In your opinion, what are the most comprehensive single-volume RPGs out there? Which games are the most complete in a single book of rules, while needing the least outside material to give a complete and fulfilling game experience?
Basically, what we're looking for is the most "buy this one book, and you're set for ages of gaming" product.
D&D Rules Cyclopedia
Adventure!
Traveller (Classic or Mongoose; I have little to no experience with other versions)
Gamma World (1e, 2e...not sure of others)
RC for certain. I'm drawing a blank for others. I know there are more. Let me meditate on it.
Call of Cthulu
I seem to recall WFRP 2e being pretty comprehensive. Can't remember that we'll as I only had a copy for a few days.
Champions the Super Role Playing Game 4th edition BBB- even though it can be daunting.
The Palladium Role-Playing Game 1st edition- has just enough of everything to keep you going.
My sci fi pick would be troll lord's Star Siege. Although it's a box and not a book, it has everything I'd need.
WFRP v1
DCC.
I divided between two:
Call of Cthulhu - looking back I've had very little use of the 40+ scenario- and and sourcebook I've bought for Call of Cthulhu. All you need is in that basic book.
Over the Edge - everything in the book screams "use me in play!" and there's more hours of action, drama and intrigue in that book than I will ever get sessions played. Brilliant and easy rules included.
If I had to pick, Over the Edge would be my choice.
Talislanta, 4th ed.
OSRIC
L'Appel de Cthulhu 30e anniversaire
Nephilim 2nde édition
Vampire 20th anniversary
Arcana Evolved
Risus.
:D
Warhammer Fantasy RPG 1st Edition
I can't think of any single volume of a game that comes close to it.
WFRP v1 (v2 needed supplements really), StarBlazer Adventures v1, Champions 4e, Tenra Bansho Zero - Heaven & Earth Edition, Thousand Suns, Stars Without Number, Godlike, Wild Talents 2e, Boothill (any), Artesia, DCC, RC, The Blood of Heroes v2, DC Heroes v2, Chivalry & Sorcery 2e and Mystery Men are about all I can think of.
fates worse than death.
Since I only buy corebooks most of the time, I always have this question in mind. On top of my head:
1- Tenra Bansho Zero
2- Barbarians of Lemuria
3- Weapons of the Gods
4- Warhammer Fantasy 1st Edition
5- Call of Cthulhu
Fantasy Craft -- Don't get me wrong. The Adventure Companion supplement is very, very nice, but hardly necessary. Going by the core book alone:
--The base and expert classes presented are extremely versatile, likewise the races(especially with racial feats to modify them). There's just a huge amount of player-side variety without having to worry about screwing your character over with "trap" options. The same basic race/class combination can end up being very different between multiple players based on which specific options you pick. And as I said, this system has few(if any) trap options, so you'll be an effective contributor no matter what options you pick!
--Weapon and armor(and certain other goods) modification systems let the players get equipment suited to their needs and desires. And there is a system in the book for creating magic items from the ground up. You can use it to make the items tailored to the PCs needs, or to make each magic item unique, or both!
--NPC creation is a thing of brilliance! Warning: it is a point-based system, and a GM trying to be a dick can find exploits, but one trying to create appropriate challenges and who follows the advice at the beginning of the section has nothing to worry about. That said, you create everything from regular NPCs to monsters once, and it has a simple scaling system that keeps that same creation being an appropriate challenge no matter what level your PCs are. And yes, the book has a bestiary and a list of basic NPC types to choose from if you don't want to do all that work yourself.
WFRP 1e, definitely.
This was also one of my main goals for Other Worlds. It's a generic 'build your own world' game, but it contains a large amount of support for 7 different genres (fantasy, horror, modern day, pirates, sci-fi, superheroes, wild west) as well as a detailed chapter on adapting it to other genres and subgenres. If you accept that part of the premise of the game is that you make the setting up for yourself, the corebook gives you pretty much everything you could want.
Probably OSRIC.
Quote from: Philotomy Jurament;672988Probably OSRIC.
OSRIC is amazing.
Call of Cthulhu edges out the D&D Rules Cyclopedia for one big reason:
CoC includes enough adventures that you can play for about 4 to 6 sessions before you need to create your own stuff. By that point, a newbie Keeper has enough table time under his belt that he can take it from there.
