How do different RPGs feel at the table? 

If I'm being completely honest with myself, it's the art of the old games that control the "feel" for me, not the mechanics. I don't think they even match, but that's what happens in my head. Larry Elmore, Jeff Easley, Kieth Parkinson, and Clyde Caldwell (Jeff Dee and B/X were slightly before my time) define that era in my mind. Therefore, the systems for which they created the art will forever be associated with that "feel." So even though I picked up OSE and it seems really solid (and in some ways even better) than BECMI/2E, the artists of that bygone era have forever shackled my heart to those systems.

Call of Cthulhu for horror. Right now "Beyond the Wall" builds good interconnected backstories for my friends who don't usually bother to do that.

His voice is so soothing, it's like that Parks and Rec episode where they go on "Thoughts For Your Thoughts."

Dungeon crawl Classics allows me as a gm to lean into random stuff because they make it so dang fun to see what random outcomes happen

My preferred system to use now is Castles and Crusades. It's a great game for long exploration campaigns, like AD&D. It plays like a stripped-down D&D 3e or a modernized AD&D. Taking parts of 3e, like ascending AC, along with a simple save/check mechanic, and then using more basic class options and skills, like AD&D.

This is a really good topic. I've been asking myself this question a lot over the past few years. Because no matter which system we've played over the last ten years, the games always end up having the same feel ... a bunch of players with slightly wacky characters having a great time developing their characters' personalities and stories while spending almost ALL their table time in combats. And we like it that way, so regardless of the rules and numbers, that's how it ends up.

Swords and Wizardry is absolutely my favorite and basically for all the reasons you said. It's as crunchy as I need bc I can improv or import my own sub systems when necessary

RuneQuest. I've fiddled with every version of DND under the sun and loved a lot of them, but RQ is my soul mate, for better or worse.

BECMI Forever!! Why? Because in 1987 I bought myself the Red Box. All hail King Elmore! It was my first foray into the hobby. It taught me how to play and how to DM. Its simplicity encouraged me to keep going. In just days I was starting a group and running a game. After a couple weeks it became clear that I could use these base mechanics to make the game work however I wanted. I saw 1st and 2nd edition books but there wasn’t anything new there. Certainly nothing revolutionary enough to entice me to a new “system”. So I just never bothered changing. Here we are decades later and I still run BECMI every week. My winter group is finishing its third year and has grown from 4 players to 7 (had to cap it there, 7 is more than plenty). Thanks for your fine videos. You do project a super chill Bob Ross vibe and I love it. BECMI Forever!!

BRP is my jam. It scratches pretty much every itch for me.

You always have an insight worth hearing! 😁 Congrats on another excellent video! 😊

For me, I started with 5E and Blades in the Dark about 6 years ago, but over the last 3 years I’ve been making my own system after coming to terms with how wildly my homebrew was diverging from the source material. It’s procedurally very inspired by BX (all crawls all the time except with an explicit downtime procedure like Blades) but mechanically it’s a 2d6 skill-based system with no hit points, no classes, no levels, and no ability scores. I love it. It’s been a lot of work but the process is very fun and you end up with something tailor-made for you and your group. Your own process of returning to and reworking Chainmail was a definite source of inspiration. Keep up the good work!

Rolemaster Standard System for me. I love how customizable the characters can be. Here the core rules have magic divided into Essence (power from nature), Channeling (power from deities), Mentalism (power from own mind strength). My home-brew world has an explanation baked into the backstory on why magic fractured like that.

Not traditional fantasy, but we play Pulp Cthulhu, the Call of Cthulhu 7e supplement rules. Been having a blast with that as our primary system for a few years now.

The best system is one you build for your own needs, hah. My favorite part is when my players ask me a question, and I say, "Huh, there SHOULD be a rule about that." And then I write it down my ruling right on the rules page so I can remember for when I type up the next version. Only downside is that I can never be a player in this system because I'm the only one who knows how to run it!

Running my first DCC in 2 weeks. Super stoked.

Great list of d20 system fantasy rpg! Personally I like Runequest for an alternative feel that's still in the fantasy genre. It's a d100 skill based system rather than a class system like d&d where experience and improvement are not gaining XP and leveling up, rather you make improvements rolls for skills that are used. The default setting of RQ is Glorantha which is as rich as Hyperborea and also quite distinct from vanilla fantasy. The 2nd edition (1978) product line has the best level of detail to give you the flavor yet allow for making Glorantha your own.

