I am rather taken with the FUDGE system. It is a long way removed from my usual mainstay of Rolemaster but reading the Ghost Ops quickstart and Early Access booklets was a real eye opener.
So I set out to try and find a ‘pre configured’ FUDGE fantasy game. I liked the sense of realism that GO provided but so far I am not finding what I am looking for.
A search of RPGNow produced only slim pickings, the closest thing to a fantasy game is Gatecrasher Science Fantasy Adventure which is not what I am looking for. I want something more like Game of Thrones and don’t really need the SciFi elements.
So am I looking in the wrong places?
Am I really meant to build it myself from the FUDGE rulebook?
Of all the FUDGE systems on offer, that I have seen so far, they all seem to lack that compelling setting and slick implementation that I found in Ghost Ops.
I have found in the past that there are so many RPGs available that if you cannot find what you are looking for it is quite likely to be because you don’t actually know what you are looking for. A year ago I was in exactly that place. I knew I would recognise it when I saw it but I didn’t really know what I was looking for.
I want a system where combat is truly dangerous, where characters are defined through their skills and are capable right from the start. I want a setting where magic is rare and more ritualistic than fireballs and lightning bolts. I want monsters to be rare but horrifying. Think along the lines of a FUDGE implementation of Call of Cthulhu in Hârn.
So any suggestions because I am not finding anything? Is this something I am going have to build myself? Is this something that others would want to play?
That’s actually an issue I had with Fudge, too. The Fudge rulebook is more like a toolbox than an actual game. Most of the Fudge games also don’t present a concise implementation, but rather just add some elements to the toolbox along with a setting etc.
There was a Kickstarter for a Princess Bride RPG powered by Fudge a while ago. Perhaps you should check it out. It might actually be what you’re looking for.
The princess bride is one I saw on RPGNow but seemed more Harry Potter than CoC. I may have done it an injustice even if I only scavenge it for ideas.
Thanks for the tip.
Princess Bride update…
I have read the quickstart available from RPGNow http://bit.ly/PrincessBrideFudge and read the Kickstarter profile page. This game is so super saccharine sweet that my teeth nearly fell out just reading the PDF!
It is more Disney Princess than Chaosium Call of Cthulhu.
Did you see the Denyri Game on Grey Ghost Games website?
Actually, stupidly, after I found nothing that appealed on RPGNow I went to the Grey Ghost forums to see if people had started their own builds and I completely missed this one. I will try and look at it over the weekend!
Just an update, as Denyri is a physical book only I have a copy coming by snail mail. I am looking forward to it.
Search for “Hack-n-Slash” on RPGnow. Besides the rule book, there are extras, such as Fudge cards and spell cards. I really enjoyed Hack-n-Slash and I think it may be what you are looking for.
Denyri is cool, but wasn’t the fantasy game I was looking for.
I had been talking to Ann Dupuis about getting a copy of Denyri but as it only exists as a physical book and she could not get a physical book to me for under $55 so that is a bit of a show stopper.
As a back up I was going to try and email interview Ann Dupuis but the email has gone quiet recently.
Thanks for the tip on Hack-n-Slash.
The copy of Denyri I have is just sitting in my bookshelf, yearning for some love (strange imagery inspired from Toy Story). Let me know if your interested.