Wolrd-building rpg

October 29, 2007 11:35 AM

My friend mentioned a free table-top RPG that was available as a pdf on the web. All the players were gods, and with a point system, would create a fantasy world together. There would be a series of turns, symbolizing epochs or ages of the world. I don't know the name or the authors. Anyone hear of it?
posted by Snyder to sports, hobbies, & recreation (10 comments total)

Nobilis
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 12:02 PM on October 29, 2007

The game sounds like Aria. Though I don't know if freely available on the net.

Though, you should check out Nobilis, 'cause its awesome.
posted by khaibit at 12:12 PM on October 29, 2007

I'm pretty sure you are talking about Pantheon, by Robin Laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon_role_playing_game
posted by Maastrictian at 1:19 PM on October 29, 2007

Oh yea, and Nobilis is totally awesome.
posted by Maastrictian at 1:20 PM on October 29, 2007

Hmm. It's interesting that this description fits multiple games. I thought you might be talking about Amber Diceless myself.
posted by ignignokt at 1:43 PM on October 29, 2007

Oh, wait, it's not free.
posted by ignignokt at 1:45 PM on October 29, 2007

I'd second khaibit and say Aria , except it's not free.
posted by fings at 4:31 PM on October 29, 2007

As the guy who published both Nobilis and Pantheon, I can say with some confidence that you're not describing Nobilis. Pantheon is a simple narrative-based RPG: characters aren't statted and there's no point system for the actual world-creation--the rules are very simple, and the only points come from performing actions that are in keeping with mythology. It's a one-session riot, and I recommend it very highly: of all the products we published, it's one of my favourites. The entire Pantheon rulebook was only 24 pages long, and contained four other games as well. Truly, Robin D Laws is a genius.

Aria (Last Unicorn Games, and I'm fairly sure Christian Moore was the primary designer) I've not seen in well over a decade, but did have detailed world-building-as-gods stuff. It was very heavy-going, dry, detailed stuff.

I don't think either were ever 'free' on the net, but both were pirated and circulated on the usual newsgroups and torrents for a while.
posted by Hogshead at 5:23 PM on October 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

My girlfriend says that she has seen the game you describe as a free download (ie, its not any of the games already mentioned) on one thousand monkeys. There are too many games for me to root through right now, but that may get you started.
posted by Maastrictian at 6:25 PM on October 29, 2007

Well, I wasn't able to find it, but my friend who told me about it was able to. Here is the page for those interested. (It's a pdf.) Thanks for all the help, though.
posted by Snyder at 4:31 PM on November 2, 2007