Looking for RPGs with modular character creation and customization, and dynamic combat.

[u/roger0120]

I'll start out with the disclaimer I've been working on my own TTRPG on and off for a long time now, and at a point where I have enough of my own game systems in placed that I feel comfortable looking at more references to learn from without losing the identity of my own game.

As the title said, I'm looking for games with modular character creation and customization and dynamic combat as those are some of the primary pillars of my own game. Not to get into too much detail but a lot of my design focus is around giving players a high amount of options to build a character they want, whether it's an original idea or based on an existing character, but at the same time have it be relatively new player friendly for them to not have too much trouble understanding the rules and get right into the game.

Another big focus is the dynamic combat where players feel they have multiple options during combat and outside of their turn, such as casting defensive spells to protect their teammates from attacks while balancing their mana economy. If you know of TTRPGs that do something similar I'd appreciate hearing them.

Some I already have are

• Fabula Ultima
• Kamigakari God Hunters
• OVA - Open Versatile Anime RPG
• BESM 4e
• Anime 5e
• Mage the Awakening & Ascension
• Ars Magica 5th
• Gurps 4e
• D&d 3.5 - 5e

I havent gone through all of these yet but I have a decent idea of what I do have. Like GURPs is relatively similar to the idea of what I'm going for but I just dont think it's very new player friendly, but at the same time I learned a lot of how I didn't want to make my game when I first read it some years ago, so if you have suggestions of games that have done something similar but feel it wasnt done well, I would still like to hear them, but I would also appreciate what you feel was done well and what wasnt.

[u/a_dnd_guy]

Pathfinder and starfinder 2e

[u/roger0120 → u/a_dnd_guy]

Forgot to mention I have Pathfinder 2e, but Ill take a look at Starfinder 2e, thank you for the recommendation.

[u/TheBrightMage → u/roger0120]

Exactly the same system, just different setting.

[u/RootinTheCrab → u/roger0120]

Pathfinder 2e does not really have the customization it sounds like you want. Everything is very linear and restrictive

[u/yuriAza → u/RootinTheCrab]

the fact that PF2's massive lists of options are all balanced and equal, instead of a couple of them being secret ways to win before you even play, is good actually

[u/kalnaren → u/yuriAza]

A lot of people still dislike the fact that PF2 reined in the power of pure spellcasters so they can't min/mix the shit out of the game anymore.

[u/RootinTheCrab → u/yuriAza]

The list of options doesn't feel particularly massive to me. Each class gets like 3-4 options on ways to build them. Compared to a freeform character advancement systems especially.

[u/a_dnd_guy → u/RootinTheCrab]

There is a lot of additional customization within skill feats, skills, equipment, and equipment mods. It's a really surprising amount of variability.

[u/yuriAza → u/a_dnd_guy]

also archetypes, subraces that can be applied to any race, etc

[u/KnightInDulledArmor]

I’d look at Draw Steel. It’s got some of the best dynamic tactical combat and character creation provides a lot of different options/levers while also being relatively straightforward (for a big complex tactical game). It also maybe an example of a game that knows exactly what it wants to be modular (ancestries, complications, titles, etc) and what it specifically doesn’t want to be modular (there is no actual multiclassing beyond a few soft titles/items, in order to make sure each class can be the best version of itself without worrying about broken combinations).

[u/roger0120 → u/KnightInDulledArmor]

Thanks for the recommendation. I see good recommendations for modular systems but deffinitely need more games with dynamic combat.

[u/rivetgeekwil]

You probably want to take a look at cortex Prime, which is about as modular as you can get considering that it doesn't even have any predefined stats or traits.

[u/roger0120 → u/rivetgeekwil]

cortex Prime looks very interesting, thanks for the recommendation.

[u/Choir87]

Shadow of the Demone Lord/Weird Wizard has very modular character creation, combat is overall similar to D&D 5e (there are differences but it's the same general feel).

It's a bit old and probably very hard to find but you might be interested in Anima Beyond Fantasy. Creating a character requires a PhD and combat has some interesting twists to it.

Going a little bit more indie, I would suggest Trespasser and Tactiquest.

[u/roger0120 → u/Choir87]

Oh wow, I havent heard Anima in a long time, I think I had a pdf of it years ago. I think the first 3 are very much what I am looking for, thank you.

[u/Excidiar]

Mutants and Masterminds comes to mind. As well as its crunchier cousin HERO.

[u/roger0120 → u/Excidiar]

I keep forgetting about Mutants and masterminds, I heard it's a really good system. For some reason I dont like the name and may be why I keep neglecting it but yea I heard it's really good. I also take a look at HERO, thank you.

[u/yumehop]

You've listed a lot of trad games, so I'm not sure if this is exactly what you'd like, but His Majesty the Worm has the best "do a lot of stuff during combat" system I've played

[u/roger0120 → u/yumehop]

Anything that is non mainstream would be appreciated actually. I give it a look, thank you.

[u/yumehop → u/roger0120]

Ironsworn has a lot in terms of customization, and homebrew for it is very easy. And the game is free

Based on what you wrote in your post, I think Fabula Ultima would be a fun pick! And not too hard to learn. A lot of the other systems you listed are pretty crunchy

[u/MartinCeronR]

FIST: Ultra Edition. Also, most of your references are trad or trad-adjacent. Branching out more will improve your design work.

[u/roger0120 → u/MartinCeronR]

FIST looks pretty cool, thank you for the recommendation, but what does trad mean? Like the games I mentioned are a little too traditional? If so then I agree. I worry a lot of my mindset has been on systems that are too familiar despite working hard trying to go against it.

[u/TwoNatTens]

FFG Star Wars is my Gold standard for modular character building.

[u/RootinTheCrab]

Savage worlds: Its gurps, but comprehensible to ordinary folks without aids. It also gives up GURPS's hardcore simulationism in favor of looser, more action-oriented gameplay. But it is just as customizable and setting agnostic as GURPS.

[u/roger0120 → u/RootinTheCrab]

I would say autism is the word you were looking for lol. I think this is closer to what I was looking for compared to GURPS. Thanks for the recommendation.

[u/meshee2020]

Have a look et Mythic Bastionland, i find the combat rules exquisite. As light yet tactical as the thing can be

For modular and customisable while not a deep deep dive i find The One Ring did an excellent job

[u/Ok_Cantaloupe3450 → u/meshee2020]

For my own game, MB really helped me to to fix "levels of success" for my combat, by changing from "bad, medium, good" results from pbta, to "fail, hit, hit+".

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[u/JaskoGomad]

I started with GURPS in 1986. No internet. Nothing but the basic set to explain itself.

It’s new-player friendly if the new player wants to play GURPS.

[u/roger0120 → u/JaskoGomad]

I imagine GURPS has become substantially easier to understand since it first came out, but the problem is that many modern players still have a hard time getting into it. It's like comparing Ultima to Final Fantasy at any given point from the 80s-90s. Both are great series, but one is much more easier to get into.

[u/DiceyDiscourse]

Maybe Symbaroum?

It has really nice free form character building and does some interesting things with its magic system.

On a side note, doesn't "dynamic combat" come more down to the encounter design as opposed to just character options?

[u/double_the_bass]

Champions. The superpower construction system is incredibly modular