Can anyone recommend a good free rule light (but not too light) system. Thanks.
light but not too light - that's a bit vague.
What do you want in the rules system, and what can be left out for the GM to handle?
Fantasy, any-genre, science fiction...?
Quote from: Kyle Aaron;264444light but not too light - that's a bit vague.
What do you want in the rules system, and what can be left out for the GM to handle?
let's say comparable in complexity to something like feng shui, maybe a bit more. Not d20 level difficulty, but not wushu level simplicity.
Quote from: Age of Fable;264456Fantasy, any-genre, science fiction...?
SF but can handle powers, so not hard sf, but not complete fantasy.
BRP, there's a new Basic Roleplaying core book out too which has lots of options in it for different genres.
Otherwise, Savage Worlds would seem a good bet.
Is there a free version of SW? I did mean to get the explorers edition but gaming has been thin ont he ground lately so i stopped buying books.
Risus?
Well, here (http://darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/freerpgs/bykeyword/rules-lite.html) are a few free rules-light rpgs which have caught my interest at the moment.
Active Exploits (http://www.pigames.net/ae.php) is fun if you're thespy, since it's diceless. I enjoyed playing it.
ODES (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/2763/odes.html) is basically BRP but with 1d10 instead of percentiles. Originally done for Glorantha, there's a Star Wars version. I've not played it, but it looks simple enough.
FATE (http://www.faterpg.com/) is well thespy, but in a good way, with dice. I recommend edition 2. I did second Tiwesdaeg with it, here (http://www.gamecircle.org/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=Tiwesd%E6g+Cl%EDewen+2&back=WiwiHome).
GORE (http://www.goblinoidgames.com/gore.htm) is a BRP clone, pretty well done. If you liked RQ or Cthulhu's system, you'd like this.
The SixLetterSystem (http://sixlettersystem.pbwiki.com/FrontPage), written by some fuckin' genius. That reminds me, I have to put the new skills up. I've GMed this quite a bit.
ORC (http://www.vajraenterprises.com/ORC/index.htm) is medium-crunch, I've not played it but it looks worth checking out.
It'd make a big difference if we knew what setting you were intending...
Fate v2, why not v3?
PDQ? (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=28913&it=1&filters=0_0_10113)
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;264481Is there a free version of SW? I did mean to get the explorers edition but gaming has been thin ont he ground lately so i stopped buying books.
The demo is pretty complete, you could use that.
In all honesty though, I missed the free requirement. I wouldn't personally call Feng Shui rules light by the way, it's more rules medium really.
GORE is an excellent suggestion. I believe there's also a lighter version of Jags which might fit the bill, it's a very well supported system.
Rules Light.
Inexpensive.
Multi-genre.
Well supported.
The 1Pg System from Deep Seven
Western
Space Opera
Sword & Sorcery
Espionage
Pulp
Slasher
Gladiator
Samurai
Hong Kong action
Pirates
WWII
Superhero
You can pick them up at RPGNow or at Precis Intermedia
Quote from: Balbinus;264492GORE is an excellent suggestion.
Except that it's a pretty transparent knock-off of
Call of Cthulhu and the
BRP system, even though it's technically legal. I know the fact that it's free is tempting, but if you like GORE, invest in
BRP.
!i!
Quote from: The Evil DM;264526Rules Light.
Inexpensive.
Multi-genre.
Well supported.
The 1Pg System from Deep Seven
Western
Space Opera
Sword & Sorcery
Espionage
Pulp
Slasher
Gladiator
Samurai
Hong Kong action
Pirates
WWII
Superhero
You can pick them up at RPGNow or at Precis Intermedia
I don't think that's free.
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;264486Fate v2, why not v3?
v3 isn't out yet. The only free v3 product at the moment is the SRD, not the full rules. v3 has been in the works so long I'm beginning to doubt a full version will ever be released.
One Roll Engine (Wild Talents, Godlike, Monsters &OCT, Reign) via the Nemesis free pdf.
www.nemesis-system.com (http://www.nemesis-system.com)
ORE always struck me as quite complex actually. What is the nemesis free bit?
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;264618ORE always struck me as quite complex actually. What is the nemesis free bit?
