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?

  • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
    5·
    1 hour 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

  • Berttheduck@lemmy.ml
    7·
    3 hours ago

    Check out Blades in the Dark and Spire the City must fall.

    I’m blades you pay an upcoming gang of criminals in a haunted Victorian steampunk city where every inch is owned/claimed by another gang so everything you do either pleases or upsets somebody. Definitely has the struggle to survive in a hostile world feel. Blades is one of my favourite game systems to run. It’s soo easy for the GM I basically never needed to prep.

    In Spire you play a group of rebel or terrorist dark elves fighting against the oppressive high elf regimen. The world building is really detailed maybe a bit too much in some places. I really enjoyed running it though.

    • naught101@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      1 hour ago

      One of my friends is a big fan of Blades… Will give it a go at some point.

      Is the ease of prep to do with preexisting material, or mechanics that make it easy for players to contribute to the world-feel, or something else?

  • F4celess@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    61·
    4 hours ago

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

  • Dunstabzugshaubitze@feddit.org
    8·
    5 hours 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·
      5 hours 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.

  • olicvb@lemmy.caEnglish
    11·
    2 hours ago

    Elite: Dangerous the first time you open the map and realise how far and wide everything is. Same with No man’s sky

  • perfectduck@lemmy.world
    51·
    5 hours 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.

  • MagicShel@lemmy.zipEnglish
    6·
    5 hours 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 hours 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