RPG Encyclopedia: P-Q
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På eventyr i Vildmarken
1st ed by Klaus Johansen, Paul Hartvigson (1986) Forlaget Stavnsager ApS
A Danish-language RPG of wilderness adventures. The title translates as "Adventuring in the Wilderness". It assumes a generic realistic setting (Earth or near-Earth fantasy). The basic game includes a set of generic historical characters and a wilderness region complete with hex-maps. It uses a simple system aimed at beginners.
Paladin
1st ed by Clinton R. Nixon (2003) Anvilwerks
A fantasy RPG in which the PCs are holy warriors, fighting not only against evil, but against the temptation to turn to hatred, lust, fear, and anger and capture the power that evil can bring. It is designed to be easily adapted to a variety of settings, ranging from Shaolin monks to Jedi knights. Characters creation is point-based, dividing 9 points among Flesh attributes, 6 among Light attributes, and 3 among Dark attributes. In addition, there are two freeform binary skills. It uses a simple narrative dice pool system. Roll a number of d6s equal to attribute plus number of applicable skills plus any animus points spent. Every 5 rolled is one success; every 6 rolled is two successes.
Palimpseste
1st ed (unknown) Paule et Mick Corp.
A French-language medieval fantasy RPG.
Palladium Fantasy Role Playing Game
1st ed by Kevin Siembieda, Erick Wujcik (1983) Palladium Books
2nd ed (1990)
3rd ed (1998)
A traditional fantasy-genre game. It uses the "Palladium" system (actually first introduced in The Mechanoid Invasion). The system uses random-roll attributes and class-based character creation, with advancement based on levels. Action resolution is by d20 (combat and saving throws) or d100 (non-combat skills), similar to AD&D. Differences are variety of percentile skills (advanced based on level) and combat with separate attack roll and parry roll.
Pandemonium! : Adventures in Tabloid World
1st ed by Stephen Michael Sechi, Robin D. Laws, Joel M. Kaye (1993) MIB Productions Atlas Games
A comedic modern RPG, set in a world where Elvis is alive, aliens kidnap our women, and other tabloid reports are all true. It uses a simple system of attribute + 1d10 + modifiers where 6+ is a success.
Pangea
1st ed by Enrique Garrifo Ramos (2003) Ediciones Sombra
A Spanish-language prehistoric action RPG, set in a world where dozens of prehistoric races fight to survive. The game system uses a single 3d10 roll indicate check, sucess level, location and damage.
Pantheon and Other Games
1st ed by Robin D. Laws (2000) Hogshead Games
A 24-page book containing 5 mini-RPGs, all by Robin D. Laws. It uses a dice-and-counter story-telling system (the `Narrative Cage-Match') for all 5. There is no GM, instead each player can make up whatever events they like for their PC -- but other players can challenge using a set of counters as stakes, then resolved by a dice roll. Scores for each player are resolved by scorecards pre-written for each of the 5 scenarios.
Panty Explosion: a psychic schoolgirl adventure game
1st ed by Jake Richmond, Matt Schlotte (2006) Atarashi Games
Perfect ed (2011)
A modern-day horror RPG about Japanese schoolgirls who secretly fight demons, some of whom have psychic powers. Each character has "Godai" stats based on five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Void) which which represent different ways of resolving conflicts. For example, Fire is aggression and resolving issues with violence, while Water is wit and social. Character creation is by setting these traits, picking an agenda, another PC as Best Friend, and another PC as Rival, then voting for most popular. A secret random draw determines which PC is psychic. It uses a dice pool conflict resolution system (using d6, d8, d10, and d12), where successes are narrated by the Best Friend player, and failures are narrated by the Rival player.
Parabellum
1st ed by Martin Lindholm (1996) October Productions
A Swedish-language modern crime-thriller RPG.
Paranoia
1st ed by Daniel Seth Gelber, Greg Costikyan, Eric Goldberg, Ken Rolston (1984) West End Games
2nd ed (1987)
"5th" ed by Ed Stark, Greg Farshtey (1995)
"XP" ed by Allen Varney (2004) Mongoose Publishing
A hilarious dark future comedy game, where characters are pawns of an out-of-control Computer in a post-nuclear-apocalypse complex. The atmosphere is on black comedy and slapstick, with the notable feature that each character has 5 clone backups -- such that they can die multiple times (and they usually do). 1st edition used a percentile skill system with skill trees. 2nd edition completely revised this. The XP edition again majorly revised the rules, eliminating attributes in favor of six skill groups (Management, Stealth, Violence, Hardware, Software, Wetware). Action resolution is roll under skill on 1d20, with chances modified by "Perversity Points" which are spent before the roll to modify the chance.
