10 RPG Games You Must Play Before You Die Close IGN Logo Comments Comments Comments Comments

Role-playing games are the true interactive storytelling. Video games, until now, can modify their development as far as their programming goes. We are seeing more and more complex titles with more options, in which the player is able to influence the development of the game and its story, but the point at which this narrative is compared to a role-playing game is still a long way off. traditional, in which a good master fully adapts to the players and the situation and story can change in a breath.

The good thing about RPGs is that the offer is huge. There are a multitude of systems set in a multitude of scenarios, although those with a medieval and fantastic theme predominate. In fact, the main attraction towards an RPG is usually its setting, especially in the case of some well-known licenses. We wanted to make a small selection of some of these role-playing games, some old, some modern, but as a whole they offer a magnificent role-playing experience suitable for all palates. These are our 10 RPGs you should try before you die.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings may be the first role-playing game for the vast majority of fans. Such a powerful license has a very important pull effect and it is normal to want to try living an adventure in Middle-earth. The first role-playing game based on The Lord of the Rings was published by ICE and Joc International and was a simplified set of Rolemaster rules. The current edition, the second, is published by La Factoría de Ideas, it is based on this role-playing game, but it introduced certain modernizations of the rules.

Actually, this is a very simple game, ideal for beginners and that has the setting factor as a key to attract participants. Its main feature is the reference tables, which are used to find out if you've managed to perform a maneuver correctly, hit an enemy or the damage you've done to them. It is a system that is quite focused on numbers, but it also allows you to start playing very quickly and avoids munching, from players who build the perfect characters with elaborate rules and technicalities. It doesn't confuse rules and exceptions, it allows you to build very funny characters in a short time and, of course, you will travel through Middle-earth. For the more experienced, apply the full Rolemaster rules to Tolkien's world.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons has the fifth edition of the rules already on the market (don't look for them in Spanish, Wizard of the Coast has refused to translate them), but we are going to stick with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, the second edition, for its enormous importance and for becoming the reference role-playing game for an entire generation of players. From today's point of view, AD&D may seem like a restrictive game, but it counts in its favor with having an enormous number and variety of settings: Dark Sun, Planescape, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft... The rules of the second edition gave A quantum leap, the magic system grew incredibly, and the monster compendiums dramatically increased player options.

This set of rules is fundamental to understanding role-playing today and was the inspiration for many of the best role-playing games ever made, such as Baldur's Gate. AD&D has the beauty of simple numbers and the great importance of the narrative. It's a game that relies a lot on the master's ability to create a good story and guide the players, but also gives players a lot of freedom to try new things. One of the great RPGs of all time.

Pathfinder

Pathfinder is the natural evolution of the third edition rules of Dungeons and Dragons. The revolution that this compendium of rules brought about was tremendous, becoming an unmitigated success. The d100 system on which it was based (and which could be licensed) was a breeding ground for a whole generation of brand new campaign scenarios. And while Wizards of the Coast was sinking with D&D 4th Edition, Paizo was revising the 3.5 rules and creating Pathfinder, the definitive version of d100. Its success was brilliant and lasts to this day, with new content every month and a totally dedicated community.

Parthfinder inherits the character creation capability of D&D 3.5 and takes it to a new level, improving many of the bugs in this edition. Its only problem may be the huge number of rules and the complexity of some processes, which can make it somewhat inaccessible to novice players, but with a good mix of veterans and neophytes it makes for very fun sessions. And, in addition, it can be adapted to any type of campaign and adventure, since it is only a framework of rules. I play where there are.