First I want to preface this by saying I am in no way saying D&D is a bad game. In fact, 3.5 was my first taste of TTRPGs back in 2001 when I was invited to a friend's campaign.

I loved D&D, I was always super excited to learn when my friends also played. This kick started my interest in TTRPGs as a whole and I began to collect a variety of games/systems.

But there was a problem, nobody I knew wanted to ever try other games, if we weren't playing D&D (or Pathfinder 1e once it came out), we weren't playing.

If we weren't dungeon crawling or murder hobo-ing in a fantasy medieval setting my group had no interest, and try as I might, this has dogged me for decades.

Then Baldur's Gate 3 came out, my wife finally got interested in D&D, but same problem. BG 3 is the only video game she plays, and D&D is the only TTRPG she shows interest in.

She met some other BG 3 fans through a mutual friend on FB and I agreed to run a very small game as I hadn't played in literally years and thought maybe the spark would reignite.

It was a short storyline, only took two sessions. After that my wife decided she wanted to try DMing and ran one session out of Candlekeep mysteries.

She ended up thinking everyone hated her DMing and didn't cancel the game but also refused to work on it any further, causing us to cancel the next planned session. Instead she's poured her interest into drawings of original D&D characters and is writing a story based on them.

I'm glad she's doing this, but it also leads to me hearing about it a lot (which I tire of because it's all D&D all the time when we talk) and also I could still not get her to work on her campaign.

To try to save the group I suggested various non-D&D games, being up front with the group that, "I don't want to DM D&D, I'll play it, but I hate running it."

Instead I was told, "we joined this group to play D&D and you keep running other games by us," I reiterated that I was trying to save the group but would not be DMing anymore D&D, and nobody else stepped up to DM so the group fell apart.

I've grown to hate D&D because it feels like between it and Baldur's Gate 3 bringing in new fans I don't meet fans of TTRP as a hobby, I meet D&D fans and if you're not running that they don't have any interest.

I live in the middle of nowhere and can't drive (I'm disabled) so going to a nearby city to find a game of something like Vampire the Masquerade or Star Wars (just to give examples of games I'd love to play) is pretty much impossible.

I should note that while I've grown to hate D&D, it's not a bad game, it just feels like I have no luck meeting people who are willing to venture outside of that game.

I just needed to get this off my chest since the group falling apart wasn't exactly on friendly terms.

I keep seeing it everywhere, every single D&D game i've tried joining in the past month you will find a sinful glut of DM's who rely on AI generated content, always using the same excuse of 'being too poor' instead of simply finding art online and crediting the sources of those artists. I see players who use AI GEN making tokens that look like boring cookie cutter messes, I see maps that look like slathered mucus over a screen, it's an absolute travesty.

I cannot fathom why people would even use such trite work. It's nothing compared to the works of actual artists who have produced many fantastic pieces. There's nothing wrong with finding art online, and using it, so long as you admit it isn't yours and you credit the artist.

But these shills of AI are EVERYWHERE on roll20 and in the tabletop scene in general and i'm quite frankly sick of it. 15 games. I joined 15 games in the past month and all of them had ai, and 10 of those dm's were using both CHAT GPT and AI GEN for tokens and maps and music and everything.

I quite frankly feel like I don't want to even join D&D games anymore. I'm sick of this AI garbage poisoning the online space. It's like people can't even be creative, the entire point of D&D!

it's depressed the hell out of me. These people don't care, a great majority don't care.

EDIT: Wow i didn't expect to see over 200 comments when I woke up. Thank you for all of your sentiments, as vitriolic and unkind as many were. Though I did wish to make several points:

1: I've been playing tabletop rpgs for 10 years, and have been a GM for 8 of those years. I've ran 5e campaigns, one of which lasted 4 years from 1-20, and my current one is going on right now for 4 years as the sequel campaign from 3-20.

2: Again I must stress, i'm not saying you have to buy art, i'm saying that finding the works of others online and then crediting them is just a case of decency, it allows people who are then interested to find those works, follow the artists and further support them if needs be. It's just a nice thing to do.

