My Top ttRPG Recommendations! (Patreon)

I was writing about my current recommendations for ttRPGs, and it occurred to me I get asked that fairly often, so:

My first loves are https://paizo.com's babies -- both editions of Pathfinder, and Starfinder. PF1 and Sf are built on a game engine 've been designing for since 1999 (and am NOT done with!), and PF2 is one of the cleanest rpgs, with amazing customization and clear rules designed to handle the fantasy concepts I love in a game format.

After that I have to mention 5e, and 5e evolutions such as Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition (A5E) and Kobold Press's Tales of The Valiant. I'd also suggest looking at Little Red Goblin Games LLC's Gestalt RPG which has some new takes on familiar and classic fantasy ttRPG tropes, and II keep finding more neat little things when i got through their rulebooks and expansions.

I can't stress enough how strongly I recommend Green Ronin Publishing's Fantasy AGE (and Modern AGE, Blue Rose, the Expanse, and Cthulhu Awakens). Not d20, but simple rues that produce brilliant results, and still a roll + bonus against a target number system, so easy to pick up for those familiar with d20 game engines.

If you wand superheroes, then Mutants & Masterminds (also GR) and ICONS (by Ad Infinitum Adventures) are my most recommended go-to picks.

Equally strongly, I recommend Schwalb Entertainment, LLC's Shadow of the Weird Wizard. Rob Schwalb is one of the greatest ttRPG designers ever, and this game will show you why. If you like your fantasy a bit darker (okay... a LOT darker -- like you'd have to get 10 torches to bring the light level UP to 'merely grimdark') then Shadow of the Demon Lord is your best option. But I'd start with Weird Wizard, unless that darker-than-grimdark comment got your heartrate up from pure excitement.

That's not to say I don't love a couple dozen more systems and settings, but these are my top picks.

Hey, Since I Have Your Attention! 

My friend (and brilliant cartoonist) Stan! has done a whole series of drawings inspired by my online ramblings. He refers to them as "Damn It, Owen!" cartoons, since they get in his head and prevent him from doing other work until he draws them. He's been doing these for years, so now we're collecting them into a book!

We've launched a campaign on Kickstarter, which funded in 90 seconds and hit it's first three stretch goals in a few hours. Please go check it out, tell your friends, and consider throwing us your support.

Damnitowen.com