Top Cyberpunk TTRPG Core Rulebooks for Dark Future Adventures

Cyberpunk Red Core Rulebook

Listen up choombas! Do you want to find a table top role playing game that puts you in a dark future full of bold action, evil corporations, advanced weaponry, cybernetic implants, and a whole bunch of fun? If so, good news, you’re in the right place. I’m not going to waste any more time because you never know when the megacorps are listening so let’s get right to the list!

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through this post I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you)

5. Altered Carbon

Altered Carbon Core Rule book

Do you like your dystopian future mixed with a little neo-noir? Altered Carbon the Role Playing Game takes you into the world first created by Richard K. Morgan and then seen on the Netflix series of the same name. If you have enough wealth and influence you can re-sleeve your consciousness into any body you can afford. There are several Archetypes (classes in D&D terms) to choose from, a great setting in Bay City and a decent tech system going here. While it’s definitely got similarities to Cyberpunk Red and Cyberpunk 2020, there are enough differences here to make it a fun game with some new twists. You’ll especially enjoy it if you have watched the series or read the books.

It’s not a perfect role playing game and you don’t have to be too familiar with the source material in order to have a good time. There is a good mix of storytelling and combat action. If you love the books or the show this is a great one to pick up. Right now you can get it on drivethrurpg here for around $25.

4. Cyberpunk 2020

Cyberpunk 2.02.0 2nd Edition Core Rule Book

Without this game, there would be no Cyberpunk TTRPG’s. If you like an OG style to your gaming but still want to feel the edginess of lurking around a dark future, fighting megacorps and hacking your own biology with cyber tech, you can’t go wrong with this one. This game is a bit more crunchy than the latest version of Cyberpunk and it has the feel of something made in the 1980’s thinking about the future (because it was) but it’s still one of the best out there. The combat is fast paced and deadly and while you find advantages for altering yourself, if you go too far it will bring you to the edge and you may find yourself in cyberpsychosis, unable to control yourself.

This is an out and out classic and there’s good reason people still play this one today. You can get this a few ways on drivethrurpg, including getting the PDF, a softcover, or a PDF + softcover. They all have varying prices but right now the best deal for this game is to grab the Cyberpunk Essentials bundle which gets you the PDF plus five other supplemental titles to help you amp up your action in Night City. The bundle is on sale here for $40.85. Or you can just grab the core stuff you want here for between $15-$45 depending on what version you buy.

3. ShadowRun Sixth World

Shadowrun Sixth World Core Rule Book

Unlike most other Cyberpunk style TTRPG’s, Shadowrun has always had magic as part of its core premise. What if you took Lord of the Rings and mashed it up with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? You’d get something like Shadowrun Sixth World. There was magic at one time. The world changed and looked a lot like ours until megacorporations took over everything. And suddenly, magic returned. Now, there are a select few people, orcs, dwarves, etc. who resist the pull of the megacorps. These folks are called Shadowrunners and you can join their ranks.

This game is a good fun blend of fantasy and far future dystopian sci-fi. It’s definitely not for everyone and there are plenty of arguments over which edition is the best one. For plenty of players older editions may be better but I recommend Sixth simply because it is the most current and probably the easiest one to access if you have never played Shadowrun before.

if you just want to dip your toes in to this one and see if it is for you, they have a decent starter set here for $10. Or, if you are willing to pay just a bit more you can grab the core book here for $20. (On sale for $16 as of this writing)

2. Cities Without Number

Cities Without Number Core Rulebook by Kevin Crawford

From the absolute game design genius that is Kevin Crawford comes Cities Without Number. He has designed a space game called Stars Without Number, a fantasy game called Worlds Without Number and has now given us the kind of cyberpunk TTRPG you can expect from him. The first line of the description perfectly sets the mood here. “The world is neon and dust.”

This is a sandbox style game with lots of interesting old school mechanics and plenty of guidance on how to create missions for players. If you like to mix and match things and brew up your own kind of adventure this gives you a ton of tools to do so. Not to mention, this game is fully compatible with the other games in the Without Number series.

The best part? You can actually get almost all of this game for free! In the free version you get 227 pages of jam packed rules, setting and advice. You can grab the free version here.

But, for this game and any others that Kevin Crawford puts out, I highly recommend purchasing the books. Why? Because Crawford puts a ton of work into these books, they have great art, and you get even more goodies with the paid version. You can get the full version here for $25-$90 depending on if you want PDFs or physical hardcover versions. At any price, this game is a steal. And if you have all three of the Without Number books, you can homebrew one heck of an amazing campaign that takes you from the stars, to the world to the city and generates memories that will last a lifetime.

1. Cyberpunk Red

Cyberpunk Red Core Rule Book

The video game Cyberpunk 2077 had an absolute disaster of a launch, although I hear it’s pretty decent now. Cyberpunk Red, however, had no such trouble and delivers an excellent immersive experience if you want to get your hands dirty in a world where huge megacorporations have been shattered and everyone is scrambling to live their lives, make a living, seize opportunities, or plot some revenge. It’s a fun and fast paced game and if you like movies like Blade Runner or The Matrix series this one should be right up your neon lit alley.

With this one I recommend starting with the Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit. This comes with a book of lore and adventures that take place in the setting and a book of rules to use for gameplay. You also get six pregenerated characters making getting started much faster. There are also some maps and standees here to use. Fair warning you may need to read the rules a couple of times to get the full feel for it as not everything is 100% clear on the first read.

The Jumpstart Kit retails for $30 on drivethrurpg but right at this moment you can get it for $10 which is a steal. To get the Jumpstart Kit click here.

If you’re convinced and want to just go all in on Cyberpunk Red you can get the core book for $30.

This version is just as bombastic and full of attitude as the original was but with a more streamlined rule system and some interesting moral questions. It’s a super fun game and without doubt one of the best Cyberpunk games you can get.

