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Rules (wip):
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Old school DND and OSR clones would do great with their high chance of dying.
If you really need to stay with 5e you could cap player levels at 6 and scale the world. But that might not be worth it
tbh, any system can accommodate this. It's on you as a DM to create/use the various larger factions/entities. You can really make a world feel alive by writing up a few basic opposing factions and having the results of their conflict intertwine with whatever your group is doing. Wanna run a Shadowrun game? Focus on the megacorps going at each other, have the party work some of those jobs, but maybe have another group of NPC runners crash a job. Wanna do D&D? Well, they added factions like the Harpers so that you can have some big players pushing pieces behind the scenes, and have your players stumble onto a wider conspiracy.
I think the biggest thing is that you can't be afraid to give your party a challenge you know they have no hope of defeating. If they're small fish in a big pond, they have to encounter a big fish and learn their place in the hierarchy. If your group is smart, you can give a lot of hints that they need to flee and escape the bigger fish. If they're dumb, have em get wiped out in combat and barely survive.
True, political parties, corporations, unions and factions are probably a big part of what makes the real world feel that way too
Kenshi, the game world doesn't just hate you, it doesn't even care that you're there.
I have always felt like this playing Warhammer. The stats and hp progression rarely led to being OP, and even if the character had some political clout there has always been some cultist agenda that will sooner erode that edge before you get enough proofs to convince anyone to believe you. Every approach you consider, you can't be sure of the outcome
The WildSea. Post apocalyptic fantasy where the world has become overgrown by magical trees and creatures. You play a crew of sailors who sail the canopy of trees via chainsaw ship. Lots of things to explore and discover if you've got a good group to play with
!Traveller@ttrpg.network and other !scifi@ttrpg.network games often feature that.
Bulldogs is a great narrative game on Fate with that vibe.
Chronicles of Darkness if you like the horror vibe.
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.
TTRPG = TableTop RolePlaying Games.
This is not c/games lol
Most of the video game answers were here before I edited the title. I guess the community name is not prominent enough on the main Lemmy UIs..
Abzu