GMless D&D Alternative - IRONSWORN Review and Discussion

We talk about our experience playing Ironsworn!
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Ironsworn was created by Shawn Tompkin and the rules are available to try out for free! Check it out here: www.ironswornr...
Shawn is also running a kickstarter right now for Starforged: Sundered Isles. Check it out: www.kickstarte...
#ironsworn #rpg #tabletopgaming

[@salty-nick]

I like how the room you're in is a combination of power tools and board games.

[@ParentiBrothers]

Sums us up well!

[@MarkLittle-rq2bq]

I could say a lot about this game, and I highly encourage downloading it (along with the Iron Journal app). Due to it's simplicity, it is SUPREMELY hackable. Stats too low? Add one to each. Not enough assets? Start with four or have your starting assets more fleshed out. Want an ability not present? Examine the ones already available, see which one comes in close proximity, tweak to season...and voila! Because I love pushing the envelope, I made a Druid who could call down lightning. There's no ritual for it, but there is Lightbringer. I changed the wording, allowing for the buildup of energy which could be unleashed upon any target above ground (doesn't work underground or within solid structures). Now, if he blows all six energy, he could deal a whopping 1+6 Harm just on a successful Hit (or up to 8 Harm with a Strong Hit). In short, he could one shot a Epic foe like an Elder Wyrm (pretty much anything above ground) with a Strong Hit and potentially end the fight then and there (assuming at least one '1' is rolled on the challenge dice to end the fight). I hear people say Ironsworn is hard and unforgiving...it's as hard and unforgiving as you let it. Kos - The Storm Priest, is not to be trifled with.

[@patsmythos]

This game really changed TTRPGs for me and my group. We had been navigating different systems to find the perfect one for us. Tried short campaigns with D&D 5E and Fate, and while we had fun, there was always something missing. We eventually realized that none of us likes to take on the full responsiblities of GM, but we do like to collaborate equally on the story. Ironsworn has been the perfect balance for us! It's so true that you never know where a session is going to take you. Definitely check out the expansion, Delve, which introduces narrative crawls and really takes the game to the next level. So excited to see what you guys have in store with the Sundered Isles!

[@ParentiBrothers]

It is so different from guided games and we’ve had so much fun with it. We do have delve, just haven’t fully given it a shot yet in our game!

[@danielhall5554]

I am trying to get my friends and family into it for the very reason that we don't need a GM. Even if we play Guided, I feel like it's still much more collaborative than any system I've ever touched.

[@bobsavage3317]

☮

[@loganm8631]

Not sure why you guys haven’t blown up yet, but production value is so impressive and your ironsworn playthrough was immensely entertaining

[@ParentiBrothers]

Thanks for watching! We really appreciate the kind words!

[@roqueadeleon]

Going to give this one a try with my fiancée soon going to play in the LOTR setting. Also I find it kind of a funny that there is so much talk of D&D being a "Collaborative Storytelling" game when I don't think that's what it is at all nor what it was designed for. Yet you have something like Ironsworn that clearly is much closer to that idea with Co-Op Play and prioritizing fiction/narrative first and the casual TTRPG player probably won't even give it a chance.

[@ParentiBrothers]

@@roqueadeleon That’s a good point! The collaborative storytelling aspect of d&d is all done outside of the actual d&d rule set. Ironsworn naturally creates a very interesting story through the rule set!

[@jeanchappa3077]

Ironsworn is so much fun! Thanks so much for highlighting this game.

[@mendercap]

Greatly enjoyed your playthrough, guys. Very excited to hear you'll be tackling Sundered Isles next! ❤

[@ParentiBrothers]

Thank you for watching!

[@SkittleBombs]

Been play ironsworn for 3 months. Just bought starforged and delve and he really has outdone himself on the refinement and depth he added

[@ParentiBrothers]

Shawn Tompkin is a great designer. We can't wait to see what he does with Sundered Isles when it releases!

[@sebastienmorand855]

Hi ! You should try playing with the « Runestones Deck » available on itchio for the Oracles. Same oracles but with cards of runes. Thank you guys for your videos !

[@ParentiBrothers]

We’ll have to check that out!

[@CORROOFFICIAL]

Honestly loved this so much, the production was super great and you can be really proud of this series. You got a new fan right here❤️

[@ParentiBrothers]

@@CORROOFFICIAL Thank you! More to come soon!

[@Rogelio_007]

Thanks guys :-) Can you use IronSworn to play published DnD adventures solo?

[@ParentiBrothers]

I don’t think it’d work great for that. Mythic GM Emulator might be what you’re looking for!

[@SkittleBombs]

I wish daggerheart leaned more heavily on itonsworn so the dnd players had more skeleton structure of a game to play. Also wish they used the paperclip character sheets style with tracking resources on the edge of your sheets

[@JoseAlvaroLlopez-yz3ye]

Iron me encanta porque no necesitas máster,y puedes jugar tu solo o con un colega,

[@jjballer3]

Slight correction - you actually get to start off with three asset cards after character creation (not two) I loved your guys’ actual play. It was so enjoyable to listen to and it got me through weeks of hard times. Gave me laughs and inspiration when I needed it, all while using my favorite ttrpg system! I am SO pumped to hear that you guys are going to do a season 2 with Sundred Isles! I can’t convey how much I’m looking forward to it. I was hoping y’all would continue with the Ironsworn systems - this is a lovely thing to anticipate. I’m also curious to see what your guys’ opinions will be on the differences in systems, since SI is powered by Starforged’s updated engine as opposed to base IS’s. New tracks/xp overhaul, relationship/bonds overhaul (major), and objective-based combat (instead of a harm system) is what comes to mind. Can’t wait!

[@ParentiBrothers]

Thank you so much for the Kind words! It’s wonderful to hear how much our actual play meant to you. Means the world to us. We are very excited for sundered isles! Been looking forward to it for a while. We are planning to do a short campaign of Dragonbane while waiting for it to come out. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@IAcePTI]

Indead Starforge improve on the xp aspect. Even Ironsworn - Delve improve, as you gain xp by learning from your failures