RPG Encyclopedia: R
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Ragnarok
1st ed by Carlos Monzon (1992) Ludoctenia
2nd ed by Carlos Monzon (1995) Ludoctenia
A Spanish-language contemporary horror RPG, including background dealing with an evil entity that arrived to Earth 65 million years ago, along with Arab philosophers, secret orders, the Knights Templar, and various paranormal creatures. The original system uses stat + 1d20 vs difficulty. The second edition, Ragnarok: Un Nuevo Comienzo, changes this to rolling under base attribute + relevant skill on 2d10. Character generation is point-based, with four different power levels.
Rampant
1st ed (1999) Living Imagination, Inc.
A fantasy genre live-action role-playing system.
RandomAnime: The Definitive Anime Role-Playing Game
1st ed by Brian J. Perry (2002) Infernal Funhouse Productions
A universal system for anime-style play. Action resolution uses stat + 2d6 - difficulty, where a 10 or higher is a success. An additional die, the Luck die, is rolled to determine partial successes based on your Luck score. Character creation uses templates and limited point-buy. The player selects one of 21 templates (which gives a number of bonus points and luck points), then spends attribute points among the 8 attributes and skill points among the 30 skills. Experience is in "Style Points", given out during the game immediately if the player does a stylish move.
Ranma 1/2: il gioco
1st ed by Gianluca Casu, Millo Franzoni (1999) Alchemia
An Italian-language martial-arts RPG, based on the Japanese manga/anime series of the same name.
Raôul
1st ed by Marcel Larcenet (1994) Les Rêveurs de Runes
A French-language humorous modern-day RPG where the PC's are caricatural, average French redneck in everyday situations. The title translates as "The Smelly-under-the-arms Role-playing Game". It uses a very simple system.
Rapture: The Second Coming
1st ed by William Spencer-Hale (1995) Quintessential Mercy
A game of theological horror, set in a futuristic biblical armageddon.
R.A.S.
1st ed by Nicolas Julien, Thomas Baudoin (2002) self-published
A French-language military science fiction RPG, in the genre of Heinlein's "Starship Troopers". It is set in a galaxy inhabited by Humans, the Ullar (orca-descended humanoids, now wandering mercernaries), the Adharax (enigmatic tentacled creatures), and Shankkar (warlike cat-people). It uses a simple system of attribute + skill + 1d10 vs difficulty, with some special modifiers.
R.A.S.H. Engine Fantasy
1st ed by Jesse Sikes, Shawn Houghtaling (2010) The R.A.S.H. Engine Team
A skill-based system using a single d10 for resolution as a fantasy core rulebook in the genre of Dungeons & Dragons. It includes a magic system as well as options for races including humans, light and dark elves, dwarves, halflings, and gnomes. Character creation is limited point-based, spending 20 points on the four attributes - Reason, Agility, Strength, and Health - that form the game's acronym. The character then gets starting skill points equal to Reason times three, spends 10 specialization points, and may optionally choose a template - a package of starting abilities that give greater power within a specialty for a genre type such as fighter, thief, cleric, wizard, or knight.
Rated G: The Roleplaying Game of Saturday Morning Fantasy Violence
1st ed by Vincent Diakuw (2003) Thousandpress
A simple diceless system emulating fantasy action cartoons. Characters are defined by ranked "Tags", such as "Legendary Strength" for Superman. Higher-rated tags win, with more specific tag winning in the case of a tie. Tags may be pushed to increase them, but they are fatigued (lowering one rank) after one push, or exhausted after two pushes. Character creation works by all players writing a word or phrase on five slips of paper, then drawing from all the slips put together, using the drawn slips to create the basis for their tags.
Ravendeath
1st ed by Iacopo Frigerio (2010) Coyote Press
An Italian-language GMless game about stories of revenge such as The Crow, The Count of Monte Cristo, Sin City, Kill Bill, and others.
