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Table Top RPGs (TTRPGs)

 Tabletop Role Playing Games, also known as TTRPGs or pen-and-paper role-playing games, have been around since the 1960s. In these games, players create and role-play characters in a story that develops overtime. Usually, one person oversees the game and helps tell the story, apply the rules, and act on behalf of the game for the other players. This person is commonly referred to as the "Game Master"(GM) or "Dungeon Master "(DM). These games can last from a couple of hours to years and stretch across many genres.

 Despite not being the first TTRPG, "Dungeons & Dragons", really took TTRPGs by storm. So much so, that "Dungeons & Dragons" can be thought as the only TTRPG. This is not so! There are many different TTRPGs  that are run by different rules, systems and themes. 

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Here are 10 popular TTRPGs:

  1. Dungeons & Dragons (D&D): D&D has been the dominant TTRPG system for decades. The 5th edition, released in 2014, had a massive player base and was known for its accessibility and flexibility.
  2. Pathfinder: Developed as a spiritual successor to D&D 3.5 Edition, Pathfinder became immensely popular, offering a robust system and a richly detailed campaign setting.
  3. Call of Cthulhu: Known for its Lovecraftian horror themes, Call of Cthulhu has a dedicated fanbase. It uses the Basic Role-Playing (BRP) system.
  4. Shadowrun: Mixing cyberpunk and fantasy elements, Shadowrun has a strong following, especially among players who enjoy diverse settings and character options.
  5. World of Darkness: This umbrella term encompasses various TTRPGs like Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse. It's known for its immersive storytelling and complex supernatural worlds.
  6. Starfinder: Paizo's science fiction TTRPG, set in the same universe as Pathfinder, gained popularity for its space-faring adventures.
  7. Cyberpunk 2020: With the anticipation of the video game adaptation Cyberpunk 2077, interest in this TTRPG system surged, especially among fans of the cyberpunk genre.
  8. The Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) System: This system, popularized by games like "Apocalypse World," "Dungeon World," and "Monsterhearts," offers narrative-driven gameplay and has inspired many indie TTRPGs.
  9. Savage Worlds: Known for its fast-paced, cinematic style of play, Savage Worlds became a go-to system for various settings and genres.
  10. Fate: The Fate system is known for its narrative focus and adaptability to different genres, making it popular for indie and homebrew games.
Here are 6 examples of how these TTRPGs are played and the systems that are used to show the similarities and differences:
    
    1. Dungeons & Dragons (D&D):
    • System: D&D uses a d20 system, where a 20-sided die (a "d20") is central to resolving most actions.
  • Character Creation: Players create characters with unique attributes, classes (e.g., wizard, warrior), and races (e.g., elf, dwarf).
  • Gameplay: Players describe their character's actions, and the Dungeon Master (DM) determines outcomes based on dice rolls. Combat, spellcasting, and skill checks rely on d20 rolls.
  • Narrative: D&D emphasizes storytelling and character development within a high-fantasy setting. Players navigate adventures, complete quests, and interact with a fictional world created by the DM.
    2. Pathfinder:
  • System: Pathfinder uses a modified version of the D&D 3.5 Edition rules.
  • Character Creation: Similar to D&D, Pathfinder allows extensive character customization with classes, races, and feats.
  • Gameplay: It employs the d20 system, where players roll a d20 for most actions. Combat is tactical, with a grid for positioning.
  • Narrative: Pathfinder offers a richly detailed campaign setting known as Golarion, and players explore this world while facing various challenges and foes.
    3. Call of Cthulhu:
  • System: Call of Cthulhu uses the Basic Role-Playing (BRP) system, which involves percentile dice (d100).
  • Character Creation: Characters have attributes like Strength and Intelligence, along with skills and occupations.
  • Gameplay: Success and failure are determined by rolling d100, with higher skill levels improving chances. It's known for its sanity mechanic, as characters may encounter cosmic horrors.
  • Narrative: Call of Cthulhu is steeped in Lovecraftian horror, where investigators uncover dark mysteries while trying to maintain their sanity.
    4. Shadowrun:
  • System: Shadowrun combines a dice pool system with six-sided dice (d6).
  • Character Creation: Players create characters with diverse skills, attributes, and races, including humans, elves, and trolls.
  • Gameplay: Shadowrun melds cyberpunk and fantasy elements. Dice pools represent skill levels, and players roll for successes.
  • Narrative: The game is set in a dystopian future where characters take on jobs that blend hacking, magic, and combat.
    5. Starfinder:
  • System: Starfinder is based on the Pathfinder system, modified for science fiction settings.
  • Character Creation: Players create futuristic characters with classes like spacefarers, mechanics, and mystics.
  • Gameplay: Similar to Pathfinder, but adapted for spacefaring adventures. The d20 system remains central to resolving actions.
  • Narrative: Starfinder explores a galaxy filled with alien species, starships, and interstellar mysteries.
    6. Fate:
  • System: Fate uses a system based on Fudge dice, which are six-sided dice with plus, minus, and blank sides.
  • Character Creation: Players define characters with aspects, skills, and stunts.
  • Gameplay: Fate focuses on collaborative storytelling. Players use dice to determine outcomes, emphasizing character aspects and narrative choices.
  • Narrative: Fate is known for its narrative-driven play, where players actively contribute to shaping the story and character development.

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