So, you’ve tried D&D, now what?

You’d be hard-pressed to argue that Dungeons and Dragons hasn’t become the king of tabletop roleplay games in this day and age. In a lot of ways, rightfully so! It is easy to pick up, has plenty of content and has a massive following behind it to back you up. But in the current era of D&D hype, it’s wise to not turn a blind eye to some of the other incredible RPG options available on the market.

Take Pathfinder, for example. It carries all the trademarks and dragon killing goodness of D&D but with increased options for class, race and character building. The class combinations available with the pathfinder character options allow for some powerful characters with staggering abilities. Naturally, this can add to the level of complexity, and pathfinder certainly has a reputation for being a more number crunchy game. However, if a diversity of character options is what you’re after, the level of customisation is quite unbeatable.

Want a Sci-fi adventure instead? Pathfinders little brother Starfinder is packed with epic space battles and terrestrial exploration. The system takes a complete Sci-fi approach with alien races, advanced weapons, Technomagic and, of course, starships! The game boasts seven unique class options and the ability to customise and upgrade your starship as the game progresses. Perfect if you’re looking for your next space adventure.

Or perhaps something closer to home, such as the urban adventure RPG, Kids on bikes. This game carries the 80’s horror/sci-fi flavour with a small-town setting where mystery and disappearances surround every corner. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re inside ‘Stranger Things’, this is the game for you. It also comes with Collaborative character options to give the game a more unique and shared story experience.

For those after something a little more mature, Vampire: The Masquerade is another urban fantasy setting with a heavy helping of dark fantasy thrown on the side. In this RPG, the players play as the monsters themselves, and the story aims to explore the horror and darkness held in a cruel and unfair world. This RPG is more tailored and pitched to an 18+ audience as players must control their own dark impulses lest they destroy all they hold dear.

If no particular setting or genre takes your fancy, Genesys provides a flexible system to worldbuilders wanting to craft their own adventures. Genesys is an open-ended RPG system designed as a ruleset in any given setting your mind can create. Whether it be historical warfare, a steampunk adventure or a superhero story, Genesys provides a skeleton on which to throw your world around. The character creation is streamlined around core characteristics and traits that can be transferred into almost any genre imaginable.

Do you have an idea for a story or a setting that Dungeons and dragons can’t quite cover? I can almost guarantee that there is a TTRPG book out there that would be a perfect match. The world of tabletop RPG’s is rich and diverse; with a bit of exploration, you can find the ideal world for you and your adventures to come.