Raven Star
1st ed by A. Siddiqui (1994) Raven Star Game Designs
2nd ed (1997)
A science fantasy RPG, set in a far-future space-opera universe where magic has been found on a frontier world, via the remnants of an ancient civilization. In addition to humanity, there are aliens easily described as elves, dwarves, lion-men, and bear-men. The frontier world has a "wild west" feel as everyone converges to get at the new phenomena. The game uses a simple skill system: skill+d20 vs difficulty. d6's are used for damage rolls (i.e. 2d6, 3d6+2, etc.).
The Realm of the Gateway
Part One - The Magic Realm ed by John Griffin, Matt Nixon (1996) Griffin Games
Part Two - The Science Realm ed (1999)
A small-press fantasy RPG. It uses a system intended to be adapted to various "realms" for different genres, although only the fantasy one was ever published. Character creation is by random-roll attributes and point-bought skill with required profession packages. Action resolution is by rolling 1d20 under attribute + skill. The first book included 9 fantasy races, a magic system with 200 spells, and a psionics system with 20 powers.
Realm of Yolmi
1st ed by Ken Black, Marshall Rose (1978) Avant-Garde Simulations Perspectives
2nd ed (1978)
A spacefaring sci-fi RP set on a future Earth. The PC's are humans, although there are various aliens (including the evil "Yolmi"). The system is class-based: soldiers, cyborgs, scientists, and psychics. Advancement is level-based. It includes starship combat rules, and over 140 creature stats.
The Realms of Atlantasia
1st ed by John Holland (2011) J.A.C.H. Books
A medieval fantasy RPG that focuses on realism, such as damage to weapons and armor. It uses a percentile system, including a magic system with 8 schools of magic and 8 temples of worship, each having their own spells.
Realms of Wor
1st ed by Jeffrey Walker, Steve Ong, David Wainio (2004) Three Sages Games
A medieval fantasy RPG. It uses a skill-based system, with 1d20 resolution rolls. Character creation is class-based, with the option to build your own subclasses. Advancement is by skill improvement by use or training. Combat occurs in ten second rounds and actions are split up within that round as strike ranks, with armor reducing damage. The core rules come in four books: the Player Guidebook, Spellcaster's Guidebook, Game Master Book, and Encounter Encyclopedia.
Recon
1st ed by Joe F. Martin (1982) RPG Inc.
2nd ed by Erick Wujcik (1986) Palladium Books
Deluxe Revised ed (1999)
A modern military RPG and miniatures system set in the Vietnam War, playing U.S. troops against the evil V.C. The game was licensed by Palladium for the 2nd edition, but does not use the Palladium RPG house system.
Red Dwarf: The Roleplaying Game
1st ed by Todd Downing, Mark Bruno, John Sullivan, Andrew Kenrick, Lee Hammock (2003) Deep7
A humorous sci-fi RPG based on the television series from Grant Naylor Productions, about characters trapped in an ancient Earth spaceship now lost in the middle of nowhere. It uses the "XPG" system. Action resolution is by rolling under attribute + skill on 2d6. Character creation is limited point based (attribute points and skill points), with adjustments for different types of characters: holograms, mechanoids, gelfs, simulants, and various types of evolved animals (cat, dog, rabbit, iguana, and rat).
Redención
1st ed by Juan Antonio Huerta Domínguez (2004) Edge Entertainment
A Spanish-language hard sci-fi roleplaying game, subtitled "Un pasado a olvidar, un futuro a temer, un presente para luchar". Set in the year 2398, where the Earth has been destroyed and the survivors live in small habitats on Mars, the Moon, and orbital stations. The game deals with ancient cultures (Egyptian, Sumerian, etc.) and their relationship with the aliens that attacked the earth.
Red Shift
1st ed by Paul B. Spence (1998) Grendel
2nd ed (2002)
A spacefaring sci-fi RPG, set in 3663 after an interstellar human empire collapsed.
La Regola del Gioco
1st ed by Piermaria Maraziti, Marco Perez (1996) Qualitygame
An Italian-language universal storytelling RPG, part of the "I Giochi del 2000" collection. The title translates as "The Rule of the Game".
