Simple, colorful mechanics to run a game for non-gamers?

[payn]

Fiasco.

 

[Voadam]

I played in a Honey Heist game reskinned to be D&D like instead of bears and heists and it went great. All the game's rules on one page, two stats with skill resolution using a d6 for those two stats. Character creation was a random d6 for class and characterization, the characterizations were straight from HH (rookie, washed up, incompetent, etc.) the classes were fantasy D&D like, so mage, cleric, knight, etc. I think the two stats were adventuring and cunning with most magic types falling under cunning.

HH has a mechanic for the stats to shift by one each up and down after a failure and the game to end if the stats ever get to 1 or 6, I would just cap at 2/5 and not sweat the end condition.

Combat was no hp, just roll to succeed or not. So a slick knight who failed a combat roll looked cool but did not defeat their opponent.

It gave some quick characterization hooks and a quick resolution die mechanic and allowed a lot of free form stuff on the fly for thematic powers and magic without resource management tracking. Half the magic backfired in different fun ways made up on the spot.

 

[GMMichael]

I've run simple systems before, but how simple do you think I could go and still have it be fun and meaningful? Three ability scores, d20s for attacks and skills, d6s for damage?

@Clint_L is right about one hour being a tight window.

I'd try to fit in one bit of role-playing, one bit of exploring, one fight, and one puzzle. It would be neat if I could have at least a rudimentary sort of character creation where they got maybe 3 choices, and could pick from four options for each, ideally with cool illustrations.

That sounds like at least 3 hours to me, even for some prior role-players.

This is all very tentative now. Does anyone know a really easy system to use? Should I use something geared for kids like No Thank You, Evil? Or should I write one?

You want something stripped-down that conveys the idea of rolling dice for outcomes, like this:

Core Rules Module | Modos RPG | Obsidian Portal

Rules Catalog Rule Name Description and Dependencies 000 Rule Zero The Guide of Modos is the player who ultimately decides what happens in the st

modos-rpg.obsidianportal.com

The module is thirteen rules that boil down to:
Roll a d20 and add your bonus. If you beat the GM's d20+bonus, something good happens.

Crossing my fingers that you don't have to spend too much time explaining role-playing!

 

[CleverNickName]

I recommend Dread. All you need to play is a Jenga tower.

 

[aco175]

I would recommend running the game you feel most passionate/knowledgeable/connected to. If that is D&D it is hard, but with a set of first level PCs to choose from and 5 minutes of town and 5 minutes of roleplay to get into things you could still have some sort of trap/puzzle and an encounter to rescue the McGuffin. Leave a hint at the end in case people wanted to play more. Who knows.

 

[Li Shenron]

Risus is the easiest system I've ever played. I think the rules were 2 pages. It is also free.

 

[Bohandas]

Toon by SJ Games is pretty simple

EDIT:
Amd could be simplifoed further by replacing the 2d6 with 1d12