What is the most simple RPG?

[Ashtal]

While Toon is simple, it's pretty focused on, well, toons.

Honestly, I think the absolute, dead-easiest game out there you can buy on the commercial market is BESM. Skip the Skill system, and you have a sleek little game that you can teach in about ten seconds flat.

 

[Garmorn]

Out of print simple game

The simplest I have everplayed wat Fantasy Trip. 3 stats, and used 3d6 for everthing.

Long out of print now, but sure was fun back then. It was also one of the first to use skills fore combat and magic. Last played it in 80, just before finding a D&D group.

 

[Wicht]

YBA over on fight club is a very rules light hack and slash RPG game.

Other than that (and what has already been mentioned), I think the rules for Toon are as easy as they get. The old Ghostbusters RPG was pretty rules light as well (as is Paranoia). Come to think of it, most comedy RPGs are pretty easy on the rules.

 

[King_Stannis]

I’d have to say that, discounting all of the obscure (but classic!) RPG games that people have brought up, Chaosium’s Call of Cthulu is probably one of the easiest-playing games ever made. Everyone has an inherent knowledge of percentages, so it’s easy to modify skill rolls and say “that looks hard to do, why don’t you take a 20% penalty”. Even the sanity rules were fairly simple, though they did get harder when you had to deal with temporary/indefinite insanity. Combats were very smooth in my experience, too. Rank the people by DEX and start firing! CoC is the essence of a “story first – rules second” game.

 

[Bagpuss]

Re: Out of print simple game

The simplest I have everplayed wat Fantasy Trip. 3 stats, and used 3d6 for everthing.

That's two more than TWERPS, which has one Strength which is used for everything from physical strength, mental strength and even hit points.

 

[WSmith]

I found the Fast Play Rules for BESM. Pretty neat actually. The skills make it a little more complex, but not much.

Although it is simple to roll low vs. the stats, I prefer the "add stat/skill modifiers to a die roll, trying to score higher than a target number to succeed" task resolution, just as d20, and CODA.

The ability check thing was pretty rampant in my pre-WSG/DSG/UA 1e D&D games.

One thing I liked from the Fast play rules, magic was divided into levels. Your skill mastery dictated what kind of result you could come up with (not what spells you could have), depending on the energy points. I LOVE IT! Unless I mistaken something, that is what I would love to be able to do.

Any other comments?

 

[abaddon]

i have played many game systems and the easiest and fastest to learn was besm. It is based on only three real stats hince why they call it the tri stat system. i thought my gf who never played a rpg before in her life the rules in 5 min. so i suggest you check it out

 

[Droogie]

The World's First Haiku RPG

No dice are needed
Decide on a character
Then tell a story

By Akunin-chan
(originally posted on the Nutkinland EZBoard)

Anyone want to do a d20 version?

A o O triggered.
I am very confused now.
What does that feat do?

 

[Droogie]

Yep, one more vote for TWERPS. Good luck in finding it, though.

I even had a copy of TWERPS TWEK, the star trek add-on.
I ordered that game from Wargames West, before they went outta business. The game and each add-on only cost 2 bucks I think.

I don't know what I did with them. (sigh).

 

[rounser]

A o O triggered.
I am very confused now.
What does that feat do?

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