I love all these games. I started with BX and still enjoy it, however I do wish it had a tiny bit more granularity in character advancement like AD&D. The two box sets were super cool design though and that mattered and still does. I think Greg Gillespie’s Dragonslayer does a nice job of picking up the baton from the early editions. The fabulous thing about AD&D were all the spells, weird monsters and magic items…for it’s time unrivalled in that department. I ran some Hyperborea and you are spot on. The setting inspired the direction my game went, with old abandoned spaceships and vampire aliens walking amongst Viking clans as their leaders for decades lol 😂. Good game with a distinct flavour. Not my taste all the time but it is great. DCC is terrific as well but it’s very swingy and promotes a little bit of gonzo chaos as you pointed out. I like that Tales of Argosa has taken some of those ideas and channeled them into a more straight faced game system. Looking forward to that. DCC is still wonderful though I like it quite a bit.

I enjoyed this video, I always like hearing about new systems and why people enjoy them. I couldn't agree more about making your own game. That is why I made Project SunFlower. I wanted a game that didn't exist, and I had some issues with the games I was playing at the time. Ironically, the things that bugged me when I started working on Project SunFlower bug me far less now that I am older, but I find Project SunFlower is my favorite game to run. (It is not a fantasy game for anyone who might be reading the comments).

There are all the BS D&D RU-vidrs, loud and shallow, and there is Bandit's Keep that I appreciate more and more. Thank you.

In 1980 or 1981, my brother's friend introduced us to D&D and Gamma World. A two hour session of each completely improvised. The idea was an introduction. For Christmas and in the spring we got B/X. In the early 90s I played Neverwinter Nights and loved it. I bought the FR settings and races books along with the 3.x DMG an PHB to better understand it. Cut forward to about 4 or 5 years ago. I thought it would be fun to play with my daughters. You couldn't get a legal copy of B/X yet. 3.x seemed more complicated than I wanted to deal with. Then I found BFRPG. That's what we tried. My oldest got bored with it. My youngest's attention span was way too short. Then, I started watching Daniel's videos. My youngest and her friend asked about playing watching Stranger Things. B/X was available on Drive thru RPG. So, I chose to go back to B/X for it's simplicity. At some point, we'll probably start pulling in elements from BFRPG. I suspect they are going to want separate races and classes.

I run a homebrew version of Shadowdark, I feel it's easy to bring 5e players into, but is more grimdark and simpler to run. I really love it compared to running 5e for play speed and simpler character creation. I did change a lot though, including how armor works, I added DeathBringer dice, and allow a Little more shenanigans. It's a fun time.

Excellent overview and explanation.

I really enjoy the Mutant Year Zero system that has been adopted to many settings. Recently I ran Blade Runner, which uses this system, and what was great about the system was that few rolls were ever required but each time a roll was made it felt dramatic and impactful - something interesting was always going to happen and the players are always encouraged by the system to push their luck in some way. I've found that this system works well for games about dungeon and hex crawling (Forbidden Lands - very cool!), mystery investigations (Vaesen and Blade Runner), horror (Alien - the stress dice really make it sing!), or straight up action or space opera (Coriolis and Twilight: 2000).

great video!

I would say the rules and mechanics really make each game feel unique, enough that it changes the way you play, no matter the genre or setting. For me, it's worth playing other systems just to experience different perspectives and styles of play. Plus, I'm super nerdy about game design.

B/X really is a great system. Not only is it pretty well designed, but the various bits are somewhat modular and can be replaced. I _think_ you recently mentioned using _Wonder & Wickedness_ in place of the magic system (fantastic book, btw), and that's just one great example of how it can be modified for your own home system. I've also really grown to like the class-less and level-less systems. Cairn, Knave, Symbaroum, Old School Stylish, and Dragonbane all have a lot of really cool ideas. Maybe, someday, I'm going to codify my ideal game in Yet Another Homebrew Fantasy RPG 🤣

For classical D&D type play I prefer AD&D 2E with Gold = XP. You need to not go crazy with the .5 additions, but I do like the fact that things like Proficiencies are baked into the system, and for a table that likes some crunch to their game, I think AD&D is hard to beat. It also predates all the things I dislike about modern D&D like Feats, Long Rests, excessive piles of player powers, etc. For overall enjoyment, with less rules overhead, I love DCC. The game system creates bounded chaos, but I love the fact that players can pull completely crazy random stuff that surprises everyone at the table. I love the vibe they are going for, and I like the fact that the system teaches the players to stop spending so much time trying to "win the game" by building their PC "correctly," but to instead just roll with the punches, improvise with the tools they have, and have fun with whatever happens. On an aside, I also find that its deadliness is way over-emphasized, people who only have played funnels or convention modules seem to dominate a lot of conversations, but in reality the system is really pretty PC friendly at leveled play. Sure, TPKs can happen, but it is certainly more generous than any of the older D&Ds by RAW.

