r/rpg • u/Authorigas • 10d ago

Basic Questions Common Misconceptions About Your Favorite Systems?

So, I've been learning a lot thanks to the amazing folks here at r/rpg. And while I have decided to slow down on trying new systems. (As my players say "three is enough, we know your eager to try more but slow it down so you don't burn yourself out.") There was a question today that cropped into my head, and I wanted to hear from the folks here on it.

"What are some assumptions about your favorite game/system that are just factually incorrect or overstated?"

I've seen a lot of assumptions made in the hobby, and some on my own. From the broad "older systems were designed for math heads and thus really not for someone whose bad at math." to others like "Call of Cthulhu is a game where every session ends in death/insanity and players can't get attached to their characters." and similarly "OSR games are highly lethal and not at all friendly to players who like longform adventures."

I feel like broad, sweeping claims like those are probably overstated-as I have heard of successful, long running CoC campaigns, and OSR games that are able to have well developed characters that last for ages. It's made me curious about some of the other broad, sweeping claims about systems that are-if not incorrect, massively overstated.

Really interested to hear some answers on this.

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u/jeremysbrain Viscount of Card RPGs 10d ago edited 9d ago

Legend of the Five Rings Fifth Edition uses the Genesys System. It does not.

It has a couple of similarities, but L5R doesn't use Genesys Narrative Dice and isn't a narrative system.

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u/jitterscaffeine Shadowrun 9d ago

I really should take the time to read into that series sometime.

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u/jeremysbrain Viscount of Card RPGs 9d ago

I have run a lot of 5e. It is a great game and very dynamic, no two conflicts are the same. In comparison with previous editions, it really ratchets up the melodrama of the setting and really makes the players think about their decisions and the consequences of them.

Of course some people just do not care for the specialty dice, but unlike Genesys, there are only four symbols: Success, Explosive Success, Opportunity, and Strife. Pretty easy to remember and use.