Need a d20 system that does NOT require core rules

[dead]

I was wondering if anybody could help me.

My friend wants to start DMing a non-D&D d20 game but does not want to have to buy the d20 game PLUS the core rulebooks. So, he was wondering if there are any d20 games out there that do NOT require the core rule books. He is very particular about this. He says that the d20 game cannot even say: "can be used without the core rule books but owning these will benefit you."

He wants a totally independent d20 game. This d20 game can be of any genre.

Can anybody help him?

Does Arcana Unearthed require the PHB, DMG and MM?

Thanks.

 

[Henry]

Arcana Unearthed fits the bill (legally, any purely OGL game can't mention the player's handbook by name).

Also, Mutants and Masterminds is purely OGL, and all rules for characters and advancement (and the rest of the wholoe package) are self-contained.

The Conan RPG I believe is the same way.

Three absolutely kick-butt games, by the way.

 

[Henry]

Oh, I'm sliding this over to d20 Systems Games Forum, because

1) Better responses over there, and
2) It's the appropriate forum.

Your friend has a lot of choices that fit his bill.

 

[Selganor]

The OGL titles fom Mongoose Publishng also fit the bill:

OGL Ancients, OGL Cybernet, OGL Horror (and coming soon OGL Steampunk).
All self contained systems with no other books needed.

And soon the Lone Wolf RPG will also come out as a standalone System

 

[DeBracy]

I'll add Star Wars d20, Wheel of Time and d20 Modern to the list.

 

[Bill Scott]

Let me get this straight. Your friend wants to save money by running a self contained game, which does not require support material, of any genre? I don't blame him because I'm sort of a miser myself. If I'm right, I suggest either Modern or Star Wars because either one does not require support books to run a game. Then if he decides to run a game that does require a core book, which he most likely will in the future, he'll have one already in hand.

If neither one these suggestions is acceptable, I would go with Mutants and Masterminds or one of the OGL books from Mongoose

 

[Bagpuss]

What sort of non-D&D D20 game is he planing on running it would help narrow down which book might be more useful to him? Is it one of the Horizon line ones or something from Polyhedron for example, homebrew or what?

 

[Voadam]

Call of Cthulhu d20 Supernatural horror base setting is modern or 20's.
Wheel of time d20 fantasy different magic.
d20 Modern (free srd rules at wizards site)
Arcana Unearthed High Fantasy different magic

I believe the Everquest PH does not say it requires the core rules but there are different core books for that one, the PH does not cover magic items, gaining experience, or monsters. Everquest is high magic fantasy with different magic.

I think the pdf superhero book Deeds Not Words is complete on its own but it might be d20 licensed and say requires core rules book.

BESM d20 anime fantasy with its own srd available at www.opengamingfoundation.org

I don't have so I'm not sure about:
Mutants and Masterminds superheros, fairly variant core rules
Spycraft, modern spy game.
Star Wars d20 Sci-Fi fantasy
Judge Dredd based on the comic
Stargate 1 based on the sci-fi show
Babylon 5 based on the sci-fi show
Conan fantasy
Farscape based on the sci-fi show
Traveler d20 Sci-fi
Deadlands d20 supernatural horror Wild West
Sidewinders Wild West

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I am going over Voadam's suggestions with what I can tell of the need PHB/ don't need PHB

Call of Cthulhu d20 Supernatural horror base setting is modern or 20's.
Wheel of time d20 fantasy different magic.
d20 Modern (free srd rules at wizards site)
Arcana Unearthed High Fantasy different magic

None of these need PHB.

I believe the Everquest PH does not say it requires the core rules but there are different core books for that one, the PH does not cover magic items, gaining experience, or monsters. Everquest is high magic fantasy with different magic.

Correct, it does in fact stand alone.

I think the pdf superhero book Deeds Not Words is complete on its own but it might be d20 licensed and say requires core rules book.

No, it does in fact need the PHB

BESM d20 anime fantasy with its own srd available at www.opengamingfoundation.org

Again, you need the PHB, the BESM SRD does not describe creating character, leveling, nor experience. (AS per the D20 license)

I don't have so I'm not sure about:
Mutants and Masterminds superheros, fairly variant core rules

M&M is in fact stand alone and quite good.

Spycraft, modern spy game.

Requires PHB

Star Wars d20 Sci-Fi fantasy

Free standing

Judge Dredd based on the comic
Stargate 1 based on the sci-fi show
Babylon 5 based on the sci-fi show

The above do in fact require the PHB

Conan fantasy

Stand alone (as Conan must!)

Farscape based on the sci-fi show

Requires PHB

Traveler d20 Sci-fi

I believe that T20 is not free standing, but I have never really looked at it. It is a D20 License product, and still in print, so my bet would be Requires PHB.

Deadlands d20 supernatural horror Wild West
Sidewinders Wild West

Both of these require the PHB

The Auld Grump, Sorry Voadam, not trying to insult you in any way, it was just easier than typing out a similar list myself.

*EDIT* Unifying the format used, and making corrections.

 

[Psion]

Star Wars d20 Sci-Fi fantasy
Judge Dredd based on the comic
Stargate 1 based on the sci-fi show
Babylon 5 based on the sci-fi show

The above do in fact require the PHB

Star Wars does not require the PHB.