Free RPG List: online

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The Allerian Empire: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy online; A "modified freeform fantasy play-by-post roleplaying adventure game over the internet". It uses freeform rules which are essentially social rules. ~2 pages HTML rules.
Cannonballs Lord of the Rings RPG: Keywords: genre fantasy online; A freeform online play-by-post RPG, set in Tolkien's Middle Earth some time after the War of the Ring. ~5 pages social rules (HTML).
Cantr II: Keywords: genre fantasy online long; An online fantasy game in a world with a mix of technology from medieval (common) to rare modern devices, but no magic. ~25 pages rules, background, and notes (HTML).
City of IF: Keywords: universal online rules-lite; An online roleplaying site with forum "storygames" -- where there is a primary author who writes chapters, but at the end of each chapter all players suggest options, which are decided by poll. ~2 pages instructional FAQ (HTML) plus the forums.
Dark Ages 2 by Michael Hoopmann: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy online; A freeware computer role-playing game for DOS and Windows.
The Desert Realm Play-by-Post: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional rules-lite online; A free play-by-post forum-based RPG. The site also features a scifi/fantasy search engine, link list, and newsletter. ~10 pages rules and background (HTML).
Dragonlands Online: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy online; An online fantasy RPG. ~15 pages narrative rules (text-only).
Dragonspires: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online; A free online fantasy graphical chat and roleplaying game.
Final Frontier Fleet: Keywords: genre scifi online; An freeform online play-by-email RPG, set in the Star Trek universe.
Furcadia by Dragon's Eye Inc.: Keywords: genre fantasy online; A free online RPG set in a magical world of anthropomorphic animals. There is a world including 3D animated graphics, but no combat is permitted.
Gate Colony - A Stargate PBEM: Keywords: genre scifi rules-lite online; A play-by-email (PBEM) RPG set in the world of the Stargate SG-1 TV series. ~2 pages rules and background (HTML).
Gebaur by Laura Brickman et al.: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy online; A freeform online RPG played by posting to various boards corresponding to locations in and around the city of Gebaur. ~4 pages guidelines for posting (HTML).
Ghalerion: Keywords: genre fantasy online; An online freeform fantasy RPG, set in an original fantasy world of the same name, where an immortal race called the Kellans had oppressed mortals but were overthrown in a great war. It is set 217 years after a new god took over from the fall of the Kellans. ~20 pages posting guidelines and background (HTML).
Hannsu by Paul Mather: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online world; A freeform online web-based fantasy RPG, set on an original world: Hannsu. It has brief character creation rules but online resolution is freeform, with moderator options. ~20 pages background and rules (HTML).
Illusion Walker by Atushi Terada: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy online; A Japanese Internet-browser + "Shockwave 7" game. It described as a "simple dungeon game", where the goal to kill a monster one after another. (untested - I can't read it!)
Interfable: Keywords: genre fantasy online; An interactive online storytelling/role-playing site designed and run by Mark Keavney, using web-based forums and chat rooms. The current (March 2003) story is "The Wheel", an epic tale set in a world of ancient Greek gods and goddesses and populated by twelve races.
Kingdoms of Telgard by Michelle McIntyre: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online; A play-by-post fantasy/adventure roleplaying site. There are mechanical attributes and skills, but there are no combat mechanics or random throws. Stats are used by the moderators to help judge situations. It includes a limited point-based character creation method, race descriptions, and some world background. ~40 pages HTML rules.
The King of Spades: Keywords: genre superhero fantasy online; A free online Massively Multiplayer RPG where you can create a superhero or supervillain and go through 22 Levels of Ascention to see if you're worthy of wielding one of the great 12 Tokens that will make you a King, Queen, Prince or Knight of the kingdoms of Spades (Deva), Hearts (Atlantis), Clubs (Hades), or Diamonds (Earth).
Land of the Forbidden Treasures: Keywords: genre fantasy online; An online fairly freeform play-by-post fantasy-genre game. ~2 pages posting rules (HTML).
The LATTICE by toff: Keywords: genre scifi long online world; This is a freeform online game set in an original background. Set in the 16th millenium, humanity has expanded into an enormous lattice of worlds artificially created by an unknown race of builders. Each is linked to 8 other worlds by a portal in the center. ~2 pages freeform rules (HTML) plus ~30 pages background (HTML).
Legendra by David Farrell: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online world; A play-by-post fantasy RPG set on an original world ("Legendra") inhabited by humans, centaurs, and the cat-like Mewyr along with demons, gargoyles, golems, and valian. ~2 pages rules plus ~15 pages background (HTML).
Lord of Lords: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy online; A free text-based online fantasy RPG (i.e. MUD). ~2 pages social rules (HTML).
Lord of the Rings Roleplay: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online; An online web-based play-by-post RPG set in Tolkien's Middle Earth. ~2 pages rules (HTML).
Lyran Tal: Keywords: genre fantasy online; An online free-form role-playing game set in an original medieval fantasy setting with many details centering on the Crosswinds Tavern which houses a gateway to other worlds. It includes both live chat and posted stories. ~50 pages background (HTML) plus play guidelines, ~5 pages (HTML).
MafiaRPG: Keywords: genre modern online; An online play-by-post forum of mafia crime and law enforcement. There are the usual play-by-post rules along with some specific guidelines for wiretapping, arrests, mercenaries, and vigilantes. ~5 pages rules (HTML).