REICHCRAFT : el juego de rol y t´ctico de fantas&icaute;a en la II guerra mundial
1st ed by Diego Martinez Ruiz de Gaona, Nora Ortega Rey (2003) self-published
A Spanish-language modern fantasy RPG, whose title roughly translates as "REICHCRAFT: The RPG & Wargame of Fantasy in the Second World War". Self-published in Bilbao, Spain. It is set in an alternate WWII, where orcs and undeads have joined the Italian army, sinister elves representing Germany have imprisoned humans in concentration camps, and the ratlings follow the orders of the Japanese emperor. Meanwhile the Allies are aided by elves, gnomes, dwarves, humans & golems. It uses a simple system which includes tactical miniatures rules using a metric ruler. Action resolution is based on attribute + 1d10 + modifiers.
Reich Star
1st ed by Simon Bell, Ken Richardson (1991) Creative Encounters
A sci-fi RPG set in 2134 of an alternate history where the Third Reich won WWII and dominated the world. The Third Reich and the Empire of Nippon are in the midst of an age-old Cold War with each other, even as they expand their empires to other star systems. The player characters are revolutionaries trying to overthrow the Third Reich and restore freedom and democracy to Erde and its colonies.
Reign
1st ed by Greg Stolze (2007) Schroedinger's Cat Press
A fantasy genre RPG using the "One-Roll Engine" from Godlike: Superhero Roleplaying in a World on Fire. It includes an original setting, magic system, and rules for resolving group conflicts. Actions are resolved by rolling d10's equal to stat plus skill. The number of matches (i.e. d10's with the same value) indicate speed of success, while the number matched indicates quality of success.
Remember Tomorrow: Near Future Role-Playing
1st ed by Gregor Hutton (2010) BoxNinja
A sci-fi literary cyberpunk GMless RPG with no specified setting, although sample brand names and factions are included. Each scene has a focus player character, and one of the other players acts as GM by playing on the opposing faction. Characters have three numerical stats rated from 1 to 10 called Ready, Willing, and Able - as well as two descriptive stats called Positive Condition (PCon) and Negative Condition (NCon). Opposition factions have a single stat called Influence. Resolution is by each side rolling 3d10, with each die at or under the three PC stats (or the faction's Influence) counting as a success. Each player creates both a PC and an opposing faction, including choosing a descriptive Identity, Motivation, PCon, and NCon; and for PCs distributing 12 points among the three stats.
Renegade Legion: Legionnaire
1st ed by Michael A. Stackpole, A. Peters (1990) FASA
A small-unit tabletop sci-fi combat system, covering infantry to tanks. Part of a wargame trilogy with RL: Interceptor dealt with air combat and RL: Leviathan. It has a unique system for vehicle armor, where differing weapons affected different 2D shapes of armor blocks. Set in year 6830, PC's include starfighter pilots, grav tank commander, or other adventurer. Fight the oppressive Terran Overlord Government of the Roman-style empire centered around Earth. A few military units defected from the empire to protect the alien races of the Commonwealth and became known as the Renegade Legion. Legionnaire details the history of Earth and seven alien races and provides combat focused rules. cf. Therion's Renegade Legion page.
Requiem
1st ed by Zsolt Nyulászi, Tamás Farkas, Zoltán Pozsonyi, István Eörsi (2000) Beneficium
A Hungarian-language fantasy RPG.
Resolute: The Superhero RPG
1st ed by Michael T. Desing (2008) Teddy Bear Press
A simple superhero roleplaying game, with an original setting of a modern Earth under siege by tyrranical aliens, the Messari, who have made several invasion attempts starting 13 years ago. It uses an original system. Resolution is by 2d6 + stat versus difficulty. Stats ranging from -1 (Impaired, lifting 20 lbs or 5 mph speed) to +13 (Supreme, lifting 500 tons or light speed travel). Character creation is open point-based, with eight attributes and over 50 superpowers.