My preferred newbie RPG is a DCC funnel RAW. Then I kinda mash DCC and BX/OSE together. I love the classes and magic of DCC but I want the procedural-ness of BX.

There are many things I love about running DCC: brand new players tend to pick up the tone of the game really quickly and I think the funnels help with that ("can we solve this problem with a chicken and a piece of string?"), the rulebook and the modules are really inspiring and the system feels really robust. However, I do feel put off from giving NPCs spells because I know that will give me loads of extra charts I'll need to refer to in a book the size of a phone directory. Great video 🙂

BX may have been the best starter system that has ever existed. It kept things simple and eased people into the game. With any following box it introduced new rules and concepts. We only got the first two boxes, but it eased us into AD&D 2nd Edition back then. Due living in Europe we had little overview of what the difference was back then, but we as I said, we quickly adapted to AD&D. What I keep wondering is if it's possible to create a similar compartmentalized RPG for another genre. Say a Science Fiction RPG that keeps space travel short and simple, with an extra rules book going into spaceship construction and space combat. So if a group wants space combat, they buy the extra rules. If not, spaceships are simply transport vehicles.

Great video! I have some OSR Folk DnD Haus Rulez myself. I think that Folk DnD is where's it's at!

I've been running a Basic Fantasy RPG campaign for two years now. I started it to introduce D&D to a couple players who had never done RPGs before. I chose the system because 1) it's rules light and easy to learn, 2) all the rules and supplements are available for free or at cost printed, 3) it's old school D&D but with modern QoL features like ascending AC. I did a good bit of homebrewing of the rules, and have been expanding its complexity as the players get more advanced. We started everyone at 1st level and are currently at 4th or 5th level. In the past I did AD&D 1st, then 2nd edition. Then a friend came up with a Class Free version based on 3.5e and Pathfinder 1st edition. That system went through 2 editions and I played nothing but that for a number of years (last played it in 2020 literally the week the pandemic hit). It's a great system for more advanced players. Characters are much, much more powerful than in OSR systems, but the amount of unique character builds it can do made it really nice ... But complicated especially in character creation and advancement.

We've got all those RPGs being run and played at VENGER CON III this July in Madison, WI.

Would love to hear more about your B/X house rules!

For simple introduction to role playing, I like 10 candles. It's fast to set up and explain, it takes maybe 4-5 hours at most to finish. It focuses on role playing and storytelling. 10 candles is a great entry level game. For a more in depth game, I like a variant on 3.5 DnD, variant White Wolf ( vampire the masquerade) and variant Call of Cthulhu . By variant I mean I homebrew a varying amount depending on the game , but I don't run any of them " as written" I like 3.5 for all the variety of published material that I can be inspired by. I like the D20 and 6 stat system as well. When I want something different I may try Vampire the Masquerade. The dice system and character design is a nice change of pace and the setting is also unique. Call of Cthulhu is my go to for subtle horror. It's a little more simple than 3.5 in character build and leveling while still keeping that familiar D20 system. I enjoy building a slow descent into horror or madness using seemingly mundane creatures or objects. ( I've used small octopi as a frightening enemy and in another story I used a teddy bear to great effect. ) I've enjoyed other games as well. These are just my top picks. I'm also in the process of designing my own system.

Cool video, Daniel! Currently preparing for a stint at the DM reins after a year or so break while my little brother DM's. He's running a Dark Sun campaign. But when I resume DMing, we're going BX with house rules.

7th Seas & Deadlands both have great flavors. My personal favorite, even though I didn't play it as much, was TORG. It's a really interesting game and probably the only one where I was so happy with the Base Character Templates, I never actually generated a character.

Ad&d 2e for my medieval-y campaign world. I like the class choices and how they all come with their own benefits and restrictions. To me, 2e is refined old school. And since the rules are still very DM centric, im free to pick and choose what optional books i use without any complaint. Also, the magic item encyclopedias and the spell compendiums are so cool to have.

"robust characters" is nothing I would associate with DCC at any character level, but I wholeheartedly agree with everything else you said. While its level 0 funnels are part of what makes it interesting, once spells and their borderline insane random charts come into play, it can get really fun.

