List of free PnP RPGs - please contribute!

[Unrest]

Lists most comprehensive if outsource'd:
http://www.1km1kt.net/cat/rpg
http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/freerpgs/
http://www.homebrew.net/games/


Redundant:

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What this is:
In order to spread around role playing goodness and the work of those who have put way too much effort in it for it to be free, I decided to start this thread where we could compile a list of all known free pen-and-paper role-playing game systems (which means I do not aim to include board games, card games etc., just RPGs*). I hope this speaks for itself. I will be adding any new submissions into the OP, so check it beforehand if you're thinking of submitting your favourite Creative-Commons system in.

*if you're not sure how to classify your submission, post it; if it's dubious whether it is or not it will most likely be listed.

Please, post** ONLY links that will not steer you into any objects that are obviously illegal or malware or commercial. I believe posting a link to a free download from a net store is okay (but please note in what way do you obtain this file). Linking to e.g. a torrent site or any site that may contain malware / illegal things is not, even if the file(s) of the RPG system itself are fair.

If you have the time, please describe what kind of system this is, as I attempt to, below. I may group them into some categories / tables when time allows. However, please Do Not post your opinions of the system in the submission.

The list I started but were taunted to discontinue:

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1. Ars Magica (4th Ed.) - through non-registration store - "(...) a game of wizards and covens in mythical Europe. The magic system is a (...) combination of free-form and customization, and (...) each player also controls the companions and servants of his magus." - endoperez
2. Encounter Critical - direct download - pulp-sci-fi game from the creators of RISUS, detailed, but not heavy rules
3. Everyone is John - online text - very free-form game of voices in the head of a madman trying to take him over
4. FEAR - direct download - a realistic-mechanics system for a fantasy setting
5. Final Fantasy d6 - direct download - an options-rich, streamlined system for playing adventures in the style of the Final Fantasy game series
6. GURPS Lite - lite version of the GURPS system; through no-registration store - generic system for any setting, played as lite or as complex as you want
7. Horrific - online text - rules lite; "(...) it's more like a cross between Scooby Do and Benny Hill with just a bit of Lovecraftian background art than it is a nail biting and grim dark death fest." - author
8. Labirynth Lord - direct download - intended to simulate 'old school-fantasy gaming', akin to the first editions of D&D.
9. Microlite20 - direct download - a 'pocket' version of the d20 system
10. OSRIC - direct download - intended to simulate 'old school-fantasy gaming', akin to the first editions of D&D.
11. Pathfinder - online system reference document - dubbed "D&D version 3.75", a re-hashing of the D&D 3.5 system
12. PDQ# - a free 28-page basic, playable rules of a bigger Core Rules set, direct download - Swashbuckling, rather rules-lite
13. Risus - direct download - 'Universal Comedy RPG', very rules-lite
14. Spirit of the Century - online system reference document - pulp, over-the-top action in a rules-lite system (off of FATE mechanics)
15. Star Wars d6 - online text - average complexity Star Wars-based system
16. Warrior, Rogue & Mage - rules + several separate additions; requires free (checked: spamfree) registration to an online store - classic mid-fantasy, rather simple rules with possibility of expanding with additions
17. Witchcraft - requires free (checked: spamfree) registration to an online store - a rules-rich system for witch-hunting, supernatural setting; apparently possible to appropriate to a generic setting
18. Window - online text / download - a rules-lite system focused heavily on role-playing and with some underlying philosophy

[The Rose Dragon]

Witchcraft.

I like suggesting this system to people so much, I have that link bookmarked.

[DukeofDellot]

GURPS Lite is a smaller version of a pretty expansive game. Lite can handle historical Low-Magic Games, and simple modern espionage or mystery games... not really as "Universal" as the title implies.

On that note, there's GURPS Ultra-Lite which is an Rules-lite version of the game. Barely resembles GURPS at all, but can handle most simple game ideas you can come up with... meant for one-shots.

Both are free, though you have to go through the process of "purchasing" them.

Also, Pathfinder. Completely free... for some reason I still bought the hardbacks. It's DnD, with the XP tables and starting wealth still visible for free.

Spirit of the Century is free and uses the FATE RPG ruleset. I know little of it, I think it's a pulp fiction style, I've used the rules to run a Xanth game that was pretty fun.

I'll probably think of more later.

[OracleofWuffing]

*if you're not sure how to classify your submission, post it; if it's dubious whether it is or not it will most likely be listed.

