My partner and I have just begun watching Critical Role (we began with Campaign 2) and are interested in trying a TTRPG for the first time. We have decades of console and computer RPG experience between us and can follow the show pretty easily. For now it will just be the two of us due to my health making me not very dependable for a group.
We were thinking one of us would be the DM and the other controls a few party members. Does anyone have any advice for TTRPGs or scenarios for two people?
There are a few TTRPGs I've run across that are designed around one-on-one (or even solo) play. There are others which are designed for groups but are very compatible with one-on-one.
One big question is, "what kind of game experience do you want?" Do you want to focus on story above all, exploring the narrative that unfolds around your party? Or are you more interested in the mechanical side, gaming out combats and exploration with dice rolls and stats?
In that case, most of the point of having a game's structure (instead of cooperative free-form storytelling) is to help demarcate what each character can or can't do, I gather?
Off the top of my head, here are some suggestions:
Ryuutama - Originally a Japanese TTRPG, it's been described as "Hayao Miyazaki's Oregon Trail." The focus is on a group of travelers (not "adventurers") and their journeys through the world they live in. Relaxing and heartwarming.
(More to come ...)
Fate Core - A genre-agnostic, numbers-light RPG system. Characters are described more by "aspects" than by numerical statistics, while skills do get numbered ranks. You'll probably want special Fate Dice or FUDGE Dice, but you can use regular 6-sided dice too.
Fabula Ultima - A TTRPG which attempts to capture the feel and vibe of Japanese video RPGs. Every character gets skills from multiple classes as they level up. (I have yet to play this but I look forward to doing so.)
I'm going to have to dig around and see if I can find any of those one-on-one systems I mentioned, sorry. But I do have two more fantasy TTRPGs that I haven't *played* but look like they might suit you.
Heroes Against Darkness is pitched in the introduction as simple and straightforward, with "meaningful options and tactics in combat."
Sword Chronicle: Feudal Fantasy Roleplaying puts some emphasis on the PCs' background as nobility, and on maintaining their house's stature.
What genres are you into? Do you want to play D&D'esque games like you're seeing on Critical Role?
If so, D&D works fine for that. You can have NPCs helping, you could run more than one PC at a time, like you said. It might take a little getting used to, but it's doable. This site can provide some ideas: https://dndduet.com/
If you're looking for specifically two-player RPGS, here's a good list to start with:
https://www.cbr.com/best-two-player-trpgs/
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