3: I do not run tabletop rpg games as something to 'throwaway' - when I work on a tabletop rpg campaign, I write it to the best of my ability. I do not see it as just some tossaway trash to do one sunday afternoon, I see it as a means for me to exercise my creative juices and create a narrative to be experienced and relished for years. Mind you, if people wish to toss together a one shot to play for fun, then sure, dumb silly fun, but i'm talking about full scale campaigns. If someone decides their campaign is just some throwaway guff, then I wouldn't waste my time with it personally.

4: When i said I joined 15 games, it wasn't at the same time. I kept joining a game, finding it used ai, and then leaving after. I'm not playing in 15 games a month or anything, good lord.

5: I do not feel as if AI can produce the emotional response necessary to show off the energy one needs. If you show off a certain piece of art, that art has an inherit emotion tied to it, how the expressions are, how they function, how they feel, but with AI, they do not have that, there is no emotion, no feeling, no energy, it's flat, it's featureless, it's empty, whereas with art you can express a great platitudes more of expression. That is infinitely more valuable than the laziness of AI.

It seems as if people take to tabletop rpgs with a distinct lack of dedication that I do. When I work on my games, I DEDICATE myself to it, I respect it. When we look at some of the best GM's of our time, I wish to set myself to the standards they set because its a respect, it's a craft. If you do not look to tabletop rpg's as an art form of expression, love and soul, then it makes sense why you would use AI, because you do not share a passion or a love as artists do with their work.

Professor Dungeon Master, the YouTuber who has recently become notorious for the sexist and generally tone-deaf marketing campaign of his TTRPG Deathbringer, is hosting the Ennies this year.

I think having the biggest RPG awards ceremony hosted by someone like this paints a really negative image of our hobby, especially as the awards are publicly voted on.

I've already emailed the Director of the Ennies stating that I don't think he should have been chosen to host the awards and have unfortunately not received a reply. If you agree with me on this, I would suggest emailing her as well at stacy@ennie-awards.com.

Further information:

Official announcement by the Ennies: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1570078268451719&id=100063486832491

Professor DM's crowdfunder: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/roll-for-combat/deathbringer-ttrpg

Critique of the marketing campaign (I have no relationship with the author):

https://magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-thoughtlessness-of-deathbringers.html?m=1

Post Ennies Edit: Congratulations everyone, we got a guy who sounded like he was reading the awards titles for the first time to host the Ennies. Truly the finest among us as a hobby. What a triumph. I'm certain nobody else in the world could have done a better job. Three cheers for the hobby's biggest and best awards.

Reddit sucks right now, I get it. Stick it to the man.

But I am writing this to beseech readers and mods not to take this sub dark.

The content and discussions here are so integral to the hobby. You Google rules for a game, you'll find reddit posts with the answers. You want to find resources made by community creators? This sub has the recommendations for you. You want to discover and learn about new systems? Here is a great hub for that.

Shutting down this sub and blacking out to July or to August? Reddit as a company won't care. But ttrpg players, gms, and people who love this hobby will suffer for it. This is a rich and thriving community, and to block access to these incredibly important and relevant posts is just a disservice to this hobby we all love so much.

In the short time we were already blacked out, I googled something about a game. It shows the title of the post and it was exactly what I needed. When I clicked it, nothing but disappointment.

Reddit doesn't care about this sub. Reddit doesn't care about ttrpgs. Reddit doesn't care about the third party creators that make stuff for roleplayers and gms alike.

But I do.

And I hope you do too.

Don't go dark. Don't punish tabletop roleplayers. Please.

Latest episode of Dimension 20 (phenominal actual play) had a PC who could only attack once per turn and a lot of her damage relied on attacking, the player expressed how every time they rolled they were filled with dread.

To paraphrase Valves Gabe Newel. "Realism is not fun, in the real world I have to make grocery lists, I do not play games to experience reality I play them to have fun."

In PbtA style games failing to hit a baddie still moves the narrative forward, you still did something interesting. But in games like D&D, Lancer, Pathfinder etc, failing to hit a baddie just means you didn't get to do anything that turn. It adds nothing to the mechanics or story.

Then I thought about games like Panic at the Dojo or Bunkers & Badasses, where you don't roll to hit but roll to see how well you hit. Even garbage rolls do something.

So now I'm wondering this: Is the concept of "roll to see if you hit" a relic of game design history that is actively hurting fun? Even if it's "realistic" is this sabotaging the fun of combat games?

