Best single volume RPG?

[w_earle_wheeler]

Call of Cthulhu d20. I don't have any experience with the non-d20 versions of the game, so they might be better.
FUDGE 10th Anniversary Edition. An open-ended rule set that can be very rewarding if you want to spend the time tweaking it.
WitchCraft, All Flesh Must Be Eaten or Conspiracy X. All three of these Unisystem books present a full rules set customized for the genre, full character creation, foes and setting ideas for the GM.
Conan OGL. The pocket edition is a great book, but I can't recommend the hardback.
Paranoia. The current edition, whatever that is.

 

[Nifft]

I greatly enjoyed reading Buffy, but we never actually played any Tri-Stat.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Crothian]

Buffy revised is great and I'm surprised we haven't seen any love for Rules Cyclopedia

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

Buffy revised is great and I'm surprised we haven't seen any love for Rules Cyclopedia

I greatly enjoyed reading Buffy, but we never actually played any Tri-Stat.

Cheers, -- N

Ah yes -- I forgot to include Buffy in my Unisystem round-up.

 

[HellHound]

My current obsessions are all single-book games. And they are nice and small, so I can carry them in my pocket.

Discordia, Lacuna Part 1, and Don't Rest Your Head

 

[Crothian]

I need to mention Fear Itself . This is a new game by Robin Laws that I just ran yesterday and it is one of the best horror games I've ever come across. It might be the second best following Dread in terms of mechanics that perfectly fit and support exactly what the game wants to do.

Of course Dread needs to be on this list, too.

 

[jdrakeh]

Call of Cthulhu, particularly the 3rd Edition hardcover, which included the 1920s Investigator's Companion and several adventures. That said, if it weren't for layout/organization issues, I think that Principia Malefex would be at the top of my list (that sexy leather cover scores big points but it still doesn't trump the interior layout).

 

[JBowtie]

True20 is quite good for a variety of genres. Note that the full-size version comes with 4 campaign settings in the core book - I don't know if they're in the pocket edition.

 

[Thondor]

World of Darkness , is excellent if you want a role-playing heavy game. While you could use Werewolf, Vampire or Mage books - the game is still excellent on it's own.

(Especially if you have a lot of d10's)

 

[Brakkart]

For my part the following get my seal of approval as complete rules systems in one book that are fun to play:

D&D Rules Cyclopedia

Spycraft 2.0

DC Heroes 3rd Edition

I have all three of these and have gotten tonnes of use and fun sessions out of all of them. Money very well spent!