EZ D6 is a battle-tested mayhem machine that removes all barriers to fun | RPG Review

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EZ D6 is a rules-lite RPG published by Scotty “DM Scotty” McFarland in 2022 after two years of extensive playtesting at conventions and other tawdry places of ill-repute.
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[@DaveThaumavore]

Support the channel by joining my Patreon! www.patreon.com/thaumavore Sign up for my newsletter! bit.ly/ThaumavoreNewsletter ERRATA: The (to-Hit) in the monster listings is for Heroes to hit a monster and not the monster to hit a hero. Almost all monsters need a 3+ to hit a Hero unless in a special situation ruled by the Rabble Rouser (GM).

[@dadapotok]

hello there, you forgot to pin this comment with errata

[@theDMsCraft]

One little slip-up Dave. The (to-Hit) in the monster listings is for Heroes to hit a monster and not the monster to hit a hero. Almost all monsters need a 3+ to hit a Hero unless in a special situation ruled by the Rabble Rouser (GM).

[@DaveThaumavore]

AH, thank you. I'll include an errata in the pinned comment.

[@TheDMGinfo]

When "wordy" is 2 paragraphs it really tells you how compact this is. For those worried about campaign play and level advancement, Scotty played through 16 adventures with one group using these rules. The adventures were a wide range of styles. This system will NOT disappoint. I have played in a convention game and 2 private home games with Scotty as the Rabble Rouser. Hands down THE BEST gaming experiences of the past 40+ years.

[@euansmith3699]

I've got my hard cover of EZD6; the rules are fun, and the artwork, especially the cover, is amazing. 3 Hits per character is a great idea for cranking up the tension.

[@bryanswift6301]

I have played in several of DM Scotty’s games where he used the EZD6 system and have seen him refine and improve on it over the years. I bought this system and his Quest Givers system agnostic adventures and North Road campaign books. I’m slowly converting my “crunch loving” Pathfinder players to his system. You can use this system for a one shot or a campaign. It’s that versatile.

[@lenni-hazels]

How do you level up characters in a longer campaign? give them more inclinations?

[@bryanswift6301]

@@lenni-hazels I don’t level them up. They collect magic that helps them defeat more powerful enemies.

[@Judge_Jon]

​@@lenni-hazels I know this is late but you can add stuff like extra starting karma, an extra hero die at higher level, hear with special effects, an extra inclination, etc

[@lenni-hazels]

@@Judge_Jon Hey thanks, I kind of moved on to just playing Ironsworn for my medieval ttrpg fix (mostly co-op).

[@theDMsCraft]

"The gaming experience"...Hit the nail on the head. Thank you for your insightful review Dave.

[@DaveThaumavore]

Congrats on getting this game out to the wider world. I think a lot of people are going to have fun with your creation. Thanks, Scotty!

[@_mawburn]

Such a great system Scotty! I can't wait to bring it to my table.

[@theDMsCraft]

@@_mawburn Have a great time!

[@jonathanmcdonald5514]

Great system, Scotty! Looking forward to running this for my friends and family.

[@theDMsCraft]

@@jonathanmcdonald5514 You will have a blast! Thanks for the support.

[@mavfan21]

I was intrigued by this book after seeing it mentioned in various spots, but your review sold me on it. Even if I don't ever run it RAW (like most Runehammer stuff), it looks like a gold mine of ideas for my game (like most Runehammer stuff!).

[@TheControlBlue]

The Moral Imperative!

[@Mirakelmannen]

Excellent review. After I order something online, I like to check out reviews of it I hadn't seen yet, just to see videos of people telling me how awesome the thing I'm waiting for is. You helped me enjoy that feeling today. Thanks!

[@hunterironside9969]

I bought it. Such a great system. Ive read it three times. Can't wait to play it.