Part-Time Gods
1st ed by Eloy Lasanta (2011) Third Eye Games
An urban fantasy game where the player characters are humans who were once mortal, but received the Spark that transformed them into minor deities. Each god has a Dominion - i.e. what they are a god of - as well as specialized skills within that subject, called Manifestations. They also become connected to a territory that is influenced by the Dominion. So a goddess of liquor would have a territory that developed more alcoholics. The gods are divided into "Theologies" - widespread groups sharing a purpose or theme, such as the Ascendants who want to become as powerful as the old gods, or the Cult of the Saints who believe they were sent from Heaven. They also form into local pantheons, who have shared or overlapping territory. Resolution uses a simplified variant of the "Dynamic Gaming System" from from Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. by the same author. The core mechanic is 1d20 + Attribute + Skill vs. a Target Number of 10, 20, 30, or 40. Characters creation is limited point-based, including both human stats (25 points in six attributes and 25+IQ points in skills) as well as godly stats.
Passages: Adventures Penned by Literary Giants
1st ed by Justin D. Jacobson, Richard Farrese (2006) Blue Devil Games
A modern fantasy game based on the fiction works of the late Victorian Era, including Carroll's Wonderland stories, Baum's Oz books, Swift's "Gulliver's Travels", Doyle's Holmes stories, Kipling, Wells, and more. The cover is a scene from "Alice in Wonderland", with scenes from other famous works done for interior illustrations. It uses a distant variant of the D20 System from 3rd edition D&D. There are no classes or levels. Rather, character creation is template-based. All characters must choose one culture (Arab, Asian, Easterner, frontiersman, native or Westerner) and one caste, their social class (slave, servant, freeman, bourgeois, noble or royal). Advancement is by "creative energy points", which are used to buy new advantages. There is no combat bonus. Rather, there is a Combat skill, with three sub-skills: Attack, Defend, and Initiative. Damage is done by the difference between attack roll and defense roll, modified by weapon and armor. It also includes "plot points" which can be spent to control narration.
Pathfinder RPG
Beta ed by Jason Buhlman (2008) Paizo Publishing
1st ed (2009)
A variant of the 3.5th edition of D&D, published under the Open Gaming License. It consolidated and simplified skills and changes certain rules features such as how favored class and class skills worked, but it is intended to be compatible with supplements and adventures designed for 3.5th edition.
Pax Draconis
pre-release ed by Justin Dagna (2001) Technicraft Design
premiere ed by Justin Dagna (2003)
A spacefaring science-fiction RPG, set in a galaxy where the "Draconian Empire" is fighting a civil war with the "People's Republic". There are three major race groups: humans, the draconian races, and the treeber species (a diverse group with variations like four arms, infrared sight and under-water breathing). It uses a simple percentile skill-based system.
Pelicar
1st ed by Lewis Nicolls (1996) Pharaoh
A traditional fantasy-genre game, using a class and level-based system with skills.
Pendragon
1st ed by Greg Stafford (1985) Chaosium
3rd ed (1990) Chaosium
4th ed (1993) Chaosium
4th (Reprinted) ed (1999) Green Knight Publishing
5th ed (2005) White Wolf
A game of Arthurian romance, based on Malory's L'Morte d'Arthur and similar sources. The PC's are knights who will go on quests and journeys, but also engage in building families and raising heirs. Campaigns may span generations. The mechanics are roll 1d20 under (skill or attribute), using the roll as level of success (i.e. "blackjack" method). Combat is a contest where only the combatant with the higher level of success does damage. It uses a detailed system of personality traits and passions, such as Pride/Modesty and many others. Character creation is only knights under the original edition, and magic was only done by NPCs. Under the fourth edition, the options are expanded. The fifth edition returns to more limited initial character generation, and starts in the year 485 (during the reign of King Uther) rather than 531.
A Penny for My Thoughts
1st ed by Paul Tevis (2009) Evil Hat Productions
A storytelling game in which players take the roles of amnesiac patients undergoing therapy to recover their lost memories. Each play session is organized as an individual therapy session at the fictional Orphic Institute For Advanced Studies. It uses a set of diceless narrational mechanics, where the players take turns role-playing the patient (known as "the Traveller"). Turns and events are determined by a set of memory triggers that the players write at the start of the session and randomly draw, as well as an economy of pennies exchanged by certain rules.
Perfect
1st ed by Joe McDonald (2006) Inciteful Entertainment
An alternate-reality crime game, set in a world akin to Victorian England that is under oppressive rule. The PCs are criminals within this world who strike out against the system.
Periphery: Science Fiction Roleplaying on the Edge
1st ed by Gareth-Michael Skarka (1994) Epitaph Studios
A sci-fi RPG.
Perry Rhodan - Das SF-Rollenspiel
1st ed by Detlef Wenzlik (1993) Agema
A German-language sci-fi RPG based on the popular sci-fi series Perry Rhodan. It uses a complex rules system. The character creation system is very detailed, and is focused on naval officers of human origin. (This is an earlier game, ISBN 3925728252, unrelated to the later game based on the Midgard system.)