I'm looking forward to the new Shadowrun starter set for similar reasons. It looks like it comes with enough adventures that we can play for a month before I need to start devoting real time to the game.
These days, I want a game to prove itself in play before I'll put my free time into prepping it.
"comprehensive" is going to be pretty relative in regards to semi-generic games, universal systems, and culture games, with the latter requiring the most info on comparison.
Quote from: TristramEvans;672996"comprehensive" is going to be pretty relative in regards to semi-generic games, universal systems, and culture games, with the latter requiring the most info on comparison.
We have a working definition (i.e. as it applies to this specific thread) of "comprehensive" in the OP.
If we going to keep citing fairly tightly focused rules sets, then the top tier is a rather wide one of pretty closely matched examples of completeness. It's even wider if you let "single-volume" include boxed sets containing more than one booklet.
I'll mention FGU's Space Opera (published in a single volume after the boxed edition, IIRC), TSR's Gangbusters (ditto) and Kenzer's Aces & Eights.
Then we have the rules sets meant to cover a very wide range of topics.
Basic Roleplaying: The Chaosium D100 System is probably an excellent candidate, based on my brief examination.
The Hero System (I'm thinking of 4th ed.) and GURPS Basic Set (3rd ed.) have different sets of strengths and weaknesses.
Quote from: KenHR;672997We have a working definition (i.e. as it applies to this specific thread) of "comprehensive" in the OP.
Yes, and its relative to whether the game has an implied setting, no setting, or a well-developed setting. A comprehensive Tekumal core book is going to require 500x the info to be considered comprehensive in relation to a Risus PDF, at least.
Quote from: GeekEclectic;672981Fantasy Craft -- Don't get me wrong. The Adventure Companion supplement is very, very nice, but hardly necessary. Going by the core book alone:
-SNIP-
I agree on this one, mostly for the same reason (Adventure Companion is cool but not needed, and I am looking forward to Spellbound, though once again, its not really NEEDED)
I'll throw another one out there that is fairly new: Fate Core (on a side note, not only do I love the book for its contents, but man is it a really well constructed book (nice pages, great hardback, awesome layout))
Quote from: TristramEvans;673002Yes, and its relative to whether the game has an implied setting, no setting, or a well-developed setting. A comprehensive Tekumal core book is going to require 500x the info to be considered comprehensive in relation to a Risus PDF, at least.
So? Then I guess for you a Tekumel game that isn't that Platonic ideal wouldn't be considered a comprehensive single-volume RPG for the purposes of this thread. Easy enough, right?
And it's not like such a tome was never published for a detailed setting. Someone's mentioned Talislanta 4e already, which was a good example of such existing.
Classic Traveller, Traveller 4, d20 Traveller, and Mongoose Traveller
d6 Star Wars, Revised and Expanded
Jovian Chronicles
Cyberpunk 2020
Dream Park
D&D Rules Compendium
Labyrinth Lord
d20 Call of Cthulhu
Teenagers From Outer Space
Call of Cthulhu, Warhammer 1e, Aces & Eights.
Quote from: KenHR;673005So? Then I guess for you a Tekumel game that isn't that Platonic ideal wouldn't be considered a comprehensive single-volume RPG for the purposes of this thread. Easy enough, right?
And it's not like such a tome was never published for a detailed setting. Someone's mentioned Talislanta 4e already, which was a good example of such existing.
I have no idea what you're on about. You seem to object to me bringing it up. I found it completely relavent to a discussion of the 'most comprehensive' RPG, if you aren't interested in discussion then dont respond.Easy enough, right?
Call of Cthulhu
Savage World of Solomon Kane
All Flesh Must Be Eaten
Granted, given that BRP *can* be used to run Call of Cthulhu, the BRP rulebook is arguably more versatile than CoC, though it lacks any specific setting info.
Stormbringer 5th.edition
The D&D Rules Cyclopedia and The Traveller Book.
Though Tenra Bansho Zero is two books in a slipcase, they are sold together. It would be my RPG of choice if I could have no other. A complete flavourful setting with lots of flexibility and places for me to fill out. A system good for one shots with newbies and equally good for players who want longer games or mechanical depth.