[@cybermerlyn2]

I managed to get and read this book a little less than a week before this review. This is going on my favorites shelf. I feel the advice in this book should be a primer to anyone wanting to one-shot/con play. It is an easy fun read and if I had any critic of the book, it would only be that I would have loved a visual comic that showed the dice rolls, similar to Sentinel Comics. Just to help me visualize the rolls a bit better. After finishing the second read I finally think I fully wrapped my head around some things... karma for failure (for some reason I thought they only got it on a 1).

[@theglitcher4434]

Freakin' love this game, it's genius! Nice, well thought and interesting review, as always. ♥️

[@GenuisAtWork]

14:10 This right here. This what I've enjoyed out of TTRPG's for so long, but I could never put my finger on. I like discussing different rules hacks and how they work. I like hearing about the fun people had and what they enjoyed out of a game. In the defense of rules lawyers, I don't believe that most of them are are rules lawyers to be malicious or to have a sort of superiority, whether that over the game or over other people. Instead I think a majority of the time they just want to play a game as it is written, no hand waiving or fudging over rules or dice. They just want a consistent and fair experience so they can get the the most "genuine" experience out of the game without having it feel faked or forced. At least that was the mindset I had when I was a rules lawyer. That being said, I'm in love with rules light games, but there's always that itch to add more to the game and to have a campaign style of play, although more recently I'm starting to see the one shot convention style of play more appealing. Thanks for your review and insights, you pinpointed what I liked about these types of games and cleared up some things about the system.

[@erickling4016]

Sounds perfect for a session of Drunken Dragons! Thank you for this review!

[@ronwisegamgee]

Good stuff. The banes and boons mechanic reminded me of an identical mechanic in the FU RPG. I also find myself in the same spirit as those expressed in EZD6: an enjoyable tabletop gaming experience, which is one of the things I sought to impress upon readers with the Quick & Dirty RPG System.

[@HouseDM]

Thanks for sharing your perspective on DM Scotty's ruleset! Really excited to give it a shot now, cheers!

[@samchafin4623]

Love EZD6. Ran it for my nieces and nephew with basically no prep using legos; we had a blast!

[@coryguitargod4885]

Awesome video and very interesting rule system or lack there of! 🙌

[@andrewg9107]

Great for any kind of play really, one shots or campaigns. The cool thing is that the RR and players can really make what they want out of it

[@jasons1537]

Thank you for this review. I have seen a few other videos on the title which were heavy on compliments and short on content.

[@simphiwe4930]

Wooah that's a very interesting magic system😆💭. Some aspects definitely remind me of "Shadow of the Demon Lord"💭 Boons and banes made me immediately think of it, the general lethality and management of skills, minimal dice use. etc.

[@patrick.s3356]

Man I love this channel, best ttrpg reviews

[@rodrick6538]

Awesome review! Thanks for posting it!

[@davethepak]

Very interesting. A lot of great ideas in there - very light weight character creation (kind of like build your own semi-classless character). Curious how scotty would adapt this for other genres - especially ones that would either be modern (adding vehicles) and sci-fi (spaceship combat etc.). I would love to see this adapted to space opera (specifically star wars) as this sounds like it could be a lot of fun. thanks for the review.

[@bryanswift6301]

I’ve played sci-fi, near future apocalyptic, vampire hunter, and fantasy settings, with Scotty running EZD6 in some form, over the years. I always walk away having had a great time at the table.

[@kurga9790]

Great review as usual! Thank you!

[@Coyote-oy1oo]

My hardback is on its way, a good read and cool system. I Like the character creation a Lot, trying to convert this for my black hack campaign. Also a system with very easy to remember Monster stats, so I Like that too from ezd6

[@miageeked3486]

Great overview Play tested a few sessions and truly love it.

[@miageeked3486]

Played through the entire North Road from Quest Givers with EZD6. Campaigns are very doable

[@danivalentine1280]

Personally, I'd have 0 issues running a full campaign with this, as rules don't dictate what makes a good campaign imo. Nice review!

[@nekrosmagos519]

People who do not want rules to "dictate" them will almost always become dictators. (Please don't take it personally; it's just my opinion.) I really see that a lot in rpg, especially in DMs.

