Web Pages |
FTP |
Gopher
Freeware and Shareware RPG Web Pages
- 2070 (Psudo-Cyberpunk)
A science fiction/fantasy roleplaying game set on a future Earth quite a few years after several apocalyptic events. Not quite complete.
- Alternacy
This universal roleplaying system uses a unique "talent" concept to replace the traditional attributes, and has provisions for skill development and decay built into the system.
- Alternate Realities
A comprehensive universal system which uses "object based" systems to model both our Prime reality and alternate realities of individual design. Complex but interesting.
- AmberDIY [Site Down]
- Anarchy
- Angry Beholder, The [Site Down]
- Anime Inspired
"anime inspired post-apocalyptic RPG rules seem combat based, but designed to give scope to GMs for adventures, puzzles and other intellectual stuff!"
- Archeus (formerly "Mirage")
A fantasy roleplaying game in the classic vein. Fairly comprehensive, but readers beware, there be math here. Uses a complex yet innovative skill matrix for task resolution.
- Astral Web [Site Down]
- "B"
"a game for vet role-players who can't play seriously anymore- like Hol, but not as gruff"
- Bamf (Freeform)
(looking for playtesters) A cooperative science fiction setting for gamemasters.
- Battlestorm
Free rules for Engines of War for Ral Partha's Battlestorm, actually.
- Bibliotech: The Future Past
(bible-based RPG) "BiblioTech: the Future Past -- A Bible based SciFi RPG." This biblically-based roleplaying system and setting is currently under construction, and the "Thinktank" refers to the author's request for design and playtest assistance.
- B-Movie
- Bostonia
A fantasy setting and roleplaying system set in a world with a shattered ancient technological past, in the Shannara vein.
- BPW [Site Down]
- ChaosPuppy
Toaster (Generic), and Spark (superhero)
- Champion's of The Apocalupse
- Chase Try it and see!
- Clandestyne
- Concrete Jungle
- CORE rules
(extremely simple RPG mechanics) The Character Oriented Roleplaying Engine (CORE) contains a simple generic rules set for roleplaying games. There's no material included regarding game settings, character experience, and so forth, but then again, that isn't the point.
- Coron's Sources of Free RPGs
- COSMOS [Site Down]
- Crestfallen
A bronze age fantasy game with heavy celtic overtones. Set on a world which is facing destruction from an ancient God who is slowly breaking the bonds of her icy prison.
- Cybernetic Overkill
An action-oriented roleplaying game of cyborg combat. The basic rules are downloadable for free. The rest of the game is shareware.
- Dagenthir English
- Dagenthir German
- Dangerous Missions
(EXE guide, not text) No link?
- Dark Ages 2 (Fantasy)
- Darker Days
Cyberpunk
- Dark Fantasy
No link?
- deadEarth
Roleplaying in a post-atomic apocalyptic Earth, complete with weapons, random mutations, and a bleak setting. Presented in an impressive graphic format. Still under construction, and at the moment appears heavily combat-oriented.
- Delta
- DemonBane [Site Down]
- Destiniem
- Dragonlands [Site Down]
- Dragon-net (Fantasy)
"DragonNet is an ongoing Internet volunteer project to develop a licensed freeware role-playing game system." That just about says it all -- there appears to be a great deal of information already posted.
- Dragons!: The Scorching TM [Site Down]
- DragonSpawn
- Drones
Another surprising roleplaying concept -- roleplaying members of a young men's club in the 1920's. Not terribly complete, but this appears to be more of a live-action game than a traditional roleplaying game.
- Echoes
(or "game to be named later") A roleplaying game of interdimensional travel. Currently incomplete.
- EPIC
A fantasy roleplaying game in the classic vein, with tables, charts, and an interesting IQ test for players/characters. Shareware.
- Epix (French) (Universal)
- Etherea [Site Down]
- Evolution
This game is not a traditional roleplaying game. Instead, multiple players create an evolving world and resulting nations and cultures through rule-moderated arguments. Interesting and different.
- Fantasized Adventures (RPG with miniatures)
An ambitious fantasy roleplaying game designed to be played with miniatures, with 12 races and 62 different occupations. Currently under construction.