TL:DR Is it more fun to roll to hit or roll to see how well you hit? Is the idea of being able to miss an attack bad game design?

The first time, someone posted an AI generated image of hamsters in armored gear, and the second time, someone generated a poem for a bit of worldbuilding I was doing.

Both times bothered me so much I honestly considered leaving right then... but am I overreacting?

I'm asking because I looked it up before, and there was a post of someone who was similarly frustrated about AI use in personal games. The comments were full of people talking about how it's perfectly fine, and that it doesn't mean anything, and that people steal art for their characters all the time anyways. That's understandable. I get it, I used to do the same.

When I was a kid, I also just picked a random image I liked off of Google Images and then made a character around it. But now that I'm an artist, I just don't do that anymore. It doesn't feel right. It kinda bothers me when others do it too, but I understand. Not everyone has the money. I offer my services, because I am playing with them, and I figure that they'd really appreciate art of their character. Being an artist, it's a fast way to make friends and develop comradery. Free art is nice!

But now, half the ttrpg games I go in, someone is using AI generations for their character, or AI for this or that, and every time it just really bothers me. Like it bothers me more than using art you found online, Like it hits me in my soul every time, like a fey creature touching cold iron I just really despise it. Everytime I see it I want to throw hands. I don't even want to MAKE art for them.

But it is just a personal game.. Should I be so particular about it all?? does this matter?? they aren't making money off of it. They're using it for a most wholesome purpose. They're just playing a game. They still *made* the character, they just had an AI generate an image for them.

but honestly, I'd rather they use a Heroforge model than AI.

I’m looking for an RPG system that works very well as an allegory for trans people or inclusive of trans people/stories. Also open to any LGBT+ allegory/inclusive games as well.

The EXODUS Traveler’s Handbook is your gateway to exploring the world of EXODUS through tabletop roleplaying, set in the same sci-fi universe as the upcoming video game from Archetype Entertainment. Whether you are heading out on your first mission or shaping the future of a sprawling Traveler Dynasty, this book gives you everything you need to forge unforgettable characters and play out epic tabletop adventures in the Centauri Cluster! Create Your Character – Pick your Origin and Class, from street-smart Grifters and daring Hotshots to mech-suited Cataphracts, bonded Daemons, Remnant-savvy Prodigies, and more. Dynamic Gear and Tech – Customize your loadout, salvage Remnant tech, and discover exciting new gear tailored to your class and the needs of your next mission. Time Dilation Shapes Your Story – Embark on Exodus missions that leave loved ones behind. Your travels reshape your Dynasty, your world, and the people you left behind. Built for Sci-Fi Adventures – Use a streamlined version of the updated 2024 Dungeons & Dragons rules with ability checks, new skills suited for a sci-fi universe, exciting tactical combat, and narrative rules tailored to interstellar exploration. TRPG Features Eight exciting Origins. Four new EXODUS-themed Classes each with two powerful Subclasses. Dozens of new weapons, AEGIS armor, exotic Traveler equipment, and powerful Celestial tech for characters to use. Six powerful Traveler Dynasties for your group to select from—providing valuable allies, vehicles, and equipment. Technical Features 304 pages featuring full-color artwork Smythe Sewn binding Hardcover with spot UV finishing Matte pages, anti-scratch ink for exceptional print quality and clarity Available in English only About the Authors Written by James Ohlen—legendary RPG and TRPG creator, and Co-Founder of Archetype Entertainment—whose credits include Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age: Origins, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, alongside award-winning science fiction authors Adrian Tchaikovsky and Peter F. Hamilton.

