Hey everyone! I’ve been diving deep into various combat systems from different TTRPGs for a personal project, and I’m looking for something that aligns with some specific criteria. I know that not every game will hit all the points, but if you can suggest any systems that cover multiple aspects or do something particularly interesting, I’d greatly appreciate it! Here’s what I’m looking for: 1. **Measured Progression Toward an Alternate Goal**: I want combat to feel meaningful beyond just hit points—like aiming for emotional breakthroughs or philosophical shifts. I’m looking for systems that have clear mechanics to track this kind of progress. 2. **Good for 1v1**: I want to find rules that support duel situations, but also work for larger groups. 3. **Dynamic Combat**: I’m interested in systems that change things up often. I want to avoid the repetitive “I attack” and instead encourage strategic plays that create advantages or disadvantages. 4. **Builds to a Climax**: Combat should lead to a significant moment rather than just grinding through attrition. I’m thinking something akin to a dramatic “limit break”. 5. **Dialogue Matters**: I love fights where characters exchange emotionally charged words during combat. I’m looking for systems that make this kind of dialogue important to the mechanics. 6. **Streamlined Options**: Ideally, the rules should be easy to learn but offer distinct options during combat. If you have any recommendations or insights, I’d love to hear them!
4 Answers
I’m a bit confused by your take on PbtA games. While they focus more on storytelling than tactical mechanics, they definitely have ways to track success during combat, like harm or HP. Are you looking for something more tactical, like D&D?
Have you checked out Starforged? It covers a lot of the points you’re interested in, especially with its focus on narrative progression beyond just combat mechanics.
I haven’t looked into it yet! What aspects do you feel it handles well? I’d love to get your take on it before diving in.
Regarding the Progress Clocks in FitD games, they’re pretty strict about tracking progress based on your rolls. It sounds like you might be framing it differently, wanting specific guidelines on how to fill those clocks rather than open-ended approaches. Is that right?
Exactly! I enjoy the creativity in FitD games, but I’m looking for more concrete methods for progressing those clocks, not just letting creativity fly. That’s why D&D’s approach with clear actions for damage could be a useful comparison.
You should look into Fantasy Flight’s Legend of the Five Rings. Its social combat aspects could offer interesting mechanics that align with what you’re searching for, especially in terms of conflict resolution.
I know about the previous edition’s social combat, but does the new version have anything unique that hits on the points I’m interested in?
Yes, that’s right. I mentioned PbtA for their alternate goals, but traditional mechanics like HP often overshadow the narrative conflict, which is what I want to avoid. I’m really after something that emphasizes that story-driven combat even more.