Advice for running multiple RPGs


Gamer Life General Discussion


Hello forum peoples,

I have a generic question not system specific. I GM a 5E DnD game for a couple friends and have recently gained an interest in two other RPG systems (The One Ring and Ryuutama for the curious).

Previously I've only ever played a single RPG at a time and I'm concerned about splitting time between two systems. I don't want my players (or myself) to get confused with rules and such.

I'm sure plenty of you play several different RPGs, and I was wondering if anyone had any advice or experiences to share. Did it ruin one of the games for you? Did it generate greater interest because of the variety?

Good, bad or indifferent I'd love to hear your opinion/suggestions.

Thanks in advance!


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In the beginning, back when I was still very young, I ran simultaneous games of AD&D, Traveller, and T&T. We usually didn't have any rules problems (and mostly it was with all the same players) - and things went well.

In fact that was how I came to tie in my fantasy world with my sci-fi universe (in my imagination, and in my sketch books and note books I had created these settings long before I ever started playing any role playing games).


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I've never run multiple games at the same time. I've played various different games at the same time or in quick succession without trouble.

I suspect it actually helps if they're very different systems. 5E & The One Ring are very different. It sounds like Ryuutama is as well, though I don't know much about it. There's less rules overlap and thus less likelihood of confusing rules from one to another.


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I've experienced exactly one player who said he didn't want to play more than one game at a time for reasons of differing rules. He is probably the most mechanically unsure person I've ever seen and still has (minor) trouble with 3.5 more than 10 years after we switched to it from 2e.
Everyone else has had no trouble whatsoever and I know plenty of people, myself and most of my players included, that play in various different games and systems at the same time without trouble. Having different systems, different settings, different groups and different approaches to a game means you can try and enjoy more games and stories, not that you lessen the enjoyment of the one you started with.

The only probable stumbling block I can see is if you don't have enough time to play the games all that often so you forget the different systems between sessions. If time is an issue you might have to just run shorter campaigns and have them go one at a time. If you can only play twice a month, spend that on one game rather than waiting 1 1/2 month between each session of a particular game.

Dark Archive

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In the past I have run multiple varying rules systems for different groups - and once the players grasp the new system (from whatever core game system they are used to) it usually isn't a problem. Primarily because the systems themselves were very different from each other but also because the system were also genre specific - AD&D or 3/X vs. Chill 2nd edition (Horror) vs. Gamma World (Post Apocalyptic/sci fi/fantasy).

It helped to generate interest in other games and also offered options if a few players wanted to change up systems due to burnout. So it helps to have other options in rotation than just 3/X based games (which I am PERMANENTLY burned out on).

I don't run different systems simultaneously for same reason I am guessing Terquem doesn't - I'm older and time to game isn't what it used to be.

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For me the problem wasn't the varying systems or confusion it may cause for either me or my players, for me the issue was content. I write all my own modules for the most part so it's difficult to run a Gamma World game - with a module I wrote, while then planning to switch to a Chill game (Horror) in a few months with a module I have yet to write. On top of the sheer volume of writing I need to do - it seems harder for me to shift gears on the creative side. Running two or three different systems at the same time isn't the problem, writing though - being creative - is tough. I have to be in a Chill mood/mindset to write a Chill scenario, same with any of my games.

A good fallback for me (if I need a break) is AD&D - because there is a wealth of good gaming content in there. So I can focus on writing other content while running a published AD&D scenario or module and not getting too caught up in the system or creative demands of that system.

Having a few different systems available has never been a negative for me or my group - it just gave us more options and the exposure to varied systems has made me a better GM and helped my players get a better grasp of game design, theory and goal.


Thank you all for the advice.

Time is a bit of an issue, my group is all 40+ in age and we only meet once a week, and I consider us very lucky to be able to do so! I know many groups struggle to get regular sessions going.

I think for me as GM the different systems would keep it fresh, but I'm not sure my players would enjoy it. I'll talk to them about it and see how they feel. Hearing your opinions has helped.

