RPG Encyclopedia: J-K
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Jadeclaw
1st ed by Jason Holmgren (2001) Sanguine Productions
An anthropomorphic fantasy-genre RPG, in fantasy setting based on Chinese mythology. It is a new worldbook for Ironclaw, using the same system.
James Bond 007
1st ed by Gerard Christopher Klug (1983) Victory Games
An espionage-adventure RPG, based on the film series (which were based on the books by Ian Flemng). It uses a percentile skill-based system, with a universal chart that gives four Quality Ratings of results. Quality Ratings are emphasized over success/failure in the system. It also includes a Hero point system where points can be spent to modify the outcome of rolls. Character creation is open point-based, allowing characters at "Rookie", "Agent", and "00" levels.
Jeremiah: The Roleplaying Game
1st ed by Scott Agnew (2005) Mongoose Publishing Morrigan Press
A post-apocalyptic RPG based on the graphic novel series by Hermann Huppen, and subsequent television series adapted by J. Michael Straczynski. It is set in the United States fifteen years after a mysterious disease called The Big Death wiped out everyone over the age of puberty. It is a complete game using variant of the D20 System of third edition D&D. The basic classes are Brainboy, Guardian, Jock, Mystic, Scavenger, Shepherd, Thief, Trader, and Wanderer.
John Carter, Warlord of Mars
1st ed by M. S. Matheny (1978) Heritage Models
A pulp sci-fi miniatures system and RPG, based on the novels by Edgar Rice Burrough's. It is primarily wargame in flavor, but does provide background on Barsoom and its cultures.
Journeyman: A Science Fiction Role-Playing Game
1st ed by Frederick Goff (1989) Infinity Games
This is a space-faring hard science-fiction genre RPG. There is no specific campaign setting, but it discusses various space-faring campaign options. It includes description of 3 human sub-races and 6 detailed and realistic alien races, rules generating solar systems and planets, and rules for soceity tech levels. The system resolves actions by d10 + skill - difficulty vs a flat value of 10 to determine success. Character creation has seven random-roll (3d6) attributes and profession templates which determine starting skills. Skill increases are point-bought. It has an extensive section on space travel and space combat, including appendices with the real-world equations they are based on.
Jovian Chronicles
1st ed by Phillippe Boulle, Jean Carrieres, Wunji Lau, Marc-Alexandre Vézina (1997) Dream Pod 9
A spacefaring mecha RPG, set in 2210 after an optimistic expansion into the solar system has founded the "Jovian confederation" of space colonies. Earth is now dominated by a central government ("CEGA"), following a long period of depression and unreset caused by pollution and ecological disasters. In 2210, CEGA lost a brief war with the Jovian confederation, fought over an Earth scientist defecting with the secret of "cyberlinkage". It uses the "Silhouette" system: a simple dice pool system: roll dice (d6's) equal to skill and take the best, and add attribute (-3 to +3).
Judge Dredd: The Role-Playing Game
Boxed Set ed by Marc Gascoigne, Rick Priestley (1985) Games Workshop
Hardback ed (1989)
A futuristic sci-fi RPG set in a dark urban nightmare, based on the comic book series by Alan Grant and John Wagner. In the future, urban crime has become so rampant that elite autonomous "Judges" are employed who act as policeman, judge, jury, and executioner. It uses a simple percentile system, with involved combat rules including 10-phase turns and hit location. Attributes are Strength and Initiative; skills are Drive, Street, Tech, Medical, Combat, and PSI. There were four supplements: "Judgement Day" (Scenario 1986), "Slaughter Margin" (Supplement 1987), "Judge Dredd Companion" (Supplement 1987), and "City Block" (Supplement 1987) . cf. Ivan Hanley's Judge Dredd page.
The Judge Dredd Role-Playing Game
1st ed by Matthew Sprange (2002) Mongoose Publishing
A futuristic sci-fi RPG set in a dark urban nightmare, based on the comic book series by Alan Grant and John Wagner. In the future, urban crime has become so rampant that elite autonomous "Judges" are employed who act as policeman, judge, jury, and executioner. The rules are a variant of the D20 System from 3rd edition D&D. Complete rules are not provided: basic rules for character creation, combat, and other systems refer to the D&D Players Handbook.
El Juego de Rol Flynn
1st ed by ToniSan El Magnifico, Carlos Surreal (2002) La Cocoguawa
A Spanish-language humorous mini-RPG where all of the PC's believe they are Errol Flynn. During the session it is revealed who is the real Errol and who are the guest stars.
