So What Are Your Favorite Games?

The question  no one asked of course.

My favorites as of 2015 are GURPS and  Eden Studios Unisystem (Cinematic and Classic) with the runner up being my favorite D20 version, True 20

My  favorite OSR game is Beyond the Wall. 

This seems like an odd choice but for the most part it focuses in aspects of gaming I like a lot and think are under served a bit. Its not weird but it is fantasy and I like it well enough to playtest for it. Its rock solid .

 To tell you the truth I don't think any OSR games them are bad really and given they came from good root stock, all of them are pretty decent.

Other than Beyond the Wall, in that vein   I think I'd most like to play Castles and Crusades which isn't exactly OSR but a close cousin,

Games that have been a lot of fun to play but aren't favorites any more include AD&D 2nd edition and Rolemaster both classic and standard system . I spent a lot of hours with AD&D 2 most of them good and Rolemaster just attracted great players and for some reason kept the gaming dregs at bay.

One outlier was the underrated Alternity . I only played this once in a pick up game but it seemed to flow really well and had I more time with it, I think it could easily have been my SF game of choice.

I also quite like Sorcerer by Ron Edwards (its narrative but not so narrative I can't figure out why it would be fun) and S.John Ross's RISUS which is top notch for fun and silly games and better than you think for serious play too.

lastly and moving fats  up the charts also is D&D 5e. Its really, really  good.

I'f I ha to choose one game?

GURPS. At one point before I discovered Unisystem it was my "one game" and going back wouldn't break my heart though I'd miss the others.

So there  you have it, a hodgepodge of games I like

How about you?

JAGS Another Under Appreciated Free Game

JAGS

This system used to be better know but since its been moribund a while I think folks should hear  a few words about it.

The creator Marco calls this Just Another Game System and while the name has a waggish sense of humor about it, its really not.

This is a generic system with easy to learn rules, several interesting setting including the amazing JAGS Wonderland Setting. I won't spoil it for you but its simply the most unique  RPG take on that classic on the market.

I'd describe it as a bit like GURPS but less complex. Not hard to learn and character creation is pretty simple.

It also has one of my favorite "toolkit" products Fast Company which is a solid coherent framework that lets you play action movie heroes ranging like  The Watchmen, Kick-Ass, Remo Williams, Max Payne Rambo, Bat Man, John McClane and more . That tool kit even has its own setting The Fall of New York which is fun and likable

The games blog is here  

The game can be had for free here

I highly recommend  it

Gods and Monsters RPG a Cool and Free Retro-Clone You've Probably Never Heard Of

Gods and Monsters. is a  unique game somewhere between modern, retro and rebuild with a  smattering of later editions thrown in.

I haven't had a chance to play it but its has a lot of novel and interesting features and quite a bit of support. You can even get a print copy on Lulu is so inclined.

I think it deserves as look and you can check it out  here.

Four Free Games You've Probably Never Heard Of

These games are absolutely free and legal  to download and  all come highly recommended.

#1 Danse Macabre

This is Dark Medieval Europe, magical. lyrical and well thought out. It covers some of the same ground as Ars  Magica but is far more approachable and more historical without losing its sense of magic and wonder.

#2 Wayfarers Song

Norse Fantasy with one of the coolest magic systems I've seen. Its similar to Danse Macabre  mechanically which aid learning but is a distinct system of its own.

Both of these can be had at Mythopoetic Games along with a few others I haven't tried.


#3 Lost Souls.

This was a fully supported, published game of playing a ghost. I think its far better and more interesting than Wraith which less backstabbing, less angst and more hope

#4 Legendary Lives

A late 80's early 90's Fantasy game  with lots of adventures for it. another published games given generously for free. Its very fae focused, a tiny bit twee but not enough to be distracting. Both these systems use a similar mechanic too so the learning curve is low.

These two can be had at Haunted Attic Games 

So I'm looking at Retro-Clones again

I know, I know I said that mine as killed in favor of 5e but I just can't help myself.

My current interest seems to be focused around  a mutated hybrid  of Castles and Crusades  mixed with bits of Swords and Witchery and seasoned with Adventurer Conqueror King,  Basic Fantasy and Beyond the Wall.

I'll let y'all know if anything comes of it.  

Blog Roll Update

I dropped  any  blogs that haven't been updated for 3 or more months like Cyclopetron and Dreams of Mystic Fantasy and added the Troll Dens instead

I've taken a liking to Castle and Crusades and the promo blog there is relaxing and fun. Hope you enjoy it too.

Gaming,what we end up really doing