What is the most simple RPG?

[WSmith]

In my quest to find a simple RPG, designed for newbies or idiots like me , I have seen various game refered to as rules lite or light. My question, what are they and why are they easy on the rules? These are the ones I have seen mentioned from various sources on the web, in no particular order.

D&D (Basic, Original, Classic) Of the few listed, this is the only on I have experience with. The others I have no idea. So, I would love to hear what other people know about them, and if in fact they are "rules lite"

Amber Diceless

Lejendary Adventures

Paranoia

BESM

Sailor Moon

(feel free to refute any of these, or add to the list.)

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Hmm. The only one I have is Amber, and I wouldn't exactly call it rules-light.

It's too bad TWERPS (The World's Easiest Roleplaying System) is out of print, as far as I know. I saw it once, and it was very, very rules-light (as implied by the name).

 

[Umbran]

Cops and Robbers. Most certainly the simplest, cheapest game on the market. Anyone can understand the rules.

And still, you get munchkins -
"I shot you!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Yeah, well, I'm wearing a bulletproof vest!"
"I shot you with a bazooka!"
"It's bazookaproof, too!"
....

 

[Voadam]

Umbran you beat me to it.

Of RPGs with rule books I would go with basic D&D or Gurps Lite (it is free!)

 

[Mordax_sighs]

I recommend taking a look at FUDGE.

 

[Crothian]

The simpliest is QAGS by Hexgames ( www.hexgames.com ). I have a few of the books (4$ or so a piece) and it's a fun little game.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Anyone but me remeber Cointoss Dungeon from Phil and Dixie's What's New?

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

Anyone but me remeber Cointoss Dungeon from Phil and Dixie's What's New?

Speaking of tossing coins...

That's the very mechanic used in the old Prince Valiant RPG.

As far as RPGs go that are easy for a newbie player (as well as GM) to jump right in and play--I think it's hard to beat the old Basic D&D red booklets.

 

[mmadsen]

In my quest to find a simple RPG, designed for newbies or idiots like me , I have seen various game refered to as rules lite or light.

One issue with Rules Lite games is that they often rely on a wise gamemaster to adjudicate fairly. That's probably fine, even ideal, for a parent or older sibling gamemastering for kids, and it can work well for a gaming group of mature, mellow adults, but it can go awry, I'm sure, with a bunch of junior-high guys.

Another issue with many Rules Lite games (e.g. Fudge, but not Amber) is that they're often Lite period. You don't pick up the Fudge rules, open the box, and start playing. First, there's no box, but more importantly, there's no game. The gamemaster has to decide even which stats he's using in his Lite game.

If you want an identifiable Lite game, I think your best bet is to use an existing game without using any of the optional rules. GURPS Lite might be a good choice, or D&D without any splatbooks and without most of the core classes.

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

Re: Re: What is the most simple RPG?

If you want an identifiable Lite game, I think your best bet is to use an existing game without using any of the optional rules. GURPS Lite might be a good choice, or D&D without any splatbooks and without most of the core classes.

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

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