Another vote for WFRP1 and Over the Edge.
I would say the Rules Cyclopedia as well.
Most comprehensive....
Implied setting
D&D Rules Cyclopedia
No setting
Tie between every rules lite universal system ever
Culture game
Warhammer Fantasy Role playing 1st Edition
I've thumbed through RC but don't recall - does it really have a built in setting and adventures? Call of Cthulhu has example adventures and a base setting too.
At least to me, a comprehensive role-playing game is not the same thing as a comprehensive set of rules.
Quote from: Lynn;673086I've thumbed through RC but don't recall - does it really have a built in setting and adventures? Call of Cthulhu has example adventures and a base setting too.
At least to me, a comprehensive role-playing game is not the same thing as a comprehensive set of rules.
It has Mystara in it. But no adventure.
WFRP 1e blows just about everything away. I'm tempted to say T5 but that would just be trolling. It does discuss the setting some though but there isn't an adventure.
When I read the OP, I assumed all the answers would be universal systems. "You're set for ages for gaming" to me implies more than one setting, however good that setting might be. If you're able to restrict yourself to one setting, then the number of possible answers is around half the rpgs ever published - you'd only be excluding the rules-only and multivolume games.
Quote from: RunningLaser;672919The Palladium Role-Playing Game 1st edition- has just enough of everything to keep you going.
+1 for the Palladium FRPG 1st edition. The only decent product Palladium has ever released, and if you like old-school D&D, stuffed with interesting magic, weapons and character classes.
Quote from: Kyle Aaron;673103When I read the OP, I assumed all the answers would be universal systems. "You're set for ages for gaming" to me implies more than one setting, however good that setting might be. If you're able to restrict yourself to one setting, then the number of possible answers is around half the rpgs ever published - you'd only be excluding the rules-only and multivolume games.
I understand your point but I consider a set of generic mechanics which I had to add my own setting(s) would not be all that comprehensive as an RPG. Its why I think we are seeing a lot of implied setting or open setting RPGs being raised here, as they give the best of both worlds.
Quote from: Kyle Aaron;673103When I read the OP, I assumed all the answers would be universal systems. "You're set for ages for gaming" to me implies more than one setting, however good that setting might be. If you're able to restrict yourself to one setting, then the number of possible answers is around half the rpgs ever published - you'd only be excluding the rules-only and multivolume games.
Crap, you're right. It would be faster to list the RPGs that
don't meet the OP's criteria. If you limit yourself to generic rule sets, then the winner is probably Fate Core, just because it's both comprehensive and super easy to learn and use.
Honorable mentions go to GURPS 3e Basic Set Revised(4e was 2 books), Hero 5th Ed. Revised(again, 6th became 2 books), and the Basic Roleplaying book, which are all good but a whole heck of a lot more complex than Fate.
Quote from: GeekEclectic;673131Crap, you're right. It would be faster to list the RPGs that don't meet the OP's criteria.
Maybe. A game that has longevity means different things to different people, e.g.:
- a game you can run for a long time because of the range of source material in the book
- a game you can run for a long time because it's an excellent toolkit
- a game you can run for a long time because of the simplicity and consistency of the rules, and the strength of the setting
I think the OP meant the first option; I agree about
Call of Cthulhu and would add
Ghosts of Albion to this list.
For the second option I'd consider stuff like
Mongoose Traveller. Generic games, sort of... but I find that generic games need some kind of support, usually from the GM. They don't feel complete out of the box, they're a starting point. But agreed,
FATE Core is solid.
For the third, rules-lite and strong settings include
Hollowpoint,
Don't Rest Your Head,
Everway. I don't need more than the core book, even though the books are pretty slim.
Warhammer Fantasy RPG 1st Edition
I am with Tristam:
Quote from: TristramEvans;672943I can't think of any single volume of a game that comes close to it.
After a bit of a margin:
D&D Rules Cyclopedia
Dragon Warriors HC
Talislanta 4th Edition
MERP 2nd Edition
Dungeonslayers 4th Edition
I've owned but never played many of these.
d6 Star Wars RE does fit though, mostly. Don't recall an adventure in it, specifically, but I would almost bet there is one. The only thing that limits its qualifications is the dependence on the movies themselves.