Retrofutur
1st ed by Raphael Bardas, Sebastien Celerin, Mael Le Mee, Tristan Lhomme, Frederic Weil (2002) Multisim
A French-language RPG set in an alternate history called the "Twisted 50's" -- inspired by uchronic dystopian fiction like Dark City and Brazil. Governments were telepathically contacted by aliens in the mid-19th century, which have largely unified into power blocks in preparation for contact. The PCs are part of the resistance against this world government. Character creation is based on rolling 1d10 on a universal chart which compares skill to difficulty. Skill is determined by a combination of freeform, binary "domain" traits and "verb" traits. Your skill for a task is based on the number of traits which apply. There is also a form of fate points: a pool of "Death" points which players add to gain bonuses, and which the GM draws from to cause penalties.
Rêve de Dragon
1st (French) ed by Denis Gerfaud (1985) Nouvelles Editions Fantastiques Nouvelles Editions Fantastiques Ludodélire
2nd (French) ed (1993) Multisim
1st (English) ed (2002) Malcontent Games
A French-language fantasy RPG, set in an ever changing and poetic world dreamed by dragons. The PC's are travellers there, who walk along the Low and High Lands of dream, and fight magic dangers and dream creatures. One of the best-selling games in France. A beginner's version of the game was also made, entitled "Oniros". There is also an English edition, published electronically.
Revelation: The Modern Superheroic Horror Role-Playing Game
1st ed by James C. Taylor Jr., Jason Knizley (1998) Happy Nebula Adventure Publishing
A modern horror game where the PCs are members of an ancient organization based in England dedicated to fighting the supernatural, and in particular demons known as the "Shaetan". The PCs are all superhuman, including five types: Child of the Vampire, Dead Man Walking, Eternal Hero, Nephilim, and Reluctant Werewolf. It includes four magic subsystems for witchcraft, sorcery, psionics, and faith.
Rhand: Morning Star Missions
1st ed by Barry Nakazano, David McKenzie (1984) Leading Edge
A science-fantasy RPG with an in-depth combat system, predecessor to Living Steel. It is set on the planet Rhand about 500 years after the "Apocalypse", where alien "Spectrals" are invading. It uses a slightly simplified version of the combat system in Sword's Path: Glory (which is very complex by most standards). It includes rules for magic, fantasy creatures, etc.
Ribbon Drive
1st ed by Joe McDonald (2009) Buried Without Ceremony
A GMless cooperative storytelling game about a modern-day road trip. It uses randomly chosen songs from mix tapes that the players supply to guide choices. Each player creates a character by choosing a name, two desired futures for the character, and three traits. The players then take turns framing scenes. There are rules for obstacles that may result in crossing off traits, achieving futures, or crossing off (transcending) futures. The first player character to cross off both futures becomes the protagonist.
The Riddle of Steel
1st ed by Jacob Norwood, Rick McCann, Ben Moore (2002) Driftwood Publishing
A fantasy RPG set on an original world, Weyrth. It focuses on a realistic, turn-less combat system which is tactically demanding and deadly -- based on study of European Renaissance fighting techniques. It uses a dice pool system where you roll a number of d10's against a target number, counting number of successes. It also has a core system of Spiritual Attributes, which gives you extra dice for following defined goals or ties for your character (such as a destiny, a loved one, or a faith).
Rifts
1st ed by Kevin Siembieda (1990) Palladium Books
Ultimate ed (2005)
A science fantasy post-apocalyptic game about a world where nuclear strikes set off a magical transformation of the Earth. Visible ley lines of magical energy spring up, along with inter- dimensional "rifts" which brought in aliens and monsters. The system is a variant of the Palladium System. The game features many augmented humans and massive firepower (up to personal nukes!), facilitated by "Mega-damage" where each point is 100 normal "hit points".
Ring of Changes
1st ed by Ben Wright (2010) self-published
A fantasy RPG centered on alchemy as a codified and narrow form of magic, inspired by the Japanese anime FullMetal Alchemist. The intended emphasis mechanical and story levels is on making sacrifices towards a goal and facing difficult choices. The book is self-published as a print-on-demand book via Lulu.com.
Ringwielder
1st ed by Dennis Drew (1990) self-published
A shareware science fantasy RPG set on a giant generational starship using mystic "Psycho-Manipulative Energy" that had a catastrophic accident shortly after. The systems went haywire and rewrote the environment and people to match fictional characters and locales. The PCs are "Ringwielders" that have entered into an agreement with the central computer to protect all life on the ship, armed with rings that can have up to 36 powers. Character creation is random-roll, rolling for powers, the 8 primary abilities, and the 20 secondary abilities.
