I have a RL group that I'm running a couple games for and as one comes to an end I had an idea, mostly from reading some LitRPG books of running a game where regular people have a rpg system thrown over their reality. It shifts their world and how they interact with it, effectively turning them into game characters and anyone they interact with into NPCs complete with common tropes.

I just don't know what system to use. I have thought about DnD since that is what they are most familiar with but I wanted to take it past level 20 possibly level 50 or so as one would level in a game, like WoW. Any suggestions? What system would you use?

In reply to Vane66 (msg # 1):

It sounds like a light-hearted, let's have fun game.  I usually recommend Fate/Fudge for something like that.  However since the Idea is game system placed over IRL experience, probably needs more crunch.  My favorite system when it comes to crunch is Hero system.  It will take some work on the front end but it will be worth it.

I have two suggestions.

A) if you are up to it, you can easily modify dnd to achieve many things. In this case, raw power can be split from level so you can hand out lots more levels without the raw power becoming a problem. But this does require a designer's mindset and understanding the rules in a way most players (and too many gms) don't.

B) an easier option is to use Basic D20, a series of alternative rules for d20. Some of these can be used to alter the core dnd rules to better fit what you are wanting to do.


Both options build on you player's familiarity with d20 and has d20's moderate but not overwhelming crunch (cause, if your players are like me, Hero could be far too much crunch, gut even if it isn't, tackling a specific and unusual campaign concept is a bad time to learn a new system, as that detracts from the campaign moments)

You can also use Savage Worlds and pending on what type of setting you are looking at Contagion is a really good setting too, it has demons and angels and the like in it. Very affordable.

Otherwise d20 modern which has been mentioned is a good idea too.

I really need one that let's players progress to higher levels such as level 100. 20 is far to low for what I have in mind. Is there a system that allows such high levels? I'd prefer something with a decent magic system and possibly classless.

Real life?  I love the graphics...but the plot stinks...and where are all the chests full of gold?

You might look into dX, the predecessor of Tri-Stat.

Maybe Scion from White-Wolf/Onyx Path. Characters go from humans to heroes to gods in power level. I never played higher than hero, so I don't know what it look like after.

There is no character class. There is no "DnD level" but there is progression where it is easy to see the difference between a toddler, Usain Bolt and someone with a even higher skill or legendary strength. And if the magic system isn't enough by itself, you can always borrow from Vampire the Masquerade or Werewolf the Apocalyspe because them and Scion should be almost fully compatible as if.

In reply to MalaeDezeld (msg # 7):

I'm familiar with plenty of White Wolf material and while they are familiar with it, I'd rather not use such a murder system on them.

The basic premise is the PC's are invited to play a new deep dive virtual game, during the game play there is an accident and an electrical surge sort of merges the coding for the game with them. They start to experience the world as if it were an RPG, with random people asking them to run errands starting quests and those same random people standing in the same spot for  2 or more hours until they get back but act like nothing is wrong. They could be fighting a dragon in the middle of the street and hardly anyone would notice as if that were a common everyday event. The gaming code starts to expand and spread it's influence.

In reply to Vane66 (msg # 8):

I suggested dX because it's more of an anime/superhero system, depending on what level you set it at.   Most level based games tend to break when you get too high in level.

Oh, you want something like a video game rpg. I know one game like that: Super Console from Valent Games (pay what you want on drivethrurpg). I didn't play much, it is too crunchy for my taste. (I think I only played the previous version Console, and not Super Console).

Classes like those in a Final Fantasy on the Super Nintendo (but can be ignore), level from 1 to 100. There is suggestions to the GM (called the CPU) for how to incorporate console tropes like save points and looting townsfolk without consequence. 9999 is the largest number possible.

In reply to Vane66 (msg # 5):

and in comes hero system.

point based and tons of pregen material here if you search for killer shrikes hero system website.