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The Cheapskate's Guide to GM-less RPGs Worth Paying for
Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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Given the availability of free versions of some pretty good GM-less role-playing games (RPGs) as well as the plethora of award-winning playtest drafts, why would a real cheapskate ever want to spend any money on a GM-less RPG? Generally, such games benefit from extensive playtesting, clarifying examples, copy editing, and decent layout, design, and artwork. This list offers up the top five GM-less games that are worth paying for, based on scores I've tabulated from this Scoring Sheet.
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Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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20 Points
Both scoring 20 points, our top two games score head and shoulders above all the other competition. Grey Ranks and Polaris, with PDFs costing just $12 and $10 and hard copies at $20 and $23 respectively, are virtually identical in price, so neither has a value advantage over the other. Grey Ranks trails just behind Universalis in its ratings on RPG.net, but was nominated for six different awards in 2007 and 2008, winning both the Indie Game of the Year and the prestigious Diana Jones Award. Like Grey Ranks, Polaris won the Indie RPG Awards' Game of the Year, and it was also in the running for nearly as many other distinctions. With a higher rating than any of the other games I scored, it is the highest-ranked GM-less game of all time on RPG.net. If you are willing to pay a measly $10 or $12, either of these games should bring you the very best in GM-less role-playing.
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Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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20 Points
See Grey Ranks above.
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Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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19 points
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4.
RPG Item: Fiasco
[Average Rating:8.52 Overall Rank:5]
Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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18 points
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Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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13 Points
Using a ruleset for competitive storytelling similar to the slightly less expensive Pantheon and Other Role Playing Games ($7 + shipping), the Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen was one of the first RPGs to go GM-less and has built a strong cult following over the ten years since its initial publication. Its new, revised edition has already received two awards nominations, and it is the second most highly rated game on RPG.net of the ones I scored.
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Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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13 points
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Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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12 Points
Breaking the Ice ($9) is a bit cheaper and is also generic in a way, allowing play in any setting as long as the story focuses on romance. This game was up for five awards, considerably more than Universalis, but does not seem to have garnered as much popularity in its ratings on RPG.net. However, being both cheaper and better received here on GeekDo makes me give it the 4th spot over Universalis.
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Chris Flood
United States
Oakland
California
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12 Points
Although it won Indie RPG Most Innovative Game Award in 2002, Universalis has not been in the running for as many awards the other games featured here have been, but it has the distinct advantage of being an entirely generic system, with the potential to be played for more groups in more situations. While a used copy runs only $15 to $20, tracking one down can take a little effort.
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