10 Fast D&D 5e Alternatives: Rules-Light & Easy TTRPG Systems

From Short Rest Studios · 00:16:51

Show by Jud Kossum

Did last night's game of Dungeons and Dragons feel as slow as running through a gelatinous cube? If you and your players are exhausted by complex rules, sluggish combat, and endless prep, it might be time to explore some fresh tabletop RPG systems.In this episode, Jud counts down ten fantastic TTRPG alternatives that make D&D feel lightning fast. We look at unique fantasy flavors, skeletal rulesets, d6-only mechanics, and rapid character creation, rating each system on its ease of transition for players coming directly from D&D 5e.The 10 Fast-Playing TTRPG Alternatives Covered:Dragonbane: A Swedish classic inspired by RuneQuest featuring d20 roll-under mechanics, low-powered folk heroes, and the iconic "rolling a dragon" critical hit.EZD6: A gonzo, d6-based fantasy system utilizing dice pools, boons, banes, and strikes instead of traditional hit points.Cairn: An ultra-rules-light OSR favorite with three stats, random character creation, and deadly tactical combat.Shadowdark: Modern TTRPG mechanics paired with old-school dungeon crawling, real-time torch timers, and streamlined d20 rolls.Nimble: A streamlined 5e hack featuring combined attack and damage rolls, exploding damage dice, and blazing-fast tactical combat.Knave: An inventory-managed, classless toolkit with slot-based wounds, modular hexcrawls, and extensive d100 generator tables.Five Torches Deep: A gritty, streamlined adaptation that brings the core of 5e closer to true OSR survival.Barbarians of Lemuria: A primal 2d6 sword-and-sorcery system where career paths define character capabilities.Mork Borg: A grimdark, apocalyptic art-punk RPG with brutal combat, swingy mechanics, and a unique scroll-based magic system.Index Card RPG (ICRPG): A rules-light framework built for DIY game masters featuring single-target numbers and turn-based pacing.00:00 - Is Your D&D Game Running Too Slowly?00:30 - 1. Dragonbane (Easy Transition)01:53 - 2. EZD6 (Still Pretty Easy Transition)03:01 - 3. Cairn (Super Easy Transition)04:11 - 4. Shadowdark (Super Easy Transition)05:43 - 5. Nimble (Super Easy Transition)07:43 - 6. Knave (Easy Transition)09:25 - 7. Five Torches Deep (Super Easy Transition)10:59 - 8. Barbarians of Lemuria (Still Pretty Easy Transition)12:16 - 9. Mork Borg (Easy Transition)14:10 - 10. Index Card RPG (Still Pretty Easy Transition)16:02 - Final Thoughts and Moving My Campaign to NimbleGet 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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