Rules Lite Games that Hold Up Over 10-20 Sessions

PencilBoy99 · July 22, 2018, 03:05:46 PM

For the purposes of this discussion, let's assume a rules lite game is something less mechanically heavy, with fewer player options than Savage Worlds.

What rules lite games have you used for over 10 sessions that held up fine (e.g., the players didn't get bored)

AsenRG · July 22, 2018, 03:23:26 PM

Quote from: PencilBoy99;1050049For the purposes of this discussion, let's assume a rules lite game is something less mechanically heavy, with fewer player options than Savage Worlds.

What rules lite games have you used for over 10 sessions that held up fine (e.g., the players didn't get bored)

How do you estimate the duration of a PbP game for the purposes of this discussion:)?

Also, I'd note that your definition of a rules-lite game includes Pendragon. Which I find amusing;).

Edited to add examples I've ran or played:

A Bulgarian system I was beta-testing (but it changed even its name, and is still in revision, but it was mostly 2d6+skill).
Atomic Highway
Barbarians of Lemuria
Flashing Blades
StarORE
Unknown Armies (street-level, so no magic).
Mongoose Traveller/Cepheus Engine
Wushu
Dragon Age
A BRP/RQ/CoC mix (d100 roll-under, no "Edges" or "Hindrances", little or no magic).

So, how's that for a list:D?

PencilBoy99 · July 22, 2018, 03:53:29 PM

There's no easy way to define it. I'm thinking of stuff like

LotFP
Swords and Wizardry
Most of the PBTA stuff (not the PBTA derived stuff which can get pretty complicated)
Barbarians of Lemuria.

AsenRG · July 22, 2018, 04:09:01 PM

Quote from: PencilBoy99;1050054There's no easy way to define it. I'm thinking of stuff like

LotFP
Swords and Wizardry
Most of the PBTA stuff (not the PBTA derived stuff which can get pretty complicated)
Barbarians of Lemuria.

OK, but how about the PbP question? I want to give you the complete list in one post:)!

Mike the Mage · July 22, 2018, 04:13:39 PM

Beyond the Wall and GORE have both held up fine

GeekEclectic · July 22, 2018, 05:45:40 PM

I've played plenty of Apocalypse World and Urban Shadows, and they held up fine over quite a few sessions. But then I always hated the grid-style combat of 3e, and really appreciated how combat in most PbtA stuff is fast, somtimes brutal, and lets me get back to the stuff I actually care about in a fraction of the time. I'm glad the tactical stuff with combats that can drag out an hour or more exist for people who want that kind of thing(I've known and played with quite a few), but I usually don't, so I'm glad stuff like this exists for me.

S'mon · July 22, 2018, 05:51:09 PM

1e AD&D? Certainly seemed less rules heavy than Savage Worlds. Also Classic D&D (BECM).

Caesar Slaad · July 22, 2018, 05:58:31 PM

Quote from: S'mon;10500641e AD&D?

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Larsdangly · July 22, 2018, 06:12:26 PM

Any version of D+D (perhaps other than 4E or 3E with all the splat stuff turned on)

The Fantasy Trip (my preference!)

PencilBoy99 · July 22, 2018, 06:43:44 PM

What is PbP

GeekEclectic · July 22, 2018, 11:21:33 PM

Quote from: PencilBoy99;1050079What is PbP

Play by post, usually done on forum threads. There are also sites like rpol that let you set up pbp games in threads even though it's technically not a forum. Wherever you do it, the structure is pretty much the same.

Nerzenjäger · July 23, 2018, 01:21:54 AM

Cthulhu Dark, that's why I posted it on the other thread. It may have to do with its specific use for Lovecraftian Horror.

TheShadow · July 23, 2018, 02:09:42 AM

It worked for me with Tunnels and Trolls, but that may be not because it works awesomely for long campaigns, but just because I like it a lot.
Maybe a good question would be "which light games have good advancement mechanics suitable for long campaigns?" T&T does pretty well there, as any wonkiness can be subsumed into the general gonzo nature of the game. The Fantasy Trip, another of my favorite lighter games, tends to break down in the long term as characteristics get out of hand.

Nerzenjäger · July 23, 2018, 03:11:13 AM

Quote from: The_Shadow;1050110It worked for me with Tunnels and Trolls, but that may be not because it works awesomely for long campaigns, but just because I like it a lot.
Maybe a good question would be "which light games have good advancement mechanics suitable for long campaigns?" T&T does pretty well there, as any wonkiness can be subsumed into the general gonzo nature of the game. The Fantasy Trip, another of my favorite lighter games, tends to break down in the long term as characteristics get out of hand.

A good pick. I played my first real sandbox with Tunnels & Trolls. You have to be content with the level of abstraction in combat, but otherwise it's a fine system for long-running campaigns.

AsenRG · July 23, 2018, 09:18:28 AM

Quote from: PencilBoy99;1050079What is PbP

Quote from: GeekEclectic;1050098Play by post, usually done on forum threads. There are also sites like rpol that let you set up pbp games in threads even though it's technically not a forum. Wherever you do it, the structure is pretty much the same.

Yeah, that:).

And I mean, I've ran or played, off the top of my head:

A Bulgarian system I was beta-testing (but it changed even its name, and is still in revision, but it was mostly 2d6+skill).
Atomic Highway
Barbarians of Lemuria
Flashing Blades
StarORE
Unknown Armies (street-level, so no magic).
Mongoose Traveller/Cepheus Engine
Wushu
Dragon Age
A BRP/RQ/CoC mix (d100 roll-under, no "Edges" or "Hindrances", little or no magic).

And there's probably more that I'm missing;)!