In continuing with my habit of starting threads I can't keep up with later, let's try a thread for compiling obscure pen-and-paper RPGs - think Dungeons and Dragons - that you own (i.e. that have physical books) or that you've found online. Obviously there's no definitive standard for 'obscure', but it's probably safe that the big systems (Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, Eclipse Phase, Fate, etc) probably aren't obscure, at least any more.
This is in part inspired by the "Obscure and/or Mockable RPG books" thread from Something Awful, but I'm sure B12 either has their own RPGs to contribute or a unique take on this. I'll start with the two ones I'm currently most interested in...
A running list of discussed RPGs- This post: Touhou: Tale of Phantasmal Land, Magical Burst
- Pathfinder???
- MORE Pathfinder???
- Neuroshima
- Everyone is John, Disapora
- A Wicked Age, Microscope, How to Host a Dungeon, Nobilis, Legend of the 5 Rings, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Creepy Wall [No links to rulebooks, though]
- Microscope again, All outta Bubblegum
- Powers and Perils
- Encounter Critical
- Dungeons the Dragoning 40k 7th edition
Touhou: Tale of Phantasmal LandI'm currently GMing this RPG! Touhou: Tale of Phantasmal Land is a tabletop RPG game written by a user by the name of Bahamut from Something Awful. However, the book has not been updated in some time due to the author being busy with a "to be sold in stores" tabletop RPG called Treasure Hunters. Even more unfortunate is that the last release of the book has major errors, omissions, or is just plain too dense. However it's clearly workable, although play-by-post is maybe not the best option.
If you can get through the rulebook, character creation is relatively quick, once you know what each stat means and what FP are and can do for you. Combat is also relatively fast, until spellcards go off, and then everything slows down. Out-of-combat things are either flushed out too much or not enough in the rulebook. If you want to run this, you should make sure you have a good GM (which I am not yet, maybe) so that things aren't just... well, a Touhou game, with only shooting.
Requires a penchant for producing engrish and some basic knowledge of Japanese culture. Touhou knowledge not required though recommended since your PCs might expect elements from the games to appear.
Uses only D6s, so you don't need to buy any fancy dice. No other equipment required though the Touhou Wiki is recommended. I personally think this game works best by having players having hidden character sheets, so that means playing in person is somewhat more difficult...
Magical BurstDon't let the name fool you: this is basically "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" the tabletop RPG. Think a super-depressing, soul-crushing, world-changing version of Sailor Moon and you're on the right track. The rule-book is pretty light, thankfully... well, light on rules, heavy on depression-inducing random tables. I hope you like terrible curses!
I haven't played this yet (though I kind of want to...), so I'm afraid for this one I can't offer any experiences of my own. It seems light-enough on rules and heavy enough on random tables to allow new GMs and players to quickly start playing, although the episodic nature and the requirement for storycrafting by the entire group means that play-by-post isn't going to be as effective in this case: you'll probably want to meet in person, or use something like IRC or d20.net to run this one.
Requires the ability to survive trauma and inflict it on others, it seems. Might require the ability to survive thousands of half-assed references to Puella Magi Madoka Magica jokes, internet memes, image macros, and Texts from Walpurgis Nacht.
Again uses only d20s, has a few tokens but you can print them off from the web.
Also has a random character generator. Hint: I really like digitally available playbooks because it means everyone can at least read them, and owning physical copies of rulebooks for games that I meant never play has felt weird to me. It's hard to find groups to play games with!
Also, yeah, gonna start it off with some weird ones, I know, I know!