Perry Rhodan - Das Rollenspiel
1st ed by Alexander A. Huiskes, Jürgen E. Franke (2004) Verlag für Fantasy und SF-Spiele
A German-language sci-fi RPG based on the popular sci-fi series Perry Rhodan. It uses a rules system based on the fantasy RPG, Midgard. (This is a new game with the Perry Rhodan license, unrelated to the 1993 game by Detlef Wenzlik.)
Persona
1st ed by Kevin Munoz (1997) Tesarta
A universal, diceless RPG system. While diceless, it uses detailed numerical attributes and skills which are compared to find results. It also includes a powers system for designing magic, psionics, superpowers, etc.
The Peryton Fantasy Role-Playing Game
1st ed by Christina Lea (2006) Peryton Publishing
Revised ed by Christina Lea (2009) Peryton Publishing
A retro style fantasy game inspired by pulp fantasy source material using a variant of the D20 System used by 3rd edition D&D. The system includes knacks and ability checks to let players get started quickly and still evolve the character as it goes on.
Le Petit Peuple
1st ed (unknown) Casus Belli / Excelsior Publications / Jeux Descartes
A French-language humorous fantasy RPG where PC's are fairies, leprechauns, korrigans, and other elves.
Les Petits Hommes
1st ed by Bruno Faidutti (unknown) self-published
A French-language modern-day fantasy RPG inspired by a popular French comic book. The PC's are reduced to 1/10 of their size and live in a high tech civilization, hidden from common humans. The creator suggests playing in your own house using Playmobil as Scale 1 figures.
Phantasy Conclave
1st ed (1984) Phantasy Conclave
A medieval fantasy RPG, set in the world of "Arth", originally inhabited by humans, halflings, elves, dwarves, and gnomes. To defeat a city-state of conquering wizards, a magical conclave was created that prevents technology from working - and also spawned the races of aerlings and meren. Character creation is class-based, advancement is level-based. The classes are healer, wizard, scout, and fighter. The core product is a boxed set including three 20-page booklets, an 8-page gamemaster guide, and ten dice. Illustrated by N. Taylor Blanchard.
Phase VII
1st ed by Dennis Drew II (1982) Cheshire Games
A science fantasy mini-RPG (16 pages), set on a damaged space station where characters try to fight monsters and collect treasure.
Phoenae: The Fierce Joy of Being Alive
1st ed (unknown, pre-1990) Ian Press
A fantasy RPG set on an alien world whose inhabitants are a mix of anthropomorphic felines and various human races (who are somewhat elfin in appearance). In this world, ancient peoples ascended to become angels and demons. Now a new set of races have been created by a god to try again. The PC's are members of a the last faction of their race whose memory was wiped out.
Phoenix Command
1st ed by Barry Nakazono, David McKenzie (1986) Leading Edge
2nd ed (1987)
3rd ed (1989)
4th ed (1991)
An ultra-complex, ultra-realistic combat system and RPG of modern-day military combat.
Pie Shop
1st ed by Mr. Toad (2004) Corone Design
A horror roleplaying game where the player characters are psychopathic serial killers who were captured and recruited by men in black while in prison. The men in black released them on the condition that they would kill specified targets when contacted.
Piltrufos: el juego de rol piltrufantemente piltrufero
1st ed by Jorge Martinez Etchegoyen (2001) La Cocoguawa
2nd ed by Jorge Martinez Etchegoyen, Miguel Garcia Fernandez, Carlos Sanchez Padial (2002)
A humorous Spanish-language RPG of playing "pitufos" - blue-skinned little fairies in a take-off of the Smurfs cartoon (Belgian cartoonist Peyo). While always tongue-in-cheek, the game outlines three kinds of play: mode pitufos ("for kind people"), mode piltrufos ("more hard"), and dark side piltrufos ("for bad people").
Pirates: The Great Adventure Game
1st ed by Matt deMille (2001) New Dimension Games
Revised ed (2003)
A cinematic pirate action RPG, based on an amalgam of classic pirate eras and movies. Action resolution uses 1d12. Character creation is class-based, with level-based advancement. In addition to traditional experience, there are reward systems for fame, fear, and privateering ranks and titles.
Pirates and Plunder
1st ed by Michael S. Matheny (1982) Yaquinto
A historical pirate/swashbuckling RPG set in the Carribean, aimed at beginning players. Published as a bosed set with 3 booklets: players book, GM book, and sample adventures.
The Pirates of Dark Water
1st ed by Lee Agosta, Jasper K. Cummings (1994) Mindgames, Inc.
