Games you can pick up and play

[Ry]

I had lots of fun with Primetime Adventures; if someone has a chance to at least read the book before sitting down and playing it's a good idea to do so. There's also some great gameplay aids (primetime reminders pdf) available at indie-rpgs.com/

 

[mhensley]

D6 Star Wars - really fast to create characters with, intro adventure included with rulebook

 

[buzz]

Are these RPGs? My one exposure to Heroquest was as a boardgame, and Ninja Burger (from the box) looks more like Munchkin: TCG or SPANC than a roleplaying game.

HeroQuest used to be the name of a fantasy boardgame. The name is now owned by the current ruleset for roleplaying in Glorantha (i.e., RuneQuest's successor), made by Issaries, Inc.

http://www.glorantha.com/

I'm not sure which one the OP was talking about. I wouldn't consider the RPG very "pick up and play," but I don't have a lot of experience with it.

Ninja Burger has both a card game version and an RPG.

http://ninjaburger.com/rpg/

 

[atomn]

Are these RPGs? My one exposure to Heroquest was as a boardgame, and Ninja Burger (from the box) looks more like Munchkin: TCG or SPANC than a roleplaying game.

Hero Quest can have roleplaying in it but it's basically a simplistic combat.

I've never played Munchkin or SPANC, so I can't really gauge. But at least the Ninja Burger RPG isn't a card game (although I think there is a card game for it) and it does have roleplaying opportunities (although it's a silly game, so if you're looking for serious roleplaying then you should look elsewhere).

 

[atomn]

HeroQuest used to be the name of a fantasy boardgame. The name is now owned by the current ruleset for roleplaying in Glorantha (i.e., RuneQuest's successor), made by Issaries, Inc.

http://www.glorantha.com/

I'm not sure which one the OP was talking about. I wouldn't consider the RPG very "pick up and play," but I don't have a lot of experience with it.

The Hero Quest I was thinking of was the old Milton Bradley game that this page is dedicated to: http://www.aginsinn.com/. That RuneQuest version is vastly more complicated. The MB version may not fulfill your roleplaying tastes but it'd definitely fill the "pick up and play".

 

[molonel]

Talisman - 2nd Edition board game, by Games Workshop.

"You got toaded!"

 

[Kafkonia]

I've never played Munchkin or SPANC, so I can't really gauge. But at least the Ninja Burger RPG isn't a card game (although I think there is a card game for it) and it does have roleplaying opportunities (although it's a silly game, so if you're looking for serious roleplaying then you should look elsewhere).

I've never seen the RPG, I've only seen the Ninja Burger card game on sale at my FLGS, beside the various and sundry other SJG novelty games.

If I see it I may give it a look.

 

[Nikosandros]

Amber Diceless Roleplaying. It helps to have read at least one of Zelazny's Amber books, but it's not required.

No dice, almost no system (higher score wins unless there are extenuating circumstances) make it very easy to hit the ground running.

Character generation is complex and the rules (especially for magic) are rather involved.

 

[LostSoul]

D6 Star Wars - really fast to create characters with, intro adventure included with rulebook

I was going to say this as well. It's also got the added feature that most people are already familiar with what's going on (Empire vs. good guys).

 

[fafhrd]

3 Dragon Ante. Just bring cash. I'll supply the cards.