[@FHangya]

Awesome review! I already ordered the POD since I love both creators :)

[@theDMsCraft]

Thanks =)

[@rhombus2212]

Recently found your channel and absolutely love your reviews! I've picked up several new core rulebooks in the last few weeks based on your recommendations!

[@Mankcam]

Sounds suspiciously close to Tricube Tales...it's almost the same thing! Given the size of the book, this may have slightly more meat on the bone. In any case this rpg looks alot of fun to run and play. Good review!

[@EricfromBloatGames]

Great review. Big fan of DM Scotty.

[@theDMsCraft]

Thanks man

[@sirguy6678]

Great review! Thanks!

[@NemoOhd20]

thank you for this. EZD6 seems perfect for both teaching and for much more adventure and much less time looking up charts or doing +2 +2 -1 +1 -2 equals... 12-15 still.

[@BanjoSick]

Man, now that I play Cairn with my kids, this seems rules heavy, haha. I'm coming from Rolemaster, and now I do this. Don't know if I should laugh of cry.

[@TheddunTOSS]

Please also make a video on his campaign The North Road.

[@sequinnfrancysco]

I would have loved this game when I first played a TTRPG, I got bored with all the numbers and rules very quickly. The spell system is a great concept, it makes spells a lot more mysterious and creative. Fantastic review as always!!

[@DaveThaumavore]

Agreed, this is the ultimate First RPG.

[@NefariousKoel]

I've always admired games with open/interpretive spell casting. Although there aren't many around. Granted, it requires some extra effort between GM & players on the fly, so it may not work with all groups. I think the simplest one I've seen, which still has some defined power level guidance and room for progression, is in the Barbarians Of Lemuria / Everywhen system.

[@rpgchronicler]

Not only this is good for one shots, but also for funnel-type games especially when meta currency's involved. Also woohoo d6s, a great system to transition from a wargame match in a hitch. My main concern is how it would translate in an online enviornment especially play by posts where its my forte.

[@paulcoy9060]

Great review. I watched the DMGinfo talk about it, but didn't learn anything about the actual game.

[@TheIoPC]

This definitely seems like a system I'd like for the occasional one shot. Sounds like lots of fun. ~ Adam

[@Texanrascal]

Great video boss

[@MrRourk]

I will pick it up I have Mini 6 and the Old Swords and 6Siders Games

[@scottlypuff]

thank you for sharing this! last year i had a stroke while intubated with breakthrough covid and most RPGs are too much fior me right now but this seems simple enough!!!

[@patrickmullen9485]

Clackin’ dice in fantasyish Vegas and collecting chips.

[@notreallydavid]

Great intro for those of us who knew nothing beforehand - thanks. Can number of strikes increase by (eg) acquiring toys?

[@g0r1llamunch6]

Would like to see this gameplay in action.

[@hopefulhyena3400]

The core mechanic sounds neat. Kind of reminds me of west ends d6 system. But a game without a real progression system just doesn’t sound appealing.

[@headrockbeats]

Reminds me of something I was trying to create using D20s. Unfortunately I went so rules-light that my players - all of whom were AD&D veterans - found the lack of rules highly disappointing for campaign play. I put in a lot of effort to reward them for clever moves and successes - but they just couldn't let go for the rules and stats.

[@paavohirn3728]

I kinda know how that goes 😅

[@davidmc8478]

I think the trick is rewarding them with exploding dice (criticals). There has to be something to replace various manoeuvres you can perform to increase damage or strategic effect

[@DavidSipos84]