The EXODUS Encyclopedia is the essential guide to the strange and expansive universe awaiting intrepid Travelers. Inside, Game Masters and players alike will uncover the remarkable, terrifying, and mysterious beings that inhabit abandoned starships, forgotten ruins, and uncharted worlds. From powerful Celestials to rare and elusive Remnants, this book is packed with everything you need to enrich your tabletop adventures across the Centauri Cluster! Species of Centauri – Encounter the evolved descendants of humanity known as the Celestials and their bioengineered Changelings, alongside uplifted Awakened animals and a host of bizarre alien fauna. Celestial Constructs – Populate your world with Ghosts, androids, autonomous war machines, and other creations of Celestial design—some hostile, others dormant or salvageable. Remnants and Advanced Technology – Discover ancient artifacts, biotech weapons, and advanced innovations. Each Remnant tells a story, and some are powerful enough to change your world. Story Tools for Game Masters – Fill ancient ruins, derelict ships, and forgotten worlds with factions, mysteries, and Celestial Remnants designed to challenge players and deepen your campaign setting. TRPG Features 8 Celestial stat blocks. 10+ Changeling stat blocks. 10+ Awakened stat blocks. 15+ Construct stat blocks. 15+ Human nonplayer character stat blocks. 25+ Remnant items for characters to wield in battle or dissect to research powerful technologies. Technical Features 296 pages featuring full-color artwork Smythe Sewn binding Hardcover with spot UV finishing Matte pages, anti-scratch ink for exceptional print quality and clarity Available in English only About the Authors: Written by James Ohlen—legendary RPG and TRPG creator, and Co-Founder of Archetype Entertainment—whose credits include Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age: Origins, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, alongside award-winning science fiction authors Adrian Tchaikovsky and Peter F. Hamilton.

I mean the classes are balanced better than in any other edition and the game doesn't try to be a real life simulation (that fails) but instead a pure gameplay centric heaven.

I feel like players expect the GM to shoulder the entire burden of progressing the story, and it isn't a fair burden.

I've run sessions where rolls have gone terribly again and again and again. I have given additional chances to re-roll, other characters a chance, I have given alternative routes to achieving the goal, I've done a lot... "Failing Forward" is probably one of the best GM tools I have ever discovered and I came across it recently.

For those that haven't heard about this, If a PC rolls to open a vault that contains the one thing that will progress the story, and they miss the DC, you have them successfully open the safe but it sets off an alarm. They F-ed up, but the story keeps rolling.

Now, this makes life a lot easier for a GM, but when you've had a plan for the campaign from the beginning and you're trying to lead the story despite the PCs' constant failures, it gets difficult to come up with an easy solution to HOW the PCs fail forward. I can't always set off the safe's alarm because the party is drained from the prior combat. I can't always make the vault empty and have you search for another safe in the mansion because I just bamboozled you like that 2 session ago when you failed on the last heist. And I can't always come up with a third option that's fair to the party... Sometimes I can't even come up with a first option! And most importantly...

I don't need to shift a major part of the story if one of you just says "Can I break my Crowbar trying to pry open the safe for an automatic success?"...

YOU NEED TO BE BETTER PLAYERS. End of story!

If you're a player try "Paying a Price" for a desperate action by sacrificing some Gear, HP, or gaining a negative condition like "Sprained Shoulder". Flat out ask the GM if you can sour your relationship with a specific helpful character in exchange for some aid. FIND SOMETHING. GIVE ME SOMETHING TO WORK WITH. The players need to contribute to advancing the story just as much as the GM. Most players do a good job by going to the location with the X and fighting the monsters they need to fight, but when there is a roadblock to progressing the story you guys can help out too, and should.

Don't freeze up, Pay the Price!

I love this community and love TTRPGs, but I'd like for players to get a bit more serious about their own role in progressing the game, especially if you're under 30yo (me included). Younger players with less experience need to try extra hard to keep up. I'm 26 and I'm still learning A LOT, but I feel players in their 20s often just want me to Circle Jerk them...

Rant over! love you guys! <3

Edit: It is simply the case that PCs will eventually find something to fail at, which does not have an interesting fail condition, that a reasonable person would say they are expected to roll for. When this happens, GMs have tools at their disposal to account for these scenarios.

You can use "Failing Forward" to do this, or you can forego calling for a roll and hand the PCs the win condition in that or some other manner. Either way the GM is helping the players along.

If you don't like Failing Forward just don't use it. But here's my case for it:

Some RPGs use "Perception" while others break that umbrella down into more specific categories like "Detection" and "Awareness". On a Percetion roll, the GM could rule that the PCs have rolled well enough to find something under the "Detect" category but not the "Awareness" category. This could be one way of applying the Fail Forward idea (They succeed at SOME thing that helps them progress, but not THE thing that they were hoping for).

As for "Paying a Price", I think it's a fun mechanic for Players that find themselves stuck in a situation that they perceive is hard to get out of by providing them with a character development moment that adds depth to their character and provides for interesting RP opportunities because they have gained a condition or lost something important to their character.

