
Instead, Index Card classes feature clever twists to help them stand out alongside left-field player options like ghosts carried within a suit of robotic armor. Much of that comes down to the book's conversational tone it's much easier to read than other TTRPG tomes. Wonderfully accessible GamesRadar+ review When combined with no-fuss character creation and a straightforward health system inspired by video game 'hearts', you can be playing Index Card RPG in an impressively short amount of time. This results in much less rules-confusion where players pause the game so they can look up how much damage a particular attack should do (we can never remember which dice are used for certain weapons in D&D, so not having to scan spreadsheets is a blessing in our eyes). That's because the book simplifies actions by consolidating tasks into categories that always use the same kind of dice. You won't need to dust off your math skills in order to play, either its mechanics are streamlined and emphasize ease-of-use. Designed with accessibility in mind, Index Card RPG is about getting into the action as quickly as possible. If you're new to the best tabletop RPGs and have no idea what to do with a d20, this clever system by Runehammer is a great place to start. Read more: Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set review (opens in new tab).It offers a solid grounding that'll serve you well if you decide to try something different, too - a lot of the rules you'll encounter here share DNA with many of the suggestions listed below. It'll give you a feel for everything the best tabletop RPGs can offer while providing a jumping-off point to explore other D&D products.

That's why we'd highly recommend diving in with the starter set. Yes, other TTRPGs are better at specific things like roleplay or combat, but few provide as well-rounded an experience as D&D. Eager to explore the stars in a Jules Verne-style space adventure? You can do that too. Want to explore dusty old tombs and battle hideous monsters? No problem. Plus, the franchise has built a wealth of content to explore with infinite possibilities on-tap. Although they have their flaws, you can't overemphasize how much of an impact Dungeons and Dragons books have had on the industry either it's the gold standard in terms of classic fantasy roleplay, world-building, and mechanics.
