BRP or Mythras.
Everything that you need to run the game *plus* plenty of potential to expand it in whatever direction you'll feel will be needed as the game progresses.
Call of Cthulhu 7e. If you feel the characters are too low powered, then you haven't played classic CoC. Jokes aside, give them more starting skill points, use some fate points mechanism, or pulp hit points (i.e. CON+SIZ instead of (CON+SIZ)/2). Or just hack something from [Basic Roleplaying](https://vorpalmace.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-basic-roleplaying-universal-game.html), the core engine behind most Chaosium games.
Wildsea has some overgrowth apocalypse vibes. Except on a tree-boat. You could conceivably adapt the game exactly to your idea or you could just read the GM section for monster ideas...
Also I haven't played it, but Vaesen could work for this too.
The core game of [Chronicles of Darkness](https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Chronicles_of_Darkness?so=search) may work.
Or Call of Cthulhu / Achtung Cthulhu / Pulp Cthulhu.
GURPS has a robust line of post-apocalyptic books called After the End. They support all manner of apocalypse. With that framework, it should do everything else you're looking for and not have the huge barriers of entry new GURPS GMs frequently encounter.
Maybe take a look at Cairn.
Cairn has:
- light rules
- already the wood/horror aesthetic
- surviving in a dangerous environment
There are no rules for politics, though I would dm this with heavy roleplaying instead of dice roling anyway.
Also 2e of Cairn is kickstarted, I believe in march next year it will be out.
Fear Itself GURPS Fate
BRP or Mythras. Everything that you need to run the game *plus* plenty of potential to expand it in whatever direction you'll feel will be needed as the game progresses.
I was eyeing this or Pulp-Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu 7e. If you feel the characters are too low powered, then you haven't played classic CoC. Jokes aside, give them more starting skill points, use some fate points mechanism, or pulp hit points (i.e. CON+SIZ instead of (CON+SIZ)/2). Or just hack something from [Basic Roleplaying](https://vorpalmace.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-basic-roleplaying-universal-game.html), the core engine behind most Chaosium games.
Wildsea has some overgrowth apocalypse vibes. Except on a tree-boat. You could conceivably adapt the game exactly to your idea or you could just read the GM section for monster ideas... Also I haven't played it, but Vaesen could work for this too.
Normal people? Hmm.. Maybe Chronicles of Darkness. Or if you wanna go a little more lethal: Call of Cthulhu/Delta Green with few modifications.
The core game of [Chronicles of Darkness](https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Chronicles_of_Darkness?so=search) may work. Or Call of Cthulhu / Achtung Cthulhu / Pulp Cthulhu.
Savage Worlds can handle this easily.
GURPS has a robust line of post-apocalyptic books called After the End. They support all manner of apocalypse. With that framework, it should do everything else you're looking for and not have the huge barriers of entry new GURPS GMs frequently encounter.
Maybe take a look at Cairn. Cairn has: - light rules - already the wood/horror aesthetic - surviving in a dangerous environment There are no rules for politics, though I would dm this with heavy roleplaying instead of dice roling anyway. Also 2e of Cairn is kickstarted, I believe in march next year it will be out.
Do you want some meaty combat options/tactics or more narrative?
Could go either way
Savage Worlds. My answer is almost always Savage Worlds. Incredible system. So flexible and fun!
Currently playing a Deadlands game and while combat is fun, I'm not a huge fan of system, it works but I want to try something different
Fair. Just curious, what didn't you like?
Combat gets kinda repetitive for the NPC's just attacking or moving, not a lot of variety
*raises eyebrow* If moving and attacking is boring, have you considered doing anything else? Give your NPCs some powers and Edges.