Free RPG List: open-license

new • universal • rules-lite • long • live-action • online • supplement • preview • wotc-d20 • world • genre • open-license • horror • modern • scifi • fantasy • traditional • postapocalyptic • superhero • Index

The Action! System by Mark Arsenault, Patrick Sweeney, and Ross Winn: Keywords: universal long preview open-license; A universal system, whose version 1.1 is released under the WotC Open Gaming License. There is an extended commercial version (released in print or for download) with 10 extra pages and added artwork. The rules are similar to the Fuzion system. Action resolution is by stat + skill + 3d6 vs difficulty. Character creation is limited point-based. 92 pages free rules (PDF or RTF), plus ~60 pages supplements and variants (RTF format).
Animalball Melee: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional rules-lite open-license; A simplified d20 combat engine for quick and easy gladiator fighting. 32 pages rules (PDF).
Cat RPG: Keywords: genre modern rules-lite open-license; A humorous Public Domain game about modern-day cats who fight Snufles -- invisible jellyfish that threaten humans. Characters have 10 stats: Leap, Bat, Pounce, Patience, Speed, Climb, Hear, Love, Transcend, and STWCNBS (See That Which Can Not Be Seen). Resolution is by 1d20 + stat vs difficulty. 7 page rules (PDF) plus 7 pages introductory scenario (PDF).
Circe by Bryce Harrington: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy long open-license; A medieval fantasy system, with some parts designed with computer aids in mind (although it is not required). Released under the GNU Free Documentation License. Character creation is a mix of random-roll attributes and point-bought skills and extras. 143 pages core rules (PDF or MSWord).
Core Elements, Toolbox Edition by Butch Hargrove and Butch Curry: Keywords: universal rules-lite open-license; A minimalist adaptation of Wizards of the Coasts' "D20 System", with brief appendices for supernatural powers, action points, insanity, and others. 18 pages rules (PDF).
D20 System Reference Document, v3.5: Keywords: genre fantasy long open-license; The basic mechanics for the popular commercial game, Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5th edition, from Wizards of the Coast. The SRD is not a full game as presented, but contains most rules necessary for play as well as stats (but not descriptions) on a host of monsters, items, and more. 200+ pages rules and stats (RTF)
D20 Modern System Reference Document, v3.5: Keywords: genre modern long open-license; The basic mechanics for the commercial game, D20 Modern, from Wizards of the Coast. The SRD is not a full game as presented, but contains most rules necessary for play, as well as stats (but not descriptions) on a host of monsters, items, and more. 200+ pages rules and stats (RTF)
Dominion by Scott Gray and Sharon Tripp: Keywords: fantasy traditional long open-license; A fantasy genre boffer LARP (live action role playing game), including a low fantasy setting ("Uruk"), analogous to the Middle East. With only humans and rare magic. ~90 pages (HTML).
DQ Open Source: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy open-license; A version of the out-of-print commercial game DragonQuest, released by the "DQ Players' Association", without using any trademarks. 40 pages (PDF).
Draft by Pitt Murmann: Keywords: universal rules-lite open-license; A simple fantasy-oriented universal system released under the Open Content license. The PDF of version 0.4 is still available, but unfortunately earlier versions and editable copies were lost in a disk crash. Action resolution is skill + 1d10 vs difficulty. Character creation is limited point-based, splitting attribute points among the nine attributes, and skill points among skills (with costs based on controlling attribute). The basic rules include a brief magic system. 32 pages rules (PDF).
Epitome by Pitt Mumann: Keywords: universal rules-lite open-license; A universal system, released under the Open Content License. It uses a symbolic character sheet with a circle representing "self", with an outer band of "demeanor", a middle band of "nature", and an inner circle of "soul". It uses primarily diceless resolution relying on GM judgement. 11 pages (PDF).
FATE: Fudge Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment by Rob Donoghue and Fred Hicks (Evil Hat Productions): Keywords: universal rules-lite open-license; A variant of Steffan O'Sullivan's Fudge, which is a standalone game but recommends familiarity with the original. Like the original, it is now released under the WotC Open Gaming License. Character creation is by five phases in the life of the character, with a literary "aspect" and four skill points for each. It includes several sample magic systems. 90 pages rules (PDF).