Juggernaut
1st ed by Jason Morningstar (2015) Bully Pulpit Games
A card-based live-action roleplaying game for 3-6 players, aimed for a session of about two hours. It is set in the U.S. of an alternate July 1950, where a group has invented a computer that can see the future.
Juggernauts: A Gun Stroking Roleplaying Game
1st ed by Kevin R. Brown (2003) Collision Entertainment Design
A humorous action-genre RPG set in an ultra-modern Earth soiled with the supernatural. Now, werewolves, aliens, vampires, and more have set the world awry. The PCs are heavily-armed and nearly unstoppable forces. It uses a simple skill-based system with three attributes and d10's for resolution.
Justice, Inc.
1st ed by Aaron Allston, Steve Peterson, Michael A. Stackpole (1984) Hero Games
A generic pulp action RPG, in a two volume set: rulebook and campaign book. The system is a variant of the 3rd edition Champions rules, but instead of the superpowers meta-system, there were skill-like psychic powers. The campaign book includes a discussion of different pulp genres, a campaign setting (The Empire Club), an overview of the 1930's, and a half-dozen pulp adventures.
Justifiers
1st ed by Gideon, Blaine Pardoe (1988) StarChilde
A sci-fi RPG in a dark future where "Transmatts" (i.e. stargates) allow limited teleportation to a host of Earth-like worlds. Megacorporations hire mercenary teams ("Justifiers") to "pacify" new worlds for colonization and exploitation. Justifiers are uplifted animals with limited rights, trying to eventually buy their freedom. It uses a simple percentile skill-based system, including a choice of 28 anthropomorphic animal races (from albatrosses to rhinos!).
KABAL
1st ed by Ernest T. Hams (1980) Kabal Gaming Systems
2nd ed (1982)
A medieval fantasy-genre RPG, using a math-heavy system and including detailed dungeon maps. The title is an acronym for "Knights and Beserkers and Legerdemain". It uses a percentile system. Character creation is random-roll attributes (6d20 for eight attributes). The boxed set includes four booklets: player's guide, rules, magic spells, and creature catalog.
Kabal
1st ed (1988) Edizioni Rune
An Italian-language RPG printed in a small-press (photocopy) fanzine named "Rune" -- part of a local RPG club, called "Lords of Dragons". It is a modern-day horror-genre game, set in Northern Italy with the addition of various mad cultists and strange curses. The system is similar to "Call of Chtulhu" with a simple D6 mechanics and rules for ritual magic.
Kagematsu
1st ed by Danielle Lewon (2009) Cream Alien Games
A narrative-heavy single-session historical storytelling game for 3-6 players, set in Japan in 1572. The scenario is that a wayward ronin named Kagematsu flees to a village - and several young women conspire to win his affections and convince him to defend their village from a deadly threat. A female player plays Kagematsu, while other players play various women of the village. Game play is divided into Courtship and Confrontation. In Courtship, the women characters use their Charm or Innocence in a contested roll versus a number of dice specified by the particular Affection they are trying to get.
Kalévala
1st ed by Luigi Castellani (1996) Qualitygame
An Italian-language fantasy RPG based on Finnish mythology, part of the "I Giochi del 2000" collection. The title is from the Finnish epic.
Káosz
1st ed by Tibor Bihon, Lajos Hüse, István Nemes (2001) self-published
A Hungarian-language fantasy RPG.
Karma
1st ed by Matthias Heimpold, Oliver Hoffmann, Linda Heweker (1994) Feder & Schwert
A German-language oriental fantasy RPG. "Honor is the law of Karma. Imprisoned between Yin and Yang your characters experience fascinating scenarios within a world of the spirit and demons..."
The Karma Roleplaying System
1st ed by Julie Ann Dawson (2008) Bards & Sages Publishing
A skill-based universal system featuring a detailed magic system. Resolution is based on 1d20 + attribute vs. difficulty or opposing roll. Character creation is point-based. There are 12 attributes rated from 0 to 5 divided into three groups: physical, cerebral and spiritual. Characters start with rank 1 in each, and have 6 attribute points to add to them. They also have a profession package and 15 starting points that can go to any of attributes, skills, damage threshold, or mana.
Kata Kumbas
1st ed by Agostino Carocci, Massimo Senzacqua (1984) Bero Toys
2nd ed (1988) E.Elle
An Italian-language fantasy RPG, set in an alternate medieval Italy inspired by Italian folklore, fairy-tales and classic myths.
Kayfabe: The Inside Wrestling Game
1st ed by Matthew Gwinn (2002) Errant Knight Games
A pro-wrestling RPG using a storytelling-emphasized system, published electronically. The fights are actually faked and are resolved as such -- while the players work on promotion, showmanship, and other aspects of being a wrestler. It uses a simple d6-based dice pool system.
