On the Internet, people have been comparing how many tabletop RPGs they played, and which ones — obviously to determine who is King Geek. I’ve been thinking about this a bit lately, and decided that cataloging the games I’ve played might be useful — if only for posterity’s sake. Below is a list — as complete as I can manage right now — of all the RPGs in the order I can recall having played them. If anyone remembers playing something with me that isn’t on this list, for heaven’s sake, please leave a comment here to remind me of which one it was so I can update this list! Thanks.
1.Melee/Wizard/Death Test
(These were early attempts at RPGs, designed by Steve Jackson and published by Metagaming. Still have my copies)
2. Dungeons & Dragons
Advanced D&D
I started with the multicolor box back in 1977/78, and moved on later to AD&D (2nd Ed.) 3.0, 3.5, and played a bit of 4.0. Am looking forward to giving 5.0 a whirl, but haven’t managed that yet.
3. Champions (The math involved in character creation was too clunky for me.)
4. Bushido (Fantasy Games Unlimited) (Still one of my favorite RPGs!)
5. Call of Cthulhu (Another favorite!)
6. Flashing Blades
7. Chivalry and Sorcery (2nd Ed.)
8. Shadowrun (1st & 3rd Eds.)
9. Traveller
10. Flashing Blades
11. Star Trek RPG (FASA)
12. Wild West (Fantasy Games Unlimited)
13. Chill
14. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st/2nd Ed.) (I love the gritty, expansive world that Games Workshop and others have built for this game.)
15. GURPS (Generic Universal Roleplaying System – the descendant of Melee/Wizard/Death Test and the later The Fantasy Trip)
16. TORG
17. Space: 1889 (LOVE the setting; game system a little less so but it’s still adequate)
18. Feng Shui (2nd Ed., I think)
19. Star Wars RPG (West End Games – D6 system)
20. Mutants & Masterminds
21. Vampire: the Requiem
22. Little Fears – Nightmare Edition
23. Spirit of the Century (Really enjoyed this game – wish there had been a better system for character growth and progression when I was playing)
24. Serenity
25. Leverage
26. Dragon Age
27. Gamma World (Newest Edition)
28. Fiasco
29. Escape Tentacle City
30. Trail of Cthulhu
31. Streets of Bedlam (Savage Worlds System)
32. Victoriana (This is my current favorite game: Steampunk with fantasy elements mixed in.)
33. Firefly
34. Renaissance (BRP set in the Age of Reason)
Here are the RPGs I haven’t played yet but would like to try. This list will probably grow substantially:
Twilight 2000
Legend of the Five Rings
Deadlands
Aces & Eights
Numenera
Blue Planet
Fading Suns
Brave New World
Godlike
AMP
50 Fathoms
Dresden Files
For completeness’sake, here are the game systems for which I’ve done writing work so far (updated 8/22/2016):
GURPS — GURPS Horror, 1st Ed.
My first published credit – I think I wrote a sidebar or two. Credit purged from subsequent editions.
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay — WFRP Companion (Games Workshop); WFRP Career Compendium (Fantasy Flight Games)
Mutants & Masterminds — Wild Cards: All-In
Leverage — Leverage: Grifters & Masterminds
Achtung! Cthulhu — A!C Keeper’s Guide; A!C Guide to the Pacific Front; A!C Guide to North Africa (Forthcoming); A!C: Kontamination (ebook only); Secrets of the Dust; Elder Godlike; Assault on the Mountains of Madness
AMP: Year One — The Evolution of Apex
Firefly — SMuggler’s Guide to the Rim
Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition — Anarchs Unbound; Ghouls & Revenants
Chill: SAVE The Eternal Society
As you can see, tabletop roleplaying has been an important part of my life. It’s more than just a hobby for me, it’s also been a way to make part of my living over the years. Despite the opinion of many people in my age group, I don’t believe gaming should be removed from your life as you “grow up”. Rather, it’s an important outlet and a thoroughly enjoyable pastime, and while the demands of a post-collegiate life may make it difficult to play on a regular basis, it’s still an activity that’s well worth making time for.