What is Mythras: An overview of the game

[@DogBoneZone]

I'm glad someone made a video about this game. Mythras needs some love. Honestly, my favorite system by far. I just wish I had more friends willing to give it a shot. :(

[@inwils]

Yes it definitely needs some love! - thanks for taking the time to comment - I'm looking forward to sharing some more of the rules/concepts

[@orlandodiciccio2748]

If you want to play online, I’d be down!

[@brainliberius9530]

I've played a ton of Runequest, although it was 30 years ago, its still my favorite system. Glad to see Mythras getting some love.

[@inwils]

Its a great system and with M-space and Destined available you can easily swap between settings. Do come along to the discord and listen into the podcast :)

[@brainliberius9530]

I'll definitely give the podcast a listen!

[@inwils]

@@brainliberius9530 it’s me again on the podcast but I do have guests on and Lawrence Whitaker makes an appearance as well.

[@LawrenceWhitaker]

Very good summary, Inwils - The Design Mechanism thanks you!

[@inwils]

Thanks - about to upload the combat one :)

[@hannessteffenhagen61]

I just purchased the book and it looks like it’s the sort of thing I’m looking for, trying to run a more down to earth game than D&D usually turns into (getting a bit tired of extradimensional entities taking over the world)

[@inwils]

Thanks for taking the time to comment - I was exactly the same, wanted a more down to earth system and I certainly was not disappointed. I've made a few ( 😀 ) videos but if you have any questions just drop me a message. - also remember there is a monthly podcast (www.inwils.co.uk/MythrasMatters) and a great discussion forum - (www.tapatalk.com/groups/designmechanism/index.php) Loz, one of the creators is there as well! Hope you enjoy the ruleset! -inwils

[@orlandodiciccio2748]

Finally somebody talking about my favourite rpg!

[@inwils]

Thanks, I think it is a great system too :)

[@gmsshadow4142]

I'm currently running a couple of GURPS campaigns but Mythras has been recommended to me. Thank you for putting these videos togther I look forward to looking more into this system.

[@inwils]

Thanks for your comment, it's a great system and is providing us so much fun. I'm sure you will enjoy it as well. Let me know if you have any questions :)

[@iribaar7446]

I don't know if it is the accent or the general positive attitude, but this guy is charismatic and I enjoyed the introduction to this RPG system.

[@inwils]

Thanks for those kind words 😁 hope you continue to enjoy the content!

[@iribaar7446]

@@inwils Yeah, I watched most of the Mythras videos. At least the ones where you talk about the rules. I'm burned out on D&D, so I am looking for some other system.

[@inwils]

@@iribaar7446 Mythras is a great system! As well as the videos I produce a monthly podcast called Mythras Matters and there is a great discord and forum - in our Lyonesse adventure, the GM is Loz - one of the creators! I'll update the description section to show all the links - hope you enjoy your Mythras Adventures!

[@iribaar7446]

@@inwils I also found Monster Island, which looks cool and pretty much exactly what I want for my next campaign. Haven't read it yet, though.

[@inwils]

@@iribaar7446 This is the podcast episode that someone reviewed Monster Island :) www.buzzsprout.com/266482/3527269

[@Bookworm159]

Coming from DnD 5e and I'm interested in picking up another system. I've really liked what I've heard about Mythras/Runequest so far, so I'm just trying to parse the difference between the various editions and which one I might want to try out. So glad to find a video series like this to help me learn more about this system.

[@inwils]

Thanks @Bookworm159. I moved from dnd 5e to Mythras and never looked back. Only one edition as well. You might want to check out Classic Fantasy which is Mythras with classes. Oh and remember there are FREE imperative rulesets for them both. 😎👍 check out the mythras matters podcast on this channel as well 😁 happy to answer questions. 🤓

[@Bookworm159]

@@inwils What's the difference between the imperative ruleset vs. the normal one?

[@inwils]

@@Bookworm159 its a narrow down version of the rules but that is it. They are completely playable and easy to transfer to the full game is you like it. For classic fantasy you only get fighter, cleric, mage and rogue classes and the first couple of levels. Download them and have a look. Our classic fantasy actual play was using the imperative rules.