I prefer Rune Quest 2-3 with some home brew for several reasons.1; combat is more realistic as injuries are important. 2; it is skilled based. 3; it is a percentage system, roll under, so you know your chance to succeed. 4; there are three levels of success, normal, special and critical. 5; the characters skills increase when they use and/or train them. 5; it can be easily adapted to various genres. 6; it is rules moderate so can be learned quickly. 7; there is always something to spend money on. 8; the characters power increases slowly over time; no big jumps, with the exception of Rune Level. 9. Spells are balanced an make sense. 10. There are several magic systems at work.

My progression: Moldvay/Cook B/X-->AD&D (1st ed)-->2nd ed-->decades hiatus-->3.5-->OSE Advanced-->Chainmail-->OD&D 3LBBs-->1973 playtest manuscript-->Dragons Beyond 0e retroclone.

I recently pitched to my group the idea of playing a powered down version of 5e. While I think using a another system like Shadowdark would be more simple, the compromise I'm working on consists of putting character features on random starting tables or spreading them around the game world.

I really love various editions/retro clones. However, sometimes I get bored of d20 systems…. When that happens I play Solo: FORBIDDEN LANDS (The best love letter to old school ttrpgs-with the best hex crawl procedure ever). D6 dice pool system. The ONE RING (D12&d6 system). Hands down the best translation of Middle earth to a ttrpg. Nothing comes close. Amazing for solo play. Against The Dark Master (if you like charts and tables from DCC-ATDM has them as well) this is sort of a MERPS retroclone. D100 system. Amazing game. We are in a golden age with so many great games out there with different systems that still play with old school vibes.

I like to run (and have been for a few years) 5e with heavy inspiration from old school dnd and adnd systems, I’ve been running a mega dungeon for 2 years now and love it greatly with my players seemingly enjoying it as well

I am quite fond of OSE Advanced, it is a good blend of B/X and AD&D, al least what I consider the best parts of both. The only additional rule I use are the fighter multiple attacks from 1E PHB, pg 25. It helps to contain the "linear fighters/quadratic magic-users" issue, perfect, no, but good.

I have for the last decade played OSE type games. However, recently I created my own system called Savant Soldier Spy, in which Basic Stats are replaced by the Savant stat, the Soldier stat, and the Spy stat. At character creation 3d6 are rolled and the D&D B/X bell curve establishes bonuses/deficits. These stats govern all contested action checks, with the bonuses/deficits applied to the results. Other rules raise or lower the level of success/failure.

King Arthur Pendragon is unique in both setting and system. Warhammer Fantasy Role Play-whether the old GW version or newer Cubicle 7 version-is possibly the most underrated game I know about! My group plays DCC, which, though it isn’t my absolute favorite, always provides an amazing time for our group, who are a mix of old grognards and young neophytes.

One system I really liked was Conan Adventures in an Age Undreamed of by Modiphious Entertainment, the 2d20 game, for both the rules and the game world. Too bad they no longer hold the Conan TTRPG License 😥

I learned and played most of my actual D&D in BX. I gave the other editions a go but eventually sold off those books or traded them out for other games. Beyond BX and D&D heroic fantasy in general, I tried games mostly based on setting then discovered new systems like d100, dice pools and PbtA but it's been the setting that's been why I play. Ironsworn and Starforged are the only games I bought because of it's systems as I was looking into purpose built solo rpgs. I've often wondered how a setting might feel if played in a different system or if it would make much of an impact. I guess it would depend on the game fantasy the system is abstracting/providing versus the setting. I mean, I don't think the setting of Alien would go over very well with D&D Super Heroes running around with five actions a turn.

I used Mork Borg as an opening RPG for some people. We went on for about 8 months. The player facing combat is fun to let players roll more dice and know that there is no dice fudging going on. Combat is about as abstract as D&D since it's still a D20 roll over system. It takes surprise and reaction into account. I think the players were maybe getting a bit tired of the dark gross setting. I would like to bolt BX MU spells to it, add in a hex generation system for travel, and maybe remove the apocalypse aspect of miseries.

