Low Book-keeping Systems

[JohnSnow]

If you're interested in a low bookkeeping, simple gaming system, you might check out Castles and Crusades. It's OGL, but much simpler than D&D. It pretty much uses the same magic system though, but the balancing of that is left to the GM's discretion. I personally found it a bit lacking, but I'm one of those nutty people that likes the complexity of feats and skills.

Another option for a lower bookkeeping version of d20 (without magic) is Malhavoc's Iron Heroes. It dumps the D&D magic system and, as a result, is considerably more straight-forward than default 3e. I personally like it a lot. It is NOT just a simplified version of D&D, but a totally different approach to the game. And there's the possibility for numerous tactical options without a huge amount of complexity. ("take a penalty to get a bonus" kind of stuff). Statting up a high-level character is quite painless. It is, however, heavy on feats, so if you don't like feats, it may not be for you.

Otherwise, I'll echo the others and say that Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay is a good, reasonably simple game. It CAN be made more complicated, but its base version is pretty easy.

 

[Henry]

Rel, stop bragging about your hot wife! You don't see me bragging about my hot nymphomaniac wife, who works, takes care of my pets, cooks, cleans, buys me gaming books on the sly, irons my clothes, and gives good back rubs in the shower, do you? Sheesh...

Now, about Savage Worlds...

It's a pretty good system, which offers a good bit of customization for PCs, and minimal detail for GMs to keep up with, but two negatives previously voiced are:

1) Tactics are VERY important to use in combat, because just standing up and plugging away against big beasties will get you killed.

2) Some folks have complained there isn't enough customization. There's not as much, say, as D&D characters, but there's as much as, for instance, a Feng Shui character.

 

[Levi Kornelsen]

*Points at Sig*

*Grins like a hyena*

EDIT: On a more useful note - let's see. Savage Worlds, Over The Edge, Castle Falkenstein.

 

[Rel]

Rel, stop bragging about your hot wife!

I didn't say she was hot (though I'm partial to her). I just said that she was alternately exhausted and horny, which makes it tough to squeeze in the occasional evening of gaming.

All things considered, I'm glad she's not always exhausted. And I might even be glad she's not always horny.

 

[Xombie Master]

I'd say the Unisystem (All Flesh Must Be Eaten, Buffy, etc) would strike the best balance between rules lite and rules heavy. I love CoC but some players find it too rules lite. We all know DnD is a bit rules heavy.

 

[Rel]

Ahem, back on topic:

I snagged a preview copy of True 20 at GenCon and I think it would serve well as a rules-lite system. I've not yet had a chance to play it but I like the streamlined look of it.