Here's all the rules for Everyone is John. I mean, there's paper involved, there's a die, and you're kind of playing a role, but it's probably not what most people think of when they look for RPGs. I've personally not played it, so if anyone does give me a try, let me know how it turned out.

[Unrest]

Added, will look over Everyone Is John soon.

Edit: and it's like one of the most wonderful games I've heard of.

[dsmiles]

Checked out that Risus page. Encounter Critical seems more my style. But good lookin' out.

[Unrest]

Cool that is, someone it was useful to, at least </yoda>

If no one feels like giving all info, just drop the name and I'll do the rest.

(Accurately though, please, it took me and the store clerk 30 minutes to come to the conclusion that Tome of Battle and Book of Nine Swords are the same thing.)

[endoperez]

Ars Magica 4th Edition
http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204

Free on a registration-required online store. It's a game of wizards and covens in mythical Europe. The magic system is a fantastic combination of free-form and customization, and besides the Magus, each player also controls the companions and servants of his magus.

[Coidzor]

<_< >_> Microlite d20?

[Unrest]

Ars Magica 4th Edition
http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=AG0204

Free on a registration-required online store. It's a game of wizards and covens in mythical Europe. The magic system is a fantastic combination of free-form and customization, and besides the Magus, each player also controls the companions and servants of his magus.

You don't actually need to register there - you just have to click the button on the right, "Check out without registering"; you're then simply given the download link

Will really need to think about a table for this stuff.

[Duke of URL]

How about OSRIC?

[grimbold]

i has 2
star wars d6 rules

and a nice 3rd party rules lite rpg called horrific

[Matthew]

How about OSRIC?

Also, Labyrinth Lord and other Dungeons & Dragons Simulacrums.

[Unrest]

Thank you, and keep them coming!

[Kaulesh]

I has two!

The Window and FEAR.

The Window is something of a rules-lite system. I believe FEAR is a classless system that labels itself as between extremely simple and extremely complex.

[Unrest]

Updated with Dust's Final Fantasy d6 that's currently a real rage over at the Play-by-post subforums.

[Ichneumon]

Of course there is Fudge, a very customizable generic role-playing game system, which you can download for free here.

[grimbold]

look at this

wow
huge list of PNPs which you should add as this list has stuff that one does not

[MickJay]

Wuthering Heights rpg, very simple and very tongue-in-cheek system, mostly good for one off games or short stories: http://www.unseelie.org/rpg/wh/index.html

[Yora]

Tri-Stat dX also is free. But I don't have any idea if this version is any good. There are more elaborate versions, but those aren't free.

[Shyftir]

Wushu - nearly freeform, action movie RPG

[Unrest]

look at this

wow
huge list of PNPs which you should add as this list has stuff that one does not

Woot, jackpot. Now that'll be some writing for me. The reason I'm actually still doing this list here is to bring this stuff to the Playground specifically.

[The Big Dice]

The One Roll Engine requires registration, but is free. And does all kinds of different genres.

Swords and Wizardry is a D&D 0E retro clone. E6 is a popular variant of 3.5 D&D. There's a whole bunch of Microlite D&D variants. Dark Dungeons is yet another D&D retro clone.

[grimbold]

Woot, jackpot. Now that'll be some writing for me. The reason I'm actually still doing this list here is to bring this stuff to the Playground specifically.

i just googled 'list of free rpgs'

also my laptop does not know that googled is a verb :(

[grimbold]

just found this one in a guys sig

http://www.mediafire.com/?24hb13u434dh835

final fantasy rpg

[mikeejimbo]

There's always JAGS: http://www.jagsrpg.org/

Also, I believe FATAL is free.

[grimbold]

There's always JAGS: http://www.jagsrpg.org/

Also, I believe FATAL is free.

oh god don't post FATAL anybody
just trust me, that would give the thread a bad rep on its own.
what other rpg determines nipple size?

[Unrest]

just found this one in a guys sig

http://www.mediafire.com/?24hb13u434dh835

final fantasy rpg

Up there, am currently getting to PbP in one.

oh god don't post FATAL anybody
just trust me, that would give the thread a bad rep on its own.
what other rpg determines nipple size?

Now that's serious incentive for me to check it out

I'm working on it all getting updated constantly. I have to make a table - so that it's easily sortable - and, well, get down all those listed on that other site.

[mikeejimbo]

Now that's serious incentive for me to check it out

Haha, no no, you shouldn't. I was under the impression we all knew about FATAL and were just too polite to mention it. No one should read that.

[Duke of URL]

If you feel that you must include FATAL, for completeness sake, decorum suggests that you at least not link to it.