Forum > Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion
Favorite Single Book RPG
Persimmon:
While I once loved getting splat books, monster books, and various other supplements, with age and much more limited time to game I've come to appreciate the merits of streamlining and simplicity in my games. I also really like having everything in just one book, if at all possible. To me, that's the main appeal of something like Advanced Labyrinth Lord, despite its poor formatting, uneven artwork, low quality binding, and organizational problems. I still have everything I need to play or design in just one book. The old BECMI Rules Compendium also fits the bill here.
I understand in many cases that the business model lends itself to spreading things out, but I find it annoying when new classes, weapons, monsters etc. are added in supplements as a way to encourage (force) players & GMs alike to keep buying more product. The exception, of course, would be adventure modules.
So what are some of your favorite games/systems that keep everything together in one volume, however large, without all the splat books and bloat?
PulpHerb:
Tunnels & Trolls, either 5th edition or Deluxe (ie, the ones edited by Liz Danforth). Although Deluxe is a might bit heavier than 5th (due to being roughly 4x the length) it is still my favorite RPG in a single book, narrowly edging out RC and RQ2.
I wish I still had my 1980 printing of 5th. It is much thicker than the later printings due to very heavy paper (> 24lb I think).
BoxCrayonTales:
I submit this one: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/124387/ It's an indie "vampire mythos" rpg that was funded through kickstarter. Although it wasn't able to produce any of the supplements offered as stretch goals such as expanded hunting rules or a new setting book, the rulebook itself has everything you need to play as well as detailed guidelines and examples for inventing your own settings. It's a true toolkit.
My other submission as of right now is Puppetland.
Unfortunately, single book games don't get much attention for reasons that completely escape me. There are tons of neat single book games out there that receive no attention and have no communities around them. It's frustrating.
PulpHerb:
--- Quote from: BoxCrayonTales on September 14, 2022, 09:38:25 AM ---I submit this one: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/124387/ It's an indie "vampire mythos" rpg that was funded through kickstarter. Although it wasn't able to produce any of the supplements offered as stretch goals such as expanded hunting rules or a new setting book, the rulebook itself has everything you need to play as well as detailed guidelines and examples for inventing your own settings. It's a true toolkit.
--- End quote ---
That looks interesting.
--- Quote ---My other submission as of right now is Puppetland.
--- End quote ---
I loved the original Hogshead version that I got in on the hardcover Kickstarter.
It is the one RPG I would love to run or play with an audience. I think its conceit that you have talk in character as though it was a puppet show would make it great for an audience.
--- Quote ---Unfortunately, single book games don't get much attention for reasons that completely escape me. There are tons of neat single book games out there that receive no attention and have no communities around them. It's frustrating.
--- End quote ---
Agreed, but that's the problem with hobbyists being replaced by companies.
Steven Mitchell:
BEMCI/RC is my favorite in that category. Yeah, it's got some flaws. Put for the amount of stuff fit into one book, I find it hard to beat.
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