The ICE RPG (Index Card Easy Role-Playing Game) is a barebones skeleton of a game for teaching new gamers the basics of roleplaying without them having to deal with a whole lot of numbers, stats, etc. The whole thing fits on a 3″ x 5″ index card. It should take about 30 seconds to learn or teach to someone else.
Do we really need another generic fantasy role-playing game? What is so special about this game?
Nothing really, beyond the fact that it combines several ideas I’ve pulled from other games I’ve enjoyed, hopefully in a way that both makes sense and is fun. This game is fairly light on rules, not too difficult to learn, but still capable of providing a complete and fun gaming experience.
Note the emphasis is on light. If you like spending hours optimizing every last detail of your character, picking exactly the right abilities and equipment to make them as capable as possible, planning how they are going to advance over the next twenty levels, if you like specific rules and modifiers that cover every possible condition and situation that could arise in play in minute detail, this is not the game for you. Not that there is anything wrong with games like that, but this isn’t one of them. In this game, you can create a character in about 30 seconds, requiring very few decisions in the process, and almost every situation or task in the game is resolved in exactly the same way, with a single die roll.
Who is this game meant for? I’ve tried to make it friendly to new gamers, not just by virtue of simple rules, but by explaining things in a manner that is hopefully easy to understand (yes, I did include the dreaded “What is Role-playing” section). I think people looking for a quick pick-up game might also like it, and I have tried to make it robust enough to support campaigns of at least moderate length.
In short, this is another rules-light generic fantasy RPG floating in a sea of similar products. I hope someone out there enjoys it and finds some use for it, but even if they don’t, I have enjoyed writing it.
Oh, and what exactly is the titular Dragon Sword? I know what it is in my game, but there is no “official” definition, it’s just a name I thought sounded neat and evocative. Make it whatever you want it to be, or nothing at all if you prefer.
Dislcaimer: Not playtested at all.
ADVENTURER is my first entry here. These rules originally were designed for a Fighting Fantasy style game book that it turned out I was too lazy to write. The idea here is for a 1-page RPG that covered all the bases of a typical fantasy RPG. It is meant as a tool for an experienced GM to introduce newcomers to the hobby with all the common trappings of fantasy they may be familiar with, or as a fun, light romp for experienced players looking to kill some time with a quick pick-up game.
What’s it about? Generic, vanilla fantasy, pure and simple. Magical, mysterious, forest-dwelling Elves, stout and sturdy Dwarves in their underground halls, cunning and crafty Goblins from fetid swamps and bogs, and of course brave, determined Men defending their kingdoms. Fighter, rogues, and wizards wander the land in search of adventure.
It contains a fairly complete semi-freeform magic system, rules for combat (naturally), unconsciousness, death, and pretty much every kind of damage I could think of. The character sheet is included on the single page that contains all the rules. The only big things I left off are an equipment list (but there are enough of those around that you shouldn?t have any trouble in that area) and a bestiary (as it would take up too much of my one page, and any creature can be made on the fly with the same basic stats as a Player Character).
Well, here is my humble submission. Enjoy (or not) as you see fit. I?d love to hear any feedback or answer any questions, either on the message board here or by email at josephpruitt@hotmail.com.
Joe Pruitt
P.S. Thanks to Tad for helping with the format, and Jeff for the weapon rating idea I stole from his RPG Gothic Worlds.
