What TTRPG Is Perfect and Complete In One Volume?

[Velderan]

Not if you consider it from the perspective of someone new to gaming.

That's actually the perspective I was looking at it from.

The better a book explains HOW to play, the less it needs to do to show you with an example. Going back upthread, my example of the TSR Marvel Superheroes game was the first non-D&D game I GMed and it didn't include an adventure in the box. The books provided had examples of how to do things in a way that made it so I could just read the book and start running games without needing to buy an additional scenario to see an example of how to apply the rules I just finished reading. Don't get me wrong, an example adventure can be extremely helpful especially for a crunchier game that a new GM might be a bit overwhelmed on how to put everything they just read together. There's a reason I point new GMs to the PF2e Beginner Box as a starting point for the game. But I just don't personally think a game has to include one to be considered perfect if the game's rules are easy enough to understand.

 

[Gradine]

There's only one perfectly made RPG, for the niche it was created for, anyway...

 

[delericho]

The D&D Rules Cyclopedia, which I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned yet.

Given how well-regarded this is, and given that we now have several 3e and 5e near-clones, I'm surprised nobody has attempted to go a "complete in one" near-clone of modern D&D. Especially if aimed at experienced groups (meaning that a lot of DM-side material about prepping and running games can be dropped), it feels like that should be doable.

 

[Bae'zel]

I was able to do a LOT with my first ever RPG: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st edition.

Wore that book out to pieces.

It has everything: characters, monsters, setting info, equipment, treasures, spells... Even a starting adventure. Very dense and easy to read.

Haven't found very many books since that have felt so complete!

 

[The Soloist]

removed by user. nevermind

 

[Ringtail]

I think its important to acknowledge that there are many games that are complete and perfect out of the box (or book), but I still salivate at the prospect of new material, just because I like it so much.

Dragonbane is a great example. Lotta love for Dragonbane, which I have to agree with. I am obsessed with that game and it really has everything you need in the box set. But I do want more stuff for it. Not because I think it needs it, I'm just greedy.

Call of Cthulhu (7th Ed., but I suppose any.) I've been playing CoC for years and I've only ever needed the one book, it really has everything you need for that game and the guidance to improvise if you need something else.

 

[J.Quondam]

Prince Valiant, The Storytelling Game is good in this regard, and easy for novice players, too.
Book is about 120 pages; mechanics are simple and well matched to the setting; lots of world description with comic strip illos, NPCs, etc; plenty of good GM advice with examples; a few pages of "advanced" rules like tuning magic level, non-knight PCs, running with multiple GMs, etc; and 15 or 20 adventure scenarios. Unfortunately, it's out of print and hard to find in either its old 1980s release or more recent kickstarted edition.

 

[The Soloist]

Dragonbane is a great example. Lotta love for Dragonbane, which I have to agree with. I am obsessed with that game and it really has everything you need in the box set. But I do want more stuff for it. Not because I think it needs it, I'm just greedy.

LOL!
You will get more. They are working on the Expert and Magic expansion books for 2025-26. We will also get a city adventure campaign book.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

Dungeon Crawl Classics, even though earlier experience with games and gaming adds a lot, as do the gazillions of zines, 3pp stuff and parallell systems.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

In your opinion, what TTRPG is perfectly well mde and totally complete in one volume? That is to say, not only is the game good, but you don't need anything else to play it even long term.

NOTE: it is not required that the game does not have supplements, just that you feel that it does not need any.

I am tempted to say Champions 4E (the Big Blue Book) but the fact is it needs more example villains to be truly complete (so IMOP Classic Enemies completes Champions 4E, even though there are ots of other books I love).

I think my real answer is All Flesh Must Be Eaten. There are supplements for it, but they aren't necessary at all. That game is a real toolkit for all kinds of games, not just zombie survival.

What do you think? What game(s) do you think is totally perfect and complete in one volume?

Alternity

The One Ring

Lots I can’t think of because I’m dumb and had to get up early today…