[@WeTheFlock]

I play Mutants and Masterminds the most however I’ve tried more than 20 systems. I got a tabletop Monday group where we alternate GM after 8-session minicampaigns (roughly 40 hours). We’re 4 years and running

[@inwils]

That's epic, we enjoy our Supers campaign, using the Mythras rules called Destined! 🦸‍♂🦸‍♂

[@Dundar77]

Thank you very much, I understood your entire summary, thanks to your excellent speech; for a little Froggy it's important... :) I continue listening to your other videos

[@inwils]

You're very welcome! - and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment - really appreciate it 😁😁👍👍

[@LordSephleon]

I'm a huge fan of Mythras despite not having had a chance to run or play it yet (my longtime group is slow to try new stuff considering we can't even play more than a session every few months, and my work schedule nearly prevents any social life, much less a gaming one). I started getting away from level-based systems like D&D back in the late-2000s, veering more towards skill-based systems. Basic Roleplaying, or BRP (Call of Cthulhu, Runequest, etc.) actually became my personal mainstay, mostly because of my love of Call of Cthulhu. I didn't like Mythras's first appearance as Runequest 6 because it felt too crunchy and... well, cluttered, but Mythras is a beautiful re-envisioning of that system that allows for so much GM/Player customization as needed for any given campaign. I also really like Classic Fantasy (which was also my preference during the BRP days for Fantasy gaming), and the fact that CF became a Mythras supplement makes the whole package even better. Also, your Mythras games are how I found your channel in the first place probably a year or two ago, so it's always good to see the game get some use. Thanks for this video! The game can use all the advertising it can get! :)

[@ThunderStruck15]

I thought it was the exact same game

[@inwils]

It's a great system

[@matthewconstantine5015]

BRP has been my go-to game since I got into the hobby in the 80s. I tend to use Call of Cthulhu when I'm teaching new people. That said, over time, I've leaned further and further into rules-like games. Over the Edge 2nd Ed. (now available divorced from the setting as WaRP) is probably my favorite. I've also been enjoying the Year Zero Engine games like Alien and Tales from the Loop. I'm very tempted by Mythras, as BRP is currently out of print and I don't have my original copy.

[@inwils]

Thank you for the comment and all those great rulesets that you talk about 😁 Remember there is a free version of Mythras that you could start with to see if you like the system - just search for Mythras Imperative - hope you enjoy it 🤞🏻

[@andysimmons2648]

This is an excellent video and a wonderful introduction to a fantastic system. I love the Mythras system and all BRP RPGs such as Call of Cthulhu. I look forward to seeing your others videos.

[@inwils]

Thanks for taking the time to comment, really appreciate it. Love CoC as well :)

[@venusboys3]

Mythras is a great game that doesn't get the recognition it deserves. My favorite flavors of BRP remain Magic World (renamed from Stormbringer) and Delta Green, which are a bit less crunch than Mythras, but if I were running a sword & sorcery or historical game I would go with Mythras.

[@inwils]

+venusboys3 thanks for taking the time comment. I really like the rule set for fantasy. I’m also keen to look at the Luther Arkwright and vampire wars supplements. More videos to come 😍👍🏻

[@saulofontoura]

Pretty cool, I'm thinking of trying this system next year and this was really helpful.

[@inwils]

no worries, thanks for taking the time to comment - its a great system - look out for the next video!

[@ManusLlane]

Thank you for posting this InWils, I've been curious about this since watching your stream. I generally play 5e, but I do love to explore other game systems.

[@inwils]

Thanks Jeff - its a nice system although combat can be very deadly! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@kdolo1887]

I love dice pool systems of all types. Shockingly, the Shadowrun editions are my favorite. 3rd and 4th I play the most, did a little of 5th. I also still play the old 20th Ann. WoD editions, rather than the new ones.

[@inwils]

Oh I used to love Shadowrun 5th edition

[@kdolo1887]

@@inwils I always found it strange how so many games use a static defensive number in their attack rolls. People defend this, saying that "it's less rolling, and speeds up combat." More rolls that engage and give agency are WAY more preferable than less rolls you have no agency in. When you can go to the bathroom between turns, come back and the DM tells you "I hit you for 19 hit points" and it's fine because you didn't even have to be there, that's a thematic disconnect from what is actually going on in combat. Playing Shadowrun taught me that. Also, the fact that you don't roll damage feels really good too, the enemy rolls soak instead. I'd rather an enemy miraculously soak every bit of damage with their armor than for me to roll a 1 on my damage roll. Again, it just feels better to be beaten than to simply fail.