This game is a ton of fun and everyone should get and play at least once or twice some quick games and really see just how fun and chaotic these rules allow games to be without a lot of thought. I would have to disagree with it not being built for campaign play. I am running a game now and the rules being so light are actually allowing us to create more story driven elements and role play rather than mechanical rules to be required for every kind of decision and play mechanic. So far its been pretty great and when we do need something rules based that is not written we use the book as a foundation to build something out as needed and somewhat homebrew it. For instance we changed how we handle lockpicking in some situations and made it into a sort of mini-game. I have them do progressive rolls starting with a 1d6 (meet a 3 or better) and move forward adding dice up (each one needing to meet at least a 3 or more) to 4d6 and as long as they dont fail on their roll that make them go back one they should make it to the end and open the lock. gives them a fun dice challenge they can even spend karma on that has led to some sitiuations where picking a lock taking too long can get them caught and create chaotic situations and esp so if they dont have the lockpicking skill (which i give them either a bonus to or lower the success # to meet). And using items to grow power levels in players has also been great. Some items i have given out have done things like lowering the crit req for exploding dice, reactive armor, and hopefully soon some neat wild magic that brings alot more chaos to the table for one of our magic users. And the game has about 6 players at the table and looking forward to our future games there seems to not be a stop in sight.

[@timothyyoung2962]

The system is nice, quick, and fun. My group isn't all that into fantasy, but it could easily be used to run a sci-fi, post apocalyptic, or action horror game. You would just need to make some genre appropriate hero paths, inclinations, and equipment and you're good to go.

[@baitposter]

Suggestion: kitbash from TinyD6 settings (e.g. Tiny Wastelands, Tiny Frontiers, Tiny Cthulhu, Tiny Spies, Tiny Supers)

[@Runehammer1]

haha this ending.. so good

[@theDMsCraft]

heh heh, yeah

[@MrRourk]

To make the game deep ...simply steal the Faction and Crafting Rules from Lavender Hack and add those to EZ D6

[@wanderinghistorian]

Neat rules! The creepy thing about this book is that the creator's face is printed over and over in it. O.o

[@theDMsCraft]

Boo...lol

[@MrXacus]

Boons/Banes: Just like in Shadow of the Demon Lord.

[@simphiwe4930]

My immediate thought!

[@theDMsCraft]

The experience is not in the individual bits but in how it runs as a whole.

[@DAEDRICDUKE1]

EZD6 seems like Savage Worlds and Shadow of the Demon Lord had a baby.

[@theDMsCraft]

Nope, those systems are WAY more complicated.

[@DAEDRICDUKE1]

@@theDMsCraft Doesn't really change the fact that they both clearly had a massive influence on the game. That and I wouldn't consider either games more complicated, they just throw a shit ton of options at players.

[@urfaes6878]

Strikes are an answer to the hit point economy. For example : A kobold may have, say, four hit points. You can defeat the kobold in one strike OR roll a 1 on damage four times. Should you easily defeat the kobold in one strike, or does it have four?

[@urfaes6878]

To expand slightly. As a PC, I know I can take three strikes, for example. A dragon sweeps back and slaps my character so hard, I take two strikes. Holy smurf, this is going to be bad... OR the dragon rolls 3d6 for a claw attack and just outright kills me. Strikes are about the feeling. Hitpoints are about the pacing.

[@theDMsCraft]

An OSR warrior type will likely defeat a kobold with one strike anyway considering bonuses. Strikes take out the fussy math as HPs escalate.

[@theDMsCraft]

@@urfaes6878 Strikes are actually better pacing. It is super likely a new character will die in say DnD. In this game, it is super rare for a character to die too quickly as they get an armor save on each hit, only take one strike per hit (unless a large weapon), and can boost save rolls with Karma and Hero Die. In theory, a super lucky EZD6 warrior could outlast a DnD warrior even if the EZD6 warrior only had one strike left. If the EZD6 warrior gets super lucky with armor saves they can last far longer than any DnD warrior.

[@urfaes6878]

@@theDMsCraft Totally agree. My phrasing may have been incorrect. I refer to your video on strikes vs. HP for that reason often. It's a very different feel when I mention a kobold can take one strike vs. a kobold has seven hit points. One demonstrates you can take a kobold down in one hit; the other is you can take a kobold down between one and seven rounds.