The Kerberos Club (FATE Edition)
1st FATE ed by Benjamin Baugh, Mike Olson (2011) Arc Dream Publishing
A science fantasy game where the player characters are super-powered individuals in Victorian England of an alternate history. The Kerberos Club is a private group of individuals with powers who battle threats to the Empire and world. In the alternate history, Queen Victoria becomes a mystic embodiment of the British Empire, while inventions appear such as machine men, flight devices, and lightning guns. Faerie is annexed into the Empire after a war, leading to even more over-the-top action towards the end of the era. The setting was originally published as sourcebooks for Savage Worlds and Wild Talents, while the FATE edition is a standalone game using a variant of the FATE system called "Strange FATE" intended for use with superhero settings.
Kevin & Kell Roleplaying Game
1st ed by Jamie C. Borg, Michael Hopcroft (2005) ComStar Media, LLC
A anthropomorphic animals RPG based on the long-standing webcomic by Bill Holbrook. It is set in a twist on the modern world where there are only animals instead of humans, with the canonical characters being a married couple who happen to be a wolf and a rabbit -- now with kids in school and a mix of problems of domestic and wild problems. The system is based on the Action! System from Gold Rush Games.
Key-RP
1st ed by David Sharrock, Wyn F Dawkins, Suzanna Hope (2007) Forever People Digital Press
A universal RPG system, designed primarily for use with play-by-email games, as well as tabletop. The basic rules are intended for modern-day and horror genre, but an appendix includes optional rules for fantasy and science fiction genres. Action resolution is roll under stat + skill on 1d20. Character creation is limited point-buy: 35 points among the five attributes (Stamina, Muscle, Skill, Academia, Sense), plus five points among skills.
Khaotic
1st ed by Kathleen Williams, Joe Williams (1994) Marquee Press
An alien invasion RPG, where the PC's psychically project themselves to a distant planet to possess monsters who are invading Earth. The "Trans-Ego Device" used was invented in 1944 by Dr. Isabella Bayne, who is also the evil mastermind behind the invasion from the "tech noir" world of Xenos. The PC's are members of the International Society of Enlightened Scientists (ISES) who took charge of the TED. The catch is that the whole party possesses one creature: only one member of the party at a time can control the host, while those who are not in control can use psychic powers and offer advice. It uses a variant of the system from Legendary Lives.
Khelataar
1st ed by Stefan Burstrom, Bjorn Wahlberg, Micke Nordin, Hans Sundqvist, Hakan Jonsson, Anders Blixt (1989) Lancelot
A Swedish-language fantasy RPG set in the isolated island realm of Khelataar, where Iron Age clans guard their territories and clash with each other. The game is focused on human interaction; common fantasy cliches such as monsters are toned down or absent. The rules are advanced but demand a lot of bookkeeping.
Khymir: The Role-Playing Game
1st ed by Mark E. Rogers, Rich Staats (2006) self-published
A fantasy RPG set in the city of Khymir and its environs in the world of Thorgon Karrelssa - the setting for Mark E. Rogers' books Zorachus, The Nightmare of God, and the Blood of the Lamb series. It uses a skill-based system where flat numbers are converted into die rolls. By default every 7 points of stat becomes 2d6, so if skill + modifiers is 15, that would be rolled as 2d6+1 and compared to difficulty.
KidWorld
1st ed by Brian St. Claire-King, Elroy LaSanta (2009) Vajra Enterprises
A post-apocalyptic game, set in after a worldwide plague has killed 50% of the adult population and left the remainder blinded, leaving kids as the majority. Many adults began to capture and train kids to be their armies, and many kids rebelled against adult rule. Resolution uses 1d20 + attribute + skill versus a target number. Character creation is limited point-based, with the number of points for attributes depending on age. Adult characters get 90 points, kids get fewer depending on age. There are 3 classes for adults (Brains, Brawns, Mouth) and 9 for kids (Builders, Cadets, Ferals, Horse Riders, Inheritors, Nurturers, Radicals, Scouts, Students). It has a detailed skill system with over a hundred skills. Each character spending 100 points on skills, with cost per level determined by class.
Kill Puppies For Satan
1st ed by Vincent Baker (2002) Lumpley Games
A tongue-in-cheek game where the PCs are low-class demons who exist to cause minor pointless misery and annoyance to the world. By committing evil, they collect power for low-rent miracles to further their work.
