Thread by @Shinto_Nephilim

#ttrpg #ttrpgredlist
For us, a good RPG is one that allows you to explore the setting, in any way you wish, and support you in that goal. The mechanics should be able to support this desire, and the characters you want to make within the confines of the setting.

If the game doesn't have a setting, it needs to support the players (and game master) in the genre of the game - a fantasy RPG supports playing in a fantasy world, a cyberpunk RPG supports playing in a cyberpunk world.

And we believe, a good RPG needs to be able to provide the group options. For example, a cyberpunk game should provide support for street level, corporate, military, gang, media, entertainment, or sport-star characters. (Cyberpunk 2020, and Shadowrun, are excellent for this).

A fantasy game should allow you to explore any walk of life there. A cabal of mages? Sure. A thief's guild? Okay. Nobles watching over their domain? Cool. Courtiers trying to win influence for their family? Yes.

And style is important.
If a group wants to go out and gun down gangsters in the alleys, a cyberpunk game should support that. But if they want to be a news team covering events, that should be just as viable. Or an emergency medical team.

If a group wants to explore dungeons, awesome. But if they want to be spymasters for the crown, sure thing. Or perhaps scholars at a magical university trying to unlock arcane secrets while avoiding the plots of their rivals.

You can play Shadowrun and never go on an actual Shadowrun, and the game says 'sure thing'. You can play Legend of the Five Rings (1e/2e) and not have to be nobility (samurai) or spellcasters. Want to play common folk? Go ahead. Merchants? Sure.

It's not *expected*, but it's *supported*. And class-based games aren't necessarily restricted. If you look at 1e Pathfinder, there was a lot of wriggle room for the kind of shenanigans characters could get into.

A lot of it was still combat-focussed, but it also was able to support colouring outside the lines. Want to make a complete pacifist and not go adventuring? Sure. It isn't easy, but it can be done.

Really, TTRPGs should, by this time, have evolved beyond 'here's the engine, designed for this narrow focus, and if you go beyond that we can't help you'. Beyond, 'you need to play the game this way'.

Want to play a cleric who doesn't use healing magic because they worship the goddess of pain - and the belief is pain brings spiritual growth? Cool.

A rogue who's got no skill in "climbing walls" or "hiding in shadows" or backstabbing people, or "dealing with traps" but is god-tier at reading people, doing sleight of hand, and being the 'face' of the group?

Perhaps a wizard who doesn't do spells specifically, but channels their magical energy into summoning creatures - instead, they sacrifice potential spell ability into buffing themselves with magic (Mystic of Nog, 2e AD&D).

And why not? The world out there is more than dungeon delving, exploring ruins, and fighting monsters. It's an actual *world*, isn't it? How does society function? Why can't PCs be a part of that?

Want to play a group who looks after their town and helps make it thrive? Awesome. Look after the crops, try to deal with gangs trying to move in, or make deals with the thief's guild, or deal with an overzealous church. Cool.

Or, flip it the other way.
What if you want to be part of an army, wiping out whole units with a single swing of your sword, or call down fire that eviscerates entire platoons? Not necessarily at the start - but eventually.

Games which don't go this far aren't necessarily bad. They're just not good. They're ... passable, at best. You can play it, you can have fun, but you're limited in what you can do even though the world itself should be able to accomodate more.

It'd be like playing Shadowrun and being limited to "Mage, Decker, Street Samurai, Rigger" with a restricted set of gear, skills, and spells 100% dedicated to doing Shadowruns.

Or playing a Wild West game. "You can play a Gunslinger, Frontiersman, Shaman, Bandit, or Priest."
Really? What if we want to play an escaped mobster from New York? Or maybe a reporter from the Big City?

Hell, Vampire has more flexibility, and you're usually stuck playing, you know, vampires. Masquerade? You had 13 Clans, numerous bloodlines, at least four Sects, and could be of nearly any status or walk of life.

"Former Police Officer, Ventrue, has Protean and Obfuscate (not Clan powers), and member of the Primongen in good standing." Totally viable as a starting PC.

Just our thought on what makes a good RPG system. Flexibility and supporting players and game masters thinking outside of a niche playstyle.