I feel like my GM skills have gotten better over the years, but there's still a lot of room for improvement. I think trying a few different systems would be a nice way to stretch my skills a bit and grow.

RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32

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I run just about everything for my gaming group, and I'm ALSO running a second Pathfinder game for a mostly different group on alternate weeks. Remembering rules are never really a problem.

My advice is to watch out that YOU don't get burned out on running games. Don't over extend yourself.

If your group is OK with short campaigns, play one system, end that campaign, then try a new game system. If you play four games and alternate game systems every week, that means they're playing Pathfinder once a month. Same with all the other systems. It's REALLY hard to keep a campaign story in mind when you have that little engagement with it. Try to play memorable story chapters before switching games.


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I currently play in:

Epyllion (Powered by the Apocalypse rules or PbtA)
Monster of the Week (PbtA)
D&D 5E (2 different campaigns)
13th Age
Star Wars (Fantasy Flight)
Pillar of Fire (it's super early in development, rules change drastically every session)

I run:

Pathfinder (currently on hiatus until next year)
D&D 5E
Dark (one-shots only)
Mythender (one-shots only)
Blades in the Dark (okay, I stopped running for now, but one-shots again)

I think for me, because I switch so much, I don't have a problem with it. I've never had an issue differentiating rules. I know some people who do though.

The one thing I do recommend is making the games feel as different as possible. Give them a different tone, make one gritty, while the other is more fantasical and the third more action packed. This helps people switch from one game other other, plus helps each game feel like it holds a different place to make it worthwhile.


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Not that I'm a video gamer, but if you can understand the different rule systems for the different games like WOW and SkyRym(sp) then there shouldn't be an issue for new players who are used to video games who want to play multiple different table top games.


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In general, i'll say you should be okay adding a second game system if you and your players are proficient in your current one. Meaning that the current one is fairly relaxed and easy to reference without a lot of manual searching in general practice.


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I found it difficult to run more than one game. The players were the same but the amount of time I needed for preparing the games wasn't enough. Each person favored one game over the other and of coarse they conflicted with one another. I stick to one game now, play it for a few years, then switch to another game, I rotate my favorite games.


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EileenProphetofIstus wrote:
I found it difficult to run more than one game. The players were the same but the amount of time I needed for preparing the games wasn't enough. Each person favored one game over the other and of coarse they conflicted with one another. I stick to one game now, play it for a few years, then switch to another game, I rotate my favorite games.

I generally do this one now, but back in my college days, i'd have games like...shadowrun on saturdays, earthdawn on tuesdays, D&D sundays, and HERO system any other day of the week i could have people available.

hrm, maybe this is part of why i didn't get that 4.0 GPA.


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Blue_Drake wrote:

Time is a bit of an issue, my group is all 40+ in age and we only meet once a week, and I consider us very lucky to be able to do so! I know many groups struggle to get regular sessions going.

I think for me as GM the different systems would keep it fresh, but I'm not sure my players would enjoy it. I'll talk to them about it and see how they feel. Hearing your opinions has helped.

I would suggest to start with two, alternating from week to week, while keeping the third RPG on the back burner. There will be a time where a campaign reaches a conclusion, or the group decides that one game is not as thrilling/interesting/easy enough, then give the third option a try.

I'm in a similar situation and as I'm approaching 40 myself, I have only so much time/energy I can dedicate to RPG. We're currently playing two games and I like that dynamic, but I feel like a third game would dilute the immersion too much.

Also, are you planning on DMing both/all three games?

'findel


Laurefindel wrote:
Also, are you planning on DMing both/all three games?

I would probably end up DMing all the games, not by choice, but neither of my players is interested. It would honestly work out better for me if I could just DM one game and play in a second.

Thank you all for the advice. It sounds like multiple games are working out for most of you. I'll talk to my players and see if they want to try a second game. Trying 3 is probably a really bad idea since I don't even know if two will work.

I appreciate all of you taking the time to share your experiences/suggestions!

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