In Conclusion

A dark dystopian future with lots of cool tech is a great setting for a table top role playing game. I’m sure there are tons of others out there that I haven’t mentioned. Do you have a favorite? If so, feel free to shout it out in the comments below!

Cybernetically yours,

Slick Dungeon

Coming Soon – Terror on the Rock! A One Shot Scenario for Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition!

Cover art not final, do not duplicate

Hello everyone! Do you love to play Call of Cthulhu 7th edition? Want a scenario set on the world’s most notorious prison? If so, I have something in store for you soon! In May, I will be releasing the second of my “On the Rock” series of scenarios set on Alcatraz in the 1930’s.

You and your friends will play inmates who have to confront mundane routines, harsh punishments, and cosmic horrors from the depths of the Pacific Ocean! If that sounds cool to you, let me know in the comments.

Keep an eye on this blog to find out how you can get the scenario at a discounted price and how you can bundle it with my first “On the Rock” scenario!

This won’t be for everyone, but if you are interested stay tuned! Also, let me know in the comments what you think of the cover design so far! It’s not final yet, but I’m hoping it clicks with some of you TTRPG players! Let me know if you like the black and white or think something in color would look better!

Get Your Copy of Trouble on the Rock Today!

A Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition One Shot Scenario for 2-4 Players

Happy December folks! I’ve just published my second scenario for Call of Cthulhu 7th edition.

Trouble on the Rock is a scenario appropriate for 2-4 players and should take about 2-4 hours to play. This is part 1 of a 3 part series that takes place on Alcatraz Island. The year is 1934, the prison is just about to become a Federal Penitentiary and something on the island is on the loose! Can your investigators get to the bottom of it? Or will they be stuck on The Rock forever?

There’s lots of cool stuff in here, including player and Keeper maps, 6 handouts, and 4 pre-generated investigator sheets!

Check it out for just $4.99!

Just click on the image above or click here.

I hope you have as much fun playing it as I did writing it! Part 2 will be out early next year!

And if you want to check out the first scenario I made, you can get that right here for $2.99! Just click here.

Adam Wright

The MCDM TTRPG is on Backerkit Now!

Art created and owned by MCDM

Hey everyone, Slick Dungeon here. There has been a lot of activity in the TTRPG space this year. We’ve had everything from the OGL debacle at the beginning of the year to the launch of Candela Obscura by the people over at Critical Role and the launch of the new Marvel TTRPG. But, if I had to choose the one single thing I am most excited about in the TTRPG space right now, it’s the upcoming RPG from MCDM productions. And just today they have launched their fundraiser for the game on Backerkit. I just wanted to share with you all why I think this one is worth backing.

Let me start by saying, I almost never recommend backing a game that isn’t already released. There are so many problems with it from both the consumer and game developer side. But with MCDM I am making an exception. Why? Because they have a proven track record of delivering extremely high quality products reliably. And they are honest about their communication when things go wrong. On top of that, Matt Colville who runs MCDM has made a significant point of treating his people ethically and paying them a living wage. If any independent creator in TTRPG’s deserves to be funded, it’s them.

One might assume I am being paid to say this but I am not. I gladly recommend everything MCDM makes in the TTRPG space with confidence, no need for anyone to pay me to say that. Okay, maybe I don’t recommend the t-shirts and stuff like that but if you want ’em buy ’em. I have purchased their books, the Arcadia magazines and watched a lot of the MCDM videos. All of them have been fantastic at making the game I love to play better.

So, when it was announced MCDM would be making their own game I was intrigued. Of course, I could end up wrong and this whole thing might not be a good game but the first four words they came up with for the game seem to have just about everything I want in a TTRPG. Tactical heroic cinematic fantasy ticks all my boxes for a D&D like game which is not D&D. I’ll stick to other games for horror but for fantasy, I could see myself switching to this one on a regular basis.

I could go off on a huge blog post here about why this game is a good idea but I’m going to keep it short and give you a link where you can see Matt Colville give the long pitch. For me, there are three reasons to back this game.

  1. It’s an alternate to D&D that is going through a vigorous testing process and I think it will only improve because of that.
  2. The creators of the game are being treated fairly and ethically, not just as profit machines who can be replaced by AI.
  3. It sounds as fun as hell and MCDM is going to have an open license for the game which will allow people to make stuff for it which will make it even better.

But, here’s the thing. We’ll only get the game if it gets backed. If you can’t afford it, I implore you not to spend any money on it because that helps no one. If, on the other hand, you are thinking about buying yet another supplemental D&D book, maybe back this game instead. You can get in for as low as $40 if you just want the game rules. You get more stuff the higher up you go on the tier levels so obviously spend what you think is right for you.

If this is backed, I’m certain we’ll be playing it by the end of the year in 2024. (albeit with playtest packets and not the full game)

If I have sold you on it, click this link to check it out and back it. If you still aren’t sold on it, maybe check out the video that goes with it and decide if it’s right for you.

Excitedly yours,

Slick Dungeon

Monster TTRPGs: Call of Cthulhu, Vampire, Werewolf, and More

Banner: The best cosmic horror & Cthulhu Mythos @ DriveThruRPG.com

Hello Halloween friends! It’s spooky season and if you’re like me, you may be looking for a good and spooky TTRPG to play this month. There are literally thousands out there in about any genre you can imagine which makes it tough to choose. But sometimes you just want to fight (or become) a monster. Whether it’s creeping cosmic horror barely held at bay, a big hairy werewolf, or space survival horror, I’ve got you covered. These are my favorite monster TTRPGs but by no means the only ones out there. These are not in any particular order. Whether any of these suit your table is up to you but I’ll give you a brief run down of what kind of game it is, how you can get started with it, and give you handy links where you can buy the game.

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through this post I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you)

Honorable Mentions

Dungeons & Dragons

Say what you will about Dungeons & Dragons (everyone does) but at its core, D&D is about fighting monsters. Which edition is best and how adaptable to horror the game is happens to be a matter of opinion. But they have an entire book dedicated to monsters so, yeah it’s a good monster game. My personal recommendation if you are just getting into TTRPG’s is to go ahead and start with the 5th edition, as it’s the current and easiest to obtain edition.