I play Cairn because I think its a very elegant and simple system, and its way easier to prep than my old 5e games. I'm not as big a fan of crunch per se, and I like that I can still build up to more interesting abilities and features, without any betrayal of expectations that comes with taking away things

Seems we habe the same mind. That is why I started to develop my own system, 36 years back. I tried out around 200+ different systems and I mean really different not DnD clones. Most have interesting mechanics but what I discovered they creat sub-systems, for magic, psionics, and other detailed rules and for me this is a break in the system design. My very first TTRPG System I ever bought was Bushido - and I didn't understand nothing. Fortunately I found roleplayers and my very first session was in the world and with the rules of Midgard Mikademia (the first german and not to confuse with the Midgard setting from Kobold Press - which is older than The Black Eye or "Das Schwarze Auge" in German). Then I discovered MERP and Rolemaster, well you have for sure encoutered it too and know where it's flawed. Stormbringer was my next discovere and with it the BRP Sytem. I got so heavily influenced that only around 10 years ago I could let go of the percentage system and switched to my version of D10. Biggest difference in my system (D10+) as far as I have followed it up is, you always roll over - so no switching once roll over once roll under. Even Pendragon up to 5th edition has this flaw. How can a new player understand and even learn why he has once to roll over and in the next moment to roll under? Now you got my idea. Make it simple, give them choices and then hit them hard. From WFRP I took the fate points idea, from CoC the mental stability from Pendragon the motives and behaviour from Hârn that certain behaviours are necessary at a rather high level to become a favorite of your chosen god (churches are organizations). What I can't remember any longer is from where the idea came that the damage you make depends directly on how good you hit. Yes you can kill someone with your bare hands (I was a martial artist Kendo and Aikido) when your aim is perfect. And armor makes much more sense as it dampens the impact (you can still find the soft spots in an armor). So why do I still buy new games then? Well for the flavor and to get ideas for my own worldbuilding - being nuts enough to have started my own world, also 36 years ago. And I love tables and have to admit I am still a simulationist to some degree, not any longer as much as in my youth though and this is a good thing. Good explications. Thank you. I will have a closer look in serveral of the systems you have mentioned - as they are in my vast (too vast?) library too of course. While "historic" fantasy as in the Hârn and Ars Magica setting is clearly my favorite I would love to hear what you have to say about other settings. As RuneQuest (Glorantha, bronze age) and Conan (Sword&Sorcery) but also Shadowrun and Call of Cthulhu (CoC) had and still have an impact of how and what I play. Cheers from Switzerland

My favorite systems and games: 1-Cypher(generic), 2-Teenagers From Outer Space(anime), 3-Gamma World 4E(not based on D&D 4E)(post apocalyptic), 4-All Flesh Must be Eaten(zombie), 5-Battlelords of the 23rd Century(sci-fi), 6-Pathfinder 1E(fantasy), 7-5E(fantasy), 8-Palladium system(generic), 9-AD&D(fantasy), 10-Shadow of the Demon Lord(sci-fantasy/horror) and 11-Star Frontiers(sci-fi)

great video. I myself try to make the rules reflect the setting we play, but I also have a design goal in mind like "This game is about heroes thwarting major villains". I adjust the game to simulate that. Right now, I'm working on a barebones TTRPG that would be rules light. The game is about achieving your personal goals. This may be that you want to invent something new or establish yourself as the new baron of the land. It can also be minor things like having relationships or simply exploring the world.

I’d love to hear your feedback on specific modules. How you run them - straight out of the book, or changed? You seem to focus on a lot of system and Gm advice, but I think a big component of that is the module or adventure itself.

I use a modified version of D&D 3.5 with a lot of homebrew stuff (some simplified rules, about 20-30 more classes of my own design, new spells/domains, and about 200 races of my own design). My game world is essentially a realm of realms, where all kinds of places exist and all themes exist. I play it because I can convert anything I'm inspired by to this game system/world, and I get to spend less time reading spell descriptions and all of that junk. I prefer to customize my own system and be really creative with things rather than play a system by-the-book.

I used to rune classic Rolemaster way back when I had patient players. My favorite experience AS a player has been GURPS, but it's a bear to prep for and run (you have to customize and scope the options well in advance). I enjoy playing 5E D&D, but didn't like 3.5 due to the ridiculous amounts of feats. I've recently discovered old West End Games D6 for Star Wars and we had a fun run with that, but my current favorite to GM for (ahem I mean Rabble Rouse for) is EZD6. Players are loving it too.

Purpose built games are great, to stick to the video focus of fantasy Barbarians of Lemuria is designed to give a much more focused sword & sorcery feel compared to any version of D&D. Outside the fantasy realm of course we have things like Boot Hill, Top Secret, and Night of the Ninja which call give very focused games designed to emulate the genres of the western, the Cold War espionage film and 1980’s ninja movies respectively.

