funkyb

My initial thought when reading OP’s request and list of issues with other systems was that something PbtA would make sense.

I use onenote for almost all my campaign notes. I’ve used world anvil as well. It’s really slick but a bit more work to create and keep updated.

I wish 5e had a good adventure setup sheet. Something like Monster of the Week has for their mysteries would be really useful.

Excellent points! I suspect OP wants to have the whole caravan in order to not make this a survival/resource management focused campaign so I’ll offer a way to do so that would make sense since, as you describe, they shouldn’t be bringing a huge trade caravan into the unknown: big old disaster. Some terrible, world changing thing happens and the only way to go is forward, into the now unknown region.

I think letting them be a shot force works just fine but if OP has some crafting or job based thing baked in an act of God could let them keep that and verisimilitude.

I’ve been meaning to make a statement block and encounter for this forever. I should really get around to it.

Also had about a billion hacks https://writingalchemy.net/resources/lasers-and-feelings-hacks/

Cars and Family provided one of my favorite games I’ve ever run

http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/

It’s my go to system for a quick one shot to introduce people to ttrpgs. Always fun, crazy, and simple to learn. And minimal work for the DM so long as you’re willing to bounce off whatever your players come up with.

I’ve run some one shots for more experienced players that have been really memorable and full of creative play, too. The simple mechanics don’t hold it back. It excels when you’re willing to “yes, and” pretty much everything.

My favorite little twist is that rolling your number results in “laser feelings”, which instructs the DM to reveal something important to the PC.

It’s basically a narrative shove forward every time it happens and keeps the game fast and fresh.

• Contested succession or political election situation. Give the candidates qualities that appeal to and are disliked by different party members. Expect them to put themselves forward as 3rd party candidates so have a plan for that.

• Hostage situation

• Curse then with something that needs wish to solve. I’m running The Scriveners Tale from Candlekeep Mysteries right now and it’s the most heartburn my level 14 party has had in a long time.

• World ending shit where they can’t (or probably can’t) stop everything bad from happening. Make them choose to save the city or their favored NPC.

They’ve basically turned into superman by the time they’re 3rd or 4th tier so hit them with the line of stuff that makes for interesting superman stories.

So it’s not exactly that, but if you want a rhythm game with some more nuance, Before the Echo is awesome.

You’ve got 3 different screens (mana gathering, spell casting, and enemy attacks) and you need to balance which you’re prioritizing at any time. Mana is needed to cast spells, spells are needed to defeat the enemy, but you need to block their attacks to not lose all your HP. Each one goes different parts of he music, and as a bonus all the music is from Ronald Jenkees.

It’s old, and while funny is also sometimes very cringey, but still a terrific bit of fun.