A fantasy-genre role-playing game based on the Hanna Barbara animated television series of the same name. It is set on the fantasy world of Mer, which is dominated by seas but being devastated by the strange "dark water" substance which is oozing from the fissure where magical treasures were stolen. Pirates and others roam the seas in ships that can both sail and fly. The basic game includes a 64-page "World Book" containing background information, locations, and character creation rules, plus 105 3-hole punched sheets detailing the creatures of Mer and a 31 3/4" x 22" color map of Mer.
Pirates of the Spanish Main
1st ed by Paul Wade-Williams (2007) Pinnacle Entertainment Group
A game of romance and adventure on the high seas based on the WizKids collectable strategy game Pirates of the Spanish Main and Pirates of the Crimson Coast. It is set in a nebulous time around the early 18th century. It is a standalone game system based on the Savage Worlds rules system, adding a ship combat system.
Pixie
1st ed by Geoff Tuffli (1992) New World Games
2nd ed by Geoff Tuffli (2005) Jubal Online Games, Inc.
A modern fantasy RPG where the PC's are pixies who want to take over modern-day human homes -- but humans (and their pets) see the pixies as bats, rats and pests. Action resolution is by rolling 2d6 under stat. Character generation is mostly random with some skill selection. The first edition is only 20 pages. The second edition is 150 pages and includes a dozen different types of fey folk including sprites, spriggans, goblins and trolls. The 2nd edition system is pure talent-based, so instead of having separate attributes, skills and spells, everything is simply a talent.
Plüsch, Power, und Plunder
1st ed by Ralf Sandfuchs, Steffen Schütte, Thomas Finn (1991) Games-In Verlag
2nd ed (1995)
A humorous German-language RPG where you play stuffed animals who have strangely come to life, and have adventures in the world of humans. There were a number of adventures and supplements, including: "Cyberplunder", "Keep the Secret", "Plüsch, Drugs, & Rock'n'Roll", "Der Woolminator", "Baerotech", "20th Century Plunder", "Playbä", "Popcorn, Plüsch & Petticoats", "Big Shop Tango", and "Gamemaster Supply Package". After the 2nd edition, the rights to the game were bought by Phase Publishing.
Pocket Universe
1st ed by Manda, Jeff Dee (2001) Unigames
A 16-page mini-RPG with complete rules. Action resolution is by rolling 2d10 under either attribute or skill -- where doubles indicates either critical success (on a success) or critical failure (on a failure). There are four attributes, which range from 7 to 14 for humans: PHYS, DEFT, INTL, WILL. Skills add to the Attribute score the skill is based on.
Pocket Warrior
1st ed by Guy McLimore, Greg Poehlein (1997) Plaid Rabbit
This is a simple generic RPG using a skill-based system. There are 4 attributes: Strength, Coordination, Intelligence, and Health. Actions are resolved by rolling 2d10 under skill. Character creation is limited point-based.
Point Blank
1st ed by Eoin Connolly, Rob Brennan, Eric Nolan (unknown, post-1994) Wasteland
A cinematic modern action RPG, emulating over-the-top action films in the style of John Woo. Characters gain Honour points for performing cinematic stunts and saying good one-liners, which can be used to increase skills and heal injuries.
Poison'd: a pirate rpg
1st ed by Vincent Baker (2007) Lumpley Games
An RPG about pirates, focusing on the dark and harsh life of pirates. It is set in 1701, following the assassination of Captain Brimstone Jack by his cook under the King's orders. It uses an abstract dice pool system, where players roll a number of six-sided dice equal to stat, and results of 4,5 or 6 are considered successes. Combat is categorized in four different ways for personal combat (fist, knife, sword and gun) and ship combat (pursuit, ranged, guns, and boarding). Combat has options for escalation and increased consequences. In character generation, players answer a series of questions by choosing from lists of options, which generates a small collection of statistics for sins, suffering, ambitions and gear. It also has campaign rules for Opportunities (including Elections, Prizes, Leisure, Betrayal and Urgent Considerations) that have mechanical consequences.
Pokemon Jr. Adventure Game
1st ed by Bill Slavicsek, Stan! (1999) Wizards of the Coast
A mini-RPG for young children, based on the Pokemon ("pocket monster") video and card games. Each pokemon has a card which lists its stats: attack roll, damage, and hit points - plus a power if its attack succeeds. Attacks are made by rolling 1d6 vs attack roll. The 60-page pocket-sized booklet mostly consists of 16 pre-made scenarios to play. cf. the official website.
Pokéthulhu
1st ed by S. John Ross (2000) Squishy Brain Games
2nd ed by S. John Ross (2001) Dork Storm Press
A humorous RPG which parodies both the Pokemon game/television show and Lovecraft's Cthuhlhu. The player characters are children called Cultists, each owning their own Pokéulhu which they must train and battle with while wandering the land of the dead. It uses a minimal dice-pool system where players roll a number of dice (D12s) dependent on difficulty (from 1 to 3). The roll is a success if one die is equal to or less than the relevant stat. There are special rules for Pokéthulhu battles, where 1 of 4 attacks are chosen. Character creation uses only 6 stats.
