Is the Rules Cyclopedia the logical choice, or could you be happy with another option?
Combined with the stuff I already possess a general understanding of, I could take the 5E PHB and work from there. It has a little bit of MM content, and the Great Wheel of the planes of existence in the back of the book. I could build up from those stats for higher level foes. I'd ignore Feats, and probably roll an E6 type variant.
Keeping the book dry, and preventing mildew would be my greatest concern; aside from food, water, shelter, and being rescued.....
I might even opt to use the Dungeon World 2d6 Resolution Mechanic, for the sake of simplicity?
I also have a first print run copy of the 3.0 PHB, which has a little MM content in the back of the book too. I could just as easily work with that instead.
I think it would have to be the RC for the setting info, even though I prefer Swords & Wizardry for the unified save and ascending AC.
Hmm... how about a printout of the 5e SRD? :D
Quote from: S'mon;1071969I think it would have to be the RC for the setting info, even though I prefer Swords & Wizardry for the unified save and ascending AC.
Hmm... how about a printout of the 5e SRD? :D
S&W?
I started to say White Box FMAG myself. I do like it, and it has a good monster section.
Either Classic Traveller's The Traveller Book or Mongoose Traveller 1e's Core Rulebook.
I would take the Savage Worlds core book. As much as I like all the other books, I could just houserule that content with enough time and effort.
If this is actually a question about "if you could only have one RPG book in existence", then yeah the Rules Cyclopedia.
One book? AS&SH packs solid AD&Dish rules along with spells, magic items and a full gazetteer for Hyperborea, into one book, so that's what I'd use. Pretty easy choice for me considering that's what I'm running now anyway, heheh.
Amber.
Quote from: Razor 007;1071957Is the Rules Cyclopedia the logical choice, or could you be happy with another option?
Combined with the stuff I already possess a general understanding of, I could take the 5E PHB and work from there. It has a little bit of MM content, and the Great Wheel of the planes of existence in the back of the book. I could build up from those stats for higher level foes. I'd ignore Feats, and probably roll an E6 type variant.
Keeping the book dry, and preventing mildew would be my greatest concern; aside from food, water, shelter, and being rescued.....
I might even opt to use the Dungeon World 2d6 Resolution Mechanic, for the sake of simplicity?
I also have a first print run copy of the 3.0 PHB, which has a little MM content in the back of the book too. I could just as easily work with that instead.
No fair, considering D&D usually splits their game into 3 books...
If I limited it to D&D, I'd go with the Rules Cyclopeia then, only because it would give me the most bang for my book.
If it wasn't for the spells being in the PHB, I'd say the 1E DMG.
So maybe OSRIC?
Its a toss up between Call of Cthulhu (preferably the Games Workshop 3rd ed which I feel is the best looking of the bunch) and 5th Ed HERO.
CoC can easily be used to run a non-horror game, and could also be used for fantasy or sci-fi. It would be very good for weird tales style Sword & Sorcery which often had horror elements to them. It is less complex than some of its siblings so would be easier to teach to fellow castaways. Because it is a simple system it would be easy to make up any additional material needed. Also most editions after second were hardbacks so they are pretty durable books.
With HERO I actually prefer 4th ed, but 5th ed is a Hardback (a notably durable one at that) and includes more in the core rule book so for this purpose is the superior product. HERO can be used for just about anything, so stuck on a deserted island covers the most bases. The downside is it is more complex, so it would be somewhat dependent on who my fellow castaways were and their gaming preferences. A common complaint about HERO is the time the GM needs to prepare. Stuck on a deserted island that doesn't really sound like a problem to me.
Space: 1889. Need to have a civilized game on an uncivilized island.
Whichever supplement has the most details about shipbuilding.
Probably BRP would be the best choice for that as it can be used to run different genres and settings.
Mini Six. Or whichever GURPS book was most applicable to my situation.
A printed copy of a PDF containing all the RQ/D100 material ever published.
Rules Cyclopedia would have been my choice for a long time. Now, it's just a printed copy of my own system. That's nowhere near complete. But sounds like I'll have a lot of time on my hands, and time is the biggest impediment to getting it done.
Quote from: Chainsaw;1072005One book? AS&SH packs solid AD&Dish rules along with spells, magic items and a full gazetteer for Hyperborea, into one book, so that's what I'd use. Pretty easy choice for me considering that's what I'm running now anyway, heheh.
This, or the 1E DMG.
I'm thinking 1st Ed DMG, The Arcanum or the big Traveller book ...
