Minimalist and One Page RPGs

GMMichael said:

I wonder if minimalist games might be better for long-term campaigns, because you probably don't have to dread going to another 4-hour session in which you might or might not finish the combat you started in the previous session.

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They absolutely are better for that reason among many others. Minimalist games get out of the way and let you stay with the fiction far longer than heavier systems. Over the long haul that lets you develop more character and more story rather than worrying about +1s, they don’t break when you reach certain levels, generally have simpler & broader rules that cover more ground so they’re more flexible at the table, allow the players more creative freedom, etc.

I think Tiny D6 is about as minimalist as I'm willing to go, rules wise, to try a **serious take on roleplaying. It's maybe .... 18 pages total, for all of the rules, plus all of the available racial abilities?

**Serious as in, I'd attempt to create a somewhat cohesive play continuity / shared fictional space meant to last more than 3 or 4 sessions. Not serious as in, "Everyone must engage in ultimate character-driven and verisimilitudinous sensibilities or be banished."

Like, beyond a certain point of minimalism, you're just substituting genre convention / "assumed imaginary space associations" for rules anyway, plus whatever narrative conceits you're bringing to the table as GM.

Although, I have to admit, the Bears-n-Honey one-page game that's been floating around for a few years sounded pretty funny. And that Disco-dancers whatchamacallit one-pager that @Snarf Zagyg threw out in one of the Iron DM competitions a couple years ago sounded pretty funny too. But neither of those I don't think would really be sustainable beyond even 3 sessions.

overgeeked said:

They absolutely are better for that reason among many others. Minimalist games get out of the way and let you stay with the fiction far longer than heavier systems. Over the long haul that lets you develop more character and more story rather than worrying about +1s, they don’t break when you reach certain levels, generally have simpler & broader rules that cover more ground so they’re more flexible at the table, allow the players more creative freedom, etc.

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Only if the point of play is something something fiction.

I'm not saying that isn't a worthy goal, but it is just one.

Systems that are complex and offer a lot of depth also make for good long term play, but for obviously different reasons.

My current house system, Front Range Minimalist, is complete in three pages (there is a supplement of character creation and world-building options). I love it. It's very much inspired by PbtA (the dice) and Risus (the descriptors). Perfect for one-offs and short campaigns. PM me if you'd like me to email you a copy along with the supplement (offer good for Reynard only).

I'm also working on a minimalist game of high octane weird conspiracy in my free time. Free for the taking currently. Anybody interested can download it here.

Reynard said:

Only if the point of play is something something fiction.

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It's not really a role-playing game if the point isn't . . . Something something fiction.

GMMichael said:

It's not really a role-playing game if the point isn't . . . Something something fiction.

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That's a very narrow definition of a roleplaying game. All RPGs have a fiction, but some focus their attention on tactics, or strategy, or world building, or exploration, etc..

All right. Here's a partial list of amazing minimalist or one-page RPGs.

50/50 by John Harper.
2400/24XX by Jason Tocci.
Matrix Games by Chris Engle.
Freeform Universal by Nathan Russell.
Risus by S. John Ross.
Over the Edge 3E by Jonathan Tweet and Chris Lites.
Mausritter by Isaac Williams.
Mutant Bikers of the Atomic Wastelands by Polar Blues Press.
Wushu by Daniel Bayn.
Extraordinary Adventures Of Baron Munchausen by James Wallis.
Dread by Epidiah Ravachol.
Honey Heist by Grant H.
Never Stop Blowing Up by Brennan Lee Mulligan.
World of Secrets by Nick Wedig.
Eat the Reich by Grant Howitt and Will Kirby.
Cthulhu Dark by Graham Walmsley.
Kosmosaurs by Diogo Nogueira.
Cairn by Yochai Gal.
Knave by Ben Milton.
Troika! by Daniel Sell and Jeremy Duncan.
Grok by Lester Burton.
Havoc Brigade by Grant Howitt.
Monsters! Monsters! by Ken St. Andre.
Fate Accelerated by Various.
Tri-Fold Fate by The Mouse.
Classic Traveller 1977 by Marc Miller.
EZD6 by DM Scotty.
The Pool by James V. West.

And many, many more I'm sure I'm forgetting.

Is there any distinction between "minimalist", "rules lite" and "one-page"?

To me, one-page RPGs like Honey Heist or Big Goat Little Goat seem fundamentally different from classic rules-lite systems like Knave or Fate.

I'm really curious if anyone has actual play experience with goofy One-Page systems like Honey Heist. I sometimes see people talking about how great or funny these games are, but I've never met anyone who has actually played any of them. I get the impression that they're games to enjoy reading, but not necessarily games to play. Almost like those "playtest" MtG cards.

I got into them for a while, but never really enjoyed the games I got out. They lose steam fast ime. Ultimately you do need rules for many more things to give the players meaningful choices. Either they exist in the book or the DM/group comes up with them on the fly. A good DM can make good rules on the fly and you'll still have fun, but it requires more skill than heavier games.

GMMichael said:

I wonder if minimalist games might be better for long-term campaigns, because you probably don't have to dread going to another 4-hour session in which you might or might not finish the combat you started in the previous session.

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This seems more an issue with too much crunch than the 1-page format. E.g., Shadowdark plays very fast and the core of the rules are pretty straightforward but it comes packaged as a 300 page book (A5) with lots of context for the rules and examples of play and DM tools.

stonehead said:

I'm really curious if anyone has actual play experience with goofy One-Page systems like Honey Heist. I sometimes see people talking about how great or funny these games are, but I've never met anyone who has actually played any of them. I get the impression that they're games to enjoy reading, but not necessarily games to play. Almost like those "playtest" MtG cards.

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I've played it before and I agree with your view. Honey Heist was funny to read through. At the table, it got old...maybe 30 minutes in?

It depends on your group and your preferences, though.

overgeeked said:

All right. Here's a partial list of amazing minimalist or one-page RPGs.

50/50 by John Harper.
2400/24XX by Jason Tocci.
Matrix Games by Chris Engle.
Freeform Universal by Nathan Russell.
Risus by S. John Ross.
Over the Edge 3E by Jonathan Tweet and Chris Lites.
Mausritter by Isaac Williams.
Mutant Bikers of the Atomic Wastelands by Polar Blues Press.
Wushu by Daniel Bayn.
Extraordinary Adventures Of Baron Munchausen by James Wallis.
Dread by Epidiah Ravachol.
Honey Heist by Grant H.
Never Stop Blowing Up by Brennan Lee Mulligan.
World of Secrets by Nick Wedig.
Eat the Reich by Grant Howitt and Will Kirby.
Cthulhu Dark by Graham Walmsley.
Kosmosaurs by Diogo Nogueira.
Cairn by Yochai Gal.
Knave by Ben Milton.
Troika! by Daniel Sell and Jeremy Duncan.
Grok by Lester Burton.
Havoc Brigade by Grant Howitt.
Monsters! Monsters! by Ken St. Andre.
Fate Accelerated by Various.
Tri-Fold Fate by The Mouse.
Classic Traveller 1977 by Marc Miller.
EZD6 by DM Scotty.
The Pool by James V. West.

And many, many more I'm sure I'm forgetting.

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If it is not too much trouble, please pick say 5 and say more about them. Lists unfortunately don't help me much.