You’ve definitely heard of it and there are tons of different ways to get this game. In order to play the full game, you’ll need the three core books – Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master’s Guide. These all retail for different prices but they generally run from $30-50. The best way to get these books is at your local friendly game store. You can get them on Amazon for a bit less as well. If you want to do that, all you need to do is click the hyperlinked text above. Also, if you want to play exclusively online, I recommend clicking on the image above where you can get Roll20 compatible content.

A free way to get started is to just use the basic rules but there’s a lot more work upfront for that and you’ll be limited in the amount of monsters you can find. Still, if that’s more your speed click here.

Pathfinder

This game is a lot like D&D but there are a few differences. It’s a little crunchier so if you like that, this game is great. One nice thing is that you really can just start with one book. It’s got some cool monsters, great art, and is fun to play. You can also buy this game on Amazon or at your local friendly game store. If you want to get it through Amazon, do me a favor and buy through the image above or by clicking here. This book generally sells for around $45 but a lot of times you can find a good sale.

Now on to the top 5 Monster TTRPGs!

5. Call of Cthulhu – Cosmic HOrror TTRPG

Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook

It can’t be overstated how much I enjoy Call of Cthulhu. It’s a game of cosmic horror where you are faced with a bleak world where you are not likely to survive. The universe not only does not care about you, it actively despises you. But you and your friends can try to be a small shining light in the dark, fight the cosmic evil, or go mad in the attempt. (You’ll probably go mad but it’s a ton of fun).

For this game you can go for the main book known as the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook but there are also great entry points. If you want solo adventures go for Alone Against the Flames. If you want a starter set, that’s a fantastic way to begin and Chaosium, the publisher of the books does an amazing job putting together a starter set.

The prices run from $10 – $50 depending on what you want. If you just want PDF’s use my links above. But if you want hard cover books then your best bet here is actually going to the Chaosium website. (By the way all their games are fantastic and worth the money in my opinion)

4. Vampire the Masquerade – Blood Sucking TTRPG

Vampire the Masquerade

And now we enter the World of Darkness. Vampire the Masquerade 5th edition is a game where you are the monster. You are a vampire in a world much like our own. But you are most decidedly an undead creature of the night. You need to do all the things you think vampires need to do. You need to drink blood, avoid sunlight, and you get some really interesting powers. But, there is a world out there ready to destroy you in any way you can imagine. You’ll have to navigate a world of intrigue, secrecy, stealth, power, politics, violence, despair and every single vice you can imagine. And you’ll want to try to suppress the constant hunger you feel which could reveal to the world just what you are at any time.

Vampire the Masquerade is definitely on the mature side of gaming and it makes absolutely no apologies for that. But you and your group will want to be sure to make exceedingly clear lines on how to safely role play in this game so you only traumatize characters, not players. It’s a bit of a fine line but good game masters (in this case called Storytellers) can handle this no problem.

This is a great game full of narrative possibility and I highly recommend it. You can get this book on Amazon or at your local game store. A less expensive option here is to get the PDF version by clicking one of the links above. The PDF will run you around $30 while the Amazon book is often priced closer to $50. I just use the PDF and I find it just fine.

3. Monster of the Week – Monster TTRPG

Monster of the Week

I mean, the title kind of says it all here. You know the shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, and Supernatural where there is a monster every week and the good guys fight them? Yeah, this is that. It’s a heck of a lot of fun and it’s pretty quick to learn too. It’s great to use both as just a one off game night or for a bit of a longer campaign, but of course, you’ll still want to have a monster to fight each week.

You can get Monster of the Week on drivethrurpg and it’s currently on sale for just $12. This is just the PDF version but it’s a great deal and gives you perfect Halloween month vibes.

2. Werewolf the Apocalypse – Wolf TTRPG

Werewolf the Apocalypse

If you have a list of monster games and you have vampires in it, well, you’ve got to have werewolves too. Werewolf the Apocalypse is the newest title on this list although there have been several versions of this game already. This also takes place in the World of Darkness so it sits adjacent to Vampire the Masquerade and chances are if you like that game you will like this one. However, there are definitely some differences.

As the name implies, things are getting dire for werewolves, not to mention the rest of the world. There tends to be a bit more action and a little less intrigue than VTM but the players are definitely shape changers who have a big battle to fight. This is a newer edition so I have not fully played it and can’t tell you how it compares to older editions. But so far, the rules seem fairly clean and the gameplay is easy to pick up if you have played any Storyteller system game before. Also, like VTM this is for mature audiences so be forewarned.

The PDF sells for $38 and you can get that by clicking the hyperlinks or image in this post. If you want the hardcover book it’ll cost you closer to $55. For this one, I recommend going to your closest gaming store for the hard copy.

1. Alien – Space Horror TTRPG

Alien Starter Set

In space no one can hear you scream. I mean, unless you are playing a TTRPG with your friends on earth and then you can all hear one another scream. Alien the Role Playing Game is a fantastic game of space survival horror. And if you think you know all the bad things you can find in a game like this, well, you are underestimating what is in store for you here.

In my opinion the best way to get started here is with the starter set. This set gives you a rulebook, a scenario, five ready made characters, a big ol’ map, a bunch of game markers and custom cards to use in the game.

There are two good ways to get the starter set. First, you can grab it on Amazon for around $40 here. This will give you all the stuff mentioned above in a neat, slick box. If you don’t mind printing stuff on your own, you can save a good bit of money to get the starter set as a PDF on drivethrurpg for $20 right here.

Well, that’s my list. Now, go out and get yourself something to play for a good old spooky time and have fun!

Monstrously yours,

Slick Dungeon

Get Your Copy of Fantastic Light Display Today!

A Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition One Shot Scenario for 2-4 Players

Happy Halloween month folks! After years of thinking about it, I’ve finally taken the plunge and written a scenario for Call of Cthulhu 7th edition. It’s a scenario appropriate for 2-4 players and should take about 2-4 hours to play.