Fire and Sword by Raymond Turney: Keywords: genre fantasy long open-license; A fantasy RPG released under the Free Art License. It uses a skill-based system, with resolution by rolling under skill on 1d10, 1d20, or 1d30 depending on difficulty. Character creation is by choosing a primary and secondary archetype, distributing 84+2D6 points among attributes, and two additional skill picks. 163 pages (PDF).
Four Colors al Fresco v1.0b by woodelf: Keywords: genre superhero rules-lite open-license; An alternate-history superheroes game about golden-age style superheroes in Renaissance Italy, released under an open license. It uses a simple narrative system where each character has a die type for four of five basic aspects (d4, d6, d8, d12, d20) -- and the fifth is their superpower aspect. Resolution is by defining which of the five aspects applies to a situation, with modifiers by penalty dice. 83 pages (PDF).
Fringe (Free and INtegrated Game Engine): Keywords: universal rules-lite open-license; A universal system released under the GPL open license, currently under development by the Free Roleplaying Community. It is not currently complete. It suggests action resolution of attribute + skill + 1d10, and limited point-based character creation. ~20 pages (HTML).
Fudge by Steffan O'Sullian: Keywords: universal rules-lite long open-license; A well-written and long-standing set of freeform rules, released under the WotC OGL license (the Fudge SRD) as well as a limited free license for non-commercial use. The complete rules are available free as well as in print from Grey Ghost Games, who also print Fudge supplements, special Fudge dice, and Fudge Expanded Edition. 90 pages rules (PDF, text, or HTML).
Gods & Monsters by Jerry Stratton: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional long open-license; A fantasy RPG compatible with TSR's AD&D (1st or 2nd edition), released under the GNU Free Documentation license. The system is similar but with many changes and simplifications. 100 pages basic rules (PDF, RTF, or HTML).
GRAPE: Generic Roleplaying All-Purpose Engine by Scott Gray: Keywords: universal rules-lite open-license; A purely freeform system which includes the option of die rolls. 1 page HTML.
Grey Lotus by Andrew Williams: Keywords: genre fantasy long world open-license; A fantasy RPG released under the Open Publication License. It is set on the fantasy world of Gaia, which is inhabited by humans, faerie races, and alien races. It uses a skill-based system. Action resolution is to roll d10's equal to skill and take the highest + attribute versus difficulty. Character creation is semi-open point-based, assigning 7 priority points among four categories, then spending points within each category. 110 pages core rules (PDF,HTML,LaTeX) plus 23 page magic supplement (PDF,HTML).
JAGS-2 by Marco Chacon: Keywords: genre universal long open-license preview; A universal system, the "rules-medium" version of JAGS. It has a version released under the GNU Free Documentation License, and also has a print version available. It uses roll under attribute or skill on 4d6 (dropping 6s). It uses open point-based character creation, with 3 primary attributes and 9 secondary. Skills have a 4-level expertise rating (Beginner, Average, Expert, Master) which determines usage as well as a number to roll under (0 to 20). 65 pages basic rules (PDF).
Kids Easy Play Fantasy RPG by Steven Ruske: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy rules-lite open-license; A brief RPG based on the D20 System rules, but greatly simplified for play by younger kids. 32 pages rules (PDF).
Lycadican by Sheldon Lee Wen, Monte Lee Wen, Ricardo Bare: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy long world open-license; A fantasy game set on the world of Khardan, released under the Open Content License. The system is a percentile skill-based with required professions. 363 pages rules (PDF) plus additional worldbook.
Malls & Morons by Orion Cooper et al.: Keywords: genre modern open-license; A humorous RPG about teenagers in the mall, based on the D20 system -- with classes like "Computer Geek", "Football Player", and "Trekkie". The rulebook is implemented on a wiki. ~30 pages rules (HTML).
Midian: Keywords: genre fantasy long open-license; A dark fantasy genre RPG released under a home-grown open license, in a world populated by dwarves, elves, trolls, ghouls, hobgoblins, warrior gaijin, reptilian Killians, and humans. Character creation is random-roll attributes with different rolls based on race. Action resolution is based on 1d20 for combat, or 2d20 roll under stat. 212 pages (HTML/PDF).
