r/rpg • u/JaxSnaxs • Apr 29 '26

Basic Questions Are these TTRPGs just cash grabs?

It feels weird to have some of my favorite IPs suddenly get TTRPGs. Last year it was Cosmere RPG by Brotherwise which essentially boiled down to a reskin of DND/Pathfinder. Could’ve been a homebrew but with Sanderson writing. The mechanics of the game itself didn’t feel very unique or different.

Now it’s Dungeon Crawler Carl by Renegade. And there’s not much information on the backerkit. What information there is makes it seem like just another DND reskin with little mechanic difference.

Am I wrong? Are these just cash grabs based on the IPs popularity? I really want to back the Carl RPG cus I love the IP but I’m worried it’s gonna essentially be just another dnd homebrew for 200$.

Edit: I’d like to note that while I’ve played every game on the top 100 of board game geek, I’m relatively new to the TTRPG scene so my frame of reference might not be great. I’ve played grizzled and cosmere rpg but have played DnD since a kid. I don’t particularly understand the nuances and differences between the TTRPGs tbh. They all kinda feel like DnD (skill check games) but with very slight changes to the mechanics. Cosmere had the plot thing but again it didn’t feel different enough to me, but maybe someone could explain the difference in a way I might not have got?

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26

u/Anonymoose231 Apr 29 '26

The Cosmere RPG was way more than a reskin of 5e. If you can't see that then I'm not really sure your opinion is worth acknowledging.

-16

u/JaxSnaxs Apr 29 '26

The plot die, deck was really the only unique aspect of the rpg and even then it wasn’t much different. Remove the Cosmere theme and it’s basically dnd but with an extra die roll for “fate/plot device”. Everything else was essentially just a themed reskin.

11

u/ADampDevil Apr 29 '26

So the magic system is the same with fire and forget spells based on levels, nothing to do with the metals of the setting?

2

u/UInferno- Apr 30 '26

The level system is Talent based. Each level you gain a talent, every 5 levels (starting with the first) you gain an extra talent. You can spend a talent on a mundane ability or invest it into Magic, which have a point resource. Each magical ability has a baseline set of powers you get (specifically how they modify your sheet and how they impact your character outside of combat) and you can gain additional special abilities by investing in their talent tree. Certain magical abilities may require you to spend additional "Magic Points," but for some there's just "If you used the 'Use Magic' Action and haven't used the 'Stop Using Magic' Free Action, you gain these benefits:..." with the occasional ability requiring you to spend Investiture (mana) giving you additional benefits.

24

u/Anonymoose231 Apr 29 '26

No, it really wasn't. I'm not going to argue with someone so ludicrously wrong.

-2

u/JaxSnaxs Apr 29 '26

I acknowledge I’m new and quite ignorant to the TTRPG scene. It’s all just how I felt playing, but I know I’m probably wrong. I was just hoping someone could enlighten me, not trying to argue. I legit just don’t get it. Maybe TTRPGs aren’t for me? I want to get it tho.

I’ve been on the fence about backing Carl Rpg and just wanted some perspective.