These are good times to be a TTRPG gamer. The growing popularity of D&D has been responsible for increased production of D&D products, celebrities playing on livestream, and even an upcoming live action movie. Best of all, popular culture’s interest in D&D has drawn a whole new generation of gamers to TTRPGs as a result. For many gamers recently drawn to the hobby, D&D is synonymous with TTRPGs. This assessment is not unwarranted. After all, D&D is the original TTRPG and remains relevant after nearly fifty years and is likely to remain a staple of the hobby for years to come.
One reason for D&D’s continued success is due to the d20 system that serves as the game’s ruleset. While the mechanics of the d20 system are relatively accessible, the reason for the system’s popularity is that the 3e and 5e ruleset (the most popular editions of D&D) fall under the provisions of the Open Game License (OGL). The OGL is a public copyright license which grants third party publishers permission to use the game mechanics of the d20 system in their games. As a result, a number of TTRPGs have been published under the OGL and the d20 system has become something of an industry standard. The ubiquity of the d20 system combined with the brand recognition of the classic TTRPG ensure that D&D enjoys continued interest and popularity.
Beyond the d20 System
While there will always be space on my bookshelf for the current edition of D&D, it is not the only game in town (so to speak). There are plenty of great games out there and many of them feature proprietary systems of game mechanics. Alternatives to the d20 system are worth looking into, because while each system has advantages and disadvantages, some systems are better suited to a particular style of gameplay or for telling certain kinds of stories. For example, if your group is really into combat-oriented dungeon crawling, you may want to use the d20 system. On the other hand, if you are running a murder mystery game where the focus is on social interaction and subterfuge, you may want to use a game system tailored to this style of play. Familiarity with multiple game systems can be a tremendous asset to any GM and can help take your game to the next level.
Crunch vs. Fluff
Game mechanics in TTRPGs are abstractions meant to capture salient aspects of our experience of the world in a way that furthers the development of the narrative that your group is creating. As such, it is important to remember that the more closely a system attempts to model reality, the crunchier (rules-heavy) it will be. It is also important to keep in mind that not all stories require an accurate portrayal of reality to be entertaining. If you are running a space opera game (like Star Wars), then you probably don’t need to worry about incorporating rules that reflect the rigors of space travel. You can lean into the fluffier (narrative) aspects of the game. On the other hand, if you’re running a hard sci-fi game, you may want to employ a ruleset that accounts for the harsh reality of travel through an inhospitable void filled with deadly hazards and limited essential resources like water and atmosphere. It really depends on the game. The takeaway here is that the mechanical systems you employ in your game should always serve the needs of the story.
Because different stories require varying degrees of crunch and fluff, it’s a good idea to have a small handful of systems at your disposal that range from super crunchy to super fluffy. Crunchier systems have the advantage of consistency in that there are few scenarios that are unaccounted for by the rules. This lends predictability to the game because the GM can reference the ruleset to resolve situations rather than make an arbitrary ruling. The disadvantage of crunchy systems is that they tend to be somewhat cumbersome, as there are a lot of rules to keep track of (and often must be referenced in the middle of a session) and combat tends to be time-consuming. Fluffier systems tend to be more freeform and rules-lite. This keeps the game moving at a brisk pace and keeps the group focused on the story. The main drawback to fluffy systems is that they require the GM to be skilled at improvising and making on-the-spot rulings to resolve situations. Unless the GM has really good memory, it is likely that a ruling will be inconsistent with previous rulings.
Most groups will opt for a ruleset that offers a good balance between crunch and fluff. Ultimately, it is up to the GM and players to decide what system is right for their game. In the interest of providing options to TTRPG groups, over the next few weeks I will be examining four of the most popular TTRPG systems on the market. These systems include crunchy systems roughly on par with the level of complexity of the d20 system, to rules-lite systems that are heavily focused on narrative development and collaborative storytelling. I will provide an overview of the system’s game mechanics and offer suggestions about how a given system might best be employed in your game. Stay tuned!