Why D&D 5e Sucks at Mysteries (And 5 TTRPGs That Fix It)

From Short Rest Studios · 00:11:16

Show by Jud Kossum

Running a mystery or whodunit in Dungeons and Dragons 5e is doable, but its high powered spell shortcuts like Zone of Truth and combat forward rules make it tricky. D&D simply was not built for investigative gameplay. Just in time for spooky season, Jud counts down 5 tabletop RPGs that get mystery right, from Scooby-Doo style adventures to cosmic horror and sci-fi noir.In this episode, we break down five incredible TTRPG systems that handle clues, tension, and investigation far better than D&D:The Mystery Business: An all-ages, d100 ruleset inspired by classic mystery cartoons like Scooby-Doo. It features zero combat mechanics, focusing entirely on finding clues, managing fear, and setting silly traps.Call of Cthulhu: Chaosium's premier horror RPG built on Basic Role Playing (BRP). Characters focus on investigative skills like spot hidden and anthropology rather than massive hit point pools.Brindlewood Bay: A Powered by the Apocalypse game combining Murder, She Wrote with Lovecraftian horror.Players investigate murder cases without a set killer, building the narrative dynamically.Blade Runner The Role Playing Game: Free League's Year Zero Engine system capturing sci-fi noir, corporate intrigue, and shift-based investigation time limits.Gumshoe System: Pelgrane Press's definitive mystery framework (Night's Black Agents, Trail of Cthulhu). It eliminates failed rolls for clues entirely, keeping the focus on interpreting information.Plus, check out the spotlight on LORE, an indie sci-fantasy TTRPG live on Kickstarter featuring robust class advancement, dynamic encounters, and deep crafting systems.00:00 - Why D&D 5e Struggles with Mystery Games00:43 - 5. The Mystery Business (Scooby-Doo Inspired RPG)02:32 - 4. Call of Cthulhu (Investigative Horror)04:22 - Featured Indie TTRPG: LORE Kickstarter05:07 - 3. Brindlewood Bay (Cozy Horror & PBTAMystery)06:59 - 2. Blade Runner: The Role Playing Game08:49 - 1. Gumshoe System (No-Roll Investigation)10:22 - Final Thoughts and More Horror TTRPGsCheck out LORE on Kickstarter: [INSERT KICKSTARTER LINK HERE]Get Jud's Nimble Adventure "Riddle of the Veiled Isles" on DriveThruRPG:https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/585446/riddle-of-the-veiled-isles-1st-level-adventure-for-nimbleMore ways to support Short Rest Studios!Short Rest Studios Merch: https://short-rest-studios.printify.meShort Rest Studios PDFs: https://www.patreon.com/ShortRestStudios/shopJoin the Adventurers Guild on Patreon: https://Patreon.com/ShortRestStudiosJoin the Discord! https://discord.gg/C89CBNZpbeMy website: https://shortreststudios.comMy DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/?affiliate_id=3260793Shop D&D, DCC, the gear I use to make these videos, and more in my Amazon storefront:https://www.amazon.com/shop/shortreststudiosGet 10% off dice and accessories at https://MistyMountainGaming.com/shortreststudiosGet 10% off game tables and furniture at https://legacygametables.com/shortreststudiosGet 20% off with Homie and the Dude: https://hatdbuilder.com/?coupon=shortrest

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