Polaris
1st ed by Philippe Tessier (1997) Halloween Concepts
A French-language post-apocalyptic RPG where humanity has migrated to live undersea after a nuclear war has laid waste to the surface world.
Polaris: Chivalric tragedy at the utmost north
1st ed by Ben Lehman (2005) Tao Games
A mythic fantasy game about knights of the Stars fighting the Mistaken demons of the Sun. It is designed for four players who split the gamemastering duties depending on which player character is spotlighted. A given player has a "new moon" (the player on his right, who controls personal and emotional ties), a "full moon" (the player on his left, who controls societal and hierarchical ties), and a "mistaken" (the player across from him, who controls enemies and has more control over conflict and story). As the players switch off spotlight, the roles switch around. There are also twelve "key phrases" that govern timing and decision-making. To start a scene, you begin with "And so it was"; if you object to a development, you interject "But only if" or "You ask far too much" (at which point you must negotiate the story, or sacrifice a Theme on your character sheet), and end with "And that was how it happened." When it is time for another character, you say "But hope was not yet lost, for [the next character] still heard the song of the stars" and start again.
Portal
1st ed by Olof Lindqvist (2005) Olof Lindqvist Games
A Swedish-language modern fantasy RPG set in an alternate Earth where through the ages mages have been opening portals to other dimensions and letting in strange creatures. The characters are members of a secret organization trying to stop these forces of darkness.
Power Grrrl
1st ed by Michael Fiegel (2004) aethereal FORGE
A superhero RPG in the style of an anime cartoon, where the PCs are superpowered teenagers who have to manage both fighting supervillains and surviving high school. It uses a rules-lite universal system (the "POW!" system) available separately. Action resolution is by attribute + 2d6 vs difficulty. Character creation is point-based, spent on powers and six attributes: Agility, Brawn, Cognition, Damage, Energy, and Fellowship (ABCDEF). There are "specials" which include advantages, powers, and other things rather than skills.
Powers and Perils
1st ed by Richard Snider (1983) Avalon Hill
A traditional fantasy-genre RPG, which includes magic and monsters. There is no world background in the core boxed set, but a separate boxed set called "Perilous Lands" includes a detailed fantasy world. The rule system has a complex and math-heavy system which uses percentile rolls under skill times multiplier, or in combat on a universal chart. Character creation is random-roll attributes and random ads/disads, with point-bought skills. Advancement is partly level-based (separate Combat and Magic levels) and partly skill-based (improving skills with experience).
Praedor
1st ed by Ville Vuorela, Petri Hiltunen (2000) Burger
A Finnish-language fantasy RPG, based on a series of fantasy comics by Petri Hiltunen. The game takes place in the ancient land of Jaconia, now a fragment of living land surrounded by cursed ruins of an ancient superculture, Borvaria. Jaconia consists of about a dozen kingdoms or city-states, as well as large tracts of unclaimed land inhabited by barbarian tribes. Adventurers are "praedors", honourless adventurers who brave the dangers of the Cursed Lands for loot and magical treasures, only to find that the decadent courts and shadowy alleys of Jaconia can be even more dangerous.
Les Prédateurs
1st ed by Philippe Chouvel, Olivier Gasnier, Christophe Guy (1990) Flamberge
A French-language modern-day horror RPG, where the PC's are a vampire's caravan trying to survive against fanatical vampires hunters' attacks. It uses a d12-based system. Characters are random rolled, with a very few powers, advantages and skills.
Premiers-Áges
1st ed by Arthur Agabek, Georges Favraud, Guillaume Cochard (2000) Athal
A French-language medieval fantasy RPG, set in the "World of Dragons". It has a set of 9 non-traditional races. Character creation is both class-based and point-based. It has 9 or 10 supplements.
Pribehy Imperia
1st ed by Kryštof Ferenc, Jonaáš Ferenc (2009) MYTAGO
A Czech-language fantasy/steampunk RPG set in Victorian England, whose title translates as "Stories of the Empire". It uses a variant of the FATE system (Fantastic Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment) from Spirit of the Century.
The Price of Freedom
1st ed by Greg Costikyan (1986) West End Games
A survivalist game of freedom fighters in Soviet-occupied America. The system uses d20 rolled against stats and skills (rated 1-20), with semi-complex combat using a hexmap and counters. Character creation is based on occupation, which determines your skills. Character background includes filling out Soviet identity papers. The first adventure has the Soviets landing in your city and how you react to it.
