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What's the Single Best RPG Book, you can think of?

Started by Jam The MF, July 29, 2021, 09:01:26 PM

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Prairie Dragon

'Fred', HERO 5E; it made people in my group do a bit of work-that brought out the best of those brave enough to try it.  It was a dedicated, mature, small, smart group.  SJW's probably wouldn't like how we used it...

Trond

Quote from: King_Stannis on September 09, 2021, 12:31:10 PM
The James Bond RPG Rulebook from Victory Games.

Have to admit, that one looks like a lot of fun. Are all the players assumed to be 00 agents?

zircher

For me, that would be Amber Diceless Role-Playing.
You can find my solo Tarot based rules for Amber on my home page.
http://www.tangent-zero.com

moonsweeper

Quote from: Trond on October 07, 2021, 10:49:55 PM
Quote from: King_Stannis on September 09, 2021, 12:31:10 PM
The James Bond RPG Rulebook from Victory Games.

Have to admit, that one looks like a lot of fun. Are all the players assumed to be 00 agents?

There are 3 tiers Rookie, Agent, and 00
The rank determines the number of points for character generation.

During play as you earn XP you spend it to bump skill levels and stats.
Your attribute and skill totals are used to determine your rank so eventually your PC will reach 00 if the GM starts you at a lower tier.
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DefNotAnInsiderNopeNoWay

I don't know if the search function on these forums is broken, or what, but I'm SHOCKED that nobody here is talking about MÖRK BORG as a candidate for a singularly condensed package of awesome RPG content, not only for the game, but the actual QUALITY of the book itself and the art it's illustrated with.

Easily the best coffee table RPG book in my personal collection.

Persimmon

Not sure, as I haven't seen it in person or played it, but the sense I get is that MORK BORG is vapid style with virtually no substance or content.  But hey, cast your vote if that's your choice.

Habitual Gamer

Quote from: Persimmon on October 09, 2021, 07:21:34 PM
Not sure, as I haven't seen it in person or played it, but the sense I get is that MORK BORG is vapid style with virtually no substance or content.  But hey, cast your vote if that's your choice.

And there's better coffee table RPG books out there too (HOL, Degenesis Rebirth, Alpha Omega, Savage Worlds: Low Life, Don't Lose Your Mind, etc.), but to each their own.

Habitual Gamer

Quote from: Theory of Games on October 03, 2021, 11:43:25 AM
GURPS 3e. You can do anything with it.

"Your mileage clearly varies from mine" preface.

I like GURPS 3e, but it isn't the best DIY toolkit out there.  And that's without considering David Pulver's books (it's been literally over 15 years since I played GURPS, and I remember his name and why I like/hate his works).  I'd take HERO or M&M if I wanted something that gave me better/more tools to build with out of the box, or Savage Worlds if I just wanted to make stuff up as needed.  And they all have their own flaws I'm well aware of.       

Honestly, the best "you can do anything with it" systems are always going to be supers systems.  And more specifically, those super systems that do a good job supporting multiple genres and power levels (see you in Hell then Heroes Unlimited, AMP, and Aberrant).  And GURPS 3e isn't a supers system. 

Quote from: Theory of Games on October 03, 2021, 11:43:25 AMAlso, the D&D Rules Cyclopedia. Easily run level 1 to Demigod. No other edition allows the concise Immortal/sphere rules that the RC provides. So, if you're clever, you can advance your PC to godhood, not just "I'm a 20th-Level Badass!"

I thought the RC ended at (a slightly trimmed down version of) the Master ruleset, with Immortal rules still in another boxed set (and later sourcebook, that's now a free download IIRC)?

Armchair Gamer

Quote from: Habitual Gamer on October 22, 2021, 09:16:57 AM
I thought the RC ended at (a slightly trimmed down version of) the Master ruleset, with Immortal rules still in another boxed set (and later sourcebook, that's now a free download IIRC)?

  If memory serves, the RC contains sufficient rules to ascend to Immortality, but you're correct--the Immortal PC rules are in Wrath of the Immortals.

Godfather Punk

For Boxed Sets, i'd like to give a shout out to the Games Workshop 'Judge Dredd' box. It had a Judges Manual, a GM manual, dice, a two-sided map, cut-out stand-up figures, and enough information to cover most of the comics that were published at that time.

tenbones

How many people are actually using the Single Best RPG book they can think of?

Godfather Punk

I was actually just re-reading the Dredd rpg (which prompted my post here) to start a series of one-shots in 2022. But it's been at least a decade since I last played it.

Klytus

Quote from: tenbones on October 22, 2021, 11:32:55 AM
How many people are actually using the Single Best RPG book they can think of?

It's funny you ask, because I had literally just pulled the new edition of Ptolus off my shelf with the thought of using Savage Worlds Pathfinder with it. I backed both the 5E and Cypher versions in their Kickstarter last year, but won't be running 5E ever again and am pretty iffy on Cypher after reading more of it. The new Savage Worlds Pathfinder is sounding more and more like my jam, though.
Klytus, I'm bored. What plaything can you offer me today?

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Steven Mitchell

Quote from: tenbones on October 22, 2021, 11:32:55 AM
How many people are actually using the Single Best RPG book they can think of?

Depends on where you want to draw the line.  I'm not actively using the RC or the AD&D 1E book in a game of either system.  I am consulting them frequently while doing my own system. 

zircher

Quote from: tenbones on October 22, 2021, 11:32:55 AM
How many people are actually using the Single Best RPG book they can think of?
Was running solo Amber using my Four Houses in Amber framework.  I also was at the virtual ACNW last year and I'll be back this year.  So, that's a solid yes on my part.
You can find my solo Tarot based rules for Amber on my home page.
http://www.tangent-zero.com