[@inwils]

@@kdolo1887 I had a street samurai once who could absorb anything - he was awesome!

[@kdolo1887]

@@inwils Oh, there's ways around that. :D

[@griffincrump5077]

At this point my 2 favorite rule systems are Pathfinder and DCC though I’ve recently decided to broaden my ttrpg horizons and see what other systems have to offer. thanks for the video, it was really helpful!

[@inwils]

Thank you , glad it was helpful :)

[@mackusmark8052]

Right now playing SWRPG, and it's a blast, the one I've played most is Pathfinder, which I also enjoy quite a bit.

[@inwils]

Glad you are enjoying :)

[@nrais76]

I've played a lot of AD&D2e, D&D 3, D&D 3.5, Pathfinder 1e, WHFRP 1e, Shadowrun (idk which edition), Cyberpunk, Rifts, WEG Star Wars, Call of Cthulhu and 90s World of Darkness titles, plus a lot less of several other RPGs. I don't really have a favorite, but that might be a recent and temporary development, since I've been looking for something that will work well for two PCs and be beginner-friendly, so the flaws in all these systems have become readily apparent. (While there's no such thing as perfection, some systems are better than others at doing certain things.) Great overview.

[@inwils]

Thanks for your comment - I have played many rulesets as well, but really like the flexibility and adaptability of Mythras 😀

[@NefariousKoel]

If you're looking for something easy for one or two beginner players, may I suggest something like Advanced Fighting Fantasy? The latest AFF is on DTRPG at reasonable PoD pricing. Since the system is evolved from that used in the old solo Fighting Fantasy books it is easy to run, notably so for small or solo player groups. Yet it still has a relatively small skill-based character system so you're not hurting for missing essential classes spread through the group as in some class-based ones. Monster stat blocks are simple and easy to judge, and there are tons of them, especially including the the extra monster splatbooks available. There is also a sci-fi version of the system. You could also run a simple OSR system such as Old School Essentials and just give each player two or three classes combined (including the same amount of actions, combined HP, etc) although this will still take some fidgeting on your part and isn't the most ideal. If ease-of-use isn't an issue for solo/duo player games, and you want more meat to it, I'd prefer skill-based games which have plentiful in-game player "currency" to do special/extra stuff each turn as it gives each player more agency and helps make up for character shortage. In combination with tiered enemy/monster categories such as Minions, LIeutenants, and Bosses, you can easily downgrade them a tier of threat to account for lower player count. The 2d20 system (such as Conan, Mutant Chronicles 3e, Star Trek Adventures, etc) has both those mechanics. I think it's cousin, the Genesys/StarWars-FFG, also has them to a lesser degree. Anyway, good luck! Small player groups can be really fun when you find the sweet spot!

[@inwils]

@@NefariousKoel wow so many options!

[@NefariousKoel]

@@inwils - Had to restrain myself from mentioning more! Figured I'd point out a couple of my categories for small group play; 'Easy But Still Some Options', and 'Beefier With Relevant GM Tools Built-In'. GM'd some games for small groups and one-on-one over the decades due to growing up in the boonies with few prospective players nearby, and most of my friends being uninterested. Any TTRPG can be run that way, but some just take less work to do so, or even play better in smaller groups.

[@inwils]

@@NefariousKoel sounds great - I never have enough time to play other rulesets - thanks for so much information though - appreciate it

[@dvosburg1966]

My favorite ruleset? Dragon Quest by SPI.

[@inwils]

Nice, I've never played it but I've heard good things

[@hperantunes]

That was a nice overview on Mythras, thanks for the video! Since you asked about rulesets, I think my favorite _ever_ is John Wick's Blood & Honor - it has great flavor and the clan management mechanics make for outstanding campaigns. Incidentally, my _least_ favorite ruleset is Exalted, though I love the setting.

[@inwils]

Thanks for letting me know

[@leestott8648]

I love Mythras! Where did you find the rules for "negative buoyancy" Encumbrance rule you spoke of? I am going to run a Pirate themed adventure and I think it would be very useful.

