What are the best tabletop RPGs for beginners?

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Jul 24, 2021

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8 Games Considered

Best tabletop RPGs for beginners	Price	# Players	Play Time
-- Basic Set ("BECMI") / Rules Cyclopedia	-	-	-
-- Basic Fantasy	-	-	-
-- Big Eyes, Small Mouth	-	-	-
-- Fiasco	-	-	-
-- Lady Blackbird	-	-	-

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score 2 · Answer 1

Basic Set ("BECMI") / Rules Cyclopedia

NonchalantFreyja's Experience

Played as a kid. See More

score 1 · Answer 2

Basic Fantasy

Top Pro

Like the old basic D&D sets, but with modern "fixed" rules like in 5e

Like the old basic D&D sets, but with modern "fixed" classes and races, and combat bonuses and ascending armor class (taken from the newer versions of D&D). See More

Top Pro

Tons of optional rules, with a very active community

Top Pro

Free PDF

Top Pro

Cheap POD

Top Pro

Tons of free optional content

See All

score 5 · Answer 3

Big Eyes, Small Mouth

Top Pro

Simple but balanced

The rules are easy to understand and well balanced. BESM stands on its own as both an Anime game and as a general purpose universal game system. See More

Top Pro

Adaptable

BESM is an anime-themed RPG, but "anime" is kind of a broad term. You can play in any genre with the core rulebook alone, and there are expansion books for several of them. See More

score 2 · Answer 4

Fiasco

Top Pro

Does not require a game-master

Top Con

It's all about Roleplaying

Fiasco heavly sets it's focus on roleplaying. If you want to create a character with stats, abilities and traits like in classical fantasy RPG's, this one might not be the right joice for you. See More

Top Pro

Sessions are relatively quick

Top Pro

Lots of free playsets to choose from

Top Pro

Requires little to no preparation

Top Pro

Great for those who enjoy themes of caper-gone-wrong films

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score 2 · Answer 5

Lady Blackbird

Top Pro

Simple rules that allow player agency

Character sheet and rules take up only one page, which makes the game simple to understand and easy to reference while playing. Yet the rules still allow players to make interesting choices to avoid too much randomness. See More

PerceptiveKaratgurk's Experience

i played in some groups as a master and all time the experience are totally different See More

Answer 6

Betrayal at House on the Hill

Top Con

Poorly written rules for a light game

For a fairly light game where the decisions are nearly trivial, a nearby computer is necessary to decipher the poorly written rulebook, misprints, and errata. See More

Curt Simcox's Experience

Although I do like the board game, this is not a Tabletop RPG. Also I agree that the cons of the rules being poorly written. There is an entire FAQ dedicated just for the rulebook. See More

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NonchalantFreyja's Experience

I've played this. It's a board game, not an rpg. See More

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Answer 7

Mice and Mystics

Top Pro

Easy to learn

M&M is arguably more board game than RPG, as there's no need for a GM. But it's a gentle introduction to RPG concepts. See More

NonchalantFreyja's Experience

This is a board game, not an rpg. See More

score 2 · Answer 8

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

Top Con

Rule heavy

Top Pro

Easy to understand

Eric Waters's Experience

I've been playing for years, and like many Pathfinder players, I have a love-hate relationship with the game. While I enjoy the crunchy rules and the standard setting is dynamite, the almost forced optimization and difficulty in creating challenging encounters after level 10 or so is rage-inducing. See More

Top Con

Not suitable for first time

The rules are dense, complicated, and difficult for new players to master. Pathfinder is a great game, but a terrible choice for beginners. See More

Top Pro

Backward-compatible

Top Pro

Dungeons & Dragons rules revised

It's heavily based on D&D 3.5, to the point that some players call it D&D 3.75. See More

See All

8 Games Considered

My Recommendation for Basic Set ("BECMI") / Rules Cyclopedia

My Recommendation for Basic Set ("BECMI") / Rules Cyclopedia

My Recommendation for Basic Fantasy

My Recommendation for Basic Fantasy

Like the old basic D&D sets, but with modern "fixed" rules like in 5e

Tons of optional rules, with a very active community

Free PDF

Cheap POD

Tons of free optional content

My Recommendation for Big Eyes, Small Mouth

My Recommendation for Big Eyes, Small Mouth

Simple but balanced

Adaptable

My Recommendation for Fiasco

My Recommendation for Fiasco

Does not require a game-master

It's all about Roleplaying

Sessions are relatively quick

Lots of free playsets to choose from

Requires little to no preparation

Great for those who enjoy themes of caper-gone-wrong films

My Recommendation for Lady Blackbird

My Recommendation for Lady Blackbird

Simple rules that allow player agency

My Recommendation for Betrayal at House on the Hill

My Recommendation for Betrayal at House on the Hill

Poorly written rules for a light game

My Recommendation for Mice and Mystics

My Recommendation for Mice and Mystics

Easy to learn

My Recommendation for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

My Recommendation for Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

Rule heavy

Easy to understand

Not suitable for first time

Backward-compatible

Dungeons & Dragons rules revised

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