‘Vampire the Masquerade’: Check out non ‘D&D’ tabletop RPGs
As we anticipate whenever the sixth edition of Dungeons & Dragons will come out, some are getting sick of the classic system of D&D. Other tabletop roleplaying games (or TRPGs) deserve love too, after all! Perhaps there are other projects worth picking up aside from Wizards of the Coast’s creation?
Well, if you’re tired of Dungeons & Dragons, here are just a few of many tabletop roleplaying games for you to sink your teeth into.
Let’s start with Vampire: The Masquerade.
What would this list be without its title entry? Vampire: The Masquerade is a TRPG first released in 1991, published by White Wolf. You play as (who else?) a vampire, and fight various enemies along with your inner demons. Meet various clans, master different disciplines, and find out how to survive in such a heartless world.
Vampire: The Masquerade spawned a franchise full of spinoffs, with the most famous being Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines, a 2004 computer RPG that is considered one of the best video games of all time. A sequel is finally in development after all these years, and fans cannot wait to get their hands on it.
If you want a spicy horror monster experience, definitely check this one out. But let’s talk about one of the games that inspired Vampire: The Masquerade. . .
Still in a Spooky Mood? Try Call of Cthulhu!
Call of Cthulhu (also called CoC) is a TRPG that came out in 1981. It is based on the various fictional horrors of H.P. Lovecraft’s stories, and it is set in a dark world infested by monsters who can take your sanity from you. Can you peel back the curtain and observe terrors beyond our dimension, while keeping your mind intact in the process? Go find out, if you dare. . .
Like Vampire: The Masquerade, this game also had several video games based on it, funny enough. Perhaps the most well-known one is the game also called Call of Cthulhu, which came out in late 2018. There are even board games based on the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game, such as Arkham Horror.
You play as an ordinary person here, and the mystery element is very compelling. If that’s your cup of tea, consider introducing Call Of Cthulhu to your playgroup.
Okay, maybe all of this talk of vampires & madness has put us in a darker mood. So let’s brighten things up by talking about the uplifting tabletop roleplaying game Overlight!
Want something brighter? Check out Overlight!
In this “kaleidoscopic fantasy”, a radiant force called the “Overlight” gives hope after the world itself collapsed, leaving seven continents hanging in the sky.
There are various fantasy races here along with humans, and within those groups are the “Skyborn”. “Skyborn” people are born with glowing eyes, and though they’re seen as outcasts, they can naturally channel the “Overlight”, using it to power abilities called “Chroma”. This is where your story begins – how will you use your powers and face the world around you?
Overlight plays a little differently compared to most other TRPGs, and it could take some getting used to . Luckily, the YouTube channel Geek & Sundry made several videos on the game if you get confused, so don’t be afraid to look at their resources! So if you want a game on the sweeter side, not as dark as Vampire: The Masquerade, definitely check this one out.
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And there you have it. Three different tabletop roleplaying games for us to try! Go get their rulebooks and dive in with your friends.
What are your thoughts on tabletop roleplaying games that aren’t Dungeons & Dragons? Do you have a favorite that wasn’t mentioned in the article? Let us know!