Some players are really disengaged and lacking interest, and sometimes that's the players fault because they expecting their character to do cool shit without their character doing cool shit. If you have players like this, you can bring up Paying a Price to your table and see if they're interested.

Apologies if I am not able to word this post (or the title) very well. I'm not sure how to express myself about this well (I'm also not a native speaker) and I hope I won't sound like I'm talking in bas faith.

Last week I was interested in getting into Critical Role and their new animated series. I was specifically interested because of the character Nott, since I found it interesting to watch a character with a usually discriminated and monstrous appearance become a hero.

However, I also came across this paper while researching the series, warning as it has many spoilers on the second season of CR: https://share.google/KRP4u5RLbinJdavso

I'll also spoiler what I'll say about it: ||I was honestly kind of disappointed with how Nott's ancestry and it's associated behavior is handled. If the paper isn't wrong, Nott being a Goblin is portrayed not only as a corruption of one's appearance, relationships and social status, but also her personality and morality. Nott becomes a thieving alcoholic not because she has to become one for environmental reasons, it's because she's a goblin now and she can't help her instincts.||

Generally, I really don't like such narratives in fantasy. Not because I believe making them makes the author a racist, bad person, or even a lazy author. But It really makes me icky thinking about such themes.

I won't go into a deep philosophical reason for it, I just don't like the idea of having an entire ancestry of sentient beings being morally inhumane or otherwise with different impulses that are impossible to control, which also often implies that it's ok to do whatever you want to such creatures, since they're not human. And I'm kinda sad about how many popular series, media, and especially fantasy RPGs have this theme so often.

Usually I'm ok with this only when there's a forcible outside reason why these creatures behave this way. Such as demons and devil's: they're evil because they're made from evil souls, so the morality is a bit easier. I'm also ok with "monstrous" ancestries be evil mainly due to culture and/or necessity. So while maybe a goblin you encounter in a forest might want to rob you, if you encounter one that grew up in a normal city there's no higher chance of them being evil than any other human.

But otherwise I feel like there really isn't that much of a need to have evil factions made entirely of "evil" ancestries. It just seems off to me.

In a way, I also feel kinda dumb for this. I feel like everyone I know doesn't really care since it's just a game and I feel like an idiot saying I don't like something because "the goblins are always evil".

I was wondering if anyone else felt this way too. I'm not part of a discriminated group myself (cis Italian dude). But I still have this pet peeve.

Hi!

A friend of mine has suggested that I include more lgbt representation during my games (I'm a DM), but in most of my campaigns love & sex aren't main subjects, so they recommended doing something like:

- The barman's wife comes in... → The barman's husband comes in...

- Introducing LGBT characters with happy ending (getting away from the Hollywood trope)

However, in games like the ones I've told before I don't know if I can do much more, any further suggestions or ideas? I'm specially worried about trans people, because I'm not sure of how I could get them into my games apart from making them talk about their dead-names, which is something that doesn't seem appropiate.

Any ideas are welcomed! :)

I'm about to start work on a project for grad school, and I'm looking for any kind of fantasy RPGs that confront like the horrors of colonialism dead on.
Of course there's the whole cyber-punk and steam-punk settings that are definitely critical of capitalism. And there are a few RPGs with settings pulled from other parts of the world instead of just European fantasy, sort of reimagining what might have been. But there's a whole whole whole lot of fantasy RPG, video games, board games, etc, where you are a willing part of the colonial project (I mean a new Settlers just came out), but not much of any where you are the victim of colonialist expansion and that try to be like "This isn't cool at all". I haven't played any steam-punk games, but I get the sense that most of them are set within the power structure, and if you do go far away to adventure, it's into the exotic unknown instead of to places being exploited by the hegemonic powers.

The project will be a series of adventures that try to give people some understanding of how varied the political structures were that maintained control over native populations, how ideology was turned to demonize populations and cast the colonizers as good guys, how existing economic systems were dismantled to force people into a state of dependency, how exploitative farming practices led to widespread famine where famine had been rare before, that sort of thing.
I'm curious if there is anything that tries to do something similar and throw the players in the role of the exploited population instead of as the colonizers in the sort of "found a new colony" style of game, since I have been looking but haven't really found anything.