Quote from: ICFTI;672968fates worse than death.
And the TROLL hits the thread! Of course he has nothing of value to add but just his stupid opinion.
I would say the D&D RC. It edges out CoC because RC D&D is slightly more favorable to long-term play.
RPGPundit
Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;673193MERP 2nd Edition
I love MERP but I don't think it belongs here. If you're playing MERP without all the detailed setting books and the beautiful maps, all you're really doing is playing Rolemaster Lite with a setting you half remember from another source. By that logic
any game would be self-contained as long as you used it to play out a setting you already knew very well.
Gamma World (1992 edition).
Arcana Evolved.
I actually though Fates Worse Than Death had an interesting setting if too many logic holes. But I remember *zero* of the system itself.
D&D rules cyclopedia, any version of Traveller are good but right now Stars without Number is My favorite.
In one book, yeah I think WFRP1 takes the cake. System, Setting, Bestiary, Magic, Careers, DMing advice, Adventure, it's got everything and lots of it. You can run the lowest Zero to the highest Hero with one book and not want for rules.
The only other books that came out for it were adventures and city books (and a couple White Dwarf compilations which were half adventure).
To me, comprehensive means everything I need to play. So core system, classes, bestiary, setting, maps, adventure material. Everything.
With that in mind:
Talislanta 4th edition
The Savage World of Solomon Kane
With the latter, you could run a campaign for two years without ever cracking another book or putting pen to paper. That's comprehensive.
Quote from: soviet;673565I love MERP but I don't think it belongs here. (...) By that logic any game would be self-contained as long as you used it to play out a setting you already knew very well.
I GM'd
MERP briefly as a generic RPG, just like you said - a RoleMaster that is not nearly as fiddly.
But I did the same with all the other games from my list:
Warhammer Fantasy RPG 1st Edition I played in three settings of my own, not the Old World.
D&D Rules Cyclopedia I played in my first homebrew setting, never in Mystara/Known World.
Dragon Warriors I'd play in a Legend-
inspired setting but not Legend proper.
Maybe as a Lyonesse RPG.
Instead of
Talislanta I'd rather use High Medieval as I like the Talislanta/OMNI system but not necessarily the weird setting.
You may see a pattern here: I hardly ever use published settings.
And even though I like WHFRP so much that the 1st ed HC is a kind of holy grail for me (in terms of completeness, layout, heft, paper, and the general way the whole book captures a certain mood), I'd never ever use the Old World setting. I just can't take it seriously, it's like a Monty Python RPG.
(Pundit's Albion sounds much better.)
The only published settings I used were Greyhawk (the map basically, and none of the descriptions), Dragonlance (the full 12 modules, albeit heavily modified and de-railed), and a LotR one-shot that in fact could have been any generic world.
Quote from: Haffrung;673644To me, comprehensive means everything I need to play. So core system, classes, bestiary, setting, maps, adventure material. Everything.
I'd scratch setting and maps. For me, an implied setting is enough (http://monstersandmanuals.blogspot.de/2013/07/the-minimalist-setting.html).
That said, a setting overview as a sample of what the writers had in mind is great (Legend in DW, the Palladium world, Magira in old Midgard, even Aventuria in old DSA/TDE). My sweet spot would be the cell of a world (Keep on the Borderland, Hommlet, Daggerford/Under Illefarn, the Axbridge region from the first DW paperbacks) that you can expand upon.
Quote from: Haffrung;673644To me, comprehensive means everything I need to play. So core system, classes, bestiary, setting, maps, adventure material. Everything.
That's my take on it as well, and why Over The Edge tops my list. Sure, that it takes place in the real world makes the setting somewhat implied, but at the same time it tweaks the real world in tiny but fucked up ways, making it both recognizable and alien to the players.
And it has all those things in 240 easily digested and well written pages with a minimum of crunch. Actually it could be cut by 40+ pages, due some wasted pages of rules for converting to odd systems like To Challenge Tomorrow and Fringeworthy... never quite understood the need for those.
Seeing as Stormbringer has already been mentioned, I'll add:
"Stars without number" and "Other dust"
I've been happily running both off and on and just the one of either book is fine to work with.
Pretty much has everything you need.
