What is a good ruleset for a table that absolutely refuses to read more than an index card of rules but will follow the lead of the referee? Freeform, story-forward, ages 14 to 65? Swords and magic.
Unrelated, what do you think about the various versions of Traveller?
Oh, you need Fate Accelerated. Six stats, five descriptive phrases that define your character (one of which is your character’s “trouble,” giving the GM automatic story hooks) and a smattering of stunts your character can perform, and off you go!
Regarding Traveller, I’ve never had the stomach for it. Me and a group once sat down to create characters, and discovered it was so rules-heavy that by the end of two sessions dedicated to character creation, we still didn’t know for sure that we’d done any of the characters correctly.
My pleasure! And if you’re being the GM, remember to keep track of the character trouble for each character. It’s basically a built-in way to make everything personal for the characters, as well as a mechanic to offer them extra fate points in return for invoking the trouble.
My favorite example is this: Imagine you’ve got Indiana Jones as a player character in your game. His trouble would be, “Snakes… Why’d it have to be snakes?” He gets a fate point when you invoke it (if he accepts), but in return, it guarantees that he’s falling into a pit of snakes. Instant drama!
What is a good ruleset for a table that absolutely refuses to read more than an index card of rules but will follow the lead of the referee? Freeform, story-forward, ages 14 to 65? Swords and magic.
Unrelated, what do you think about the various versions of Traveller?
Oh, you need Fate Accelerated. Six stats, five descriptive phrases that define your character (one of which is your character’s “trouble,” giving the GM automatic story hooks) and a smattering of stunts your character can perform, and off you go!
Regarding Traveller, I’ve never had the stomach for it. Me and a group once sat down to create characters, and discovered it was so rules-heavy that by the end of two sessions dedicated to character creation, we still didn’t know for sure that we’d done any of the characters correctly.
You are absolutely correct about FA. I’m reconfiguring my planned next campaign around it. Thank you so much!
My pleasure! And if you’re being the GM, remember to keep track of the character trouble for each character. It’s basically a built-in way to make everything personal for the characters, as well as a mechanic to offer them extra fate points in return for invoking the trouble.
My favorite example is this: Imagine you’ve got Indiana Jones as a player character in your game. His trouble would be, “Snakes… Why’d it have to be snakes?” He gets a fate point when you invoke it (if he accepts), but in return, it guarantees that he’s falling into a pit of snakes. Instant drama!