For a number of personal reasons that I won’t elaborate on here, I don’t feel right eulogizing 2017 or giving it a retrospective. It had its ups and its downs like any year, but it was a personally trying one at many times. Given that, I want to instead look forward to the next year and some of the games that I am excited to get on the table.
Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition
by Wizards of the Coast
It may surprise you to learn that for as much as I write about this system for the network, I have only had the chance to run the game once, and only played a handful of sessions. But I love the work that Wizards of the Coast has done on this game in capturing the feel of old school roleplaying while taking all of the lessons that we have learned about game design since the original game came out and placed it into a tight, streamlined, sexy package. The mechanics are easy to pick up on which makes it incredibly approachable, and while everything appears to be straightforward, there’s a surprising amount of depth underneath that surface if you choose to dive in without being overly complex at the table. My limited amount of time with this one has been nothing but positive, and this is one game that I will be getting on the table much, much more often in 2018.
Genesys
by Fantasy Flight Games
Like many of you, I was watching the news of Fantasy Flight Game’s Genesys Roleplaying Game with great anticipation. After getting the book and paging through it, I have to say I really like what they have done with the system and presenting the book as a toolkit to hang a framework off of. The design advice for creating new material is wonderful and I and look forward to spending quite a bit of time with it. There are many, many things that this game can do, but right off the bat I’m curious to see how it handles two themes. The first is the Mass Effect series, a setting that I have felt this game engine could handle well since Edge of the Empire first released. The second is a Final Fantasy. I’ve spoken about the idea of using these rules for this kind of game before, but having read through the magic rules that they have presented us with… it seems tailor made for exploring a game based in this franchise.
Edge of the Empire/Age of Rebellion/Force and Destiny
by Fantasy Flight Games
The game(s) that launched the narrative dice system that powers Genesys, these books really capture the spirit of Star Wars in ways that other systems have tried but maybe fallen short. I honestly haven’t done much with these games for a long while, but after seeing The Last Jedi, I seem to have Star Wars on the brain in a big, big way that I didn’t after seeing The Force Awakens or even Rogue One. I’m more excited than ever about the future of this franchise. Where that takes me in my gaming remains to be seen, but I think I’ll keep these books towards the top of the pile.
Cypher System
by Monte Cook Games
Similar to the Genesys system above, I recently picked up the Cypher Core Rulebook from the Bundle of Holding. I was an early backer for Numenera and while I haven’t had much chance to get it on the table, I really like a lot of the conceits in the design. Unlike Genesys, I don’t really have any solid ideas for what I want to do with this system yet, but I’m excited about the myriad of possibilities that could come from it as well as explore several of the games that have already been produced using it.
Lone Wolf Adventure Game
by Cubicle Seven
I have waxed poetic about the Lone Wolf adventure game books before on this very site, which is what lead to my discovery of this game’s existence. Written by series creator Joe Dever before his passing, and with additional writing from d20 Radio alum Gary Astleford, this game seeks to capture the feeling of those books in a group setting. It appears to be intuitive and easy to grasp, perfect for beginning players and veterans alike.
DREAMS
by Ben Erickson
This is one you won’t find at DriveThru RPG or your FLGS. And that’s because it doesn’t exist yet. This game is one that I have been wrestling with for several years now, trying to figure out the best way to bring it to fruition in a way that is fully satisfying to my vision for the game. As a member of the Dreamwalkers, an ancient sect of warriors, you are charged with protecting our realm from forces that would see it undone. The war seems eternal, and the battlefields are the dreams of those you protect.
What about you Gamer Nation? What do you hope to get on the table in the coming year? Let me know. Maybe we can make something happen.
Ben Erickson