Fate Accelerated. I've used this system multiple times to introduce complete newbies to the hobby, and the way it prompts the players and encourages them to get into their characters and the story is unparalleled.

I adore 3.5e D&D. It's got its problems: rules bloat, supplement power creep, ambiguous or self-contradictory wordings of rules to name a few. I'm not blind to these criticisms. However, it's expansive and more or less fully comprehensive- especially when you consider the vast number of books that are written specifically for 3.5 and even 3e if you're willing to put in the effort to make sure things line up with the overhauls that 3.5 introduced- and I love it for that. I'm not especially creative. I like having rules to work from as a baseline. Maybe X, Y, or Z get a pass with the homebrew brush, maybe none of them do, doesn't matter. I can make all the little tweaks required to suit the needs of a campaign or a fantasy setting and it works. By not being forced to reinvent the metaphorical wheel, as it seems so many of the more freeform systems seem to encourage, I can focus on the task at hand of just running the game. Amd what's more, I've always found the rules to be a useful signpost pointing out things that wouldn't have occurred to me to examine and consider using in my games. Open-endedness is, in my opinion, for the stories that unfold, NOT rules systems.

I love 3.5 D&D, just player's handbook, levels 1 to 7 or so. Still a great experience. I've also been loving Shadowdark lately which cleverly handles many of the things I don't love in 5e.

My game of choice for "post 3e era games" is Pathfinder for sure. At least for the times when i feel like diggin into really complex systems and try to build a very gamefied campaign for my players to enjoy. For Old School Stuff i really like OSE. It's just a solid game i think. For Horror nothing beats Call of Cthulhu for me. I've also been dabbling in R. Talsorian's Cyberpunk and have been really enjoying it.

Me and my players are typically pretty high fantasy, but we all have "splash-in" systems we use for one shots or other campaigns. I fucking LOVE running Paranoia, and I think more people should give Paranoia a try. It is literally against the rules for the players to know the rules, so the buy-in is very very cheap, and it lets you experiment with concepts that are taboos in most systems! I have a near complete set of Paranoia XP (and i've been trying to coerce them into letting me run a full campaign!) But the newest edition is actually great for just picking up and playing! It's also a D6 system so it's extremely beginner GM friendly, too!

Another thing that makes systems feel very distinctively different if they are "attempt based" or "saving throw based" systems. I played a bunch of Into the Odd games (Cairn, Mausritter etc) and they all revolve around the idea that you basically only call for saving throws to avoid danger (same goes to Mothership). So even by OSR standards I call for much less rolls than lets say B/X or OSE where you have your 1 in 6 skills and even more so in games like DCC where you (if you play modules as written) need a bunch of rolls. I don't think one is superior than the other but it's a very different GM mindset. Because if you run an attempt based ruleset like DCC like a Cairn adventure the system will not shine. Vice versa Cairn will quickly break appart if you constantly call for rolls...

Your takes on other genres would be funn to hear about

Thanks for the video! I played 5e because that’s what I was introduced to. I’d be interested to hear about your opinion on the various Sci-Fi systems, particularly if one of them would be a good option for running in a Star Wars world. We’re currently played the SW RPG and the rules of any of those systems aren’t the best.

I've really come to like S&W, its got alot of the AD&D vibes I want without having to deal with segments in combat.

System absolutely matters to me. Most often, I probably gravitate to a system because either it is very intertwined with a fascinating setting or because it is a solid and simple framework that I think could be easily home brewed into my own campaign ideas. In my tenure, I’ve dabbled in dozens of games but these days, I mostly hang on to only about a half-dozen systems. For fantasy, I’m either falling back on WFRP 1e/2e or exploring my new love of Spire/Heart and its twisted and wonderful world. I keep TSR’s Marvel Superheroes for high-action spandex adventures. I like PBtA for most of my modern/horror genres. For sci-fi/space opera, I’ve done some home brewing on a great, little indie RPG called Black Star.

System matters greatly for feel. Some play feel remote and abstract, even boardgamey, that is done by abstract rules like hex travel, item slots, resource dice, meta measurements (squares, units for wood, hit points etc). Close concrete games make you feel close to the action. This is done by concrete rules that use weight in kilograms, measurements i feet and miles, map based travel, concrete wounds instead of hit points. Gives you a completely different feel. Concrete rules often feel more real or even gritty and by that are more immersive.

Systems don't matter until you play the greatest RPG system ever invented, the D6 system.

