Free Introductory System?

[Natzapo]

Hi everyone, and thanks in advance for any and all help!

I'm looking at starting an online play-by-post game on my guild's forums since it has recently come to light that several of them, though avid roleplayers, have never played in a pen and paper game before.

What I'm basically looking for now is a system which can meet the following requirements:

• Free System: This is important as I don't want to be telling players they need to go buy a rulebook (not in an intro online game .. if this was in person they could just borrow mine >.<)
  
• Accessible: Something with interesting mechanics that allow for fun gameplay, but nothing super complex. These are all intelligent people, but many of them aren't huge gamers and I'd like to ease them into it
  
• When I decided to do a list I felt like there were going to be more qualifications to put on it >.<

So yeah, I started poking around looking at free systems .. and there are many many many more out there than I ever would have guessed, so I'm really looking for a bit of guidance or suggestions to help out.

Thanks again for all your help! Oh, and to clarify, likely going to do a high fantasy or a dark/gritty fantasy game, possibly with some Final Fantasy re-flavoring.

--Natzapo

 

[hopeless]

How about d6 fantasy I heard that was free to download and it should also include the option of d6 adventure and d6 space if its either present day or far future you have a fancy running a game in.

 

[Natzapo]

Hmm, I haven't seen that one, I'll have to take a look at it Thanks for the suggestion

I'll still take any others though ^^ I'd like to have a few to look at, give the players an overview of, and let them choose which appeals to them more

Thanks again ^^

 

[Tharian]

Well, what sort of game had you been playing via PbP? Genre? Style? Anything like that could help the folks here make more suitable recommendations.

 

[darjr]

RetroRoleplaying: The Blog: Searchers of the Unknown One Page RPG: The Many Variants

Searchers of the unknown is a one page rule set to play the old D&D adventures with. Very easy. And on that link above there are simple expansions.

With those you could play through The Palace of the Silver Princes.

 

[Sir Brennen]

You might also want to consider "lite" versions of retail games, as they're often playable stand alone. Off the top of my head I know that GURPS (Steve Jackson Games) and Savage Worlds (Pinnacle Press) have free lite versions on their websites downloadable in pdf form.

Personally, for "gritty", I'd use GURPS.

 

[TheClone]

Maybe Dungeonslayers is a good choice for you. I personally never played it, but I saw a lot of good opinions about it and I read the rules and they look good. It's old school and thereby quite simple, but I think it will not be too easy to play and need some tactics. The pro is: It#s totally free. Just load the PDF of v3.5 (there is a v4 at least in German, but that's only available as a print and not for free, but the 3.5 rules should be fine).

 

[amerigoV]

You might also want to consider "lite" versions of retail games, as they're often playable stand alone. Off the top of my head I know that GURPS (Steve Jackson Games) and Savage Worlds (Pinnacle Press) have free lite versions on their websites downloadable in pdf form.

Plus, if they do like Savage Worlds, the core book is only $10.

 

[pawsplay]

D6 Fantasy
GURPS Lite
Two Worlds
Simply Roleplaying!
Action! System
Talislanta

Also, as long as the GM or somebody has a book, D&D 3.5 and Pathfinder are effectively free, and need not be complex for the players.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

There's also the Basic Roleplaying Quick Start