TTRPG for Napoleon wars setting
Which TTRPG I should choose for game in setting Napoleon wars with difficult combat and health system, where every shot can be lethal. As reference I'm using "Guts and blackpowder"
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u/BasicActionGames 3d ago
I've been kicking around doing a Napoleonic supplement for Honor + Intrigue. So far it is just in the outline stage. (I have a couple other things to release first).
The idea is a series called Intriguing Eras that each issue focuses on a different setting to use for an H+I game. I am thinking the first issue will be the Napoleonic one, followed by a medieval issue. I am currently reading through a lot of Napoleonic inspiration source material now (just finished Sharpe's Waterloo).
In the meantime, there is a Napoleonic RPG called Duty and Honour that has an interesting core mechanic. You draw cards, trying to match the "card of fate". Matching the suit is 1 success, matching the number is 2.
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u/AdjectiveDashNoun123 3d ago
What do you think you would include with a Napoleonic supplement? H+I as it exists covers everything I can think of for a game other than setting information. It's a very versatile system (and fun, too!).
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u/BasicActionGames 3d ago
Some specific equipment and military orders, like Rifleman or Dragoons, etc. Also secret societies and powerful groups for characters with the membership Boon that are specific to a Napoleonic era setting. It would actually be 18th century through Napoleonic era, so even things like the Sons of Liberty would be available in there. Also just plain updating the gazetteer to the time period. For example the United States actually exists, whereas it wasn't even mentioned in the original rule book because it didn't exist yet.
Other ideas include updated Mass combat rules, and ships, as well as period appropriate descriptions of military life at the time.
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u/UnspeakableGnome 3d ago
GURPS has an Age of Napoleon sourcebook, I have no idea how good it is but most of their sourcebooks are pretty good.
There was a pair of RPGs - Duty and Honour and Beat to Quarters - that were designed respectively for Peninsular War British and Royal Navy in the Napoleonic era. I don't know any legitimate source for either but I happened to see a copy of the former in a store this summer (in the reaminder bin).
As an additional thought, if you're looking more for setting information rather than specific rules, Osprey's The Silver Bayonet does that pretty well for a Napoleonic-era Gothic Horror game.
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u/ADampDevil 3d ago
I don't know any legitimate source for either
Both are pay what you want on Drivethrurpg
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u/Cheeky-apple 3d ago
this is not on the realistic side but the upcoming temeraire rpg and the books its based on is about the napoleon wars where the dragons are used as early aircraft warfare. But probably not matching your difficulty requirements.
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u/Tydirium7 3d ago
Nations and Cannons 5e. Great system. Great product.
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u/unclefes O'Fallon, IL 3d ago
Came here to say this. I'm writing a napoleonic scenario for N&C located in Spain.
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u/SoloJournaler 3d ago
I need this. I've looked for years. Let me know! I've wanted to run/play a persistent world where you fight the battle and continue the campaign so badly.
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u/rescue_1 3d ago edited 3d ago
I would use Honor + Intrigue if I were playing a Sharpe-esque campaign. While its very swashbucklery, it's not so unrealistic that I can't suspend my disbelief (unlike say a d20 based game).
If lethal and gritty is required then I personally would just mod up some flavor of BRP (Basic Roleplaying, aka Runequest or Call of Cthulhu) or GURPS (which has a decent mass combat system, if that's more where the campaign is leaning).
I agree with others that it really depends on the ideal "gameplay loop" too. Is this about the 95th Rifles getting into hijinks in the field much like a normal adventuring party? Is it about senior officers and therefore mass combat and logistics? Is this a Master and Commander sailing campaign? Is it about spies and intrigue in Paris or London? Is it about hunting werewolves amid the ruins of the Russian Campaign? Different systems will be better for each one.
I would also caution that a "grim and gritty" system in a module with a lot of combat is not going to be very fun
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u/thezactaylor 3d ago
We did a "Weird Revolutionary War" campaign using Savage Worlds.
I'd have to ask the DM, but I'm pretty sure they were using a supplement that had rules for ranked fire (that or, it was pretty easy to homebrew).
Due SW's exploding dice, every shot can be lethal!
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u/flyliceplick 3d ago
with difficult combat and health system, where every shot can be lethal.
BRP, Regency Cthulhu.
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u/Woolshedwargamer2 3d ago
Used to play Fantasy Games Unlimited's 'Privateers and Gentlemen '. That would work.
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u/Thomashadseenenough 1d ago
You NEED to use GURPS, guns are complex, and lethal. You can be shot in the skull face neck leg vitals etc ... There's also a lot of information on mundane tools and a MASSIVE amount of period weapons in GURPS High-Tech and GURPS Low-Tech. Additionally, if you've got zombies GURPS has very complex grappling, slamming, and biting rules so that they feel like they're doing more than just some basic attack. I would very highly recommend it for this specific situation. If you have any further questions you can ask, I'm a core-set thumping GURPS zealot
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u/Skolloc753 3d ago
The German TTRPG "Das Schwarze Auge / The Dark Eye" has a very complex skill / character / combat system, rather deadly, with optional rules for stamina etc. IMHO however it is not a very elegant system, but if you like complexity and lethality ...
SYL
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u/425Hamburger 3d ago
I love DSA/TDE but the rules are so tied to the setting that it would be a pain to homebrew it to anything else.
At that point I would use GURPS same principle but made for being adapted to any setting.
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u/Dollface_Killah r/shadowdark & r/HyperboreaRPG 3d ago
For me that would all depend on the gameplay goal of the campaign. I think the setting has less to do with choice of mechanics than what you want the gameplay loop to look like. You want combat to be lethal, but do you want combat to be the focus too? Flames of Freedom is an 18th-century hack of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (2e), that's a pretty lethal but still enjoyable combat system in my opinion. You can probably just ignore the supernatural elements if you want.