Tunnels & Trolls

I think Hackmaster (either version) is underrated. The HP kicker makes it so regular npcs and level 1 characters feel more "real" in that they won't be killed by a housecat. At the same time the explosive die and crit system means you don't have the padded sumo problem you might think you get at first glance. Also the honor and morality system is really cool.

Personally I play BX play around with OD&D/Chainmail/Braunstein learning how they did it back then, but I played the most in 3.5 as that was the first edition I could afford to play. As far as new stuff I would be careful myself. As someone who uploads videos myself I would keep it to like a 1 in 10 is something new and the 9 being more on focus

It's funny, but I've never been particularly inclined to tinkering with game systems. I pretty well like how most all the TSR-published iterations of the game are designed and would much rather direct my creative energies into new setting elements, characters, monsters, magic, adventures, etc. The nitty-gritty of how the classes work, how you go about combat and saving throws and such...not so much. So for me, choice of system these days mostly comes down to what's concise, flexible, broadly compatible with TSR stuff in general and captures as much of that cool D&D feel as possible. I've settled on S&W Complete because it combines the gritty sword & sorcery tone, demonic antagonists, and iconic character class options of AD&D with the overall simplicity and speed of play of the '80s Basic lines. It feels like the most balanced retro-clone to me for that reason, if that makes sense. Of course, it's really all one game in the end, so it's not like I don't still pull bits from all my other (A)D&D books, Dragon issues, etc. as the whim strikes me.

When you speak of BX, are you talking about the Muldvey rules?

D100 Dungeon supplies I deem essential A Solo Adventuring Game (a must have) like A GM's guide The Lost Tome Extraordinary like Players handbook The Dragons Return like Monster manuel. Mapping Game for mapping tiles Scarlet Heroes for the Oracle Shadowdark for the tables. D100 Dungeon for its gear and hit location tables.

Mechanically: Confusing. When we switched from 3rd/PF to 5th, someone every session tried to take a 5' step, for years. Some mechanics are really cool, like Sanity in Call of Cthulhu, and crits in Warhammer. The different settings are very interesting. I love the lore in Warhammer, Call of Cthulhu, and Shadowrun. We have found that the system matters very little, and it's all about getting together with friends, having fun, and making lasting memories. Most of my players don't care about the mechanics of the system, they care more about roleplaying.

Another option a person could play is BASIC FANTASY. To me all of the basic thru 2e and the OSR clones are basicly the same game. they have some different flavors, but they run on the same idea. as Daniel stated at the beginning, make your own system. Just be fluid at the table while being the DM. the reality is that you could have a character from one system playing at the table with someone elses character using one of the "different" systems. As the DM, Just pick and choose as you go along. As a DM ( I run 1e) I have no problem with someone saying to me, I want to do such and such with my character, as long as it fits my world, I may allow them. Lot of this comes down to race. The world I run is primarily human dominant, with elfs, dwarves, halflings being uncommon to rare. While if a established character who had demonstrated his roleplaying and commitment to the world I am running comes to me and says, I would really like to play such and such, and here is how I think it may be compatible with your world, what can we do to make the idea work. I will likely say, lets see what we can do. But if someone I am unfamiliar with, just joining the group comes and says I want to play a tiefling or based on some perceived bonus he gets some some other system. I will likely say to him or her, "show me" which to me means show me via your Role Playing, and they will likely pull out some book and say, see, it says so right here! its not going to happen. for someone new just starting, BX, BECMI, Basic Fantasy, OSE, a downloaded copy of what ever, or any other of the older systems will get you playing the game. In lots of ways, all you need is some dice, a combat table and a creative mind and you can play what I call "Dungeons and Dragons" although it may actually not be Dungeons and Dragons, but it will have the same basic feel. what races, classes, ect one has really is irrelevant as long as the match the DM's world that his is trying to build. Make you own system over time, but its easier and you are less likely to have issues if you start with one of the "standard" sets, ie something between basic and AD&D. Any of the oldschool systems will be easier, and a lot cheaper, and will save you a lot of time as DM ( and player) then if you start playing with the current 5e version of the game. Put your time into you dungeon or story or adventure, not into a time intensive system, that doesnt add anything "new" to the game. most of the different old school systems only differ in flavor, and most are quite interchangable.

Index Card RPG is my go to for playing and hacking. That said I also love DCC, just that it’s a heavier meal.