Quote from: Tanin Wulf;1072008Amber.
I was going to say the Rules Cyclopedia, but this one is a great answer as well. Now I'm not sure which one to take.
Spawn of Fashan or FATAL, of course!
Non-joke option, what about HERO or GURPS basic set 3rd edition? You can make whatever game you want with HERO and GURPS is great for gritty fantasy and pulp stuff with just the main book. Most likely I'd probably just end up taking Advanced Labyrinth Lord because it's pretty much how I play AD&D now.
Quote from: finarvyn;1072083I was going to say the Rules Cyclopedia, but this one is a great answer as well. Now I'm not sure which one to take.
Amber would turn the desert island into "Lord of the Flies".
//Panjumanju
Probably either Savage Worlds Adventure Edition or Hero System Fifth Edition, Revised.
Ignoring the idea of collating a PDF to create a single book, and relying on stuff actually published...
Good choices for me would be:
Burning Wheel Gold (really this is all you need to run that game)
The Traveller Book (as mentioned before - I would have to print the PDF...)
Rules Cyclopedia (I've never owned this before, but it is a complete D&D in one book)
RuneQuest 1st ed (oh, well, I'll have to invent my own cults - ok, maybe 2nd ed and I'll try and remember the bits I prefer from 1e, then I do have better sample cult descriptions)
Empire of the Petal Throne (the Different Worlds print at least has a map of Jakalla)
Frank
Quote from: Panjumanju;1072131Amber would turn the desert island into "Lord of the Flies".
//Panjumanju
More likely it would turn the island into Miranda, the Pax planet from Firefly.
What would the point be? You would have nobody to play with.
I guess in that situation I could do with GURPS and HERO. It's complex enough that it might be fun to build characters I might use in a game...after I'm rescued.
Probably either GURPS 3rd (since 4th Basic Set is two books) or Hero 5th. I briefly thought of Heroquest 2e for its flexibility but quickly discarded that thought, as the game is simple enough to recall from memory anyway.
0D&D 1974 White Bookset.
Usually, I would pick 0E/S&W Whitebox.
But on an odd day, I might even go for something like Shadow of the Demon Lord.
Quote from: ArrozConLeche;1072242What would the point be? You would have nobody to play with.
I guess in that situation I could do with GURPS and HERO. It's complex enough that it might be fun to build characters I might use in a game...after I'm rescued.
The other voices in my head (which I assume will follow after a few weeks of loneliness) will work out perfectly for most games.
Savage Worlds Adventure Edition.
It would have to be a generic rpg to cover many genres.
The Big Gold Book for BRP would be it for me. Covers pretty much everything.
What's the point of a book, if I don't have anyone to run games with?
Quote from: Christopher Brady;1072978What's the point of a book, if I don't have anyone to run games with?
Fight off intense boredom.
Either 1e DMG or AS&SH would be fine.
In all seriousness, Rifts. But I'm crazy like that.
Quote from: Ninneveh;1073047In all seriousness, Rifts. But I'm crazy like that.
I loved reading my Rifts book growing up, but we never ended up playing. Made a few characters though. Always seemed like it had so much potential!
Quote from: Christopher Brady;1072978What's the point of a book, if I don't have anyone to run games with?
My imagination has no limits.
Quote from: tenbones;1073384My imagination has no limits.
In my case, I just need a iPad with an unlimited power source and a word processor program, I can write stories and stuff till the end of time. The only reason I'd want a game book is having people to play with.
Quote from: tenbones;1073384My imagination has no limits.
Hold many tea parties in your youth, did you? :D
Quote from: BronzeDragon;1073417Hold many tea parties in your youth, did you? :D
"A very merry unbirthday to you, yes you!"
If it was just one book then it would be the Pathfinder Core Rulebook.
The size of that thing is probably why I ended up on the Desert Island in the first place.
Shadowrun, 2nd edition
Probably the OSRIC hardback.
Although Chaosium's BRP Gold Book and the 2e AS&SH hardcover are both strong contenders.
Quote from: 3rik;1072030Probably BRP would be the best choice for that as it can be used to run different genres and settings.
Fantastic Heroes & Witchery also seems like a good option.
No RPG whatsoever. I want blank books instead. I'll write my own RPGs from memory. No way I could get by playing only one RPG and I've yet to find a generic point buy system that makes me happy (Savage Worlds came the closest).