Investigators have come to the Miskatonic University music festival for some well deserved down time. Too bad! Because once they are there, strange things start happening in the sky, and before you know it, there is a dead body. What happened? That’s for you and your group to figure out!

If you want to check it out, you can buy the scenario for just $2.99. Just click on the image above or click here.

I hope you have as much fun playing it as I did writing it!

Adam Wright

Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Core Rulebook Chapter 1 Breakdown

Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game Core Rulebook by Matt Forbeck

Hello Marvel fans and tabletop gamers! I have with me the Core Rulebook for the new TTRPG Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game. I wanted to take a quick look at chapter one of the book. We’ll be going through chapter by chapter on this blog so if you want to, follow along. Some chapters I will take a much deeper look at than others but my goal here is to give you the basic information of what you need to know if you are considering playing this game. When the first adventure for the game comes out, I’ll review that as well.

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through this post I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you)

Chapter 1 – How to Play

Coming in at just five pages, this is one of the shortest chapters in the whole book. There is still plenty of information in the chapter but how relevant it is to you is going to depend on how experienced a TTRPG player you are. If you are an experienced player, most of this chapter is going to sound familiar and a lot of it can simply be skipped. If you are brand new to TTRPG’s you’ll definitely want to read the chapter but, to be honest, there are better sources out there that summarize what a TTRPG is and what is expected in that type of setting.

The essential things to know in the chapter are what you need to play, the ways to make your table a safe setting for everyone, and the house rules section.

All you need to play is the book, a group of friends, a set of 6 sided dice, character sheets and something to write with. It’s a pretty standard list for most TTRPG’s and it’s not too hard to come up with the materials so entry into this game is pretty easy.

The section about using safety tools for your TTRPG’s has some good advice in it which applies to basically all role playing games. What it gets down to is making sure everyone is on the same page with what kind of game you want to play, being considerate of everyone at the table, and making sure you have ways to make the game friendly and fun for all involved.

One thing they do recommend, and I strongly agree with, is having a session zero. If you’re not familiar with this concept, think of it as a session where you meet with your players to go over any ground rules, make characters, decide on what kind of game they are looking to play and making sure you as the Narrator don’t cross any lines that would make the game a traumatic experience for anyone.

There is also a list of recommended safety tools which are all very helpful. For a superhero game, these may be a little less necessary than in something like a dark horror game, but they are always good to have.

The book mentions that there are an infinite number of universes in the Marvel multiverse so your game is playing in your own unique version of that idea.

Finally, the chapter lets Narrators know they are free to change rules as they see fit at their table. This is also fairly standard in most TTRPG’s but it’s always nice to see the official rulebook acknowledge that players can make the game into their own, with the permission of the publisher. I’m sure there will be plenty of rules I’ll be homebrewing in the course of my game but I do try to stick to rules as written when I can.

In Conclusion

There’s really not a lot to go over in this chapter. If you are experienced with TTRPG’s feel free to sail right past this one. If this is your first game, read it but just remember this is a pretty short resource to get you started. In fact, some of the safety tools mentioned in this chapter have a larger, and in some cases better, breakdown of what a TTRPG really is and how to make sure everyone has a good time.

Next time, we’ll also be looking at a short chapter but there will be a lot more of a breakdown as we get into the core mechanics. In the meantime, if you are interested enough to buy the book, check out how to do that below. Otherwise, see you next time!

To read that post just click here.

How to Buy the book

If you have read enough to realize this is a game you want to try out there are a few things you can do to get it. The different methods have some pros and cons so I’ll go into that a bit as well.

And, I’m not trying to make the hard sell here but if you want to help out this blog, buying through the links below goes a long way and it won’t cost you any extra.

  1. You can pick up a copy at your local friendly gaming store. The books should run around $50-60 bucks and not only do you get to support a local business, you get to walk away with a copy in your hot little hands that day, no muss, no fuss.
  2. You can buy a hardcover copy on Amazon for $53.99. This is a great way to get the core book, although it does come with a hefty price tag and of course you will need to wait for it to be shipped to you. If you want to help this blog out buy your copy here.
  3. You can get a copy for Roll20 for $49.99 on drivethrurpg. However, a couple of warnings here. First off, you’re not getting a physical version of the book this way. Also, you need to have an account on the Roll20 Virtual Table Top in order to access the content. (This is a free account and there’s a link in the purchase description on the Drivethrurpg site if you don’t already have one) Finally, and this is my biggest complaint about this purchase method, if you buy this through Drivethrurpg you are not getting a PDF of the book. As far as I can tell, there is no way to get a PDF of this book at this point. If you do want to buy this version and use it on Roll20 it’s a great option. And if you want to help this blog out you can buy your copy here.
  4. If you happen to have Marvel Unlimited, you can get the test version of the book by typing in Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Playtest Rulebook. This will be an earlier edition and some of the rules have changed but it’s got the basics.
  5. If you don’t have Marvel Unlimited and you are willing to shell out $10 to get the Playtest book, you can get it on Amazon. If you want to help out this blog buy it here. Again, it’s not the full current book but it does cover the basics and it gets you started at a much lower price point.

Special Bundles

If you are all in on the game and have cash to spare you could really go all out in a couple of ways.

  1. You could buy the Core Rulebook and pre-order the upcoming adventure module MARVEL MULTIVERSE ROLE PLAYING GAME: THE CATACLYSM OF KANG and the upcoming MARVEL MULTIVERSE ROLE PLAYING GAME: X-MEN EXPANSION books. Getting all three at once will run you around $135. If you’d like to help out this blog just make your purchase through one of the linked titles above.
  2. If you are already big time into Roll20 anyway, the best value through drivethrurpg is to get the Marvel Multiverse RPG Roll20 Mega Bundle. This will give you the core rulebook, a short module made for the Roll20 system called Revenge of the Super-Skrull, and the preoder for The Cataclysm of Kang. Just remember this is only for Roll20 and does not include PDF’s. To help out this blog, buy it here.

Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Core Rulebook Review

Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game Core Rulebook by Matt Forbeck

Hello Marvel fans! Hello tabletop gamers! If you’re like me these interests are not mutually exclusive and I’ve gotten my hot little hands on a copy of the Core Rulebook for the new Marvel Multiverse Roleplaying game by Matt Forbeck. I did a post about this book earlier where I compared the system to a few others you might want to play which you can read here. But now that I have had a chance to read and fully digest the book, I want to give a review of the content itself. In future posts I will go through the book chapter by chapter to let you know what parts I think are exceptionally good, which ones are tragically bad, and where I think improvements can be made for use at your home table. This post is just my overall impressions and initial takeaways. I’ll lightly touch on a few topics to let you know what I think but be on the look out for more in-depth content on this game in the future.

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through this post I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you)

First Impressions

On the first page of the book there is a dedication to Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. To me, this is a nearly perfect dedication. If you could somehow throw George Lucas in there it would be the ultimate book for me. But it’s pretty darn close. If you’re a comic book nerd and a Dungeons & Dragons nerd, this book has you covered. And upon reading it’s also clear the book was made by someone who loves both Marvel comics and tabletop roleplaying games. It doesn’t feel like just fan service, although it’s obviously for fans of Marvel and D&D.

The book is well organized, giving chapters on everything from general advice for Game Masters to character creation to an extremely brief but helpful summary of the Marvel Multiverse. And, of course, it covers the basic rules of the game, including tons of cool powers and character sheets you can copy for use at home.

This being a Marvel book, I would be remiss not to talk about the artwork. It would have been easy for Marvel to phone this in with just a bit of old artwork and call it good. But they went the extra mile. There are some iconic images you’ll recognize from your favorite comics. And there is a ton of artwork in here, all dynamic and exciting, making it really easy to get in the mood to play a superhero game.

I should also mention there are a whole lot of premade characters you can use in your own game. Most TTRPGs give you five to ten characters that are ready to go but Marvel was smart about this. They knew if you were playing in a Marvel game, you might very well want to play one of your favorite superheroes (or villains). They did a lot of heavy lifting and you can find over a hundred Marvel characters to play, ranging from an A.I.M. Agent to Dormammu and beyond. One notable character missing is Silver Surfer but I guess you can’t win ’em all. You can also use several of these characters as NPC’s making it easy to find inspiration as a Game Master (in this case called a Narrator).

One thing I would say is lacking here is an introductory adventure. While having the rules laid out and tons of characters is awesome, it helps the Narrator to conceptualize how the game is played if there is at least one short adventure. There will be a full adventure coming out in November but it would have been nice to have something to start with. You can get an introductory adventure on Roll20 if you really want but it’s not a PDF and if you are like me and mostly play in person, that’s not a ton of help.

Say Hello to the D616 System

The system in this book can best be described as 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons converted into three six sided dice. There are a few more bells and whistles to it, and definitely some things targeted to working well with superheroes rather than fantasy characters. It does require a bit of math, both addition and multiplication, and it gets more complex in the higher Ranks (what you would think of as levels in D&D). However, the system is simple enough that anyone who has played a TTRPG will pick it up, and even if you haven’t, it shouldn’t take a great deal of time to learn.

There are some really fun mechanics in the system, especially when it comes to what they call the Marvel die. And the powers are a blast in the way they play around with the mechanics, allowing you to do everything from rolling your body up into a ball like Mr. Fantastic, swinging on webs like Spider-Man, or being tossed like Colossus tosses Wolverine in a fastball special.

I’ll be writing a lot more about the system in the weeks to come but overall, it’s great because it’s accessible, it’s quick to learn, and you need a minimal amount of materials to play it.

Future Potential for the Game

I’ve mentioned there is an adventure coming in November but there is also an X-Men expansion and a Spider-Verse expansion due out next year. To me this is a good signal because it means Marvel must think the game has some staying power. I hope this turns out to be the case, although Marvel does have some stiff competition in the TTRPG space, even from other superhero games.

I’m an advocate for more people to play TTRPG’s of any kind and I’m always looking for something that would be interesting to a large amount of people, be appropriate for most age groups, and lead them on to other games. Because of the sheer popularity of the Marvel name, and because you really do only need three six sided dice to play, I feel like this could be that game. Even if you’re not a Marvel fan, you’ve heard of it. And the rules are not so complicated it feels like homework rather than a game.

Most importantly, for a TTRPG to continually succeed, it needs new players. Well, a kid who is in a comic shop to buy the latest issue of Spider-Man and is somewhat curious about a table top role playing game but isn’t really into all that dragon stuff could do a lot worse than this book. In other words, I see this as having the potential to be a gateway TTRPG which expands the hobby.

For that to happen, people will need to buy, and play this game. I’m hoping we’ll see evolving editions, rules errata, and all of the usual stuff that goes with a big TTRPG here. The Core Rulebook is a good start but it will need some attention to flourish. This depends on Marvel as much as it does the community. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens in the future.

Experienced Game Masters Needed

While the book does have some sections on how to be a Narrator, this feels much more like a player’s guide than a Narrator’s guide. This means to effectively run the game, you’ll likely want at least one person in your group to be an experienced GM. This is further complicated by the fact there is not a starting adventure to show you the ropes.

It’s certainly not going to be impossible for someone to learn to GM from this book but it will be a much bigger learning curve than in some other games. There are some rules that seems contradictory or that could easily be abused by players. When those kinds of things crop up, it’s certainly better to have someone who has run a few TTRPGs before to handle it.

While I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from buying or playing the game, I do think having someone experienced at the table is going to make things easier.

Reasons Not to Buy the Book

This is not a game that is going to be for everyone. If you are not into superheroes, this isn’t for you. I’m not judging at all, everyone has their own taste, but if what you love is high fantasy, this game isn’t going to scratch that itch.