It's a horror variant of the rules with a free version of the Madness Meter from Unknown Armies. It's magnificent! :D
ORE isn't so much complex as it is different. Once a group wraps their head around the core mechanic they know the entire ruleset. There really is only one mechanic to grasp. Sure games like Wild Talents add in some complexity but download Nemesis and you'll see what I mean.
Plus that dawning realization once it clicks in a players brain is most often a big smile followed by something along the lines of, "Hey that's neat!"
Quote from: Ian Absentia;264527Except that it's a pretty transparent knock-off of Call of Cthulhu and the BRP system, even though it's technically legal. I know the fact that it's free is tempting, but if you like GORE, invest in BRP.
!i!
I'm a good friend of Dan Proctor, but I have to agree with this sentiment - if the game's still on the market, I prefer to pay the guys who wrote it.
Savage Worlds is good, with pretty lite rules and workable for sci-fi.
Perfect 20 is pretty cool.
http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/srd/perfect20/
Quote from: KrakaJak;264745Perfect 20 is pretty cool.
http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/srd/perfect20/
Yep. Levi did a really nice job there.
Still, PDQ (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=28913&it=1) is awesome--I love its incorporation in Truth & Justice. Might be worth checking at least.
Quote from: KrakaJak;264745Perfect 20 is pretty cool.
http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/srd/perfect20/
I actually found the rpg site because I had an idea for this to give magic a few more options (I thought you could represent a lot of spells as a temporary, big increase in a particular skill). But he never responded :(
Is ORE free? I can't see any link to a rules document.
GURPS Lite (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/lite)
Mutant Future (http://www.goblinoidgames.com/mutantfuture.htm)
GURPS Lite (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/lite) - does have weapons, doesn't have rules for spaceships.
Quote from: Balbinus;264471BRP, there's a new Basic Roleplaying core book out too which has lots of options in it for different genres.
Let me second this opinion. BRP is easy to master and easy to play. I'd also recommend Hard Nova 2 (genre diversion i system) if you are running some space opera, but it might be a bit too lite for you.
Is ORE free?
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;264939Is ORE free?
Nemesis is free, which uses the ORE.
Nemesis (http://www.arcdream.com/dennis/NEMESIS.pdf)
I like The Window, Risus, Wushu, and Story Engine.
Seanchai
I'm not really a fan of descriptor based systems, that's why I'm not interested in Wushu.
Hey guys, the original poster didn't ask "name your favourite system", they specifically wanted free systems (and rules-light, and able to run science-fiction with powers...)
You could take Space Squad (http://www.freewebs.com/skathrosds/SPACE%20SQUAD.pdf) as a base, and for powers add elements from the other variants of Dungeon Squad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Squad) (you could define different species by compulsory or forbidden powers).
Mutant Future (http://www.goblinoidgames.com/mutantfuture.htm) - has powers (a lot of emphasis on them in fact), has robots, has a simple system for psychic powers, has futuristic weapons but doesn't have prices for them, doesn't have spaceships. Again it'd be easy to define alien species as combinations of particular powers.
I'll second Nemesis it's a good free rules system with lots of options and easy enough to adapt to Sci-fi the fan support is also good with plenty of additional stuff put out for it.
Another option I'd throw into the mix is BESM or rather the free version of the rules called Tri-Stat, which you can Obtain Here (http://gaming.geoectomy.net/Tri-Stat-v2.pdf) It is a pretty rules lite core system that is easily adaptable to almost any genre and has lists of powers that can be made into just about anything.
I notice there's some mention of a Houses of the Blooded SRD. The rules have some interesting ideas I like. Anyone know anything more about this?
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;265595I notice there's some mention of a Houses of the Blooded SRD. The rules have some interesting ideas I like. Anyone know anything more about this?
I had a quick look at its site (http://www.housesoftheblooded.net) and couldn't find any mention of it.
However, if you like that sort of mechanic, you might like Donjon (http://open.crngames.com/src/donjon.html) - the link is to a free text of the game, you can also buy a properly laid-out pdf or book.
Btw, with my suggestion above about using Space Squad and Dungeon Squad - that sounds complicated, but it's not: all the variants of Dungeon Squad put together would be about as long as a normal role-playing game.
I was thining specifically of the style rules. I thought about having something similar called 'glory' which allows the heroes to gain points they can then permanently store in relics, places, people (anything creative) as part of their legend as lords of the galaxy and heroes of the universe.