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Post by bloodchoke on Apr 15, 2014 4:22:18 GMT
While I would generally not presume to speak for the forum in any way, I think it's safe to say we are a thrifty bunch, for the most part. We do, after all, "turn trash into 2.5d gold." And everyone likes free stuff. So in the spirit of thrifty DMing, here's a great way to save money for paint and glue sticks--don't pay for rules!! Here are a few totally free and legal RPG's that I know of, and I'm sure there are others. Even if you're already loyal to a system, you can never have too many RPGs so check these out. And of course, if you know of others, do share. Please don't post links to illegal downloads of copyrighted material though; the DM's Craft has a very strict policy against this, and it's a shitty thing to do. First, Basic Fantasy RPG. I've not ran this myself and have only briefly looked through it, but it gets excellent reviews. It appears to be very similar to OD&D, and is dedicated to Gygax, Arneson, Moldvay, Cook and Marsch. If you've played, let us know how you liked it! www.basicfantasy.org/downloads.htmlYou can also purchase a print copy of the game on Amazon for about $5. Definitely worth it, as it would cost as much to print, and it supports an indie RPG, so that's pretty good karma to boot. www.amazon.com/Basic-Fantasy-Role-Playing-Game/dp/1482355124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397535174&sr=8-1&keywords=basic+fantasy+rpgNext, is what I believe is another OD&D-based RPG, Dark Dungeons. I found this one today, so know only what I read, but from what I understand, it is very similar to the coveted Rules Cyclopedia. Again, if anyone has played it or knows more about it, PLEASE share. www.gratisgames.webspace.virginmedia.com/darkdungeons.htmlFinally, Hackmaster (5th Edition). This isn't quite the full game, but enough to play. I really love how characters work in this game (though the free version only comes with pre-gens) and the combat system is totally unique. Again, this is kinda like a trial version, but if you like it, the printed players book and monster guide (I read the DM guide is forthcoming) are the best looking RPG books I've ever seen. www.kenzerco.com/hackmaster/
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Post by Muze on Apr 15, 2014 4:33:12 GMT
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Post by beetlewing on Apr 15, 2014 4:42:33 GMT
One advantage to (some) free games is they can be simple to learn. I sucked my fiancé into tabletop RPGs with Swords and Wizardry: www.swordsandwizardry.com/"The Swords & Wizardry project builds and supports free-form roleplaying games. That is to say, games where “light” rules create a framework instead of trying to cover every detail, every rule, and every situation. The Swords & Wizardry game “clones” the original rules of the fantasy roleplaying game that started it all back in 1974, when it was published by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. We also support two games we didn’t write: OSRIC and Goblinoid Games’ Labyrinth Lord. OSRIC is a clone of the game’s 1978 “First Edition,” and Labyrinth Lord is a clone of the game’s 1981 “Basic” Edition. All these game rules are rewritten and reorganized to be easier to learn and play." Now she plays a D&D Next barbarian who is a key player in our campaign, lol.
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Post by dragon722 on Apr 15, 2014 14:54:54 GMT
swords and wizardry has some great stuff
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Post by DMScotty on Apr 15, 2014 15:29:54 GMT
Great Thread. I am really digging Tales of Blades of Heroes which is not free but really cheap and is based on mini rules.
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Bael
Room Planner
Posts: 288
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Post by Bael on Apr 15, 2014 18:39:30 GMT
Have you tried any of the skirmish games?
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Post by Muze on Apr 15, 2014 21:41:27 GMT
Have you tried any of the skirmish games? I have mainly used the dungeon crawl rules ... but this is a great source of templates for your own home brew games. But its a lot of material to scroll through.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 22:09:18 GMT
If you guys are looking for free skirmish rules with RPG/Campaign elements I recommend Mordheim by GW. The rules are available free online, it has a low model count and is very terrain intensive. Lots of opportunities for crafting unique items and buildings.
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Post by gnomezrule on Apr 15, 2014 22:21:26 GMT
I would argue that Pathfinder (and 3.x D&D for that matter) are in fact free. Because of the Open Gaming License for the D20 system. Both 3.x D&D and Pathfinder have placed the core rules of the system online. I have almost never cracked opened the core rule book the gamemastery guide or the advanced players guide. In addition to these books there is the www.d20pfsrd.com/ for Pathfinder which has the content for almost all the books including 3rd party material. Why buy the books when I have an app on my phone which can access all three core rule books, has a comprehensive spell database ect. What costs money or why they are in business is because they have a great setting, great APs and they sell all sorts of game table aids. The Nature of the OGL made the basic rules freely available. If you make your own adventures and encounters the game is entirely free.