Myriad by Ashok Desai: Keywords: universal long open-license; A collection of customizable mechanics for putting together an RPG. Action resolution uses a dice pool: roll d6s equal to attribute and take the highest, add skill and compare to difficulty. There are several variations of character generation, including open and limited point-based, random and templates. 74 pages (PDF).
Opening the Dark by Malcolm Sheppard: Keywords: genre horror long open-license preview; This is the core mechanical system for a commercial modern dark fantasy/horror RPG, closely based on White Wolf's World of Darkness games, but released under an open gaming license. It uses a dice pool system, rolling d10s equal to attribute plus skill, where every result from 7 to 9 is one success, and every result of 10 is two successes. 116 pages rules (RTF).
OpenRPG: Keywords: universal online open-license; This is a project for an open-source Internet application that allows people to play RPGs in real-time over the Internet. It is currently in release 1.2.1 (July 2002).
The Osprey Roleplaying System by Christopher A. Goodwin with Ron Hale-Evans and Marty Hale-Evans: Keywords: universal rules-lite open-license; A role-playing engine released under an Open Content license. It uses a point-based, skill-based system. 28 pages PDF.
The OSRIC Project: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional long open-license; OSRIC ('Old School Reference and Index Compilation') is an effort to make a WotC OGL version of first edition AD&D mechanics without violating copyright. 133 pages PDF.
The Shadow of Yesterday by Clinton R. Nixon: Keywords: genre fantasy rules-lite open-license; A fantasy genre RPG, released under a Creative Common license, set in world nearly destroyed by a astronomical disaster which destroyed the moon. Action resolution is 2d6 plus skill plus modifiers, where level of success is from a universal success chart. Character creation is limited point-based, with attribute-like pools of points and skills. ~40 pages rules (HTML).
Simple20 by James D. Hargrove: Keywords: universal rules-lite open-license; A simple set of universal rules based on the D20 SRD. 15 pages rules (PDF) plus 6 pages appendices (PDF).
Slayer of Dragon by Grant Gigee: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy rules-lite long open-license; A martial arts RPG released under the WotC Open Gaming license. Action resolution is to 2d6 on a universal table of effective skill vs difficulty. Character creation is limited point-based. 16 pages core rules (PDF).
True20 Quickstart Rules: Keywords: universal preview open-license; A brief preview of the True20 rules from Green Ronin, with a sample adventure adapted from their D&D adventure, "Death In Freeport". There are no character creation rules, but four sample characters are included with the adventure. 6 pages quickstart rules (PDF) plus 32 pages adventure (PDF).
Violence: the RPG of egregious and repulsive bloodshed by Greg Costikyan: Keywords: genre modern rules-lite open-license; A parody of RPGs in which the PCs are madmen in the modern world who kick down apartment doors, murder the people inside, and take their valuables. This is a free release under the Creative Commons license of the 1999 published game from Hogshead Games. It has a minimalist system: random-roll attributes, roll under skill on a step-die based on difficulty. 34 pages (PDF).
Wushu-Open: Keywords: genre modern rules-lite preview open-license; An action-movie / martial arts RPG, the free version of the full Wushu RPG. This uses a simple dice pool system (roll d6's equal to trait and take highest) along with the "Principle of Narrative Truth". There are added wrinkles for combat, splitting your dice into Yin and Yang (i.e. defense and offense). Character creation is simple point-based, spreading 5-8 points among roughly 3 player-defined traits, and choosing a weakness. 10 pages rules (RTF).
Yags by Samuel Penn: Keywords: genre fantasy long world open-license; A generic fantasy system released under the GNU Free Documentation License. It includes an adaptations for an original fantasy world (Habisfern), including brief magic rules. Action resolution is skill + 1d20 vs difficulty. Character creation is open point-based. 57 pages rules (HTML/PDF).

John H. Kim <jhkim@darkshire.net>
Last modified: Tue Dec 2 16:14:56 2008