Quote from: Zachary The First;672911In your opinion, what are the most comprehensive single-volume RPGs out there? Which games are the most complete in a single book of rules, while needing the least outside material to give a complete and fulfilling game experience?
Basically, what we're looking for is the most "buy this one book, and you're set for ages of gaming" product.
Call of Cthulhu, 2e-5e. Any of 'em.
Don't like it myself but, of course, Rules Cyclopedia D&D.
Hero System 5e (or 4e, even).
Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play 1e.
Shit, all this talk about first edition WFRP has given me an urge for a copy - my original was never returned from whoever I lend it to, and when I ran Enemy Within last year with 2nd edition it did feel quite right. 1st edtion it is. Again.
Quote from: DKChannelBoredom;674523Shit, all this talk about first edition WFRP has given me an urge for a copy - my original was never returned from whoever I lend it to, and when I ran Enemy Within last year with 2nd edition it did feel quite right. 1st edtion it is. Again.
I found a n/m 1e GW hardback for $45 about 5 years ago...they're a bit more pricey now, but you can get 'em still...
D&D Next.
Quote from: The_Rooster;674658D&D Next.
It isn't published yet. We don't what form it will take when it comes out.
My picks:
The RC
OSRIC
Labyrinth Lord
GURPS 3E
Quote from: The_Rooster;674658D&D Next.
A game that doesn't exist yet.
Obvious troll is obvious.
Quote from: TristramEvans;674882A game that doesn't exist yet.
That wasn't part of the OP's requirements. Since it's all available in one download, it's as comprehensive as you can get.
Quote from: TristramEvans;674882Obvious troll is obvious.
You know what I'm sick of? Dipshits like you claiming something is a troll at the drop of a hat because you think it's the popular thing to do when in fact it just makes you look like an ignorant twat.
Quote from: The_Rooster;674658D&D Next.
Quote from: The_Rooster;674889That wasn't part of the OP's requirements. Since it's all available in one download, it's as comprehensive as you can get.
You know what I'm sick of? Dipshits like you claiming something is a troll at the drop of a hat because you think it's the popular thing to do when in fact it just makes you look like an ignorant twat.
Obvious troll continues to be obvious
Well in that case I'm sure CoC 10e, V100 Anniversary Edition and WFRP 5e will be the most comprehensive Single - Volume RPGs.
Quote from: TristramEvans;675037Obvious troll continues to be obvious
Then stop trolling.
Quote from: The_Rooster;675102Then stop trolling.
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab14/D_Staxx/If-obvious-troll-is-obvious-then-is-obvious-troll-obvious.jpg)
Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;673706I GM'd MERP briefly as a generic RPG, just like you said - a RoleMaster that is not nearly as fiddly.
MERP's magic system.. isn't. It assumes you're supplementing with Rolemaster for expanded lists of magic, equipment, and pretty much anything else.
That alone disqualifies it as "comprehensive."
Quote from: TristramEvans;675106(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab14/D_Staxx/If-obvious-troll-is-obvious-then-is-obvious-troll-obvious.jpg)
Your attempts to troll me will not work, padawan. I am the master, you are the apprentice.
But keep it up, it's amusing nonetheless. Try something a bit more original next time though.
Quote from: The_Rooster;675121Your attempts to troll me will not work, padawan. I am the master, you are the apprentice.
But keep it up, it's amusing nonetheless. Try something a bit more original next time though.
(http://www.troll.me/images/ancient-aliens-guy/padawan-thumb.jpg)
Quote from: TristramEvans;675153(http://www.troll.me/images/ancient-aliens-guy/padawan-thumb.jpg)
Derivative but I'll give you points for trying.
Pretentious troll is still obvious troll.
Quote from: TristramEvans;675326Pretentious troll is still obvious troll.
See? With my training, you're getting better at this already.
Quote from: The_Rooster;675337See? With my training, you're getting better at this already.
Obvious troll under the delusion his obvious trolling is "cool", despite posting on a message board populated by far superior trolls.
Quote from: TristramEvans;675342Obvious troll under the delusion his obvious trolling is "cool", despite posting on a message board populated by far superior trolls.
Yes, yes, I can sense the anger in you rising. Latch on to that anger, feel its power, use it against me! STRIKE ME DOWN!
