I’m looking to start a text based campaign with a couple of friends. But most of the systems we play tend to be more tactical combat oriented (Pathfinder, Lancer, etc) and it feels like it’d be really awkward to switch over to a VTT every time a fight breaks out. Are there any systems that would be easy-ish to learn and good for text based games?
It’s not designed as a text based game, but you could probably play Delta Green that way. I’ve had entire operations go by without a single combat, and you can easily just play them “theater of the mind” style.
The game itself is best described as a crossover between X-files and True Detective, where you’re typically investigating some sort of paranormal activity. It’s modern day, so if you tell someone you’re exploring an apartment or an office, you won’t need a wall of text to describe the setting, and they usually provide some pictures you can share whenever your group encounters a monster.
have you ever played Everyone Is John? I usually pitch it to new DMs because it requires (and frankly encourages) almost zero prep but it’s also totally narrative in its storytelling style as well, and the dice system is idiot simple. This makes it ideal for playing over SMS or IRC or other simple media like that. Here are the rules, they fit on a single page with artwork: https://imgur.com/ueKNhc3
I feel what you’re thinking of is “theater of the mind” in which games are run without a map or a grid. Its how I run my gurps game even though there’s options for grids. I think a rules lite rpg like FATE would work better but even with regular DnD (I’m not familiar with pathfinder but I’m assuming its along the same lines) as long as everyone can keep in mind where everything is, it could work out perhaps.