- Final Fantasy RPG (Returner Final Fantasy team)
A pen and paper roleplaying game based upon the popular computer games. Currently under construction.
- Foresight
An online work in progress (and 1995 version) A lot of excellent design work and worldbuilding marred by an obscure style and difficult mechanics. The game has an "incomplete" feel. [JMS]
- Forgotten Futures
"The Scientific Romance Role Playing Game, a tabletop RPG based on Victorian and Edwardian science fiction and fantasy." Roleplay in the science fantasy universe of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells! Nifty.
- Freebooter
Pirate larp rules! A live-action roleplaying game of pirates and buccaneers. Presented with wonderful graphics and maps, too! You may have to hunt a bit for the actual rules, but the journey is entertaining.
- Freedom of the Stars (Sci-fi)
- FreeWeb Oem
A shorter, shareware version of Oem Prime, the full fantasy RPG, which can be ordered through this link. The free version is being updated and is currently unavailable.
- FUDGE (Universal)
The classic "free" roleplaying game. FUDGE is a "universal" game system that uses adjectives rather than numbers in a relatively simple "rules-light" approach, has relatively wide support among gamers, and is also useful as a tool for translating adventures and characters between systems. Recommended.
- Domibian FUDGE
- Force 9
Fudge Based sci-fi combat rpg
- Steffan O'Sullivan's FUDGE
Fudge link list
- Fudgified Interactive History (Historical Fantasy)
- FUZION (R.Tal and Hero's co-op cool system)
R. Talisorian and HERO games have, in an interesting bit of web citizenship, posted their melding of their time-tested respective systems into one conglomeration, or "Fuzion."' Compatable with both Champions, Cyberpunk, and Mekton Z. Universal and customizable. Worth a look.
- Gaia (future/sf)
A class-based fantasy roleplaying system set in a future where a mass exodus from Earth has resulted in the colonization of Gaia, a "second" earth. An innovative setting, attractively presented.
- GAME
"The idea of GAME is to provide an ultra-compact, flexible system that can be fit onto a single 8.5" x 11" piece of paper, front and back." That just about says it all. Short and sweet -- unimaginative or rulebound gamemasters should probably look elsewhere.
- GEM (Game Engine Manual, plus sourcebooks)
The Game Engine Manual (GEM) is another ambitious effort to design a comprehensive rules system usable in multiple settings. Fantasy-oriented, but new science fiction and modern-day settings are in the works. Attractively presented, with a helpful newcomer's page to get you started.
- Genre
A quick, relatively freeform roleplaying system using six-sided dice. Although the game mentions that gamemasters can run real-world settings with these rules, the rules appear more amenable to dramatic action-movie-hero- or comic superhero-style roleplaying.
- Gensys
- Gestalt
- Ghost Light
"A dark fantasy game where characters play ghosts who (in absence of body or mind) use their emotions to tackle the world..."
- GiRGAB
"dicelight" RPS. A relatively free-form "rules-light" roleplaying system using six and twenty-sided dice. Available in both English and Italian.
- GRAPE: Generic Roleplaying All Purpose Engine
Universal
- Great Adventure Game, The
A fantasy roleplaying game of apparent complexity and depth that the authors have labored over for years. This link provides some information about the game and provides an email link so that those wishing to learn more can contact the authors.
- Guide to Adventure, The (Fantasy)
Not one, but two separate roleplaying games -- one a fantasy game, the other an alien invasion game. Both games are lengthy and complete, and reflect a great amount of effort by the author. Be advised that there are many files to download.
- GURPS Lite (Universal)
- Hack 'n Zap (Psudo-Cyberpunk, Humor)
Based on 2070
- HardSuit: CWG (Post Apocalyptic)
- Heavy Ordnance (schoolhouse rocks!)
Humorous, tongue-in-cheek game wherein players are small, heavily armed children attempting to seek out and destroy evil mutated school personnel. Schoolhouse Rocks! (Literally.) Nifty.
- Heroic Do-Gooders & Dastardly Deed-doers (Superhero)
- Heroic Golden Turbulence
"A martial arts fantasy free game"?