Ringworld
1st ed by Sherman Kahn, John Hewitt, Lynn Willis, Sandy Petersen, Charlie Krank, Rudy Kraft (1983) Chaosium
A sci-fi RPG based on the Larry Niven's novels: set on an artificial mega-world (a ring around its star) with a melting pot of races and technology. It uses a variant of Chaosium's Basic Role-playing percentile system. Character races are human, Kzin, or Puppeteer.
Road Rebels
1st ed by Dale L. Gordon (1989) self-published
A post-apocalyptic RPG in the genre of the "Road Warrior" films. It uses a percentile system (roll under skill on d100). Character creation has seven random-roll attributes on a 3-18 scale (STR, LOOKS, DEX, CON, SIZ, CHA, SPD), random-roll social class, and point-bought skills. It includes rules for repairing and modifying vehicles, done with flowcharts. Combat is table-based and complex.
Roanoke
1st ed by Clint Krause (2006) Clint Krause Games
Roanoke is a short alternate historical role-playing game of mystery and action, set at the Roanoke colony in America between 1587 and 1590 (when it disappeared). It provides several options for threats to the colony, ranging from conspiracies, monsters, zombies, and others. It uses a variant of the Wushu game system, by Daniel Bayn. It adds a Doom point mechanic, where players can trade success now for a grisly fate later.
Robotech the Roleplaying Game
Book One: Macross ed by Kevin Siembieda (1986) Palladium Books
A sci-fi RPG based on the Japanese animated TV series of giant humanoid robots ("mecha"). It uses a variant of the Palladium FRPG system.
Robotech II: The Sentinels
1st ed by Kevin Siembieda (1988) Palladium Books
This is a sci-fi RPG based on a proposed sequel to the Robotech TV series. It is set in the same universe, dealing with a starship seeking help for Earth against the Invid. It uses a variant of the Palladium FRPG system.
Robot Warriors
1st ed by Steve Perrin, George MacDonald (1986) Hero Games
A sci-fi RPG about giant robot combat. The rules are a variant of the 3rd edition Champions rules, scaled up for truly massive sizes. It also includes human pilot creation rules.
Rocket Age
1st ed by Ken Spencer (2010) Cubicle 7 Entertainment Limited
A retro sci-fi RPG, set in the late 1930's of an alternate universe where in 1931 Einstein, Tesla, and Ray Armstrong rode the first rocket ship to Mars. 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.
Rocky and Bullwinkle RPG
1st ed by David Cook, Warren Spector (1988) TSR
A humorous storytelling RPG based on the cartoon TV show. The boxed set includes 10 hand puppets (unrelated to the system). The system (such as it is) starts with storytelling using story cards, adding in action resolution using spinners.
Rogue Swords of the Empire
1st ed by Joseph Hillmer, George Rahm (1993) Better Games
A fantasy mini-RPG, published in Fantasy Gamer magazine, issue #2. It is based on the RPG Barony.
Le Roi-Chat
1st ed by Sicart (unknown) self-published
A French-language RPG of playing common housecats (?!?).
ROLE: Regles Optionnelles Limitees a l'Essentiel
1st ed by Francois Nedelec, Didier Guiserix (1985) Casus Belli magazine
A French-language universal mini-RPG (2 pages). Later was republished in the magazine Casus Belli #34 and in the games Avant Charlemagne and MEGA II.
Röle
1st ed by Cosimo Lorenzo Pancini (1995) Qualitygame
An Italian-language mini-RPG, part of the "I Giochi del 2000" collection. A sci-fi game with rules similar to TSR's Alternity system.
