In a couple of weeks, I may be having a game night with some folks from my regular gaming group as well as a couple of friends from out of town.  While we might end up doing some board games, it's also possible that they will want me to run a one-shot gaming session.  I'm looking for ideas in case it plays out that way.

I want something fairly simple to run and to learn - an OSR game would be good, but I'd be open to something like Dungeon World or even Fiasco.  Some kind of fantasy (maybe historical fantasy) or Star Wars would be good.

Any brilliant suggestions for one-shots that I should know about?

I love one shots. Here's my thoughts:

The system and setting needs to be simple. There is no time to teach rules or setting info. I usually limit one shots to low level play - less spells, less gear, less bits to worry about.

D6 Star Wars was great for this. The system can be taught fast (roll dice, add them, tell GM) and everyone has seen Star Wars. Also, its very easy to built tight one-session adventures in SW because its mission based.

My default one-shot is Call of Cthulhu because I love horror, most of my friends love horror and I can teach CoC in 5 minutes or less.

The larger the group, the more basic system you need. And the more flexible, handwavey the GM needs to be (I'm talking 7+ players).

Also, you have to have pregens. I can crank out OD&D or Classic Traveller characters, but damn I have no idea WTF it takes so freaking long at the table. Again, no time to waste.

You can take the gloves off in a one-shot. You can go for the big nasty fight at the end that destroys the world because everything ends tonight in a one shot. Next session doesn't exist.

Sometimes its fun to do something wildly different for a one-shot. You may want to look at some of the 24 Hour RPG contest submissions. Many have an interesting premise and easy rules.

Nostalgia games can be fun for one-shots. What is something your crew played way back when but haven't played in many years? I had a group beg me to run Star Frontiers a couple years ago because none of us had played in 20+ years.

When put on the spot for a one shot, I like The Indigo Galleon for Dungeon World.

I tend to like more open ended stuff for one shots, and I'm not a fan of pre-gens, so something like this along with very low player prep is a sweet spot for me.

I make a bunch of systemless, one- and two-page adventures, many of which would fit into a one-shot.  You'll have to provide your own system.  (They're easy enough to run with Dungeon World, and any system where statting monsters up on the fly is trivial.)

Consider Tannòch Rest-of-Kings, A Litany In Scratches, In The Care of Bones, the very first one, Stellarium of the Vinteralf, or the latest one, The Full-Dark Stone.  Circle of Wolves is a favorite of mine, but probably slightly too long.

Quote from: fuseboy;858090I make a bunch of systemless, one- and two-page adventures, many of which would fit into a one-shot.  You'll have to provide your own system.  (They're easy enough to run with Dungeon World, and any system where statting monsters up on the fly is trivial.)

Consider Tannòch Rest-of-Kings, A Litany In Scratches, In The Care of Bones, the very first one, Stellarium of the Vinteralf, or the latest one, The Full-Dark Stone.  Circle of Wolves is a favorite of mine, but probably slightly too long.

Those are right my ally. Thanks for sharing!

Quote from: Ddogwood;857885In a couple of weeks, I may be having a game night with some folks from my regular gaming group as well as a couple of friends from out of town.  While we might end up doing some board games, it's also possible that they will want me to run a one-shot gaming session.  I'm looking for ideas in case it plays out that way.

I want something fairly simple to run and to learn - an OSR game would be good, but I'd be open to something like Dungeon World or even Fiasco.  Some kind of fantasy (maybe historical fantasy) or Star Wars would be good.

Any brilliant suggestions for one-shots that I should know about?

Gnomemurdered!