Onyx (Megan)

Right now I rate this 4/5 primarily due to how setting locked the system is. While I'm actively applying the baseline of the system to other settings, it's not an easy conversion. I'm sure this will change when Plotweaver - the generic/srd version of the game launches. After playing this system for well over a year, I can say whole-heartedly that this system is perfect for low or hard magic campaigns. Every talent shines uniquely and every level feels important. The system combines narrative impact with gained mechanics through its Goal-Reward system while granting alternative options in combat to let non-combatants feel important and useful. Combat is danferous and dynamic, Social encounters are engaging, Endeavors let all characters shine. These are aspects that I tend to find missing in other d20 games like Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, and Dragonbane. The only downside is despite the uniqueness of the system, there aren't clear adaptation rules. The bestiary is greatly lacking for in-universe play and there are almost no guidelines for creating your own as it stands. Not to mention the Stormlight Rulebook is, as you can expect, very Stormlight Archive focused, making the system hard to adapt. But if you are a Brandon Sanderson fan and enjoy creative solutions to problems, this system is definitely one for you!

Legend in the Mist is a narrative storytelling between the Lore Master and the players. While it does require a little more thought into the backstory of the characters than some other systems, this game focuses mainly around the player characters and how they interact with the story around them. Growing when their weaknesses rear itself, abandoning quests and focusing on new aspects of themselves, or improving skills they've relied upon as the story continues to be weaved grants unique moments of characterization that is sometimes left out in other games. The system is fluid, focusing more on what's important about the characters at this moment than things like "class" or "species", which allows players who want to play as certain characters able to do so within the narrative. Overall, I give it a 5/5 for what it does and is meant to provide. I hope much more evolves from this new system!

One of the first campaigns for the 5th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons, this adventure takes place in the Forgotten Realms and follows the events that lead up to the reformed Cult of the Dragon summoning Tiamat into the Material Plane from the Infernal Hells. While iconic, as it combines Horde of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat into one epic adventure, it is both linear and rigid with how it plays out. Many events in the first half of the adventure prove to be futile by the end, either forcefully allowing certain enemies to have plot armor as they are supposed to appear later in the story or by having players find red herrings along the plot. There are other problematic concepts in this storyline that directly lay in conflict with previously set up lore found in the Forgotten Realms setting guides of previous editions and even in the 5th Edition settings. That stated, the concept of the return of the Dragon Queen Tiamat is such an imposing one. It is best for new players who don't want to think a lot about the choices without any changes. For Game Masters who would like a heavy lore implicated adventure and are willing to put in the extra effort it takes to make this adventure truly unique, this is a good adventure to really showcase your mastery of lore, creativity, and story stylization. I do believe this is one of the best starting adventures for newer players if you have the right Game Master running the events behind the scenes as it really scales up the events from that of local to that of full world-shaking levels.

Dungeons and Dragons is that perfect mix of casual narrative roleplay and hard mechanical crunch that allows all sorts of people to interact with each other at the table. The sort of make your cake and eat it sort of game, you can be pretty much anything. With the 3rd party support backed by the updates granted by the creators on a regular basis, there is a plethora of content out there to play what you want and in whatever world you want.

Ben is a thorough roleplayer and helps build an immersive world. Player or Gamemaster, you can expect nothing but his best effort in every game he's in. While I've only experienced his play-by-post he does immense research on the game subjects and lore with the intent to pull you into an unforgettable story. I look forward to our games and hope to be in more with him!