Hey 0ffb1t, just wanted to double-check your feedback, to make sure janvanhouten and I are going in the right direction: have you ever played/read any tabletop roleplaying game before? If so, what did you find confusing about Sodalitas rules?
Hi you two,
first of all: thank you for the quick reply.
last time I played a roleplaying game only with pen and paper was shadowrun. And that is over 20 years ago. And that was not tabletop. (That means that you make actual movements with tiny figures of the heroes and the enemies, doesn't it?)
Besides that I have played a lot of RPGs on the PC. But I guess that doesn't count.
Alright so… "tabletop" is a misleading word in this context, especially since so many people play online these days. I almost got rid of it in my answer but I thought "roleplaying" alone could be misleading too, since it gets used for video games too.
Anyway, the answer is yes, Shadowrun is absolutely a (tabletop) roleplaying game, with or without figures, battle maps and other props some use to play. If I may paraphrase our own glossary (Sodalitas page 2):
[A roleplaying game is] a social game in which we tell a story together by playing characters.
We tried to keep it to the core there, but it really is just this, telling a story, which can take many forms (in some games you don't even play characters but draw a map, telling its story). Basically, if we're talking about Sodalitas, the referee starts by setting a scene involving the players' characters, maybe ask the players a question, so they answer by saying what their characters do, maybe ask questions, then the referee answer questions, maybe tell what happens in the environment, or what non-player characters do (we call them extras here), and then… I hope you get it: it's mostly a conversation, sometimes involving dice to see what happens, and evolving into a story enriched by everyone's inputs.
So you might want to start by reading Sodalitas rules page 2, and try creating characters with your kids—the guild creation can wait after their first adventure. Then you might have an idea for an adventure suitable for these comrades (maybe the brutal vegetarian cook heard about some magical roots in a nearby village? or the fighty brawny noble needs to help a distant cousin with a rats problem in their castle?)… or pick an adventure from Adventures On A Single Page! They're ready-to-play and easy-to-prep adventures fitting perfectly Sodalitas spirit.
Here's the link and lucky you, it's probably in your library already if you got the Bundle for Ukraine:
Thank you for your detailed guidance! 👍
I have never seen roleplaying so simple like you have described it. But it is indeed. Or that is where the magic happens and you as a player are getting sucked into the story.
And you are right: I have purchased the ucraine bundle. So I have also the adventures on a single page ressources.
"Hero Kids" by Justin Halliday, translated to German.
Played yesterday the introduction adventure with my two kids (8 and 12). And they have successfully cleared the cellar of the tavern of those naughty giant rats.
Unfortunately one of the kids died during the boss fight. Erm... I mean he was knocked out. 😜
Nah, it was only a knock out and the rules are very genorous: every character is equipped with two health potions, which can also be used on other character. So if the fight would have lasted longer his sister could have revoked him.
But as a modern girl she was reaching for the boss killing fame for herself. And killed him indeed.