Quote from: The_Rooster;675344Yes, yes, I can sense the anger in you rising. Latch on to that anger, feel its power, use it against me! STRIKE ME DOWN!
Nah, think the padawan pic summed you up just fine
Quote from: TristramEvans;675353Nah, think the padawan pic summed you up just fine
Now you're slipping into complacency. This is weak form. 1/10. Needs more cowbell.
Quote from: The_Rooster;675358Now you're slipping into complacency. This is weak form. 1/10. Needs more cowbell.
Star wars references and a joke that was old a decade ago. Weak troll is weak.
Stop shitting up a reasonable thread. You're both not funny.
Meanwhile, has anyone managed to find a single-volume game book + setting comparable to WHFRP 1e?
Quote from: Rincewind1;675382Stop shitting up a reasonable thread. You're both not funny.
Threads dead unfunny bunny
Quote from: TristramEvans;675389Threads dead unfunny bunny
You forget it ain't over until a blogger links.
Quote from: TristramEvans;675388Meanwhile, has anyone managed to find a single-volume game book + setting comparable to WHFRP 1e?
Wolsung though you have to take my word for it I expect :D. Call of Cthulhu too, though obviously the fact that part of the setting is our world helps. I'd warrant a gentle touch on Stormbringer as well. OSRIC as noted is indeed also "all you need to play in one tome".
Quote from: Rincewind1;675390You forget it ain't over until a blogger links.
I think Warhammer had this one out of the gate though. I was intrigued enough to see if a serious contender would be proposed ( which I likely would have ran out and bought ASAP), but sadly, as WHFRP was my first rpg, it was all downhill from there.
Haven't heard of Wolsung. Is it new?
Well, with WFRP I only have this slight problem that I find those 30 world describing pages in EW pretty crucial.
Wolsung's from 2009 but it's only being translated right now, so I'd be surprised if you heard about it. It's not very traditional, but it's not full whistles on storygame neither.
My answers have mostly been covered, but here they are:
WFRP 1e
Mongoose Traveller
RC D&D
BFRPG - great mix of B/X and 3e, and no other books needed!
Champions 4th edition
Hero 5th Revised
Call of Cthulhu
Quote from: Rincewind1;675393Well, with WFRP I only have this slight problem that I find those 30 world describing pages in EW pretty crucial.
Wolsung's from 2009 but it's only being translated right now, so I'd be surprised if you heard about it. It's not very traditional, but it's not full whistles on storygame neither.
I'd agree EW is vital for playing the culture- setting of the official Warhammer- universe (at that time), though I'd contend the main book provides just enough info to sandbox in an open Warhammer world, with enough of an overview of the countries, cities, & settlements to convey the unique mood of Warhammer and socio-political environment (and provides some gorgeous map) , that EW is not a necessity.
I'll keep my ears posted for Wolfsung. Though English translations rarely seem to measure up to their European counterparts in my experience ( Nephilim, In Nomine, Cadwallen was nice except the translation appeared to be done by babel fish.com, etc).
Quote from: TristramEvans;675381Star wars references and a joke that was old a decade ago. Weak troll is weak.
Now you're just trying to use my tactics against me. At least it shows you're listening. Learning, however, requires applying the knowledge in new and interesting ways and in this, you fail.
I think that you may have reached your pinnacle and cannot be trained further. Prove me wrong by posting a reply that is unique, creative and inspiring.
Quote from: Rincewind1;675382Stop shitting up a reasonable thread. You're both not funny.
NO U!
Hmm, 30 posts and most of them in this thread as a derail/bs argument with someone else.
I think there are a lot of "complete" games out there. Sure lots of them have a bunch of splats. But they stand well on their own. RC, T2K, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Shadowrun, James Bond, Top Secret, and CP2020 just to name a few.
Quote from: danbuter;675400Hmm, 30 posts and most of them in this thread as a derail/bs argument with someone else.
Blame Tristram, he started (and continued) it.
Quote from: The_Rooster;675407Blame Tristram, he started (and continued) it.
Well, that's life. I think he did bait you, but then you did rise to him, so you're both just wrestling in shit now.
The hobby has a strictly moderated forum that tries to prevent "threadcrapping", which in practise means fascist mods will ban you if you say something you don't like.