[@inwils]

page 70 of the CRB under - Moving in Armour - hope this helps and thanks for comment and sub :)

[@leestott8648]

@@inwils Got it! thanks bud!

[@dracopticon7788]

BRP is my favorite rules system. It really just sinks into the background when playing.

[@inwils]

totally agree!

[@mortonstromgal]

Game I play the most: Dark Ages Vampire/Mage/etc

[@nickseigal6986]

Nice video! What VTT are you using in the game play at the end of the video? I recently discovered Mythras and Classic Fantasy (CF). I had the original RuneQuest way back in the mythic days (1970's). I still have the red cover hardback book! I really like the verisimilitude of the Mythras rules, particularly for skills, combat, and cults/guilds rather than classes. It reminds me of GURPS and Hero System (FantasyHero) -- other systems I liked a lot but never really played. Most of my play experience is D&D, AD&D (D&D 1e), D&D 3.5e, and a bit of Chivalry and Sorcery, HârnMaster. In the non-fantasy RPG areas, I played some Traveler, Champions, and Boot Hill. I always liked the consistent, generic, scalable systems like GURPS, Hero Systems and Traveler and the d20 revolution that came along with D&D 3e. I am not as familiar with the d100 systems that came out of the RuneQuest legacy, having never been into horror games like Call of Cthulhu. It is interesting to see how much of this shows up in D&D 5e that was not there in D&D 3.5e (I never played 4e so maybe some of this showed up there). The rounds and turns and action economy of D&D 5e are now much more like Mythras. I have been playing around lately with merging Mythras/CF ideas into D&D 5e and also considering converting all my 5e stuff to Mythras/CF. I like the pacing of D&D 5e combat better than Mythras combat and find the amount of math in Mythras a bit crunchy (a fair bit of dividing and rounding, easy, but can slow things down), but I think Mythras is a more realistic system. The great Mythras rules plus the huge amount of materials (AD&D and D&D 3.5e/5e) that I have or are available and my players' familiarity with the D&D rules family make some sort of conversion, either (A) a Classic Fantasy port of all my AD&D/D&D materials or (B) adding some Mythras ideas to D&D 5e, very tempting. Thoughts on which way to go?

[@inwils]

Thank you for your comment and questions. We use Roll20 for our VTT - I've tried others, but Roll20 has the character sheet already created and I can import monsters straight into the sheet. I really enjoyed reading your point, you have certainly played a wealth of games! Although I agree that D&D 5e combat is more pacey, I think it is less involved and doesn't have the combat specials and parry and evade. I moved to Mythras for the combat. Someone once told me this - "The D&D party is walking down the road. I bunch of bandits ambush them and hold a loaded crossbow to the fighter's chest - Your money or your life, the bandit cries. Go ahead and shoot said the fighter I have 45hp and your crossbow does 1d6 damage, you fire and then I will take you apart!" The actual rules might be incorrect but I like Mythras because of the combat, the hit locations and armour points. I like the way characters can be developed - for example one of our players has a character with a chain who can entangle and trip opponents. I always felt that I fighter in D&D had very little that was special to them. With Mythras, combat is more involved but it is like a game of chess. Players can use a special like press advantage that means their opponent can only defend as they rain blows down on them. As a way forward, I would highly recommend one of the combat modules (Breaking the Habit is the first one the-design-mechanism.mybigcommerce.com/publications/game-aids/) . These are small encounters that introduce the players to the combat. They are completely stand alone and would provide you with an opportunity to introduce Mythras as a system and see if everyone likes it. I was going to create a hybrid approach as well, but went full Mythras and never looked back. Hope this is helpful, and do let me know if you have any further questions.

[@tombouie]

Quite impressive

[@inwils]

Thanks 😁😁🧙‍♂🧙‍♂

[@middlemonster]

I have a question about the system. In fact one of my players asked if there is any benefit to making an unarmored agile fighter who uses daggers. How does an agile rogue stack up against a heavily armored sword and board warrior?

[@inwils]

Well the fighter would have to have significant strength/size to ensure that they were not encumbered with the heavy armour. The Dex rich character would be better at any skills which have this as a skill. We had a twin dagger user who had the combat trait of Do or die which allows the 'Flurry' option as well. I think for me, that it is not the rules that make the character but the player working in combination with the GM. Hope this helps.

