There are games that have a “big fish in a big pond” feel - e.g. sandbox D&D games, or a “big fish in a small pond” feel, e.g. games with contained campaigns/missions.

There are also games that do a “small fish in a small pond” feel really well, e.g. Fiasco.

Are there any games that do a “small fish in a big pond” feel well? e.g. games where the players are not outstanding heros, and where the world feels big - not only spatially, but also socially and politically?

Edit: lots of good suggestions so far, but maybe I could have added:

  • it’s fine and good if the small fish somehow end up having a big effect
  • it would be amazing if the big-world had well fleshed out other goings-on. Ideally some mechanics that let all players contribute to this feeling, so it doesn’t depend entirely on the quality of the DMing

Edit 2: title, to avoid all the computer game suggestions. I guess the community name isn’t hint enough, huh?

  • djsoren19@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    9·
    3 days ago

    tbh, any system can accommodate this. It’s on you as a DM to create/use the various larger factions/entities. You can really make a world feel alive by writing up a few basic opposing factions and having the results of their conflict intertwine with whatever your group is doing. Wanna run a Shadowrun game? Focus on the megacorps going at each other, have the party work some of those jobs, but maybe have another group of NPC runners crash a job. Wanna do D&D? Well, they added factions like the Harpers so that you can have some big players pushing pieces behind the scenes, and have your players stumble onto a wider conspiracy.

    I think the biggest thing is that you can’t be afraid to give your party a challenge you know they have no hope of defeating. If they’re small fish in a big pond, they have to encounter a big fish and learn their place in the hierarchy. If your group is smart, you can give a lot of hints that they need to flee and escape the bigger fish. If they’re dumb, have em get wiped out in combat and barely survive.

    • naught101@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      1 day ago

      True, political parties, corporations, unions and factions are probably a big part of what makes the real world feel that way too

  • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
    8·
    3 days ago

    The world of darkness games can run like this. If you play new vampires, there’s going to be a whole political landscape that is at best neutral to you. Same with Mage. The other types probably also, but I don’t know them as well.

    It does have a paradoxical element in that your character will be a big fish as far as the mundane world is considered. A freshly statted vampire or mage is far more powerful than a mundane person.

    It does have paths for players to become big fish, too

  • MagicShel@lemmy.zipEnglish
    8·
    3 days ago

    Paranoia, is explicitly written that way. You don’t win or change the world. You just survive it… a little bit longer… or not.

    Call of Cthulhu is sort of another example, but the characters do tend to be outstanding in some way, just not in power-fantasy ways.

    • naught101@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      3 days ago

      Cool, thanks

      I could have been clearer: I’m not opposed yo the small fish having a big effect, but just don’t want it to be presupposed

  • Dunstabzugshaubitze@feddit.org
    8·
    3 days ago

    old d&d editions or OSR-Systems can offer that feel as player characters tend to be weaker than their 5e counterparts.

    the world of darkness games might also be an option, but i’ve only watched/listened to some actual plays and there the player characters seemed like pretty small fish until they established themself as a politcal force through luck and schemes.

    • MagicShel@lemmy.zipEnglish
      4·
      3 days ago

      world of darkness games

      I’ve seen it go this way, but also blood-sucking super heroes. It depends a lot on the individual table, but this was one of the first systems I thought of.

      Agree on OSR, though through skill and fortune one can become a big fish. Though I recall it used to be one you hit level cap you just retired.

    • dumples@midwest.socialEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      Old school DND and OSR clones would do great with their high chance of dying.

      If you really need to stay with 5e you could cap player levels at 6 and scale the world. But that might not be worth it

  • F4celess@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    61·
    3 days ago

    Kenshi, the game world doesn’t just hate you, it doesn’t even care that you’re there.

      • Mugita Sokio@discuss.onlineEnglish
        2·
        3 days ago

        I think what gives GUN the feeling is that it takes place in the wild west (which is dying), and that the mechanics regarding guns, characters, and encounters are something to behold once you get into them. It’s a non-D&D system that primarily uses d10’s if I’m not mistaken (I hadn’t played it, but only seen gameplay of it).

  • perfectduck@lemmy.world
    52·
    3 days ago

    Mount and Blade warband is the dated but classic sandbox. You don’t matter unless you make it.

    Kingdom come deliverance is more recent, but it’s definitely got a learning curve and some players can’t get the groove right.

    Subnautica is a more literal interpretation.

    Which would I recommend? Honestly all of them.

    • Aielman15@lemmy.world
      2·
      3 days ago

      TTRPG = TableTop RolePlaying Games.

      This is not c/games lol

      • naught101@lemmy.worldOP
        1·
        3 days ago

        Most of the video game answers were here before I edited the title. I guess the community name is not prominent enough on the main Lemmy UIs…

  • Nico198X@europe.pub
    1·
    3 days ago

    Chronicles of Darkness if you like the horror vibe.

    • nocturne@slrpnk.net
      1·
      3 days ago

      I had no idea they made paper RPGs of either of these.

      • olicvb@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        3 days ago

        ah shit here i went not reading and posting irrelevant info (there’s an ttrpg but i’ve never played it 🙃)