Here we have a lightly moderated forum where people seem to be able to flame and troll and hijack threads almost to their hearts content. Without wanting to take sides or name names, I've noticed a fuckload of hostility from this place since I started posting regularly. I know which environment I prefer (I am not banned on RPGNet, I just can't stand the cloying PC censorship) but it requires some intellectual maturity to just ignore the flames instead of "he started it." Doesn't matter, a pissing contest is stupid no matter who gets into it.
(With my stunning knowledge of Internet psychology, I know this will probably result in a 30+ post troll fest followed by a threadlock. What can I say, I enjoy walking into windmills.)
Anyone remember Manticore's Waste World? I just looked over my copy, I have to say it's a pretty comprehensive "Rifts" clone. I'd call it minimalist but it's a character point system that covers all the basics (power armour, cyborgs, psi powers, a bestiary, lots of interesting cybernetics, etc) in vastly less pages than Rifts or GURPS manages to do. I'd call it the most comprehensive "kitchen sink post apocalypse mecha-porn game" I've seen.
Quote from: thedungeondelver;674628I found a n/m 1e GW hardback for $45 about 5 years ago...they're a bit more pricey now, but you can get 'em still...
And, outta the blue, I found a n/m softcover for around 20$, locally :)
So soon I'll chime in on the wonders and comprehensiveness of 1st edition WFRP.
Quote from: valency;675415Anyone remember Manticore's Waste World? I just looked over my copy, I have to say it's a pretty comprehensive "Rifts" clone. I'd call it minimalist but it's a character point system that covers all the basics (power armour, cyborgs, psi powers, a bestiary, lots of interesting cybernetics, etc) in vastly less pages than Rifts or GURPS manages to do. I'd call it the most comprehensive "kitchen sink post apocalypse mecha-porn game" I've seen.
Waste World is awesome. For Record.
For me:
Complete All-In-One RPG book: Talislanta 3e (but I could easily swap for 4e - Big Blue is *AWESOME* but 3e runs a BIT more smoothly in the Magic dept imo).
The OMNI system is ridiculously fast to learn, you can learn it in less than 60-seconds. It's deep and scales magnificently. The book has a decent bestiary and a very good baseline for the world of Talislanta.
My second choice is Fantasy Craft.
As a toolkit system - you can recreate *any* fantasy campaign you can imagine, published or otherwise. To the degree that you can scale it, defies every other iteration of any d20 game with the exception of Mutants and Masterminds 3e. It's completely self-contained, the NPC/Monster creation mechanics are inspired and completely scalable (you can scale a Kobold from 1st to 20th level with a simple lookup.) Magic items scale (so you don't have to toss that +1 heirloom sword you got at 3rd level from your mentor - it gets more powerful as YOU get more powerful). Contains all the DMG, PHB info you'd need. it's a VERY dense book. The only reason why I don't put it first is because it has *no* world associated with it. It assumes you're going to do your own thing or port its ruleset to another published world.
(Of course you can buy the awesome Adventurers Companion - which as 4 campaign worlds in it along with a ton of awesome additional material - but this breaks the criteria of the thread).
Honorable Mention - I've used NWoD for fantasy, sci-fi with great success. The main book and a little rules jicking and some imagination and you're golden.
Quote from: The_Rooster;675407Blame Tristram, he started (and continued) it.
Hi. I don't think we've been introduced.
If I see you OR tristram engaging in multipost zero-content flaming again, with each other or with other people, you will be banned.
Post stuff with content, fine. Post the kind of pathetic sophomoric bullshit you pulled here? I'll treat you with precisely as much human decency as I treat a typical spambot that comes on here, which is to say none, as I'll assume your purpose for being on this forum is to intentionally disrupt it for your own stupid ends.
Hope you got that, and welcome to theRPGsite.
Quote from: DKChannelBoredom;675436And, outta the blue, I found a n/m softcover for around 20$, locally :)
So soon I'll chime in on the wonders and comprehensiveness of 1st edition WFRP.
I think you'll find it to be a very, very cool book. And game!
It is one of the greatest love letters to late OD&D ever written, and an awesome game on its own, and a sneaky prelude to early years WHFB rules all rolled into one!