Hey everyone! I’m fresh into the world of tabletop RPGs and I’m working on a new game called “Apothecaria,” which doesn’t involve combat at all. However, I’m interested in adding a combat system to it. Are there any standalone combat system resources—like books or PDFs—that you could recommend? Ideally, I’m looking for something that fits a medieval theme and has enough depth to be engaging, but isn’t overly complicated. I’d appreciate any suggestions you have for resources I could check out!
6 Answers
If you really want combat, take a look at Ironsworn. It’s designed for solo play, and the content is free! While the combat system isn’t super complex, it blends well with the storytelling aspect of Apothecaria.
Just a heads up—if you’re new to gaming, it might be better to get comfortable with Apothecaria before trying to hack in a combat system. Get a feel for the game first!
For a simpler system, you might want to check out Melee from Steve Jackson Games. It’s free to download, and it offers a very straightforward combat experience.
You might want to consider systems like Fate, Cortex Prime, or Forged in the Dark. They don’t focus heavily on combat but provide interesting ways to resolve conflicts without needing a strict combat system.
Yeah, those systems are great for narrative-driven games! They can really help maintain the flow without complicating things.
I suggest using basic skill checks for combat instead of a full system. Since you’re new, relying on Apothecaria’s rules might be a smoother introduction before adding complexity. If you want something more involved, consider stealing concepts from Blades in the Dark and using clocks for combat resolution.
Have you tried ‘His Majesty the Worm’? It’s not free, but the combat mechanics are pretty neat! Plus, you could adapt its card mechanics to fit your poker deck.
That sounds interesting! I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!
Yeah, Melee is a classic! It’s great for quick gameplay when you don’t want to dive into complicated rules.