Kingdom of Nothing
1st ed by Jeff Himmelman (2010) Galileo Games
An urban fantasy RPG about homeless people, the Lost, who have suffered an unknown trauma and begun to forget even who they are and where they come from. As they are ignored, they slip through the cracks of their world into a mysterious realm filled with nightmarish secrets. Character creation is point based, with players assigning the two attributes (Lucidity and Survival), free-form skills, an Echo (an object that guides the character) and Burden (what is holding them back). Resolution is based on coin flips, where the player flips a mix of coins from a cup, and each head gives successes. Pennies are from attributes and earn 1 success; nickels are from skills and earn 2 successes; a dime comes from the Echo and earns 3 successes; a quarter comes from the Burden and earns 4 successes. The player can lose coins that are bet, but keeps successes. Further, a player can ask for coins from other players that are also risked.
Knights and Magic
1st ed by Arnold Hendrick (1980) Heritage Models
A medieval fantasy miniatures system, which included some role-playing rules and notes on use with other RPGs.
Knights of the Round Table
1st ed by Phil Edgren (1976) Little Soldier Games
A miniature system and RPG set in Arthurian Camelot. Each figure has a single stat, Prowess, which starts at 1d10 but can be raised to 100. It could be improved with experience. The rules suggested 1-7 points per adventure, although it could be reduced through unchivalrous behavior and temporarily lowered by wounds. The game had three related combat systems: jousting, hand-to-hand, and melee. Combat resolution worked by both players secretly selecting one of 10 maneuver cards. Comparing cards gave a target number to hit on 1d100, where the figure with higher Prowess adds the difference to his roll. Damage is based on the action and the difference between the roll and target. The game also included a description of the code of chivalry, some encounter tables, and rules for falling in love. The campaign section suggested that PCs could found baronies, learn magic or develop spiritual power, although very few details were provided.
Know Your Role! - World Wrestling Entertainment Roleplaying Game
1st ed by Tony Lee, Cynthia Celeste Miller, Eddy Webb, Christopher McGlothin, Marcelo Figueroa (2005) Comic Images, Inc.
A professional wrestling RPG using a variant of the D20 System of third edition D&D and D20 Modern. It has six classes, one for each primary ability: Aerial Superstar (Dexterity), Power Superstar (Strength), Rough Superstar (Constitution), Savvy Superstar (Charisma), Technical Superstar (Intelligence), and Manager (Wisdom). Each has appropriate talent trees as in D20 Modern. Combat is handled by separate damage to Endurance (which increases with level) and Trauma (equal to Constitution). The game includes a system for developing unique maneuvers, and character limits on maneuvers.
Kobolds Ate My Baby!
1st ed by Christopher O'Neill, Daniel Landis (1998) 9th Level Games
A humorous beer-and-pretzels RPG about playing kobolds sent on a mission to steal as many babies they can from the humans. It uses a very simple skill-based system including a Kobold Gruesome Death Chart and a magic system with 12 spells. There are several supplements for this game, including "More Things to Eat and Kill!".
Kouzlem a mečem
1st ed by Jiří Reiter (2010) MYTAGO
A Czech-language old-school fantasy game focused on compact rules that cover fighting goblins, skeletons, and other monsters in underground labyrinths.
Kryształy Czasu
1st ed by Artur Szyndler (1999) Wydawnictwo MAG
A Polish-language fantasy RPG set in an original world called Orchia. The title translates as "Jewels of Time". It uses a complex rules system, particularly in character generation. Before the book edition, it was published in parts in "Magia i Miecz" ("Sword and Sorcery") magazine, being really the first set of true role-playing rules published in Polish.
Kult
1st [Swedish] ed by Gunilla Jonsson, Michael Petersen (1991) Target Games AB
1st [English] ed (1993) Metropolis, Ltd
2nd ed (1997)
3rd ed by Nils Gullikson, Stefan Ljungqvist, Terry K. Amthor (2004)
A surreal modern-day horror RPG, where the horrific underlying reality is a gnostic fable.
Kuninkaiden Aika
1st ed by Piia Makkonen, Pasi Silander (1993) Lastenkeskus Publishing
A Finnish-language Biblical RPG, whose title translates as "Time of the Kings". It is published by a Lutheran church for the purposes of fun and entertainment regarding how the world was during the time of the kings (Saul, David, Solomon). It uses a rules-lite system, with no stats were for weapons.
Kuro
1st ed by Willy Favre, Jérôme Larré, Neko, Christophe Valla, Julien Heylbroeck (2007) 7ème Cercle
A post-apocalyptic science fantasy RPG set in Japan in the year 2046, after a mysterious event (the "Kuro Incident") has cut Japan off from the rest of the world and re-awakened elements from Japanese mythology. It uses an original system.
John H. Kim <jhkim@darkshire.net>
Last modified: Mon Jul 2 09:15:53 2018