I'm looking for a simple easy RPG to get into with my dad and (adult) siblings, where we get to move some miniatures around a dungeon on one of those dry erase grid matsWe looked at DnD but the rule book is too thick and dense and I can't get them to read a whole novel of rules just to play. Any suggestions?
>>94418383Get a D&D starter set, it simplifies the rules and teaches you how to play. You'll still have to do a bit of reading before hand but it's easy.
>>94418383Eyes beyond the torchlight: rules-lite enough, has several classes, combat is faster through engagement distances being more abstracted and skills being vague, plus you have few things to roll for (the GM doesn't even have to roll, you say the monster attacks, the PC rolls to defend), easy to prep and has a nice bestiary. All in a booklet.
>>94418383First suggestion, try a significantly earlier edition of D&D. Like anything pre-3rd edition. Second, just direct them to the important rules for their character; reading the whole book cover to cover has hardly been a requirement for any player, and if you're GMing (I assume), you can fill in the niche gaps for whatever weird interaction they might try to invoke.
Start with this. If you want more depth, get one of the dozens of rules-lite OSR books for more classes, items, and/or monsters. Once you want more rules, you can graduate to other systems.
>>94418383Risus
>>94418429Have you ever actually read one of those?Yeah, they're simple but the layout and writing is awful which manages to make even those simple rules obtuse.
>>94418546Fair enough. I'm too used to rules cludge, I suppose.
>>94418383Do you (collectively) actually want a RPG or a dungeon crawl board game? Do you want to paint a load of miniatures or just use perfectly adequate tokens or paper standees for far less money and effort?These are not trick questions with "correct" answers.
>>94418383Just use the 6 DnD attributes. Let them distribute 24 points with 6 being the highest. If they want to do something, pick an attribute add a d20 and if the result is 20 or higher they succeed. If the roll is supposed to be easy give them +5.Give them as many hit points as they have CON x2. Have weapons do 1d4 (small), 1d6 (medium) or 1d8 (two handed) damage. Have armor reduce all damage taken by 1 (leather), 2 (chain) or 3 (plate).They can move as many squares as their DEX stat.Wizards have as many spell points as they have INT.Let them make up their own spells. If it's a damage spell, have it do 1d10.Every level-up they can spend 1 attribute point.There. Done.
>>94418383Only one person (the dm) ever has to read the book and most of the pages are just "how to make a guy" and the spell list. Id reccomend a simpler system, but i dont know any with less complex rulebooks that still focus on dungeon crawling
>>94418649Complete bullshit.It's fine to learn the rules while playing, but if someone wants to play something that requires knowledge of certain rules to not turn the game into a spoonfeeding session, I tell them to read those rules.Don't want to read the magic rules? Don't play a magic guy.
>>94418662>the magic rulesYou have some big and some little charges, and you spend size x charges on size x spells. You probably use 9+mod+prof to cast. Thats really all there is to it, its not rocket science
>>94418383Something like Descent sounds like it might be more up your speed. A board game with light RPG elements and you get to move models around on a grid and get loot.
>>94418383Barbarians of Lemuria
>>94418383WFRP 2e. Barbarians of Lemuria (not a grid game but very easy for newfags).
>>94418383Basic fantasy rpg (BFRPG). It's free, easy to read and learn and there's a lot of free content for it. It's geared towards dungeon exploration too. Just remember to make multiple characters because it's very easy for characters to die.
I'm partial to the "Advanced Fighting Fantasy" RPG based on the solo gamebooks.Isn't Pathfinder supposed to be the bullshit-free D&D?I never hear anyone talk about the post-TSR Gygax systems here, Dangerous Journeys, Lejendary Adventure, or Castles & Crusades.Despite Lorraine Williams suing him, I assume /tg/ can acquire resources for them?
>>94418383IF you want a dungeon crawl and a really really simple system check out 'Into The Odd'. Brilliant system. Its a bit more medieval fantasy and more Victorian England Esoteric Nonsense but its still cool. It has a unique world. More then half of the book are just adventures.
>>94418383Just play BX D&D. It is simple but very fun
Savage Pathfinder is a great entry point. Lots of material for Pathfinder but without the retarded mechanics.
>>94418383>where we get to move some miniatures around a dungeon on one of those dry erase grid matsIt sounds like you want Gloomhaven, Descent or HeroQuest.
>>94418383Try looking at Dungeon Crawl Classics. It's simple but not extremely so. Just prepare yourself for the gigantic amount of spells in it, which are only like that because there are tons of random effects to take into account thus inflating the amount of pages spells need.
>>94420839If he's not willing to read D&D then there's no way he will read DCC. The book is about five times bigger in size. I know he doesn't have to read it all but it's still intimidating for newcomers.
>>94420839The retarded proprietary goofball dice are retarded for beginners and quite honestly everyone else too. Holds the system back so much. So stupid. What were they thinking.
>>94418383use Dungeon World with some module or homebrew for gridsD&D is awful for newcomers
>>94419304Pathfinder's more the "consistent with it's goals" DND than the "no bullshit" DND. Martials are actually good at going toe to toe with enemies, spell casters are good at shaping the battlefield and beguiling their foes, and you don't really need to have some ridiculous combination of spells and subclasses to play "a guy who's like Conan the Barbarian". But it's pretty crunchy, and there are literally elaborate, detailed mechanics for things like being able to hear an enemy but not see them.
>>94418383I used to play Hero Quest a lot as a kid.
>>94418383With that art?Barbarians of Lemuria
>>94418383The red box D&D Basic Set from 1983. It's two short books and has an inbuilt choose your own adventure style section to teach you the basics of the dungeon crawl you're describing. Fewer complications and many fewer pages than current edition DND even though the core concepts are very similar.
>>94420970>Dungeon World with grids jfc do not do this.
>>94418383Just play a dungeon crawler board game like Hero Quest. It'll be about the same effort as boding together something but already sorted for you. It's barely an rpg but it'll do what you want and you can expand on that after.
>>94418383Use a dungeon crawler boardgame like Hero Quest or Dungeon. Only start with an actual RPG if you know your friends and family are storyfags.