Also, if you’re a D&D rules purist who only wants to look back on the good old days and play some OSR style games, I suspect this will not be your cup of tea as it’s not as complicated as a lot of other systems.

There will definitely be things you may want to homebrew or make house rules for here if you do buy the book but it by no means needs a complete rules overhaul. I’ve seen a few people online already complain about the system and want to make a ton of changes without even having played the game. I say, if you’re going to do that, maybe try another system instead.

There are tons of TTRPG’s out there and if this one isn’t for you, just find one that is.

Reasons to Buy the Book

If you do love superheroes and you love TTRPG’s this should be right up your alley. You’re not limited to just existing Marvel characters either. You can make up your own whacky superhero or villain, give them your own Marvel style origin and twist and be off to the races playing as your character against someone like Dr. Doom.

If you haven’t played TTRPGs before and are looking to get into one, this might be the perfect book at the perfect time. While there is a lot of comic book history with Marvel, this game doesn’t have the same kind of version history as something like Dungeons & Dragons. You won’t find rules here that have been in existence for thirty years just because it was in the original version. And, as it’s a newer game, Marvel has a lot of support for it right now which should make it an easier entry point.

There will also be more to come so getting into the game now might be just a bit more fun as you can play yourself and then onboard people who you know might be interested. You don’t even need to convince them to buy all those oddly shaped dice you see everywhere.

How to Buy the book

If you have read enough to realize this is a game you want to try out there are a few things you can do to get it. The different methods have some pros and cons so I’ll go into that a bit as well.

And, I’m not trying to make the hard sell here but if you want to help out this blog, buying through the links below goes a long way and it won’t cost you any extra.

  1. You can pick up a copy at your local friendly gaming store. The books should run around $50-60 bucks and not only do you get to support a local business, you get to walk away with a copy in your hot little hands that day, no muss, no fuss.
  2. You can buy a hardcover copy on Amazon for $53.99. This is a great way to get the core book, although it does come with a hefty price tag and of course you will need to wait for it to be shipped to you. If you want to help this blog out buy your copy here.
  3. You can get a copy for Roll20 for $49.99 on drivethrurpg. However, a couple of warnings here. First off, you’re not getting a physical version of the book this way. Also, you need to have an account on the Roll20 Virtual Table Top in order to access the content. (This is a free account and there’s a link in the purchase description on the Drivethrurpg site if you don’t already have one) Finally, and this is my biggest complaint about this purchase method, if you buy this through Drivethrurpg you are not getting a PDF of the book. As far as I can tell, there is no way to get a PDF of this book at this point. If you do want to buy this version and use it on Roll20 it’s a great option. And if you want to help this blog out you can buy your copy here.
  4. If you happen to have Marvel Unlimited, you can get the test version of the book by typing in Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Playtest Rulebook. This will be an earlier edition and some of the rules have changed but it’s got the basics.
  5. If you don’t have Marvel Unlimited and you are willing to shell out $10 to get the Playtest book, you can get it on Amazon. If you want to help out this blog buy it here. Again, it’s not the full current book but it does cover the basics and it gets you started at a much lower price point.

Special Bundles

If you are all in on the game and have cash to spare you could really go all out here in a couple of ways.

  1. You could buy the Core Rulebook and pre-order the upcoming adventure module MARVEL MULTIVERSE ROLE PLAYING GAME: THE CATACLYSM OF KANG and the upcoming MARVEL MULTIVERSE ROLE PLAYING GAME: X-MEN EXPANSION books. Getting all three at once will run you around $135. If you’d like to help out this blog just make your purchase through one of the linked titles above.
  2. If you are already big time into Roll20 anyway, the best value through drivethrurpg is to get the Marvel Multiverse RPG Roll20 Mega Bundle. This will give you the core rulebook, a short module made for the Roll20 system called Revenge of the Super-Skrull, and the preoder for The Cataclysm of Kang. Just remember this is only for Roll20 and does not include PDF’s. To help out this blog, buy it here.

In Conclusion

Overall, I really think this book has potential and I want to see it succeed as a game. As with any game, there will be issues and there will be the need to make some changes here and there. But, if you want to have a good time with a superhero game. this seems like a fantastic success.

Next time I’ll dive into Chapter 1 of the book How to Play. Until then, have fun out there and make mine Marvel!

Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Core Rulebook Review

Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Core Rulebook
Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game Core Rulebook by Matt Forbeck

Hey Marvel and TTRPG fans! Two of my favorite things have come together in the newly released Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game Core Rulebook. I wanted to give my thoughts here. If you love Marvel and you love role playing games, this book is likely for you. However, if you’re just looking for a good TTRPG involving caped crusaders and villainous villains, there may be better options. I’m going to take a look at what is good and bad about Marvel’s new foray into TTRPG’s. And I’ll give you a couple of alternatives if this one isn’t for you.

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through this post I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you)

What is the Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game?

The Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game is exactly what it sounds like. Have you ever imagined what it would be like be Daredevil swinging on a flagpole going after bad guys? Put two fingers into your palm and said thwip while pretending you are webbing up a scientist with eight arms? This TTRPG lets you dive into those ideas with a rule structure and six sided dice to determine the outcome. Want to know who would win in a fight between any Marvel characters? This game lets you do that.

You can play any kind of super powered being you want. Whether it’s a sorcerer supreme, a woman with cosmic powers, or a teenager who can communicate with squirrels, you can do it. And you can invent your own hero (or villain). All you need is a group of friends to have all kinds of adventures.

The idea is simple, you make a character, you have one person in your group be the game master (in this case the Narrator) to guide the story. The Narrator controls the non-player characters while the rest of the players just control what their own characters do.

If you have played a role playing game before you’ll definitely catch on quickly. Even if you haven’t, if you’ve pretended to be a super hero before, you’ll still catch on. You’ll just be asked to roll some dice in the middle of it.

Is it Hard to Make a Character?

