A free rules light system?

[Mystic Muse]

I would like to be able to run a rules light game for my cousins, and it has to be free. I don't think they'd like Maid from what little I know of it, but I'm sure there are other ones out there.

The free part is pretty much mandatory. I don't even have $8 to my name right now, and all my Christmas gifts have been chosen by now.

[Yora]

Risus is extremely rules light, but I think it's fun for casual one-shots.

[Gamer Girl]

Try Wushu!

[gdiddy]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13967641/The-Pool-an-inde-RPG

Read it. Love it.

[VarianArdell]

Will this work? (http://www.mimgames.com/window/)

[Waylor]

Try Wushu!

+1, Try wushu

[bokodasu]

I like FUDGE. It uses special dice but d6's work just fine.

[hamlet]

Define "rules light" and what kind of game you're looking for.

You can run AD&D 1e for free using OSRIC rules. Basic D&D with Labyrinth Lord and/or Swords and Wizardry.

They're all free and work very well for ye old basic D&D style fantasy game.

[JeenLeen]

Will this work? (http://www.mimgames.com/window/)

I'm in a PbP Windows game, and it's been a lot of fun. I imagine it depends a lot on the DM and how they choose to handle things, and it requires a lot of good RP by the playeres.

I'm not sure if I'd like it as much for tabletop, but it is nice for PbP or other things where having to make a lot of dice rolls can really slow things down. I've only had to roll dice at most 3 times, and I think the entire campaign's had less than a dozen.

[Britter]

Another vote for Risus here. Very flexible, simple as they come, and not only is it free but the rule book is 4 pages long, 6 if you count the advance rules.

[druid91]

Well the gone with the blast wave RPG is pretty simple. It only really works with post apocalyptic fallout/GWTBW style games though.

[Aharon]

Minimus (http://www.adastragames.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=10411&sid=913940b66b5a32f309d24421fbcf22c0) would be another one. It's very rules-light and story-oriented.

[Mystic Muse]

Define "rules light" and what kind of game you're looking for.
game.

Less than ten pages worth of rules so I can get my players to read them instead of having to explain them to them.

Fantasy is preferable but I could use just about anything.

[tahu88810]

Warrior, Rogue, and Mage: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=82643%7B1%7D1

[grimbold]

seconding FUDGE

[Kalaska'Agathas]

Risus is extremely rules light, but I think it's fun for casual one-shots.


Another vote for Risus here. Very flexible, simple as they come, and not only is it free but the rule book is 4 pages long, 6 if you count the advance rules.

Another 'Yea' vote for Risus, here. It's probably the most flexible system I've ever seen, quite free, and quite rules light. You can use it for any genre.

[Person_Man]

Steal a copy of Castle Ravenloft (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/207790000)?

[Hyfigh]

I'm a huge fan of Mini-Six (http://antipaladingames.com/minisix.html). It's a D6 system based on OpenD6, but is less rules intense.

[Timeless Error]

I'm going to add +1 to the Window recommendation. It's very well thought out, creative, and easy to grasp with a heavy emphasis on role-playing. My group has had a lot of fun with it.

[hamlet]

Less than ten pages worth of rules so I can get my players to read them instead of having to explain them to them.

Fantasy is preferable but I could use just about anything.

Less than 10 pages?

Yeesh . . . don't know many of those that I know much about.

S&W is very rules light, or at least there's a 20 page module available for free on Lulu that has some nice quickstart rules in it that are helpful.

[Mystic Muse]

Less than 10 pages?

Yeesh . . . don't know many of those that I know much about.

S&W is very rules light, or at least there's a 20 page module available for free on Lulu that has some nice quickstart rules in it that are helpful.

Just for the players. I can probably read a 300 page book if Necessary.

[sana]

Dungeonslayers:

the 3.5 core rules are 14 pages including character sheet and a dungeon.
maybe 8 - 10 that the players should read.

English rules can be found at: http://dungeonslayers.com/

there are also optional rules most just 2 pages long.

[hamlet]

Just for the players. I can probably read a 300 page book if Necessary.

Then I would recommend Labyrinth Lord and a copy of either the Village of Larn(sp?) or Stonehell.

The rules are so simple that the players don't need to read them. Creating a character is obscenely simple and they can be walked through it in about 10 minutes, maybe 15 if you let them buy equipment. Most complication comes from choosing spells.

Entitre book for a 1-20 game is less than 200 pages.

[Arceius]

FATE and FUDGE are both simple, free and easy to use.

[MeeposFire]

Cops and robbers

WHAT

Tell me you did not enjoy it as a kid (or some variation).




Sorry somebody had to offer the ultimate in rules light roleplaying.

[Knaight]

I like Fudge (http://www.fudgerpg.com/). It uses special dice but d6's work just fine.

Fixed, and seconded (yet again). Its a slick little system, and one I play way more than any other. The GM has about 100 pages of reading, the vast majority of which are examples, Fudge has been shortened to as little as 4 pages before, which is enough to be able to play. Its also simple enough to explain to people without any rulebook referencing at all, with optional complexity on top of it.

Creating a character is pretty easy, I recommend using the Fudge on the Fly method for maximum simplicity, later transitioning on to either 5 point Fudge or Objective Character Creation (maybe, Fudge on the Fly is just fine for even experienced players.)

Now, the downside here is that you have to do some work. If you are willing to stay in Sword and Sorcery only, there is a Fudge/Fate adaptation by the name of Blood Sweat and Steel, it is an excellent system for what it does, and currently free.

[Kaje]

Super Awesome Action Heroes.

[Yora]

Steal a copy of Castle Ravenloft (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/207790000)?
Reminds me of the old DSA (Dark Eye) board games. They were awsome and one of the first fantasy games I played.

[Kiero]

If you're going Wushu, check out the Open Reloaded edition (http://www.story-games.at/wushu/open_reloaded.pdf). Easier to understand, and with an example of play at the end.

[daxos232]

I recommend RuneQuest by Mongoose Publishing. The SRD is free and can be found here:
http://mrqwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

RuneQuest 2 is better, but the 1st is still very good. I recommend the Opposed Roll Combat option in the Combat Section. The system is easily modified to any play style, setting, and can be houseruled easily. Gritty or heroic or anything in between.

[Glimbur]

Wuthering Heights (http://www.unseelie.org/rpg/wh/index.html) is fun for something a bit off the beaten path. I am still surprised at the number of PC deaths I encounter in the game though... must be some quirk of psychology or something.

[Aharon]

In case you didn't look at it yet, the system I linked to is 4 pages long.

[Mystic Muse]

In case you didn't look at it yet, the system I linked to is 4 pages long.

I'm probably going to look at all of them once I have the chance.