- Highlander: The Gathering [Site Down]
- ICON 4 [Site Down]
- Imagination's Toybox
Links to lots of free RPGs.
- Iridium System
Universal
- Iridium Fantasy
Fantasy version of Iridium
- Iron Empire (Alternate History)
1880's steampunk
- JDR
- Kaboom!
Really cool wargame
- Kingdoms of War
- Legione
A superheroes RPG in Italian
- Lego Wars (Wargame)
It included easy to read rules and charts and downloadable character sheets.
- Lint!
- Lords of Knowledge
A roleplaying game written in Italian
- Luck!
- Lucky 13 (Universal)
A simple, easy to learn roleplaying system that uses two six-sided dice, coupled with a compelling setting (called, appropriately, Universe 13). Easy to translate stuff from other systems. Worth a look.
- Mage: The Ascendion LARP
Free, downloadable live-action roleplaying rules for the White Wolf game of the same name.
- Magic Theater: Cathay Arts of Role Playing - Mirror (Oriental Role Playing)
- Mistrunner
Currently under construction, this roleplaying game has an interesting multi-genre setting in which characters traverse the mists separating various distinct (and presumably different) realms.
- Mithlund (Fantasy)
- Mob (Gangsters)
- Mutant Bikers of the Atomic Wastelands (using FUDGE)
A post-atomic holocaust setting for use with the FUDGE system (a free system found above). Relatively light-hearted and fun.
- NC
A free set of fantasy roleplaying rules, primarily intended to correct perceived weaknesses in Dungeons and Dragons-style roleplaying systems.
- Nemesis
- Neisenwand (not in English)
No link?
- Neon Twilight (Cyberpunk)
- Neverwhere
Alternate Modern Day London - Based on a BBC television show
- No points Heroes
A free "diceless" roleplaying system which contains a pretty good description of diceless gaming concepts along the way. This link points to a page with a number of links, so you may have to search a bit to find the specific link to the rules, but it's there.
- Odds, The
- Origins (Science Fiction)
A science fiction RPG Based on Frank Herbert's Dune.
- Outlaws of the Water Margin (Chinese RPG)
A fantasy roleplaying system set in the legends and myths of Chinese fantasy. Interesting.
- Paradigm Shift
"Paradigm Shift is a set of multi-genre/meta-genre role playing rules usable for almost every game situation you can imagine." This link points to the downloadable shareware core rules.
- Path Less Taken, The (Fantasy, Freeform)
- Phantasm: The Weaving (Modern Fantasy)
"The Weaving is a website dedicated to Phantasm, Wildhaven Creative's role-playing game of magic in the modern world. Here, you can download a copy of the game rules and find news about developments in the game." The site is impressive, and the first version rules are free, although there is a second version in the works destined for print and sale. They're apparently seeking playtesters as well.
- PlainLabel
- Pale Sun, Blood Moon and the Void
- Post Mortem Studios (Steampunk)
This site actually contains two free roleplaying games. The first, Iron Empire, is set in a alternate nineteenth century Earth, complete with flying machines and steamtech. The second, Neverwhere, is set in the fantasy London sub-world depicted by author Neil Gaiman in the book of the same name.
- Power, The [Site Down]
- Powerday [Site Down]
- Powergame (Superheroes)
A free superhero roleplaying game (complete with testimonials!), currently in its fifth edition. Quick and simple, but comprehensive. If you're into superheroes (or even high-powered, deus ex machina roleplaying generally), it's probably worth the download.
- Prestidigitator: The Unpronounceable
A light-hearted spoof of the Storyteller roleplaying system used in White Wolf products. Funny.
- Pummel [Site Down]
- Puppetland
A startling roleplaying setting in which the characters are living marionettes in an ongoing conflict -- sort of a dark "Toy Story," although that description doesn't do the setting justice. Unique, chilling, and memorable. Recommended.
- Quad-S
Spaceship combat boardgame
- Quasar
Currently having a 1998 Quasar Scenario Contest, with $100 prize.
