least try out, is Pandemic: Legacy. Very intense scenario driven gameplay with an emerging narrative based on player actions not just some predetermined scenario.

Thank you. I was talking mostly about miniature games though, I am quite familiar with the boardgames, but I don't know much about narrative minis games.

Fallout is probably one of the best narrative-driven games I have ever played. A friend and I play and have an absolute blast, it's essentially just a narrative sandbox and you can throw everything at it. You can both 'DM' yourself with the scenario and game, and it actually has a pretty good AI card system if you are playing solo.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Fallout universe from the games, but as an example we were playing a Raider gang that was down on its luck - they had got hold of a radio tower and were broadcasting a 'free food' a radio advert to try and draw in unsuspecting survivors, but instead some Super Mutants heard the broadcast; upset that there was no free food and it was a trap, they attacked the Raiders and destroyed the station. The Raider gang leader (who was worried he would get backstabbed) had heard of a nearby Deathclaw cave with some eggs in (which are worth lots of money) - being desperate he led the remains of the gang in, and despite losing a few members of the gang managed to escape. Except now the Deathclaw mother had lost her young - as the next scenario we played as the Deathclaw hunting down the remaining Raiders and getting back her eggs! (this is how good the system is, you can do this sort of thing). The Raider Gang leader finally died, but I think was happy to be put out of his misery by this point. For our next game we have painted up some 'vault dwellers gone bad', some bad versions of the Sole Survivor and friends (she lost Dogmeat when young and it changed the path of her life!) - she runs into the Raider gang and will become the new leader...

Honestly we just come up with fun ideas as we go, and the game is completely accommodating to them - it's almost an RPG-lite in that respect.

This is Not a Test, Frostgrave, Zone Raiders, Zona Alfa, heck even One Page Rules has a bunch of campaign supplements.

 Pacific wrote:
Fallout is probably one of the best narrative-driven games I have ever played. A friend and I play and have an absolute blast, it's essentially just a narrative sandbox and you can throw everything at it. You can both 'DM' yourself with the scenario and game, and it actually has a pretty good AI card system if you are playing solo.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Fallout universe from the games, but as an example we were playing a Raider gang that was down on its luck - they had got hold of a radio tower and were broadcasting a 'free food' a radio advert to try and draw in unsuspecting survivors, but instead some Super Mutants heard the broadcast; upset that there was no free food and it was a trap, they attacked the Raiders and destroyed the station. The Raider gang leader (who was worried he would get backstabbed) had heard of a nearby Deathclaw cave with some eggs in (which are worth lots of money) - being desperate he led the remains of the gang in, and despite losing a few members of the gang managed to escape. Except now the Deathclaw mother had lost her young - as the next scenario we played as the Deathclaw hunting down the remaining Raiders and getting back her eggs! (this is how good the system is, you can do this sort of thing). The Raider Gang leader finally died, but I think was happy to be put out of his misery by this point. For our next game we have painted up some 'vault dwellers gone bad', some bad versions of the Sole Survivor and friends (she lost Dogmeat when young and it changed the path of her life!) - she runs into the Raider gang and will become the new leader...

Honestly we just come up with fun ideas as we go, and the game is completely accommodating to them - it's almost an RPG-lite in that respect.

Well, Fallout is probably my favourite video game of all time .

How do you normally play Fallout? PvP or coop? I understand it can be played either, but I'm curious which version is better.

Also, I've heard Malifaux has some very interesting scenarios - did anybody try it?

 emanuelb wrote:

 Pacific wrote:
Fallout is probably one of the best narrative-driven games I have ever played. A friend and I play and have an absolute blast, it's essentially just a narrative sandbox and you can throw everything at it. You can both 'DM' yourself with the scenario and game, and it actually has a pretty good AI card system if you are playing solo.

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Fallout universe from the games, but as an example we were playing a Raider gang that was down on its luck - they had got hold of a radio tower and were broadcasting a 'free food' a radio advert to try and draw in unsuspecting survivors, but instead some Super Mutants heard the broadcast; upset that there was no free food and it was a trap, they attacked the Raiders and destroyed the station. The Raider gang leader (who was worried he would get backstabbed) had heard of a nearby Deathclaw cave with some eggs in (which are worth lots of money) - being desperate he led the remains of the gang in, and despite losing a few members of the gang managed to escape. Except now the Deathclaw mother had lost her young - as the next scenario we played as the Deathclaw hunting down the remaining Raiders and getting back her eggs! (this is how good the system is, you can do this sort of thing). The Raider Gang leader finally died, but I think was happy to be put out of his misery by this point. For our next game we have painted up some 'vault dwellers gone bad', some bad versions of the Sole Survivor and friends (she lost Dogmeat when young and it changed the path of her life!) - she runs into the Raider gang and will become the new leader...

Honestly we just come up with fun ideas as we go, and the game is completely accommodating to them - it's almost an RPG-lite in that respect.

Well, Fallout is probably my favourite video game of all time .

How do you normally play Fallout? PvP or coop? I understand it can be played either, but I'm curious which version is better.

Also, I've heard Malifaux has some very interesting scenarios - did anybody try it?

Malifaux is a fantastic game full stop. It doesn't have purely narrative scenarios quite like I thought you were suggesting, but the scenario system is definitely what makes it stand out, with each player having 2 secret objectives in addition to the main strategy. You can definitely add a lot of narrative to the scenarios with a little effort into your tokens for them. The one where you have to escort a wagon across the table is definitely a lot better if you model the wagon and stuff like that. I would definitely check it out if you haven't, particularly if you still want something with an edge of symmetrical play to it and not quite ready to go with more RPG like skirmishes.

Rogue Stars from Osprey has a really great Scenario generator and complication list.

It is reason enough to get the game.

Coop and solo:
* Lasting Tales pdf
* Five Leagues from the Borderlands
* Five Parsecs from Home

Thank you, lots of great sugestions.

 ced1106 wrote:
Coop and solo:
* Lasting Tales pdf
* Five Leagues from the Borderlands
* Five Parsecs from Home

Sadly, I don't think Lasting Tales I am able to purchase, I think it was kickstarter only. Regarding Five Leagues from borderlands, isn't it solo only? I'm not into solo games, but I like coop ones.

@LunarSol: I'm looking for any game that has well thought out scenarios, so yes, Malifaux is on my radar. Btw, is there any campaign in Malifaux?

> Regarding Five Leagues from borderlands, isn't it solo only? I'm not into solo games, but I like coop ones. hard

Coop should be a simple fix. You can have one player as the nominal leader (avatar), and one player as the Mystic (has spells). Each player then also leads two or three members (followers) of the party.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?keyword=five%20leagues
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/five-leagues-from-the-borderlands-third-edition/news/five-leagues-from-the-borderlands-third-edition
https://albatwowarblog.blogspot.com/2022/07/five-leagues-from-borderlands-review.html


> Sadly, I don't think Lasting Tales I am able to purchase, I think it was kickstarter only.

PDF is available. (: I prefer the PDF, since I can print the monster stat cards, cut them out, and mount onto cardstock.

You can try the demo for free, although the demo lacks the narrative stuff that sets the game apart. Of course, if you hate the combat mechanics, then don't buy the game.
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?keyword=lasting%20tales


Since you're in Romania, I'm guessing that PDF will be cheaper than physical product shipment?

I keep hearing about Mordheim, but it doesn't have coop, other than some specifically made scenarios. ):