[@middlemonster]

@@inwils Thank you for the reply. My player's issue specifically was that a warrior with a full suit of Mail has a flat AP of 6. No matter how many times he's with with a Shortsword. It can't hurt him. Is there a way around this?

[@inwils]

@@middlemonster well a crit roll the opponent can by pass armour and hit him- is he encumbered with 6 AP on each location? disruption spell by passes armour as well

[@bilharziaaeetes]

"How does an agile rogue stack up against a heavily armored sword and board warrior? " - Their bodies stack up very nicely in a pile behind the sword-and-board warrior...:p More seriously, the idea of the lightly-armed-and-armoured-dodging-fighter is very much a fantasy game conceit and Mythras tends to be quite unforgiving when it comes to fantasy fighting clichés. If the rogue does not have a damage bonus (say 1d2 or 1d4) it will be hard to get through the warrior's armour without a critical roll, what's happening is the rogue is just facing a reality - if you were really matched up like that you would be in trouble. This still leaves special effects and unarmed grappling. If the rogue can trip the warrior prone (you don't need damage to do this) then they have a huge advantage as the warrior's skills take a "Formidable" penalty (skills are halved), the rogue can disarm the warrior, possibly pin them in a grapple and attempt to Compel Surrender. Remember that the warrior is not a helpless passive target so it's not like the armour is an impassable barrier - but it is in an active fight with a resisting target, AP6 mail in these circumstances is good enough to stop a shortsword. Worth also considering that a damage bonus of +1d2 requires only 2 points above average strength (an 11 average to 13) and an average size, this would still not give the rogue a great chance but it's a bit better than critical-only, because any amount of damage, even one point is enough to attempt a Bleed special effect against an opponent, and that will spell doom for the warrior without medical attention. Of course the rogue would have to live long enough to the point where the warrior is disabled by the bleed... All of this can of course be radically changed if you're also using magic, Bladesharp will increase the damage die of the shortsword, a spirit could boost the strength of the rogue, or terrify the warrior, a sorcerous spell can do almost anything, a 'mystic' rogue can boost their damage modifier and so on. If you want more D&D style tropes (like dodging rogues etc.) you might like the Classic Fantasy supplement for Mythras which uses iconic classes and D&D style magic. Part of the answer is if armour didn't protect you from sidearms like shortswords then warriors wouldn't bother wearing it! If you are interested in more responses a good place to post is the TDM forum www.tapatalk.com/groups/designmechanism/

[@middlemonster]

​@@bilharziaaeetes Hi, thanks a lot for your help. It looks like there are a lot of non-stabby options for an agile rogue vs heavy armored sword and board warrior. I would probably suggest that in this situation, my fighter change tactics. Oh, also it feels weird to bring up reality when talking about a fantasy system that decides wearing two layers of armor is just as effective as one layer. I was commenting on here because I thought it would raise some activity on inwils channel. I like his videos, so I wanted to give him some traffic.

[@middlemonster]

What program(s) are you using to run your games?

[@inwils]

The game is on Roll20 - I have my campaign on Realm Work and I stream via StreamElements and OBS Live - hope this helps

[@Scaevola9449]

5e is very much my most played system, though not out of choice. It's just that nobody wants to fucking play anything other than 5e.

[@inwils]

That's true, although my current group were all 5e players who liked the idea of Mythras. Some still play 5e. I used to DM 5e but then moved to Mythras. Remember there is Classic Fantasy that relates more to levels and classes. Hope you find a group to GM for - it's a great ruleset 😁😁

[@paullavoie5542]

my brother played this when i was younger then 14. im now 39

[@inwils]

it only gets better with age

[@thordragon2448]

How do i play Mythras online?

[@inwils]

We use Roll20 as our virtual tabletop - it has a Mythras character sheet etc. You can see us using it here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZi7c6uOqt6SgK8

[@gmsshadow4142]

Worth also noting that Foundry VTT has a Mythras module. I've not used it yet though.

[@subatoistormborn5499]

Really want to try Mythras haven’t found a group yet

[@JohnEsse]

You are so cute and your voice is so nice! Subscribed!

[@inwils]

Thank you so much!! and thanks for subbing!