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How do you feel about a game with no weapons or armor? (self.rpg)

submitted 1 year ago by crbn to c/[email protected]

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Would you play a game with no combat items? There would still be items to bolster social interactions, stealth, and other out-of-combat activities.

Would this impede your sense of advancement, or are character feats and non-combat items enough?

I am working on a game with a magic system for combat. It is already complex enough that I prefer not to have combat items. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

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[–] Susaga 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nothing in an RPG is a required mechanic.

Would I play a game with no combat items? Yes. I would also play a game with no rules for items at all, combat or otherwise. I would also play a game with no rules for combat, or even hit points. And I have purchased a game with no rules for advancement at all (apparently, it's good for one-shots).

I have a rather fun TTRPG on my shelf called Fiasco. It has no item mechanics, no combat mechanics, no feats, no advancements, no magic... Not even a GM. You have mechanics for character creation and scene resolution, and that's it. And since you roleplay at a table, it's a TTRPG.

Don't wonder if a game can work without a mechanic. Instead, default to it not being there, and wonder if the mechanic would improve the game if you added it.

[–] crbn 1 points 1 year ago

Right on, thanks for the advice.

I guess I should be more specific. I'm working on a medium crunch game, so I imagine people who buy into that kind of game expect some mechanical advancement. I'm wondering if they expect part of the mechanical advancement to lay in the items.

I imagine your response is still the same, and I think I will go ahead and not use combat items for now.