- QED (Short for Quick Easy Dirty)
Quick Easy Dirty, or QED, is a fast, quick system that is rules-light and gamemaster-dependent, meaning the gamemaster wields a lot of general power (and has a lot to do) in order to make the system work smoothly.
- Quicksilver
A generally standard fantasy roleplaying setting, with the notable inclusion of "Quicksilver, " a malleable metal that can be shaped, enchanted, and controlled (to a point) by a certain class of characters. An interesting setting and system co-authored by Jeff Dee of Villains & Vigilantes fame.
- RAJR
A fantasy roleplaying game written in French.
- RATIOS [Site Down]
- René le Jeu de Rôle Romantique (French)
- Returners, The [Site Down]
- RIP
Actually a series of roleplaying games that are primarily fantasy-oriented, but which can be converted to different genres. The newest version is currently under construction.
- Risus: The Anything RPG
"Risus is a complete Role Playing Game (RPG) designed to provide an "RPG Lite" for those nights when the brain is too tired for exacting detail. Risus is especially valuable to GMs assembling a quick convention game, or any late-night beer-and-pretzels outing." This is a quick and dirty system, with extremely quick character creation, probably best suited for lighthearted or comedy-oriented play.
- RPG Creator [Site Down]
- RPG Professionals (Multiple free RPGs)
- SAGA
Simple and Generic Adventures (SAGA) is a quick roleplaying game, intended for experienced gamers, which uses dice allocation to cover attributes and skills. Quick, but generic, as the name indicates.
- Schyzophrenia RPG-system [Site Down]
- Sengoku Plug-in Rules for Fuzion
These are downloadable playtest rules for roleplaying samurai adventure and warfare in feudal Japan, using the (also downloadable) Fuzion rules system listed and described above. The authors plan to publish the final rules set, and ask downloaders of the free rules set to email their comments on the system.
- Sept of Gaia's Fangs
- Shadow Bindings
Streamlined mechanics, initial free-to-use release.
- Sherpa (portable RPG)
This is a downloadable version of a published fantasy roleplaying game that, the author asserts, can be played orally while hiking (interesting). Uses a stopwatch as a randomizer for the game.
- Silverbane [Site Down]
- Sorcerer (link problem?) (shareware)
Roleplay ordinary folks who just happen to be able to haphazardly control demonic forces of darkness in a near-reality game setting. Shareware.
- Spacefarer
Wargame
- SORD (Universal game system)
The System of Roleplaying Development, or SORD, is a comprehensive universal system in the classic hardcore vein. Not for the faint of heart, but thorough.
- SORD Lite (Lite version of above)
- SPARK: Super Powered Archetypal Roleplaying ... Kinda
Superhero
- StarGuild (science fiction, with campaign setting, char gen, and other fun bits)
A science-fiction roleplaying system and setting, attractively presented. The rules appear to be fairly complete. Also, if you're a science-fiction oriented gamemaster suffering through a dry creative spell, there are some neat ideas presented.
- Star Saga (Traveller-esque web SF RPG)
An attempt to improve upon several mentioned published science fiction roleplaying games, with the intended result being a more realistic roleplaying experience.
- Star Wars Live Action
The name says it all. Live-action roleplaying rules for recreating the epic struggle between the heroic Rebellion and the evil Galactic Empire.
- Stellae Cognita
A painstakingly developed, comprehensive science fiction/fantasy setting with its own rules set. The information itself is presented in an interesting, faction-oriented manner -- pick a faction, and learn more about it.
- SURGE (Merrymeeting Games)
The SURGE core rules are available for free download, in a shareware system. The full system is advertised to be complete and universally applicable to various common roleplaying settings, such as superheros, science fiction, and so forth. The core rules require Adobe Acrobat (also available for free) to read.
- Syndicate
"Syndicate is a fast paced, action orientated cinematic simple role playing system. Life in near future is cheap and short, and players must always be careful and on the edge." Cinematic is right -- the rules are quick and fast, and the setting, dark cyberpunk, is as familiar as tomorrow's leather trenchcoat, choomba.
- System DL
Diceless Roleplaying
- Tchalrria (Fantasy)
A complete fantasy roleplaying setting with its own rules set.
