What is the most simple RPG?

[Orcus]

Yeah, but TWERPS was kind of a novelty gag. The Fantasy Trip (expansion of the micro games "Melee" and "Wizard" by Steve Jackson) is an actual serious game. It is the precursor to GURPS. It is without a doubt the simplest of all RPGs and it is also fantastic for its simplicity. In fact, for about 2 years I ditched D&D and played The Fantasy Trip (also called In the Labyrinth by some) exclusively.

Clark

 

[WSmith]

Interesting.

BUMP until I get enough sleep to respond.

 

[Droogie]

The Sage overturns his ruling
Errata falls as leaves in Autumn
A new FAQ is born

Isn't a haiku supposed to be 5-7-5 syllables?

 

[rounser]

Isn't a haiku supposed to be 5-7-5 syllables?

Probably. The only rule I know is that you get bonus points for involving references to the seasons.

 

[JohnNephew]

no one has yet mentioned...

OVER THE EDGE, with a very simple rules system by Jonathan Tweet, is definitely on the "rules-light" end of the spectrum.

 

[mmadsen]

Re: no one has yet mentioned...

OVER THE EDGE, with a very simple rules system by Jonathan Tweet, is definitely on the "rules-light" end of the spectrum.

I haven't read Over the Edge, but it falls into that same irony of simple rules for advanced roleplayers, right? Or would it be easy to hand it to a group of 12-year-olds and watch them start playing?

The more I think about it, there don't seem to be any good games for easing into the hobby (unless you have an experienced gamer to lead you along).

 

[mmadsen]

Simpler D&D

...or mmadsen's much anticipated re-write of the D&D Adventure Game.

BTW, I'm serious...so get to work!

Yes, sir, Thorvald, sir! I just have to get WSmith to type up his "lite" rules...

I love the stories of "diceless" D&D. I can remember trying to play D&D without any books, at school or on a field trip. I think we had dice, or maybe just numbered bits of paper, but we had no charts to consult -- this was back in the 1E days -- so I had to judge whether I thought an "11" would hit the Kobold (or whatever).

I didn't like killing off characters, so I can remember having them face gruesome-yet-not-mortal consequences for losing all their hit points -- finding that the Kobolds had cut off their leg and roasted it over the fire, etc. I didn't concern myself that an amputation would bleed out; I was a kid trying to keep the game going.

 

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

Cops and Robbers, of course.
For the ladies, you can always play House.
And for the adventuresome, play Doctor. (twist that as you may, but I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole!)

 

[Ferret]

Pong

 

[mmadsen]

The Fantasy Trip (expansion of the micro games "Melee" and "Wizard" by Steve Jackson) is an actual serious game. It is the precursor to GURPS. It is without a doubt the simplest of all RPGs and it is also fantastic for its simplicity. In fact, for about 2 years I ditched D&D and played The Fantasy Trip (also called In the Labyrinth by some) exclusively.

I've never seen The Fantasy Trip, but every time I've heard it mentioned, it's with great praise. Isn't there some odd licensing problem keeping it from ever coming back?