Prime Directive
1st ed by Timothy D. Olsen, Mark Costello (1993) Task Force Games
This is a Star Trek RPG, based on an obscure independent license of the original and animated television series, derived from the first technical manual. Its vision of the Star Trek universe is much more militaristic than others, used in Star Fleet Battles and other wargames. The player characters are elite commando teams (known as "Prime Teams" in the Federation) dropped by starships to deal with problems on planets or stations. It uses an open-ended dice pool system, with an open-ended roll of attribute + skill d6s. The highest result is compared to the "tricode" for that task, three numbers indicating thresholds required for marginal, normal, and critical success. Multiple lesser rolls can take precedence over the highest roll.
Primetime Adventures: a game of television melodrama
1st ed by Matt Wilson (2003) Dog-eared Design
A game of television melodrama, intended to simulate series like Alias, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Six Feet Under. It uses a simple dice pool system to resolve conflicts, where players roll a number of d10s equal to "Screen Presence" for the episode (which varies from 4 to 6), plus possible dice added for spending "Fan Mail" points. Over a "season" of nine episodes, each PC gets to designate certain episodes as their focus episodes. Character creation is by designating an Issue, a track of Screen Presence, and several freeform binary traits.
Primeval Role-playing Game
1st ed by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan (2012) Cubicle 7 Entertainment Limited
A sci-fi RPG based on the British television show by Impossible Pictures, where Anomalies are connecting the modern-day present to distant times and places. The player characters are part of a team who contain threats from the Anomalies (like prehistoric dinosaurs and creatures from the future), and preserve the timeline. It uses a version of the "Vortex system" that first appeared in Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space (2009). Resolution is by adding attribute + skill + 2d6 versus difficulty - possibly modified by spending Story Points. Character creation is point-based, setting 6 attributes (Awareness, Coordination, Ingenuity, Presence, Resolve, and Strength) along with 12 skills and various traits.
Primitive
1st ed by Kevin Allen Jr. (2006) Kevin Allen Jr Design
A prehistoric caveman game, pitched as "Build a tribe, fight bloodthirsty dinosaurs, and discover untold mysteries in a game that features easy to follow rules, a uniquely simple turn based combat resolution syste, and character generation that focuses on group social dynamics".
The Prince's Kingdom
1st ed by Clinton Nixon (2006) CRN Games
A fantasy game aimed at children, set in the archipelago kingdom of Islandia. The PCs are a group of young princes who wander from island to island within their father's kingdom, solving problems. It uses a dice pool system, a simplified version of the rules from Dogs in the Vineyard.
The Princess Game
1st ed by Colin Fredericks (2007) Valent Games
A rules-lite, GM-less RPG where four players each take on an aspect of a magical girl's personality: Love, Imagination, Curiosity, and Fear. The girl is the only real person in the world, who creates things with her imagination -- thus the players divide the GM's duties between them. The Imagination player makes the world and describes the people and places that inhabit it, setting scenes and introducing characters. Love drives the girl to help people, defining objectives for the girl. Curiosity makes the girl want to look around and discover stuff, and the player can introduce new elements into the game. Fear makes the girl choose different paths and look for alternate options.
Prince Valiant
1st ed by Greg Stafford, William Dunn, Lynn Willis (1989) Chaosium
An Arthurian game by Greg Stafford (author of Pendragon). This is aimed at beginners with an extremely simple system using coin tosses. Each character has only two attributes, and throws a number of coins equal to the stat for action resolution.
Principia Malefex
1st ed by Alison Whetton, Ruari Armstrong, M. Retallack (1997) Principia Malefex
A dark psychological horror RPG, where the horror comes from what the human characters do to each other. There are few monsters (and the characters won't often run into them), there is little or no organised or identifiable opposition, and the characters often will not know whose side they are actually on. The system uses roll-under-skill on d20 and d200. Character generation is random-roll base attributes (modified by career choice), and point-bought skills and bonuses.
Privateers and Gentlemen
1st ed by Jon Williams (1983) FGU
A combined tactical miniatures rules and RPG, for Napoleonic-era naval warfare -- especially the British navy. It includes personal and naval combat rules. It uses a skill-based percentile system.
Privateers & Pirates
1st ed by Jonathan Clarke (2005) FJ Gaming
A historical RPG set in the Golden Age of Piracy (late 17th century) or the Age of Sail (mid-18th to early 19th century). The PCs are pirates or privateers, crewing a vessel trying to get rich. It uses a simple percentile system of roll over difficulty, with binary traits. If you have a trait, then you may switch the tens and ones dice in the percentile roll.