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Post by Brainbot on Apr 15, 2014 22:21:34 GMT
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Post by Muze on Apr 15, 2014 22:30:47 GMT
I don't play pathfinder but i have found them very accommodating with free material. paizo.com/prd/
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Post by indigo777 on Apr 16, 2014 15:23:44 GMT
I don't play pathfinder but i have found them very accommodating with free material. paizo.com/prd/ Yep Pathfinder and D&D 3.5 both use the Open Game License for their non trademarked monsters, items, locations etc... You can find all the rules as well as the majority of monster stats for free in their System Reference Documents. You can find PDFs for the System Reference Documents at the following places. Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 Edition SRD: www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35www.systemreferencedocuments.org/resources/systems/pennpaper/dnd35/soveliorsage/home.htmlPathfinder (Considered D&D 3.75 edition by most players) www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/downloads These PDFs contain all the rules, classes, races, monsters, items, tables, stats, etc... to play the game. They don't include art, campaign settings, stories, fluff, or trademarked/copyrighted/proprietary material. You won't find campaign specific material like Warforged, Elminster or certain gods in the SRDs either. You won't find mindflayers or Beholders either as those are Trademarked WOTC material. If you need a bugbear, dragon, goblin or any of the hundreds of other fantasy monster staples you can find them in the SRDs though. My group uses the Hypertext/Android App versions of the Pathfinder SRDs all the time to look up rules and items on our phones or tablets while gaming even though we have the official books as its a lot faster at the table than fumbling through the books. We keep the books around for more detailed rules, item descriptions, monster/item art and for when we need to reference a lot of stuff at once.
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Post by bloodchoke on Apr 21, 2014 2:33:47 GMT
Thanks a lot for the contributions, everyone. This turned out to be a pretty solid thread. I had no idea that Paizo made so much available for free. I'll definitely have to start reading up on it, since that seems to be the system of choice for most groups, and I need a new group. Lots of cool options here though.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 9:55:25 GMT
Just moved the thread to the resource board. And stickied it. Excellent thread!
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Post by bloodchoke on Apr 21, 2014 20:09:37 GMT
Cool, thanks AJ.
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valas
Room Planner
I'm being twisted, on the sideway down.
Posts: 459
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Post by valas on Apr 21, 2014 21:41:15 GMT
And who could forget Dungeons the Dragoning! Dungeon the Dragoning 1.6Book 2.2!Dungeons: the Dragoning 40,000 7th Edition is a crossover between a shit ton of media that the creator (Lawful Nice) liked. The main influences are Warhammer 40,000 and Dungeons & Dragons (especially Spelljammer and Planescape), though bits of Exalted, World of Darkness, Mass Effect and various other stuff also appear. Back story: For ten thousand years, the Lady of Pain has silently ruled the city of Sigil, master of the hub of the Portal network despite the petty wars of the gods. The city of Sigil is the largest metropolis in the Astral Sea, untold millions making sacrifices to sustain it and ensure the continued survival of their people in the face of a hostile multiverse. From hundreds of Crystal Spheres, teeming with the Clueless and monsters, refugees and oppressors alike come to find their place in a larger galaxy, to find treasure, fame, and fortune amongst the planes. Beset on all sides by foes of such malice it would sear a man's soul to know but a fraction of their blasphemies, only the strongest and most ruthless survive. Foes from within and without seek to overthrow the Lady's rule, throwing themselves on the Throne of Blades in vain efforts to destroy in a moment the eons of her rule. The Great Devourer comes from the Far Realm beyond the Astral Sea, driven to consume all before it and Ork savages surge from their barbaric empires to pillage and slaughter. The vengeful Eldarin cite prophetic visions as they raid and destroy even their own cousins, and an ancient evil arises from tombs sealed at the dawn of creation. In the grim darkness of the great wheel, there is only war. There was once a race called the Syrne. They were pretty cool, and invented stuff. Then they got into war with the C'tan. The Syrne created Orks, Eldarin, Gnomes, and Dragons (Who further created Dragonborn and Kobolds), and the C'tan created the Modrons. The fight ended with Syrne extinct and the Modrons sealed. Then the Dragons ruled everything until the Tiamat Heresy, a civil war between the two main bosses of Dragonkind, Tiamat and Bahumat. Bahumat won, but the Dragon Empire was shattered. The Eldarin claimed the remnants, and nothing happened for a while except when the Aboleths attacked and were repelled with the invention of Tieflings and Aasimar, essentially SPESS MEHRENS. The Eldarin then orgied up Slaanesh. Their race died, except for those who left on Craftworlds, those who settled to a more primitive state and became Elves, or those who were protected by Lolth and became Dark Eldarin. Now newer races, like humanity and the Tau are taking up the centre stage. Meanwhile the Modrons are awakening, the reincarnations of the Syrne are appearing, whatever killed the Syrne and Modrons is coming back, and shit is getting real.
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grogg
Cardboard Collector
Posts: 39
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Post by grogg on Jun 1, 2014 23:51:02 GMT
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Post by earlteagrey on Jun 2, 2014 0:59:20 GMT
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Post by runningwolf on Jun 2, 2014 1:58:43 GMT
If you go to places like rpg drive through and other similar sites (there are are 3 or 4 I can hardly tell apart) and search by price you'd be surprised at some of the treasure core books and "quick play" books you can find. It's also good for giving the authors some feedback and a thumbs up by downloading their stuff. A cheap book anymore is around $25. If someone self published and has something that looks cool for 1/2 or 1/4 that price it's a nice way to give a nod to someone who is doing it less for money and more for love of the hobby..... I like to have a book to hold, but a PDF is so nice for being able to search
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Post by chiefsgtbradley on Dec 22, 2014 12:59:39 GMT
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