Ashes Without Number vs Fallout: The Roleplaying Game
Compare Ashes Without Number and Fallout: The Roleplaying Game side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Ashes Without Number | Fallout: The Roleplaying Game | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Post-Apocalyptic | Post-Apocalyptic |
| Tags | Sandbox, Deadly, Gritty, Exploration, Survival, Faction Play, Ascending AC | Tactical, Exploration, Survival, Character Building, Cinematic |
| Core Mechanic | 2d6 + skill + attribute modifier ≥ target for skill checks; d20 + modifiers for combat. Edges and Foci customize survivors. Enclave turn manages settlement-level play. Mutation system for mutant wasteland campaigns. | Roll 2–5d20 against a target number (Attribute + Skill). Each die at or under the target scores a success. Compare successes to difficulty (1–5). Extra successes become Action Points to buy bonus dice, extra damage, or information. |
| Dice | 2d6 / d20 | 2d20 + d6 |
| Complexity | Medium | Medium |
| Accessibility | Very High | High |
| Runnability | Very High | Very High |
| License | Proprietary | All Rights Reserved |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Cost | Free | $$$ |
| Publisher | Sine Nomine Publishing | Modiphius Entertainment |
| Year | 2025 | 2021 |
| Best For | Sandbox post-apocalyptic campaigns (nuclear wastelands, zombie deadlands, or societal collapse) with the same incredible GM tools as Stars Without Number. | Fallout fans who want to explore the Wasteland at the tabletop with SPECIAL attributes, perks, Action Points, and the iconic post-apocalyptic setting. |
| Highlights | Three apocalypse flavors (mutant wasteland, zombie deadlands, after the fall), comprehensive sandbox GM tools with encounter site and enclave generators, mutations and cybernetics, compatible with other Without Number games | Faithful Fallout experience with S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats and perks, Action Point economy creates tactical depth, Combat Dice handle damage cleanly, well-supported licensed setting |
| Considerations | OSR combat can feel flat, dense 294-page rulebook, requires GM comfort with sandbox play | The 2d20 system carries a learning curve, with an Action Point economy to track alongside the dice. Tight ties to the Fallout IP constrain homebrew settings that stray from the license. Rules detail can feel crunchy for groups who want a lighter game. |