Private Eye: Detektiv-Rollenspiel im Viktorianischen England
1st ed by Jan Christoph Steines, Frank Bezner (1990) B&B Productions
2nd ed (1991)
3rd ed (1993)
A German-language crime-story RPG, set in historical Victorian England (1880 to 1900). The subtitle translates as "Detective Role-playing in Victorian England". It uses a percentile skill-based system, with non-percentile rolls only for damage and hit points. Character creation includes six attributes, and a selection from a small set of professions including solicitor, policeman, journalist, and private detective. The core book includes an extensive introduction to Victorian society in general and London in particular. There is also a twenty page treatise on Victorian criminology, including advances during the period including fingerprinting, forensic chemistry, and ballistics. There were at least five adventures: Abenteuer 1 "Eine tdliche Wette" (A Deadly Bet), Abenteuer 2/3 "Der Schrecken von Randall Castle/ Der Millionencoup" (The Horror of Randall Castle/The Million Pounds Heist), Abenteuer 4 "Der doppelte Biber" (The Double Beaver), Abenteuer 5 "Auge um Auge" (An Eye for an Eye).
Project A-Ko RPG
1st ed by Jimmy Mah (1995) Dream Pod 9 Dream Pod 9 Ianus Publications
This is a comedy science-fiction RPG based on the Japanese anime TV series. It has a simple, rules-light system fitting for the goofiness and massive destruction found in the original A-Ko series, a rules-lite predecessor to the "Silhouette" system used in Heavy Gear and other games.
Promised Sands RPG
1st ed by Benjamin Rogers, Mike Rennaker, Robert Anderson, Kelly Slaughter (2003) BBRACK Productions
A fantasy RPG set in an original fantasy setting called T'nah: a magical, post-apocalyptic, vaguely middle-eastern desert environment. It uses a percentile skill-based system (the "Trinary System"), where you roll 3d10, the first two dice are percentile roll that determines success or failure and the third d10 is the Effect Die which determines degree of success. The 394-page core book includes extensive world detail, two magic systems (Ido and Qai), and a selection of monsters.
Prophecy
1st ed by Benoît Attinost, Julien Blondel, Geoffrey Picard, Philippe Tessier, Léonidas Vesperini, Timbre-Poste (2000) Halloween Concept
1st ed by Benoît Attinost, Julien Blondel, Geoffrey Picard, Philippe Tessier, Léonidas Vesperini, Timbre-Poste, Jean-Marc Maquin, Isabelle Vassaux, Antoine Clermond (2002) Darwin Project
A French-language medieval fantasy RPG, set in the Kingdoms of Kor.
Proteus
1st ed by Bruce Gomes, Duncan Barrow (1992) Bruce Gomes Industries
A late medieval fantasy genre RPG with an original world setting. It has non-standard races of centaurs, rat-creatures, eagle-men, and others. The system is skill-based (roll under stat on 1d30). Character creation is random-roll attributes and point-bought skills.
Providence RPG
1st ed by Richard Binek, Nicolas Jequier, Jeff Mackintosh, Michael Scott, Lucien Soulban (1997) XID Creative
2nd ed (2001) Hubris
An unusual fantasy RPG, "a mix of fantasy and the four-color bravado of super-heroes". It has a separate rules book with the mechanics and a world book describing the setting. It is set on a former penal colony planet in another dimension, which was cut off from the original world and freed by a revolt. Much later, a crack in the world started to flood the world, forcing the inhabitants to look for the long-lost gates to escape. The system uses attribute+skill as modifiers to a 2d10 roll vs difficulty.
Psi World
1st ed by Del Carr, Cheron (1984) FGU
A game of psionic powers in a near-future setting with two options: Psi's fighting an oppressive government, or Psi Police protecting innocents from rogue Psi's. It uses a percentile skill-based system.
Psychosis
1st ed by Charles Ryan (1994) Chameleon Eclectic
A surreal game where character's reality is questioned, in the genre of movies like "Brazil" and "Total Recall". It uses a diceless system where action resolution is by tarot cards and GM discretion.
La Puerta de Ishtar
1st ed by Rodrigo Garcia Carmona (2012) Otherselves
A Spanish-language fantasy game, set in a fantasy world patterned after Mesopotamia in the Bronze Age. The setting focuses on the Empire of Akkad, the most powerful known empire, ruled by the human-appearing Awilu, and also populated partly by two slave races they created - the human-like Mushkenu, and the minotaur-like Wardu. It uses a skill-based system, with resolution by 3d6 + attribute + skill compared to a difficulty (13 for an average action). There are six attributes (rated 1-6), and broad skills (rated 1-3) like "gladiator" or "noble". Character creation is a mix of random-roll, priority picks, and lifepath.
Pulp Era: Cinematic Adventures in the Yesteryear
1st ed by James Carpio, Michael Smith, Jon Richardson (2005) Chapter 13 Press Dilly Green Bean Games
A game based on the serial pulp stories of the 30's and 40's, mixed with modern cinematic action. It uses an original skill-based system with eight attributes (Smarts, Vigor, Charm, Spirit, Brawn, Insight, Dynamism, and Quickness), a Stunt, a Schtick, Gimmicks, and Faults.