- Teletubbies [Site Down]
- Terras (Medieval fantasy)
- Thol-Far, The
- Thrash
A roleplaying game that thoughtfully ports Mortal Kombat- and Street Fighter-style computer games into a quick, playable pen & paper format. Players play individual fighters with their own fighting styles and special combat moves. Well-designed and, believe it or not, quite fun. Recommended.
- Through the Looking Glass (Universal)
- Tiger Hunt
- Tigres Volants
- Time-Lords
Dr-Who, need I say more?
- Time-Lords, and other Dr.Who Resources
Dr-Who resources
- ToAd [Site Down]
- Toaster (Universal)
Freeware rpg
- Transcendence (dark fantasy)
A massive (120+ pages) dark fantasy role playing game, complete with a unique medieval setting and cosmology. In an interesting twist, the characters are "Awakened" avatars, battling in both spiritual and physical realms, so that when the character's body dies, the character can possess another body and keep going. Don't be put off by the occasional grammatical error -- the author speaks English as a second language. Well-crafted and thought-provoking. Recommended.
- Trash Wars (Wargame)
- Tunnel Trouble
- Twilight
- Two Fisted Tales (pulp-based RPG)
A well-designed and thoughtful game seeking to model and rekindle the exciting heroics of the likes of Doc Savage, Indiana Jones, Sam Spade, and the Shadow. For those who like their adventure brash, hardboiled, sexy, and full of pulpy goodness, come to where the flavor is! Recommended.
- Universal Gaming Engine General Rules [Site Down]
- Vermin World
- Virtual Virtual Reality (Psudo-Cyberpunk)
Believe it or not, a pen and paper roleplaying system designed to allow players to simulate computerized virtual reality. Designed for use both as a stand-alone roleplaying game and as a plug-in rules set for other roleplaying games. Made to be able to work with Palladium RPGs
- Visions
- VoidScape
A cooperative project to create a freeware science fiction roleplaying system focused on a highly factionalized socio-political setting. There's already quite a bit of material posted on the site. Currently on hold.
- Vox Draconis (fantasy/prehistory, with "Timescape" time travel supplement)
This fantasy roleplaying system is set in a prehistoric multidimensional fantasy universe, complete with elves, magic, dragons, and dinosaurs. The author recently posted a new rules set in Word 7 format.
- Voyagers in Eternity
A universal RPG with build-in web computer assistance! An ambitious, computer-assisted universal roleplaying system set in an apparently multidimensional setting. Unfortunately, the game is still under heavy construction, and major parts of the rules system and setting remain incomplete.
- Vraan Zanuth
An apparently combat-oriented role-playing system, with rules for character creation and combat.
- Warlock: Black Spiral [Site Down]
- Weaving
- Window, The (Universal, Freeform)
A "rules-light" system for those among us who simply can't abide charts and tables. Beautifully presented and quite playable. It's a dice game that LARPers can play, and a "rules-light" system that even the hardcore gamer can enjoy. Recommended.
- Wing Commander RPG
A well done RPG in the Wing Commander vein.
- Wing Commander RPG
A freeware adaptation of the popular computer starfighter combat game to (under license) the Palladium roleplaying system. According to the author, you must own a copy of Palladium's game system (e.g., Rifts) to understand and play this adaptation, but the download is free.
- Wings of the Phoenix [Site Down]
In stage one.
- World of Bostonia
Post Apocalyptic Fantasy (Shannara, Dark Tower)
- World of Zam!
A quirky fantasy roleplaying setting presented in an alphabetically-indexed hyperlinked format. Home of the Ovaltine Druids!
- YOU:
The RPG of Tomorrow
Freeware and Shareware RPG FTP Sites
Freeware and Shareware RPG Gopher
Go up
FASA
Games Workshop
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
All links on this page have been mirrored at RPGnet
Last Updated Thursday, 27-Oct-2005 00:11:03 MDT
If you find links that are down, or new links, send me some e-mail. My address is:
Legolas (Devon Jones): links@evilsoft.org
For all other purposes e-mail me at: rpg@evilsoft.org