Compared to a lot of systems, character creation is pretty simple here. The book also gives you a bunch of pre-made profiles of some of your Marvel favorites you can use immediately if you don’t want to take the time to make your own character. There is still some math involved and there is a huge list of powers and origin stories you can use. There’s also a guide to quick character creation if you want to make your own character but not spend tons of time on it.

And, if you want a little preview of what the character sheet looks like, you can even download a copy for free from drivethrurpg right here. It’s totally free and if you are an experienced TTRPG player, you’ll probably get a quick idea of what they are going for here.

Are the Rules Complicated?

Again, compared to other systems, the rules here are not overly complicated. Marvel created their own system called the d616 system. Yes, that’s 616 like the number for the main Marvel universe. Also, eagle eyed gamers will have spotted that the abilities listed on the character sheet are Melee, Agility, Resilience, Vigilance, Ego and Logic which spells out MARVEL. Clever!

The really nice thing about this system is you only need three six sided dice. There are instances where you can get bonuses or take penalties but you never need more than three six sided dice and since everyone has those already, there is no need to go looking for the full set of gaming dice which can be harder to find. It’s also helpful for younger players because it’s almost certain they’ve used six sided dice before so it’s familiar.

How much math is there?

There is a fair amount of crunchiness when it comes to the powers and how they work and what level they are at and things like that. But with the premade characters, a lot of that work is already done for you ahead of time. If you want to fully dive into making your own character, there’s going to be more math involved but it’s not nearly as complicated as building a character in something like Dungeons & Dragons.

There is a bit more of a heavy lift for the Narrator here because there isn’t a pre-made adventure in the core book. However, if you’ve seen the play test version of these rules, you’ll see a couple of significant changes that make the rules a bit more streamlined than they were in that book.

There are also fairly extensive rules on combat and how that works. But then again, half the point of superheroes is that they will get in a fight with someone anyway. It is a section you’ll probably need to reference more than once though.

If you’re a seasoned TTRPG player, this ruleset will be no trouble for you. If you’ve never played a TTRPG before, this will take a bit of reading, practice and some math to get used to but it’s nothing impossible.

Who is This Game For?

One criticism I have for this book is the rules seem like they are not quite complicated enough for seasoned D&D players and not quite simple enough for people who have never played any TTRPG’s. While I don’t think this is insurmountable, it does mean, I don’t think this game is for everybody.

If you are a huge Marvel fan and love TTRPG’s, this is the book to buy. It’s also a very accessible game. If you have never played a TTRPG but you know about Marvel, you can find some ground to start on. If you’ve always wanted to play a TTRPG but found things like Dungeons & Dragons too intimidating, this is a pretty good compromise. Just know there will still be a learning curve.

The book is certainly suitable for younger kids as long as they can read and do a little bit of math. And as adults, you can always scale it up a bit to make it more adult oriented. The game allows you to imagine playing anything from a Saturday morning cartoon Spider-Man episode to a gritty Walking Dead-like Marvel Zombies scenario made for mature audiences only.

The game is not for people who are sick and tired of super heroes or have had it with Marvel for whatever reason. It’s for comic book fans, and you don’t have to be a Marvel specific fan, but it helps.

If you want to play your own unique superhero but in a Marvel setting, this is a good game for that. But, if you want to make your own unique superhero in a completely unique setting, you might be better off with a different superhero TTRPG instead. (I have some recommendations below if this is you)

Where Can I get a Copy of the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Books?

If you have read enough to realize this is a game you want to try out there are a few things you can do to get it. The different methods have some pros and cons so I’ll go into that a bit as well.

And, I’m not trying to make the hard sell here but if you want to help out this blog, buying through the links below goes a long way and it won’t cost you any extra.

Physical retailers

You can pick up a copy at your local friendly gaming store. The books should run around $50-60 bucks and not only do you get to support a local business, you get to walk away with a copy in your hot little hands that day, no muss, no fuss.

You can buy a hardcover copy on Amazon for $53.99. This is a great way to get the core book, although it does come with a hefty price tag and of course you will need to wait for it to be shipped to you. If you want to help this blog out buy your copy here.

    Digital versions

    You can get a copy for Roll20 for $49.99 on drivethrurpg. However, a couple of warnings here. First off, you’re not getting a physical version of the book this way. Also, you need to have an account on the Roll20 Virtual Table Top in order to access the content. (This is a free account and there’s a link in the purchase description on the Drivethrurpg site if you don’t already have one) Finally, and this is my biggest complaint about this purchase method, if you buy this through Drivethrurpg you are not getting a PDF of the book. As far as I can tell, there is no way to get a PDF of this book at this point. If you do want to buy this version and use it on Roll20 it’s a great option. And if you want to help this blog out you can buy your copy here.

    If you happen to have Marvel Unlimited, you can get the test version of the book by typing in Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Playtest Rulebook. This will be an earlier edition and some of the rules have changed but it’s got the basics.

    If you don’t have Marvel Unlimited and you are willing to shell out $10 to get the Playtest book, you can get it on Amazon. If you want to help out this blog buy it here. Again, it’s not the full current book but it does cover the basics and it gets you started at a much lower price point.

      Special Bundles

      If you are all in on the game and have cash to spare you could really go all out here in a couple of ways.

      1. You could buy the Core Rulebook and pre-order the upcoming adventure module Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game: The Cataclysm of Kang and the upcoming Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game: X-Men Expansion books. Getting all three at once will run you around $135. If you’d like to help out this blog just make your purchase through one of the linked titles above.
      2. If you are already big time into Roll20 anyway, the best value through drivethrurpg is to get the Marvel Multiverse RPG Roll20 Mega Bundle. This will give you the core rulebook, a short module made for the Roll20 system called Revenge of the Super-Skrull, and the preoder for The Cataclysm of Kang. Just remember this is only for Roll20 and does not include PDF’s. To help out this blog, buy it here.

      Are there Other Systems to use?