Rolemaster
1st ed by S. Coleman Charlton, Peter C. Fenlon, Kurt H. Fischer, Terry K. Amthor (1980) Iron Crown Enterprises
2nd ed (1984)
Standard System ed by Coleman Charlton, John Curtis, Pete Fenlon, Steve Martin (1995)
FRP ed by S. Coleman Charlton, John Curtis (1999)
A traditional fantasy-genre game, originally designed as a modular addition to other games ("Arms Law", "Spell Law", "Character Law", "Claw Law", and "Campaign Law"). The system uses skill plus an open-ended percentile roll resolved on a table, with tables for each weapon and skill. Character creation was originally random-roll attributes and limited point-buy skills, modified by choice of class. A given class had its own cost for each skill type (i.e. weapon skill costs 10 for a magician but 3 for a warrior). Later they added a separate attribute point-buy system.
Roleplayer
1st ed by Matthew P. King (1983) Roleplayer Enterprises
A universal RPG system, with sections on medieval fantasy, mutant powers, modern horror, and futuristic weaponry. As an example so GMs can design their own, there is a single sample monster: the argent wombat.
Roles
1st ed by David Jamet (unknown) self-published
2nd ed (unknown)
A French-language medieval fantasy RPG. The 1st edition was expensively laid out with a wooden GM screen and a bronze 10-sided die. The 2nd edition was only the rulebook.
Roma Imperious: Alternate World History
1st ed by William Corrie III (2004) HinterWelt Enterprises
An alternate history where during the third century Constantine embraced Celtic magic and took over the Roman Empire. It details the world of 1461 in this alternate history, including pre-Viking era Norsemen, a Chinese empire called the Jade Empire, and African states like Axum and the Empire of Ghana. It uses a variant of the "Iridium" system, which originally appeared in Tales of Gaea. Character creation includes random-roll attributes (best of 3d20 for each of eleven attributes), followed by choosing one of 26 classes which influence skills. The basic game also includes over 30 Foes and 13 pregenerated templates for fast play.
Le Royaume des Dragons
1st ed by Paul Chion (unknown) Éditions Dragon Radieux
A French-language medieval fantasy mini-RPG (6 pages), aimed for younger children.
Ruby...Worlds beyond Dream
1st ed by Greg Saunders (2007) Fire Ruby Studios
A spacefaring science fiction game set in distant time and space, where the legacy of humanity is the modified NuMen and a binary star system of Golden and Red, initially established by privately-sponsored colony ships. All NuMen project themselves into "Shell" bodies using instant communication. The player characters are Lucids - a minority fringe who are able to remember their projection into bodies. The game uses a dice pool system with six attributes: Reason, Volition, Ego, Body, Grace, Vitality. Resolution is by rolling d6s equal to attribute, where 4-6 is a positive outcome and 1 is a negative outcome. The total outcomes are compared against the difficulty.
Ruf des Warlock
1st ed by Olaf Heinen, Goesta Krengel, Silvia Eckelt (1992) Games-in Verlag
A small-press German-language medieval fantasy RPG. The world is high fantasy (e.g. teleporting castles) with a few twists (i.e. orcs are proud barbarians rather than evil) and highly interventionist gods. The rule system is class and level-based, with random-roll attributes. There are multiple critical hit tables.
RuinCrawl
1st ed by Tom K. Loney (2007) Peryton Publishing
A pulp fantasy game inspired by old-fashioned sword and sorcery paperbacks. It uses the minimalist TAG (Tom's Adventure Gaming) system. Resolution uses 2d6 against a target number of difficulty minus attribute. Character creation includes races including elf, dwarf, simian, and goblin; and character classes including Amazon/Barbarian, Sword-Arm, Cutthroat, Thief, and Sage.
Rules To Live By
1st ed by John Kilgallon, Mike Young, Sandy Antunes (2001) Interactivities, Inc.
This is a universal system for live-action role-playing (LARP). It uses dice for mechanics (somewhat unusual for the LARP world), with resolution of attribute + skill + 1d6 vs difficulty. Combat uses the same basic mechanics, and assigns levels of damage marked as stars on the character's badge.
Rune
1st ed by Robin D. Laws (2001) Atlas Games
A fantasy-genre RPG based on the computer game Rune from Human Head Studios, set in a land of Scandanavian myth. The system is adapted from Ars Magica with simplifications. Resolution is attribute + skill + 1d10 vs difficulty (or vs other roll).