Puppetland
1st ed by John Tynes (1999) Hogshead Games
A fantasy/horror mini-RPG, set in a world of puppets where the evil Punch has killed the creator and rules over the other puppets with an iron hand. It uses a minimalist diceless system where players are required to speak out (in puppet-show style) what they are doing as dialogue (i.e. "I hit you with this stick, you evil nutcracker!").
Purgatory
1st ed by Jon Wilkie (2000) Atomic Hyrax Games
A conspiracy RPG, set shortly before a looming apocalypse. The PC's are "Penitents" who have returned from the dead with various powers to deal with the upcoming doom. It uses a card-draw mechanic for action resolution that allows both live-action and table-top play.
QAGS: Quick Ass Game System
1st ed by Leighton Connor, Steve Johnson, Dale French (1998) Hex Games
A tongue-in-cheek minimalist RPG system intended for use in any setting. A character has 3 attributes (Body, Brain, and Nerve) along with a Job, "Gimmick", and Weakness. An additional stat is "WSPHITM" (Who should play him/her in the movie?).
QCCS - Quick Charakter Creating System
1st ed by Uwe Mundt (1995) Dreamland Worx
2nd ed (1998)
A German-language universal RPG system. It uses a percentile skill-based system, with 22 attributes. Roll stat + d100 to get over 100. The basic game also includes 11 races and 37 occupation packages. A free version of the rules is apparently available on the web.
Qin: The Warring States
1st French ed by Neko, Florrent, Kristoff, Romain d'Huissier, Pierre Buty (2005) 7ème Cercle
1st English ed (2007)
A semi-historical RPG set in China in 240 B.C., specifically the state of Qin -- which in history will shortly conquer the other six states to form a single nation. It uses an original system. Resolution uses a "Yin/Yang" roll -- roll two ten-sided dice and subtract the lower result from the higher. Which color die is lower is used in damage calculation. Character creation is limited point-bought, spending 14 points on five attributes based on the five Chinese elements, choice of one gift and one weakness, spending 15 points on skills, and 15 points on maneuvers and mystic arts.
QUAD Live Action Role Playing Rules
1st ed by Hardy Darrell (unknown) Guild of Blades
A generic set of LARP rules, covered in 20 digest pages, with no background and setting information. The rules cover resolving tasks and conflict as well as skill advancement, and are short so as to be memorized easily for live games.
Queeste
1st ed by Joop Oele (1979) self-published
1st ed by Frank Rieter-Lambers (2007) self-published
A Dutch-language fantasy RPG, set in an extensively detailed fantasy world. It uses a class/level system that uses only six-sided dice, with an involved magical system inspired by the Earthsea books of Ursula LeGuin, including a functional magical language. The second edition is printed through Lulu, with the electronic version available free. cf. also the Queeste page and the Queeste Group Weblog.
Quest - The Storytelling Game
1st ed by Shane Garvey (2010) Crystal Star Games
A fantasy RPG, meant to be a basic entry-level game with a very simple system. Character creation is class-based with three classes.
Quest! A Role playing Game System for Children
1st ed by Dave Newton, Christi Newton (2012) self-published
An introductory RPG designed for 2-4 players ages 4-10 and a game master. It includes a board game, "The Gems of the Fairie Queen", intended as an introduction to role playing for children. It is self-published, available from the author's web-page at www.abervon.com/quest/.
Questers of the Middle Realms
1st ed by Tim Gray (2006) Silver Branch Games
A fantasy genre RPG set on an original world, "Median", which wryly pokes fun at some fantasy cliches. It uses a variant of the Prose Descriptive Qualities (PDQ) system used in Dead Inside and Truth & Justice.
Quest of the Ancients
1st ed by Vince Garcia (1988) Unicorn Game Publications
A swords-and-sorcery genre RPG. It uses a class-based system with percentile secondary skills.
Quicksilver
1st ed by Manda, Jeff Dee (1997) Unigames
A fantasy RPG published electronically through HyperBooks Online. It is set in the land of Seloria, inhabited by 3 goblin races and 2 faerie races as well as humans. The world includes psychic powers as well as a unique metal ("Quicksilver") that responds to mental commands, molding itself to any shape. However, as it is used, the metal takes on a life of its own -- potentially "going rogue". It uses a skill-based system, rolling 2d10 under attribute + skill. Character creation is open point based, including 5 attributes (from 7 to 13), skills (from 0 to 4), and ads/disads.
The Quiet Year
1st ed by Joe McDonald (2013) Buried Without Ceremony
A post-apocalyptic storytelling game where the players take turns adding details to a year in the community in a post-apocalyptic setting, by drawing a map and by individual narration. Each turn, a card is drawn from a deck of playing cards arranged in the four suits for the seasons of the year and shuffled within each suit. There are different play options for each card drawn.
John H. Kim <jhkim@darkshire.net>
Last modified: Mon Jul 2 09:15:53 2018