      I get it. Not everyone is a Marvelite and some people just want to play a costumed superhero (or villain) in their own way. I totally support that. If you want, you could probably come up with Batman stats for the Marvel game but that takes a lot of work and there are some systems better suited to that job.

      If you’re not going to play the Marvel TTRPG, I’ve got a couple suggestions for you.

      Mutants and Masterminds

      Mutants and Masterminds is a game which only uses a d20 and allows you to play any kind of super powered being you can imagine. There is work you have to put in because it’s not a setting you may be familiar with. To start playing in this system I recommend getting the Mutants & Masterminds Deluxe Hero’s Handbook. And if you are going to be the GM I also recommend getting the Mutants & Masterminds Gamemaster’s Guide. The GM’s guide is around $18 and the Hero’s handbook is around $20. This is for PDF’s on drivethrurpg, not hard covers. If you do want the hardcover I recommend buying this one at your local friendly gaming store.

      The Valiant Universe

      The Valiant Universe of comics has its own roleplaying game. This is great for a few reasons. First, Valiant makes some great comics and they are overlooked. This means it’s a rich universe of heroes but ones you may not be familiar with. Secondly, the rules system here is rules light meaning you can jump in and play almost immediately. You can play established heroes in their universe or you can make up your own. The best value here is to get a bundle. This will give you the RPG books but also gives you a few comics to read so you can get an idea of what kind of universe you are playing in. The bundle will just be PDF’s but you get 5 books total (2 RPG books and 3 first volumes of comics) for just $20. To get the bundle buy it here.

      Masks

      Masks is a superhero TTRPG using the rules-light system used in Apocalypse World. You make characters along the lines of Young Justice, or Young Avengers. It’s fairly simple system with some fun stuff in it and it allows you to play an angsty teen with lots of problems who is not necessarily named Peter Parker. The best way to get in on the action for this game is to buy the core book PDF Masks: A New Generation for $14 on drivethrurpg. It’s a good starting point for this game and if you get into it, there are plenty more books to expand your library. If you’re interested in this one, buy it here.

        In Conclusion

        Is the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game for everyone? The short answer is no. But if you do love comics (especially Marvel comics) it’s great fun. To try to keep this somewhat short I’ve listed the pros and cons of this game as I see them.

        Pros

        • Easily accessible IP most people are familiar with
        • Rules are mildly complicated but don’t take a huge amount of effort
        • Character creation is a breeze, especially if you use the pre-made characters
        • You only need six sided dice to play
        • There are a massive amount of powers and characters to choose from
        • The artwork in this book is as outstanding as you would expect from a company like Marvel
        • You only need to buy one book in order to play

        Cons

        • The book does not include an adventure module
        • While you can make your own characters and settings, there may be better systems for that
        • The book is a little pricey at over $50
        • You can’t purchase it as a PDF at this time
        • While almost anyone can play, you might want a more experienced game master to take on the role of Narrator at first
        • If you want to play mutants, you’ll likely need to wait for the expansion which does not come out until April of next year

        Well, I hope this post has been helpful. If you have played the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game, I’d love to hear about it. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

        If you want to see more of my thoughts on this game, click here!

        Top 5 Solo TTRPGs

        DriveThruRPG.com

        Hello TTRPG fans! It’s Slick Dungeon here. You know how it’s awesome to have a group of friends to game with? Well, it is! But, do you also know how it can be nearly impossible to get a whole group of people together because of scheduling, work, family obligations and the fact that no one can even agree on a game to play sometimes? I’ve got a solution for you. Try one of my favorite solo TTRPGs! These are all available on Drivethrurpg and are worth checking out. Some are games in and of themselves and others are ways to adapt a great game. These are in no particular order and they are just my favorites. Let’s get right into it!

        5. Alone in the Dark, Solo Rules for Blades in the Dark

        Alone in the Dark

        Blades in the Dark is a game where everyone basically plays a rogue. It’s full of heists and scoundrels and infiltrating cults and all the awesome sneaky stuff you love if you love rogues. But did you know you can play this one without a Game Master? All you need is this rulebook for going it alone. It’s $3.99 if you want just the PDF (probably all you need really) but if you want to pay a little more you can get a softcover or a hardcover for $10.99 Check it out here.

        4. Dungeons & Dragons

        The Wolves of Langston

        There are a bunch of different 5E adventures I could put here but The Wolves of Langston is one I have played and enjoyed. It doesn’t take a ton of work upfront as long as you know 5E rules. You basically just make a character and off you go on this adventure. You can get it for $19.99. Check it out here.

        3. Call of Cthulhu

        Alone Against the Flames

        I really can’t recommend this one enough. I love Alone Against the Flames and I’ve played it several times, usually coming to a rather tragic end. It’s fun and it teaches you the rules of Call of Cthulhu so it is perfect for beginners. You can grab this for $12. Check it out here. Plus, if you love this, there are a whole bunch more of the Alone Against series which are really fun to play.

        2. Stars Without Number

        Stars Without Number Solo

        Feeling spacey and want to play in the vast expanse of the universe? Stars Without Number is a great game with a solid rule set but it’s tough to play without a group. Unless, you have the Solo Adventures ruleset for the game. This one is a bargain at $5 for the PDF (probably all you need) or you can splurge and get a hard or soft copy for around double the price. Check it out here.

        1. Ironsworn

        Ironsworn

        There’s a reason Ironsworn is at the top of everyone’s solo rpg list. First, it’s got that full fantasy flavor you want. Second. it’s nice and gritty if you want it to be, or you can scale it back a little to give your hero a bit more of a chance to succeed. Third, it has everything you need to play on your own right there, including rules, setting, character creation and advice on how to play the game in a few different ways. And last but not least, you can get this for the fantastic price of nothing. That’s right! If you get the digital version it won’t cost you a penny. You can, of course, pay more for the print versions if you wish but the entry point here is free. Check it out here.

        Well, that’s my list. Now, go out and get yourself something to play when your group falls through and have fun!

        Solitarily yours,

        Slick Dungeon