What is a GOOD rules light system?

[Kwitchit]

I like L5R. Not too complex, and with some nice touches, in the Advancement system and the main system.

 

[Darrin Drader]

I'll second True 20 as a light set of rules that allow for flexible, interesting and exciting adventures in whatever setting or genre you prefer to play in. It's a stripped down, simpler and more consistant form of the rules that govern most d20 systems, without all that pesky AoO stuff and with Roles that allow a character to be what they are supposed to be and nothing else.

If you like the core D20 system but get tired of all the crunch, I agree that True20 is the way to go.

I've been very impressed with it, as it's filled all my needs for both rules light systems and for systems that support many of the wacky things that OGL d20 does horribly (giant mechs, super powers, etc). The only die ever used is a d20 and the only points that are ever tracked are skill points when you level up and the qualitative, not quantitative, health levels.

I would actually prefer to track hit points instead of skill points, but it's not a big deal. It's easy to add them back in. Skill points are only tracked if you decide to apply them unevenly. NPCs are a snap to create, which is great, because it makes preparation for a game so much easier.

 

[Treebore]

I like L5R. Not too complex, and with some nice touches, in the Advancement system and the main system.

I like L5R, no, I LOVE L5R, but rules lite it isn't. In this case I can live with it because the rules system soooo enhances the "atmosphere" of the L5R campaign. A great example of when rules mechanics really enhances the role play and not just the roll play. Great system.

 

[BluSponge]

It really depends on what you are going for. Are you looking to run a DnD-esque fantasy game? Then I'd recommend Lejendary Adventure, and Castles and Crusades. Cinematic Unisystem would also be a good pick. Just mix, say, the Angel or Army of Darkness rpgs with All Flesh Must Be Eaten's Dungeons and Zombies and 90% of the work is done for you. I'd also look at Savage Worlds and True20 (though neither claim to be rules lite, compared to 3e/3.5 Rolemaster might even fit the bill ).

If you are looking for something with a bit more flexibility, or a different change of pace, I'd recommend Over The Edge and Castle Falkenstein. Neither are very DnD-ish, but are brilliant in their simplicity and flavor.

Tom

 

[Nomad4life]

True20 is a good rules-lite system, and it has become my default system of choice these days. It fixes 99% of everything I thought could have been improved in 3.5. I know there is some debate as to whether or not True20 is technically a "rules-lite" system. All I can say it that it sure feels like a rules-lite system when you play it, because it’s so smooth and clunk-free.

C&C is another good lite system. It's got that 1E feel, without the 1E rules wonk-factor.

 

[barsoomcore]

Sign me up for True20. Not sure what you're meaning by you'd rather track hit points than skill points, Whisperfoot. Maybe you meant health levels?

Anyway, yeah, for speedy NPC generation (I created a 9th-level spellcasting big bad in 20 minutes -- from concept to stat block) and fun gameplay, True 20 makes me very, very happy. Add in the fact that converting creatures from d20 to True20 takes seconds (so I can carry on using my beloved monster books) and I dunno if I'm ever looking back.

 

[JoeBlank]

Another vote for C&C. My sons, ages 4, 6, and 8 are playing, so I'm thinking it is rules-light enough.

And the price is right now too, only $10 for each of the books, although the players handbook is all you really need:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=166510

 

[RFisher]

My first suggestion is to check out some of the free games or samplers/quickstarts.

Dragon Warriors is a good suggestion. I haven't played it myself yet, but I was tempted to run it instead of classic D&D.

Barbarians of Lemuria is a free one I've been waiting for the chance to try.

Another free game that I thought looked pretty good was The Ladder. I haven't been keeping up with it, but there's a Yahoo group tracking developments of it.

One I like a lot is Prince Valiant, but its out of print.

A couple of free games that are similar to classic D&D are Mazes & Minotaurs & Basic Fantasy.

Personally, it took me at least three readings of Fudge & reading a bunch of other things written by SOS before I really felt that I got the game. I still haven't really understood Fate or why its better.

Not every game is for every gamer. (& which games are "for" me has certainly changed over time for me!) Good luck in finding something that works for you.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

The Rune RPG is rather rules light. Character creation was rather swift. Combat was swift once the methods of rolling dice are understood. It seems more complicated that it is. Adventure design can be time consuming however, and it is in this area that would probably cause a group to not adopt the game.

It's meant to be a competitive RPG, where each PC is out to gain points for themselves based on the sorts of mayhem they are able to wreak. It's a blast for a night of a one-shot adventure. Unfortunately the way encounter difficulty scales, playing with three people can be deadly, so four or more is preferable.

I ache to find more folks around my area willing to give it a shot.

 

[Votan]

True20 is a good rules-lite system, and it has become my default system of choice these days. It fixes 99% of everything I thought could have been improved in 3.5. I know there is some debate as to whether or not True20 is technically a "rules-lite" system. All I can say it that it sure feels like a rules-lite system when you play it, because it’s so smooth and clunk-free.

I had heard many bad things about Green Ronin but I must admit that one of the nice things about game shopping was discovering True 20. For a "low fantasy" game world it is far superior to D&D. I have definitely enjoyed reading it and figuring out how characters worked in that system.

Somebody defintiely put some thought into it.

Castles and Crusades was also very nice for the high fantasy approach to gaming and seems to have captured a lot of the feel of AD&D.