The first thing that came to mind was actually my old favorite Artesia. I like the system, and the book is just choking full of good info to build a gritty (and sexy perhaps) fantasy campaign.
Are there other people on this desert island?
I'd probably go with the single-volume FFE reprint of Classic Traveller Books 0-8. If no one else is on the island I can still enjoy all the Traveller mini-games, plus it's fairly easy to run/play solitaire CT games.
Quote from: RPGPundit;1078840Are there other people on this desert island?
I suppose we could consider both possible scenarios....
What 1 RPG Book, if you're stranded by yourself? You're the DM of your own campaigns.
VS
What 1 RPG Book, if you're stranded with the Swedish Bikini Team?
Quote from: Razor 007;1078873I suppose we could consider both possible scenarios....
What 1 RPG Book, if you're stranded by yourself? You're the DM of your own campaigns.
VS
What 1 RPG Book, if you're stranded with the Swedish Bikini Team?
You know, the more I think about it, the less I think I want a rule book, the more I think I want gameable content. So I'm going to go for my current favourite, the Primeval Thule Campaign Setting, for both answers. I can always homebrew up a simple version of D&D, some kind of 5e/OSR D&D mashup probably with what I can remember of the Fighter Wizard & Rogue classes. If I'm alone, well it's fun to read. If I'm with the Swedish Bikini Team and they're gagging to play some D&D, I have a bunch of fun gameable content.
Quote from: S'mon;1079150You know, the more I think about it, the less I think I want a rule book, the more I think I want gameable content. So I'm going to go for my current favourite, the Primeval Thule Campaign Setting, for both answers. I can always homebrew up a simple version of D&D, some kind of 5e/OSR D&D mashup probably with what I can remember of the Fighter Wizard & Rogue classes. If I'm alone, well it's fun to read. If I'm with the Swedish Bikini Team and they're gagging to play some D&D, I have a bunch of fun gameable content.
Greetings!
Can you *imagine* sitting there, S'mon, game book at hand, with 12 gorgeous, 6'foot blonde women gathered around you, all eager to play D&D? :)
Such a vision, heh my friend? LOLOLOLOLOL!
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
Quote from: SHARK;1079153Greetings!
Can you *imagine* sitting there, S'mon, game book at hand, with 12 gorgeous, 6'foot blonde women gathered around you, all eager to play D&D? :)
Such a vision, heh my friend? LOLOLOLOLOL!
6' is awfully tall (I'm just about 5'9")! :D
I'm used to good looking players, but I remember once a player turned up who was so incredibly gorgeous (an American brunette), that my brain pretty much froze up and it was really hard to GM! Sadly(?) she could only play the one session. Hopefully a few days of familiarity with the Swedish Bikini Team on the desert island, getting our shelter & supplies in order, would deal with the brain-freeze issue when it came time to play. :)
Just one book? Would probably be Chaosium Basic Role-Playing, but D&D Rules Cyclopedia makes a strong second offering.
Quote from: SHARK;1079153Greetings!
Can you *imagine* sitting there, S'mon, game book at hand, with 12 gorgeous, 6'foot blonde women gathered around you, all eager to play D&D? :)
Such a vision, heh my friend? LOLOLOLOLOL!
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK
Quote from: S'mon;10791636' is awfully tall (I'm just about 5'9")! :D
I'm used to good looking players, but I remember once a player turned up who was so incredibly gorgeous (an American brunette), that my brain pretty much froze up and it was really hard to GM! Sadly(?) she could only play the one session. Hopefully a few days of familiarity with the Swedish Bikini Team on the desert island, getting our shelter & supplies in order, would deal with the brain-freeze issue when it came time to play. :)
This island sounds fucking awesome. I can pick a game and have my ticket ready by tomorrow.
Since I don't own the Rules Cyclopedia, the most all encompassing books I already have in my collection to consider; would be White Box FMAG, Lion & Dragon, and the Pathfinder Core Rulebook. While the PF Core Rulebook is massive, it doesn't include a Bestiary. Hmmmmmm.......
I don't wanna just repeat the Rules Cyclopedia, so I'm gonna go with Fudge, 10th Anniversary edition. That way I can make whatever kind of game(s) that I want. Seashell resolution, FTW!
I really like White Box FMAG. It so well laid out and explained that it makes OD&D look like a drunken pirate's treasure map. That said, if I was trapped on an island with players it would be nice to have more material to work with like the RC. Only real reason I recommend S&W Continual Light so much is that it's an easily readable version of S&W Light which I have trouble reading from the print outs.