[@TheXViralX]

I have played it before, but forgot and can't quite find an explanation in the book: There is "armor saves" "wound saves" and "miraculous saves" mentioned. Miraculous saves is when armor wouldn't help you at all, like a huge boulder falling on top of you, or falling down a cliff. But I can't quite wrap my head around what Armor/Wound (are they seperate?) saves are, or at least I keep forgetting. So Monsters attack and must roll a 3+. They roll a 4. Do the Pushers&Shovers then roll an armor save? What even is an armor save really? Is it the "(save against wounds on X+)" Described in the armor when picking the hero path?

[@viniciuspenoni8368]

Amazing video! But what is the "AC" of this game? Meaning How much does an enemy need to roll to hit the player?

[@DaveThaumavore]

10:54 Each monster has a To-Hit value that the GM needs to meet or exceed on a D6 roll.

[@viniciuspenoni8368]

@@DaveThaumavore I see, but what about the player? What is the character's AC?

[@theDMsCraft]

@@viniciuspenoni8368 players are hit on a3+ unless the RR rules otherwise due to the situation in the game.

[@georgee4810]

That's a great game to throw in for a change of pace when you're running a Vampire campaign and your PCs are being tortured by the Prince or consumed by the Beast within or weighted down by existential issues, and you just want a session to lighten things up a bit.

[@theDMsCraft]

Truth

[@zelbarnap]

Good karma for the review. Not for me but cool there is another version of ttrpg

[@PolyChromaticZebra]

This kind of sounds like a game of D&D mixed with Warhammer table top. It's curious for sure.

[@theDMsCraft]

Warhammer table top is much more "futzy". EZD6 is just easy peasy fun.

[@age-of-adventure]

Great review, and I love stripped down ‘easy’ rules systems … but Rabble Rouser?… really 🤣 ? would love to know what the short list of GM names was 😜

[@theDMsCraft]

call em a GM, still the same game.

[@age-of-adventure]

@@theDMsCraft - oh, sorry, I hope I didn’t offend you. It’s just a really unique title for your game’s GM role ✌️

[@theDMsCraft]

@@age-of-adventure Not at all =)

[@_mawburn]

Played this at MACE West and it's a hell of a fun game. This is a pretty hackable system too, so don't be tied up on the fantasy aspect!

[@eDDyL666]

It just needs a form fillible character sheet

[@paavohirn3728]

I don't really do one shots. Maybe I need to learn to do them. Rarely are the campaigns super long either. But I'm getting into rewriting my own OSR system so at least I could mine this for ideas. In any case sounds like a tremendous amount of fun so it's probably a must have. I don't think you need to have a lot of rules for other types of game content besides combat, a little something for magic and for explration. Social encounters etc are usually best without too many rules. Thanks for the great review!

[@_mawburn]

Dave's Fluxfall Horizon game is also fantastic for 1 shots. I ran them it at the same con I got to play EZD6 at.

[@paavohirn3728]

@@_mawburn Oh yeah! That's awesome!

[@theDMsCraft]

I have run it with mini-campaigns and a long campaign. The game is all about the growth of your character in the story and not arbitrary leveling.

[@paavohirn3728]

@@theDMsCraft Oh yeah! I'm sure it works for many playstyles. I'd love to do Hot Springs Island using it. I got the pdf of the system right after watching this video and read it for the most part in one go 😁

[@DiomedesRangue]

Thanks for the review on this one. I wasn't sure if I should pick this one or tiny dungeon 2e up. I think tiny dungeon 2e seems a bit better for me based on this review.

[@ZaatarGardens]

TD 2e has So Many Zines as well

[@darth-ludic-rous]

Looks fun, but... does it have stats for a dog? 🤔

[@jameswight6259]

Your usual super high standard review / thank you! Only one criticism: you cost me money!! This looks totally awesome! Are there any published adventures?

[@theDMsCraft]

A world book full of ready-to-run adventures is in the works!

[@jameswight6259]

@@theDMsCraft Brilliant!