Mordor: The Realm of Shadows: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional rules-lite online world; An online play-by-chat RPG, set in an original world -- the continent of the Shadowlands in the world of Mordor. Species include humans, sprites, dwarves, vampires (based on V:tM), and more. It uses a mostly-freeform text-based system, with player-defined special traits (including magic, powers, and healing) of level 1 to 3.
Mysticora by Channing Jones: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online; A play-by-email fantasy RPG with three subgames: a heroic subgame, a military subgame, and an economic subgames. It includes detailed rules and background, although there are no rules for non-online resolution. ~30 pages rules and background (HTML).
OpenRPG: Keywords: universal online open-license; This is a project for an open-source Internet application that allows people to play RPGs in real-time over the Internet. It is currently in release 1.2.1 (July 2002).
Otherworld: Keywords: genre fantasy rules-lite online; An online web-based play-by-post RPG, based on the fantasy novels of Kelley Armstrong. ~10 pages posting guidelines and background (HTML).
Outlanda by Rebecca Laffar-Smith: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online wotc-d20; A bulletin-board based online RPG, based on D&D third edition. There are no rules provided (just links for the official books), but there is various background material primarily in the monthly ezine. ~25 pages HTML.
Project Angel Task Force: Keywords: genre modern horror online; An online play-by-post campaign of White Wolf's Mage: The Ascension. ~12 pages background (HTML).
Punisher X RPG by Jack Wolf: Keywords: genre modern scifi superhero online; An online web-based play-by-post RPG based on the Marvel Comics character, set in the year 2023. ~2 pages background HTML.
Realms of Kaos: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy online; A graphical multi-user, internet-based game. It includes full command-line control like a MUD but adds in graphical controls and display in addition.
The Reincarnation: Keywords: genre fantasy online; An online game where your characters is an ancient mage, ruler of a fantasy kingdom. The four resources are turns, population, money ("geld"), and magic power. Actions include guiding the kingdom, managing armies, and so forth. ~60 pages rules and background (HTMl).
The Roman Legion: Keywords: genre rules-lite online; A text-based online RPG set in the historical Roman empire where you take the persona of a Roman patrician (nobleman). You can either go into the military or take up a life in politics (or switch between the two). It includes military organization, an economic system, politics (including actual elections), and other aspects of life. The year is 99 A.D. as of July 2006, and it advances one year in-game for every ten days of real-time. ~18 pages rules (HTML), ~50 pages background and scenarios (HTML).
RuneScape by Andrew Gower, Paul Gower, and Ian Gower: Keywords: genre rules-lite online; A massive multiplayer adventure game, "with monsters to kill, quests to complete, and treasure to win."
Rusty Roses: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online; An online play-by-post RPG using a bulletin-board system, set in a renaissance fantasy world ("Cadia").
Shadow Heights: Keywords: genre fantasy modern online; An online play-by-post modern fantasy game, in a version of the modern world (the "Eververse") inhabited by humans, psychics, witches, vampires, weres, ghosts, and royal and common demons. It is set in an isolated town in upstate New York, where many of the magical races live together -- i.e. the Mayor is a psychic, the school principle is a were, and so forth. ~12 pages rules and background (HTML).
StarLock by Prowler Productions: Keywords: genre scifi online; An online sci-fi RPG/Adventure game. It is browser-based with no java or plug-ins.
Surrender: Keywords: genre fantasy horror rules-lite online; A free-form, play-by-post online RPG set in a gothic-fantasy version of our world -- with vampires, witches, gargoyles, ghosts, etc. It includes several time periods being run simultaneously: ancient, early medieval, and modern. ~12 pages background (HTML) plus posted storylines.
Thar Shaddin: Keywords: genre traditional fantasy rules-lite online; A freeform play-by-post online RPG in a medieval fantasy setting, Pal Tahrenor, inhabited by elves, trolls, gnomes, faeries, and vampires. The rules are purely descriptive and emphasize creative writing and character development. ~8 pages rules (HTML) plus ~8 pages background (HTML).
Triad City by SmartMonsters, Inc.: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online; A multi-user online fantasy RPG in a large urban setting, billed as a "game for smart grown-ups". It is a text-only environment using a Java applet as its client. ~20 page Players Guide (HTML).
United States Colonial Marines Roleplaying Game by Niklas Lindroth: Keywords: genre scifi rules-lite online; A play-by-post game set in the world of the Alien movie series. It uses a homebrew system with limited-point buy (80 attributes points, pick 5 normal and 3 specialized skills). ~6 pages character creation rules (HTML).
Utopia: Keywords: genre fantasy traditional online; A fantasy-genre "interactive webgame" including a documented system. ~20 pages rules and background (HTML).
West Coast Empire by Jon Land: Keywords: genre modern superhero rules-lite online; An online superhero/supervillian RPG where the characters battle in arranged matches, in a professional-wrestling sort of flavor. The mechanics are inspired from the card game "Overpower".
Wing Commander: Frontier: Keywords: genre scifi online long; An RPG based on the video game "Wing Commander", played online over IRC with a GM and a dice-roller program. It includes a number of pages of background on the history, technology, and other information. The downloadable rules use a percentile skill-based system with limited point-based character creation. 68 pages rules (MSWord) plus ~20 pages background (HTML).
The Woodland Elves by Brad Shultz: Keywords: genre fantasy online; An online fairly freeform play-by-post fantasy-genre game. You select from one of 50 or so character types. ~2 pages posting rules (HTML).

John H. Kim <jhkim@darkshire.net>

Last modified: Sat Apr 18 16:22:01 2020