Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
To be a biz master in tabletop RPGs likeDungeons & DragonsorApocalypse Worldis both a privilege and a burden , create marvelous worlds and tale but also being saddled with the responsibilities of playscript - keeping and arbitrament . The following no - GM RPGs have special gameplay modes that let players join forces to create a game setting , interact with NPCs and enemies , and differentiate a dramatic story without any penury for a GM or Dungeon Master
The concept of a game master emerge around the same time as early nineteenth - one C tabletop wargames likeKriegspiel , game of military strategy that tried to simulate the complexness of then - modern warfare with intricate rules pertaining to terrain , unit morale , stealth , browse artillery unit , strike points , and harm die . To keep track of in - biz variable and arbitrate disputes over rule , " umpires " and " referees " fleetly became habitue of wargaming catch and meetups . TheDungeon Master ofDungeons & Dragons , the first playact game , was a twist on the concept of the wargaming referee - a firm but fair enforcer of the normal who also told stories and acted out scenes to players
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The follow tabletop roleplaying game , generally narrative rather than tactical in grade , have particular dice tabular array , detailed crusade module , and taradiddle prompts in their rulebooks designed todo the work of a game masterfor their histrion . More importantly , each of these game is design to be cooperative , above all else ( although in - fictitious character contest is more than fine ) . histrion taste to bet these RPGs without a GM will have the most play if they treat these game not as challenges to be succeed but experience to be share .
No-GM Tabletop RPGs - Cosmic Patrol
Cosmic Patrol- made by Catalyst Game Labs , Almighty ofShadowrunandBattletech- is a retro - futurist space opera house RPG inspire by 1930s pulp sci - fi , such as theLensmannovels , sci - fi flick serials likeBuck RogersandFlash Gordon , and dash of the " Captain Proton " holodeck political platform fromStar Trek : Voyager . Each actor character is an broker from the Cosmic Patrol , a rocket ship - riding , beam gun - toting space force-out dedicated to exploring the cosmos and protect the solar system from Moon Men , Venusian Automen , clone soldier from the Eiger Empire , Neptunian Mind Plants , and other deadly danger . The cue stick - based mechanics ofCosmic Patrolencourage players to take turns being the " Lead Narrator , " telling tales of derring - do with the aid of " Mission Briefs " published by Catalyst Game Labs , each of which moderate afford narrations , lists of enemies and obstacles , and scenes players can navigate together .
No-GM Tabletop RPGs - Fiasco
Fiasco , a ego - described " game about knock-down ambition and poor impulse control condition , " is the go - to RPG for gamers who want to playact stories in the nervure of Coen Brothersmovies likeBurn After Reading- stories about extremely blemished soul who hatch get - rich - quick vicious schemes that go horribly wrong . Instead of using a secret plan passe-partout to father news report , theFiascoRPGuses an intricate raiment of chart , tale structure , and bowls of black and whitened dice to spontaneously render stories of heists , cons , and other condemnable plot with unexpected outcomes . During the setup phase angle , players roll dice and choose options from charts to create their quality and set . In " Act 1 , " they diagram and pull off their heist . During the " Tilt " form , something goes wrong . And in " Act 2 " and the " Aftermath , " the actor play out the consequences of their characters ' greed , ego - centeredness , and stupidity .
No-GM Tabletop RPGs - Flotsam: Adrift Amongst The Stars
Science fictionRPGFlotsam : Adrift Amongst The Stars , is about mass who live on a space post ( specifically , the grungy , neglected , run - down and fast - knit underbellies of outer space Stations of the Cross seen in shows likeBabylon 5orThe Expanse ) . ThePowered By The Apocalypse - inspired mechanicsofFlotsamuse neither biz masters nor dice . At the commencement of a movement , each player creates a character reference based around playbook such as Cast - Off , Sybil , and Hybrid , then goes on to design a unique site imperiling life story in their quad station community - situations related to impoverishment , gang , wayward spirits , or threats from " exterior . " player then , through the substitution of tokens , switch between roleplaying the action and choices of their characters and narrating the situations other players must surmount .
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No-GM Tabletop RPGs - Gun & Slinger
An unconventional tabletop RPG created by Nevyn Holmes , Gun & Slingeris a plot designed for two players . One roleplays a Slinger , a elusive - as - nail , troubled wanderer who hunts bounties , unravels the mysteries of their god - twisted body politic , and tries to stay on ahead of an enigmatic entity call " The affair That Hunts . " The other roleplays the Gun - literally a talking , wizardly hitman . The nonremittal mode ofGun & Slingerassumes a " Maestro " who narrates and has players resolve challenge by meet modified versions of classic card games like Go Fish or Blackjack . extra game tables with questions and prompts , however , letGun & Slingerplayers make tale on their own , based ( again ) on cards they get out from a deck .
The core rulebook forGun & Slingercontains three alternate " arrange hacks " of theGun & Slingersystem : The Demon , a game about a pitiful wanderer and the fiend possessing them;Sword & Bearer , aDungeons & Dragons - style"Dungeonpunk " RPGabout a hero render to protect their magical metropolis with a living sword ; andMech X Pilot , a mecha game about an ace pilot , their sentient mech , and the jumbo monsters they fight .
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