[@GoblinLord]

I only see one issue with the boon system, you said all 1s are a failure, then later bring up that a bigger dice pool means a higher chance of failure, so technically speaking, this means that someone highly capable is mathematically considered worse than someone who picked up the skill yesterday

[@DaveThaumavore]

Any six will cancel out any and all 1s on regular rolls.

[@theDMsCraft]

Normal rolls use the highest die rolled. Only Magick and miracles can fail on a one in the die pool.

[@Daniel-Strain]

@@DaveThaumavore I am wondering if this is actually how it works. You make it sound like if you had 2 boons and rolled 3d6 against a normal difficulty (target number 3), and got 2, 3, and 1 that you would fail. But it looks to me that they intended you to pick the best die (the 3 in this case) and that is the ONLY die that ever matters. If *IT* is a 1 then you fail. In other words, all you really need to worry about is, did your best die make the target number (since they go from 2-6). Are you sure that isn't how it works?

[@frankcarranza7375]

Great review! Could you do white hack some time?

[@theDMsCraft]

Why ruin perfection?

[@shannonparkhill5557]

The Warden looks super weak compared to the Delver or Beastmaster. Other classes look awesome.

[@cybermerlyn2]

EZD6 - This is now my go-to rule set for quick games, I enjoy this system more than TinyD6 and Tricube Tales. Fun read. Spend more time playing and less time worrying about the rules.

[@chrismedders6201]

This is an FKR game!

[@jcraigwilliams70]

Are characters all assumed to be human, or are there other options?

[@DaveThaumavore]

Human, elf, dwarf, halfling, goblin, each with a small mechanical advantage.

[@BodyByBenSLC]

I like the magic system, magic is whatever the mage or conjurer can imagine. Which is what magic should be like.

[@blamp666]

Is it so different from Swords & Six-Siders?

[@scotteverroad4545]

I love the system. I hate d-d, and I hate trying to learn new systems that constantly-change. I do agree with you. Not Much I can see beyond ones -hota and No Campaign material.

[@EdensukoV]

The base system seems similar to tiny dungeon.

[@patembersouls]

3 option: players with kids and limited time to play

[@theDMsCraft]

But it is also robust. I have played campaigns with the system as well as a great system for those with limited time.

[@user-lo2jd9ij2q]

This game really sounds like a hack of tinyD6.

[@theDMsCraft]

Nope

[@ElwoodShort]

Actually this game is amazing for deep storytelling gaming. Far better than most crunchy systems, because you can focus on story elements and character development arcs rather than number crunching, rules checking and bean counting. The idea that this is a one-shot or short game only system, is BS sorry.

[@cartert2]

Why not just play the original rules lite D6 system…Tunnels & Trolls? It’s been around since 1975 (second oldest rpg) each edition has been truly compatible with the next so there is a ton of supplemental material for the game. If you like a game that is fast paced and supports as well as rewards creativity T&T may be your game. Oh yeah…it has exploding dice as well!

[@DaveThaumavore]

The latest edition of Tunnels and Trolls is 385 pages. 166 of those pages are the rules.

[@cartert2]

@@DaveThaumavore Tunnels and Trolls can be as lite or as comprehensive as you want to make it. Since every addition is compatible you can add to the rules or take away as you see fit. If you want to play fast & loose you can use the mini rules which is just a few pages long then customize those with a few nuances to make the rules lite game you want to play. I don’t know of any other system that allow for this flexibility.

[@bobhill-ol7wp]

@@cartert2 Still have to read 385 pages before you can make it light as you want though.

[@jamjar1726]

first!

[@daddystabz]

A TTRPG with no attributes or skills is not for me.

[@theprecipiceofreason]

All players go first is just lazy.

[@bobhill-ol7wp]

Sorry we don't like wasting time

[@francescopace7079]

Just another system pretending to be simple, yey it just uses already made up systems. Dnd is just a simple d20 roll. Whatever dice you use is that simple. If you can roll for it, you can make up a function and mechanic for it