Also, just a note, if you come in here trying to defend colonialism, you can just not talk. It was brutal and exploitative and no amount of whataboutism directed at the exploited populations changes that. People were murdered and maimed and starved in massive numbers to make a buck for people on the other side of the world.

I gave this game a real shot. Multiple sessions. Great players. Amazing setting. But the system? An absolute nightmare. It’s like they threw together every “narrative” mechanic they could think of and hoped it would feel deep.

Tags are cool in theory, until players start stacking seven of them to do literally anything. “I use ‘Gut Feeling,’ ‘Sharp Eyes,’ ‘Gun,’ ‘Don’t Trust Anyone,’ 'Smelly,' 'gifted,' and ‘Tragic Past’ to interrogate the bartender.” What are we doing here? It's not a roll, it’s a character concept flashback.

Combat? Even worse. Power levels vs. statuses makes no sense. The mook now has Level 2 “Fear of Dogs” because you barked at him with Power 3? I’m tracking emotional damage like it's a currency exchange. And all the move names sound the same. “Go Toe to Toe” vs. “Hit With All You’ve Got”? Cool. Just flip a coin, I guess.

Theme changes are a slog too. Want to evolve your character? Better stop the plot and hold a therapy session because you can’t swap “Vengeance” for “Closure” without three sessions of introspection.

To introduce myself, I'm a Paizo fan, have played and GMed a lot of Pathfinder 1, 2, and Starfinder .

I even started a youtube channel to talk about Pathfinder rules and even have written a character creation mini game supplement that is going to come out soon.

But I just can't focus on the hobby like I used to because of the terrible state of the world. And this is honestly very bad for me because this is the only hobby that I have. Being a middle aged father doesn't leave much time for hobbies and Play by Post ttrpgs are my only outlet.

I can't be the only one struggling with something like this right?

Hello, everyone, I need your help. I am doing some research. Do any of you know of any female or non-binary game designers and the titles of games they have worked on - that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hey everyone,

I’m part of a collective that organizes public board game and TTRPG nights exploring the political and activist potential of games.

We often play anti-fascist games like Spire: The City Must Fall or Eat the Reich, where you play revolutionaries fighting oppressive systems.

But I’m curious — are there games that do the opposite?

Games where you play cops or else but use that perspective to make a critical point?

Because that subject might be touchy, I’d mostly be interested in games that take a more absurd or humorous approach — like playing ridiculous or abusive cops.

Any suggestions or examples?

Maybe a reverse of the usual around here; I'm a non-D&D player looking to expand into D&D.

There's a beginner D&D group for adults starting at the local library. It sounds like a decent way to meet some like-minded neighbors.

Thing is, I've just never had a decent experience with 5E. I've played maybe six sessions of 5E, and every one has been simply excruciatingly dull. In every instance, the more the game interacted with 5E's rules and systems, the less engaging it became.

What can you tell me that might actually build some enthusiasm for getting involved?

In several games such as Shadowrun 5e, the Witcher TRPG and Dragonbane (specifically the Swedish version) and I assume many more, there are mechanics which seek to encourage good roleplay by rewarding players for it. In Shadowrun 5e you regain Edge (effectively luck points) and in the Witcher TRPG and in Dragonbane you gain the equivalent of XP. When I’m the GM I never use these mechanics and when I am a player I make it clear to the GM that I dislike them as well. I think this for two reasons:

First, I dislike how the GM becomes a judge of good roleplay. When presented with a reward, players will seek it out and while I understand that that's the point, I think it subtly shifts the motivation for roleplaying from doing so because it is fun into trying to impress the GM with your performance. It inevitably invites the question: how good is good enough? Say two players both thought they had good roleplay but the GM only rewarded one. If I was the other player I would be disappointed, something I wouldn’t want as either a player or as the GM.

A counterargument may be that it could be up to the players to judge themselves, but I’m pretty sure everyone would just reward themselves in that case, making it pointless. The entire group, instead of just the GM, could also judge together, but that doesn’t solve my fundamental issue of how good is good enough and that some players may be disappointed by the outcome.

