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Dungeons and Dragons Fourth edition is about to come out and already gamers are dividing on the implications: posting blood-vendettas against strangers over the net based on their “opinions”, cursing the eyes of the first born of it’s writers/designers, and generally displaying the kind of obsessive past-time passion that makes us so popular with the ladies. ( …right.) Myself — long time fan, player, and game master of D&D and D20 — I could give less than a fuck (the value of an arthritic hand job to be exact).

Indie games are drawing my interest. RPGs for gamers by gamers (like Fubu, but Fogbyg — not as cool or pronounceable), instead of those captained by some marketing exec that used to give swirlies and wedgies in high school to the D&D players. Selling points: less expensive books (less books altogether); higher quality (writers writing what they like to write about); better support (direct contact with designers, not ticket 1365 in a Customer Service e-mail server).

All of these things I’ve found specifically in Fantastic Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment, or FATE, by Fred Hicks and Rob Donoghue from Evil Hat Games (“Fantastic” sounds cocky, but they’re walk’in the walk). FATE is a simple point-buy system with narrative mechanics (calm down mouth-breather, I‘ll explain).

D&D has classes, levels, and class powers based on level (lots of referencing, cross-referencing, and comparison to get what you want); FATE uses descriptive verbal Aspects that define your character and bonus their rolls for actions when applicable in the plot (imaginative and free-form). Example: a non-gamer girl you’ve met up with from match.com asks about your character in this “role-playing hobby” you were dumb enough to mention in your profile:

You reply, ”Oh, he’s Sir Paragus, a 12^th level paladin with 25 charisma that aids his power to Lay on Hands and has a Rod of Lordly Might.” Jargon confused and scared, she fakes receiving a cell call before walking out of the coffee shop to never return. (this did NOT happen to me)

With FATE, you’d reply, “He’s Sir Paragus, a knight of the Just Order that’s devoted to protecting his people and living up to his father’s memory who‘s good with a sword. ” (that’s four aspects) She nods, “Like Vigo in that hobbit movie?”

The description invokes drama that’s relatable and gets her interested. You may still strike out, but you can change the subject back to her interests (a woman’s FAVORITE topic) having answered her question.

If you’re like me, too tired or busy to pour over several books to plan a game — or too poor to buy so many books — or sick of industry guff previews,  give it try. I’ll still check out D&D myself when it comes but I’m not hurting it for like Hasbro wants (Free your mind and your game will follow).

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