RuneQuest
1st ed by Steve Perrin, Ray Turney, Steve Henderson, Warren James, Greg Stafford (1978) Chaosium
2nd ed (1979)
3rd ed by Steve Perrin, Greg Stafford, Steve Henderson, Lynn Willis (1984) Avalon Hill
4th ed by Matthew Sprange (2006) Mongoose Publishing
A fantasy-genre RPG set in the original world of Glorantha. Glorantha is a low-tech world (often bronze age) where religion, cults, and magic are of constant importance. It uses a percentile skill-based system which was later published separately as the Basic Roleplaying system. Action resolution is by rolling under skill (0-100) on percentile dice, or by roll on a "resistance table" which compares opposed attributes (with +/- 5% per attribute point). Character creation uses random-roll attributes (3-18), and skills selected by profession. It includes several magic systems, including a involved Runic Magic system. Magical power could be boosted by secrets learned in various cults. The third and fourth editions separated the system and magic from the setting of Glorantha, though Glorantha was still one of the setting choices.
Rune Stryders
1st ed by Matt Drake, Mike Fiegel (2003) Politically Incorrect Games
A fantasy-genre RPG, set on a gritty fantasy world ("Rhun") where wars are fought with magically-powered war machines of stone, wood or exotic materials (i.e. "Rune Stryders") -- an homage to giant robotic mecha of Japanese animation. There are no fantasy races (i.e. elves or dwarves) and few large monsters. Instead, there are wars and political intrigue among the various human nations. The PCs are by default expected to be a band of mercenaries. It uses a dice pool system. Action resolution is to roll a number of d10s equal to (skill + 1). Each die under your attribute score is one success.
Run Out the Guns
1st ed by Jason Hawkins, Todd McGovern (1998) Iron Crown Enterprises
A pirate swashbuckling-action RPG set in the historical 17th century: specifically the Carribean circa 1660. The game includes a wealth of historical detail and background on the era. The system is based on (and compatible with) the Rolemaster system, but simplified to be suitable for beginners. There are pre-generated characters provided but no character creation system in the basic game. The ship-to-ship combat rules are also sketchy.
Run Robot Red
1st ed by Annie Rush (2004) Wicked Dead Brewing Company
A humorous sci-fi RPG about little robots controlled by totalitarian overlords. It is set on Widenet YT, a vast worldship ruled by the tyrannical and mysterious Cel Tron Stroma.
Rus
1st ed by Mark Chapman, Joe Caruso (1990) Rus Games
A fantasy RPG set in the mythic version of medieval Russia. It includes elemental nature priests ("Volkhvy"), necromancers ("Koldun"), and Christian missionaries. It uses a system with classes (Russia-specific) and skills, with skill-based advancement. The combat system is fairly involved.
The Rustbelt: tales of tenacity, depravity, and hope
1st ed by Marshall Burns (2010) Beyond the Wire Productions
A post-apocalyptic roleplaying game inspired by The Stand, The Road, and the Mad Max films. It is set in a future where a mystical power known as The Rust that corrupts everything has destroyed civilization. It uses a dice pool system where characters have three pools - Blood, Sweat, & Tears - that are called upon to push failed rolls into successes. There are no skills, but there are eight attributes: Tough, Savvy, Grizzled, Slick, Thorough, Personable, Cagey and Uncanny. It also includes a number of descriptive psyche traits including Hunger (i.e. desires), Vice (habits to fall back on to cope), Faith (they believe in) and Woe (things they regret).
Ryuu Tama Natural Fantasy RPG (りゅうたま)
1st ed by Tokuhiro Okada (2007) Tabletalk Cafe Daydream Jive Ltd
A Japanese-language fantasy RPG whose title means "Dragon Egg". It is billed as a "natural fantasy" game, meaning roughly it is more positive and less violent. Character classes include Minstrels, Merchants, Hunters, Healers, Farmers, Artisans, and Nobles.
John H. Kim <jhkim@darkshire.net>
Last modified: Mon Jul 2 09:15:53 2018