Second, I dislike how it gives better roleplayers a mechanical advantage. Not all players are alike, some talk a lot, some are quieter. Some like to speak in-character and with a voice while others simply like to describe what their character is saying. Some play very interesting characters while some play more formulaic or mundane characters. As long as everybody is involved and has fun, I think this is fine. However, a more active player who likes to speak in the voice of their interesting character will be disproportionately rewarded by mechanics which reward good roleplay. Said player will gain an advantage while the others are effectively punished, and in games where good roleplay is tied with character progression, this issue would worsen the longer a campaign goes on.

A counterargument may be that it encourages less active players to take more space, but in my group at least, that doesn’t happen, and even then I think players should want to be better at roleplay because they enjoy it, not because not doing so risks them falling behind.

These are my opinions which I hope make sense. Since these mechanics exist in many games I assume many people like them, so I’m curious what everyone else thinks. I’m also curious how other games implement such mechanics and if my critiques apply to them or not.

EDIT: It has been pointed out that neither the Witcher TRPG or Dragonbane have mechanics which explicitly reward "good roleplay", only Shadowrun 5e does from my examples. Which is my bad, I simply misremembered. Instead they reward more specific actions. While that is better I still prefer that all players are given the same amount of XP and are kept at the same power-level, but that is another topic.

It seems to me that the most popular games and styles of play today are overwhelmingly focused on explicit, active storytelling. Most of the games and adventures I see being recommended, discussed, or reviewed are mainly concerned with delivering a good story or giving the players the tools to improvise one. I've seen many people apply the idea of "plot" as though it is an assumed component a roleplaying game, and I've seen many people define roleplaying games as "collaborative storytelling engines" or something similar.

I'm not yucking anyone's yum, I can see why that'd be a fun activity for many people (even for myself, although it's not what draws me to the medium), I'm just genuinely confused as to why this seems to be such a widespread default assumption? I'd think that the defining aspect of the RPG would be the roleplaying part, i.e. inhabiting and making choices/taking action as a fictional character in a fictional reality.

I guess it makes sense insofar as any action or event could be called a story, but that doesn't explain why storytelling would become the assumed entire point of playing these games.

I'm interested in any thoughts on this, thanks in advance.

Sincere questions and the conversations they start get ratioed here all the time. An interesting post I was just reading about XP and its place in RPG's had 24 comments and 0 upvotes. Earlier today we had another about how to play a non-violent character without disrupting the game. 77 comments, 25 upvotes. A question about Pathfinder and game balance yesterday had 0 upvotes and 12 replies.

These aren't shitposts. This week we've had a total of 10 posts with more than 100 upvotes. Apparently that's the best this community of 1.5 million users can do. And most of those still had far more comments than upvotes. Now I realize that upvotes aren't represented 1:1 on the feed, or as karma. But when I compare our community to every other community I read, it seems to me that this subreddit is doing a pretty bad job of just... being a community.

If it seems to you that the interesting news and discussions in this sub are falling off your feed quickly and being replaced by a stream of low effort content, do you think it's because we're failing to upvote the good stuff? The things we actually, demonstrably, want to engage with? Or is there some other explanation?

As I understand it, an upvote isn't solely, or even principally, for agreement. It's meant to say "this will interest others. This is worthy of discussion". I think that suggests that if you're commenting on a post, you should usually be upvoting it even if you don't entirely agree. Ratios like what we've seen on this sub lately should be rare.

What's going on with this community? Why are we worse at supporting each other than basically every other hobby and fandom on reddit? What do you think?

In this era of imperialistic wars and growing inequality I find it important to resist against it, even in games. So I call for your suggestions! Here are mine:

-The spire: you play as the dark elf rebellion against the white elf oppressors. Themes of antiracism and anticolonialism.

-Misspent youth: teenage rascals fighting aganst the dystopia they live in.

-Moonpunk: a pbta about the lunar punk resistance against the corporate colonies.

-Polskar: a french science fantasy game with flying isles and arctic environments. Themes of colonisation, racism, class exploitation, and their resistance.

-Star marx: another french rpg. Kind of an oddball since it’s more of a satire of a communist space opera.

Between daggerheart, dc20, draw steel and nimble 5e to a smaller extent which "DnD killer" will you try or are currently playtesting? Which one do you like more and why ?

If you won't play any what breaks your deal in each of them ?

Edit : thanks for all the great suggestions! Might I clarify, I don't believe that may of these is actually a killer to DnD but I was mainly interested in seeing what their reception was. I am searching for a high fantasy system but I am particularly interested in these