My preferences clearly lie very far from any of those game. My picks are the following: For Intrigue I go with L5R, for Horror I go with the Alien RPG, to introduce new people to the hobby I go with Fiasco, for pretty much anything else I will go with a system that is powered by the Apocalypse, with Avatar Legends, Masks, and Thirsty Sword Lesbians the most commonly used. But like I mentioned before, I also work on my own system, which might replace all the games I run eventually.

I have DOZENS of games but I seem to play Runequest Traveller Dark Conspiracy (using the D20 roll under mechanic of V2.2). I strongly prefer skill-based systems over class-based systems.

I'm thinking about picking up Dragonslayer by Greg Gillespie. The guy wrote Barrowmaze & Dwarrodeep. It must be good.

Yes ido the same house rules

I use a bunch of different systems for the different types of fantasy i want to run/play. Hackmaster for old school style low magic dungeon crawling, Conan d20 or 2d20 for pulp action sword and sorcery, Exalted for high power/super heroic style. Watching people try to mangle d&d5e into everything always makes me cringe

Personally I like home brew world using pathfinder system

I'm looking at various OSR rules and while I'm overwhelmed by choice, I see two distinct sets of them: The ones that are almost word-for-word clones of B/X or OD&D or AD&D (e.g. Swords & Wizardry, Labyrinth Lord, OSRIC) and then the ones that try to be more modern (Shadowdark, DCC). The modern ones I find tend to be way too gimmicky for my liking (for example I hate how DCC starts you at 0th level, as I find that makes you even less concerned about your character and it's bad enough in D&D/AD&D as it was) but the true clones bring up why not just get the real B/X or Rules Cyclopedia or 1e AD&D books since they are print on demand and play them, rather than play an imitation. Out of them all so far Swords & Wizardry seems like the most interesting as it's a Basic D&D feel with AD&D rules. Castles & Crusades, although I don't think that counts as OSR, is interesting as well for being basically 3.0 if it was a progression from 2e not a new game. The others from what I've read haven't really don't anything new or intriguing, and as I mentioned above the ones like Shadowdark just feel too gimmicky with what they do in a way that doesn't appeal to me at all

Systems make a universe, a feel. it's not just about numbers and rolls. A good system will produce effects that should set the tone of the universe you're playing in, iduce player behaviors that suit the settting etc... If I want to play a game that heavily emphasise on gunfights, kungfu, magic, human relationships, drama, I need a good system to support that. Just reskinning an old school D20 system won't cut it for me. It might "do the job"...but it won't make a great game.

I was hoping to hear about different systems, not just D&D and it's clones. such as: I.C.E. - Merp or role master Palladium fantasy gurps Earthdawn chaosium books vampire masquerade GDW star wars FASA star trek rpg GW fantasy rpg and the list goes on...

When iplay sci-fi orther world or setting I like to use gurps rules

"They will call you out on useing the wrong middle initial." You should try to play with german DSA (the dark eye) players. 40 years of dense dense lore, politics, heraldry, etc. and they seemingly know it all...

For the algorithm

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If you like poower fantasy games try pathfinder mythic rules

Would love to hear about games you like that arent DnD or d20 games.

Not a big fan of DCC. Spells are too random, too gonzo, weird dice. That may be a plus for some, but its a negative for me. If i want gonzo, i go for Gamma World, rather Mutant Future.

You were very D&D clone-centric. What about Pendragon? Or Ars Magica? Or Runequest? Or Dungeon World? Or Burning Wheel? Or Thirsty Sword Lesbians? (which I haven't played, but I have played all the others)..all of those will give you such different takes on fantasy and play very, very different than what re-iterations of D&D clones provides.

These are all d20 systems. If you want to actually ask "How do different RPGs feel at the table?" talk about other mechanics. Like mentioned below, d100, PbtA...and some others: 2d6, Dominion Rules, D12, and so on. The mechanics, 2nd only to the setting, is how a game "feels."

I don't like character classes and I don't like random characters generation. So, for me, the ideal system us Fantasy Hero; which I find far more elegant than GURPS. Unfortunately, introducing new players then becomes problematic as it completely front-loads the effort and without the handrails send stabilizers provided by classes. You can have any character you want - Child of Destiny but suffering from leprosy - but you have to put in the effort to build it using the system.

I’ve come to prefer games with fewer rules that have a lot of space to make it your own. I really like playing AD&D but I wouldn’t want to run it I don’t think, but I love running OD&D/White Box. But on the other hand I have so many games I want to run and play, far more than I will probably ever get a chance to.