I'm looking for an easy/beginner fun to play pen and paper RPG for 1GM and +1 Player that uses dice. I want to introduce a friend who has never played a tabletop rpg before. Anyone know of some?
Microlite20 (Free simple D&D/Pathfinder) or Savage Worlds (Testdrive for free)!?!
Ah I haven't heard of Microlite20. I will have to download that.
I didn't know Savage Worlds was playable with 1Gm/1Player!
Many, many times, I have introduced a player to RPGs, one-on-one, with multiple PCs. The lone player might play, say, two PCs, and I, as GM, might play another two characters - "GMPCs" you might call them.
Some people on these boards have questioned that this is a good idea, but I'm telling you, I've done it, successfully, many times.
Many, many times, I have introduced a player to RPGs, one-on-one, with multiple PCs. The lone player might play, say, two PCs, and I, as GM, might play another two characters - "GMPCs" you might call them.
Some people on these boards have questioned that this is a good idea, but I'm telling you, I've done it, successfully, many times.
I forgot I could do that. And with any system really. Good idea!
The key is only introducing simple mechanical concepts and letting a new player focus on the harder abstract concepts of dealing with the fiction. Don't be shy about strong railroading early on, but be honest about it. I sometimes tell new players to not worry about all the rules, but that I will introduce concepts as they become important.
For example:
ME: There's a couple thugs in the alley way. You could try sneaking past, or fast-talking your way past them, but you think it's a good idea to take them out now. Plus, this'll let you see how a short, simple combat works.
Me: Okay, those guys were easy, but up ahead you see a bigger group, it might be better to try to get past without fighting. You've got sneaking and climbing skills you could try (which are good), or you could try disguising yourself (which will be harder). Either way, we'll see how skills work. Which do you want to try?
As they get comfortable with rules, the rails go away.
I'll second Savage Worlds for something like this.
It's well out of print and not a fantasy genre, but there were plenty of solo and dual-play modules for the old DC Heroes game. The mechanics were fairly simple (roll 2d10, look on the chart for success), and the major characters are fairly well known.
I suggest Basic Fantasy rpg (free at basicfantasy.org) which is a modernized version of the old red/blue box D&D sets or Low Fantasy Gaming (free at lowfantasygaming.com) which uses both 5E and old-school mechanics to emulate a dark fantasy setting (think Conan, Game of Thrones, Fafhred and the Grey Mouser).