BIG BONE

A referee describes a world to players who describe what their characters do. Together they create an adventure.

Visit Itch.io for a compact, printable PDF version and character sheets.

Big Bone also appears in Tiny Tome from Long Tail Games, a book of 50 single-page RPGs by dozens of different authors.

Numbered Works No. 3,
December 2021.

Recommendations

One referee, one or more players, one big foam d12 from Kmart, pencil, paper, picnic blanket, park, snacks.

Player Characters

Each player character (PC) has: 6 Health Points, 6 Armour Points, a Name, and the following Traits:

Roll character type

  1. Fishfolk
  2. Werewolf
  3. Halfling
  4. Vampire
  5. Catfolk
  6. Human
  7. Goblin
  8. Elf
  9. Fairy
  10. Human
  11. Giant
  12. Troll

Roll character background, gear, and trait scores

1. Alchemist Chain, Cloak, Acid, Spell Str 0, Dex 1, Wil 2
2. Sovereign Sceptre, Shield, Mirror, Flask Str 1, Dex 0, Wil 2
3. Cultist Spear, Crystal, Grease, +1 Attack Str 2, Dex 1, Wil 0
4. Smuggler Knife, Lockpicks, Spyglass, Marbles Str 0, Dex 2, Wil 1
5. Bandit Sword, Crowbar, Sack, Hacksaw Str 1, Dex 2, Wil 0
6. Mage Club, 10 Foot Pole, Orb, Spell Str 0, Dex 1, Wil 2
7. Brawler Warhammer, Shield, Blade, +1 Attack Str 2, Dex 0, Wil 1
8. Hunter Axe, Fishing Net, Shovel, Trap Str 2, Dex 1, Wil 0
9. Druid Bow, 50 Foot Rope, Medicine, Spell Str 1, Dex 1, Wil 1
10. Sorcerer Mace, Gong, Iron Spike, Spell Str 1, Dex 0, Wil 2
11. Assassin Crossbow, Wire, Poison, +1 Attack Str 1, Dex 1, Wil 1
12. Tinker Slingshot, Glue, Hammer, Chalk Str 1, Dex 2, Wil 0

As well as individual items, PCs have rations and basic camping equipment. A PC can carry as many items as can fit in a backpack.

PCs with a Spell can generate one spell. It may be cast once. A new spell may be generated after one night of rest. A PC can only have one spell at a time. Spells will often have chaotic results.

PCs with +1 Attack add 1 point to Attack Rolls.

Danger

A PC’s actions should ideally be resolved by its player describing what the PC does. When an action is risky, a player rolls the dice and adds the score from their relevant Trait. If the total is more than the action's Difficulty Score, the action is successful.

Difficulty Scores

Combat

When one character attacks another, the attacker makes an Attack Roll. If the total exceeds the defender’s Armour, the attack hits and deals damage equal to the difference between the two scores. Unarmed attacks deduct 1 point from this damage. Subtract the damage from the defender’s Health Points. If the defender has a shield they may choose to shatter it and ignore all damage from the attack.

Health

Regain lost Health Points by getting one night of rest. When a PC’s Health Points reach zero, they die.

Spell Generator

Roll on these tables and combine the results. Referee and player agree upon the effects.

  1. Blinding
  2. Crushing
  3. Dividing
  4. Expanding
  5. Glowing
  6. Hovering
  7. Petrifying
  8. Reflecting
  9. Binding
  10. Howling
  11. Shielding
  12. Charming
  1. Acid
  2. Thunder
  3. Time
  4. Stone
  5. Vine
  6. Lightning
  7. Slime
  8. Fire
  9. Water
  10. Shadow
  11. Void
  12. Crystal
  1. Chariot
  2. Eye
  3. Beast
  4. Bridge
  5. Cloak
  6. Gate
  7. Crown
  8. Cloud
  9. Beam
  10. Key
  11. Throne
  12. Mask

NPC Stat Guide

Adventure Builder

Combine the results below to construct an adventure for your players.

The party discovers...

  1. A sparkling cave
  2. An ancient temple
  3. A forgotten tomb
  4. A secret garden
  5. An abandoned mine
  6. A hidden lair
  7. A ruined palace
  8. A guarded vault
  9. A colossal skull
  10. A sprawling dungeon
  11. A haunted crypt
  12. A crumbling tower

...located...

  1. Beneath a castle.
  2. On a desert island.
  3. Under the sea.
  4. Under the city.
  5. Under a mountain.
  6. Behind a waterfall.
  7. Under a hollow tree.
  8. Under a volcano.
  9. Deep in the forest.
  10. In a swamp.
  11. Under their house.
  12. In the clouds.

Inside there is...

  1. A lonely vampire
  2. A pirate queen
  3. A powerful wizard
  4. A gentle giant
  5. A wild king
  6. An angry ghost
  7. A weary dragon
  8. A sad troll
  9. A cursed princess
  10. A tiny man
  11. A wicked lich
  12. A hurt bear

...and...

  1. A goblin horde.
  2. Three giant spiders.
  3. A jealous sibling.
  4. A rival party.
  5. A secretive cult.
  6. A lost child.
  7. Bored workers.
  8. A gnome village.
  9. A family of pixies.
  10. Two ghouls.
  11. A borrower.
  12. Friendly skeletons.

If you survive the...

  1. Room of snakes
  2. Crushing room
  3. Rolling boulder
  4. Toxic gas
  5. Minotaur
  6. Knife cloud
  7. Gravity room
  8. Flooding room
  9. Terrible food
  10. Bad vibes
  11. Slime pit
  12. Cursed pool

you might find the...

  1. Magic orb.
  2. Legendary sword.
  3. Missing wand.
  4. Lost cat.
  5. Treasure hoard.
  6. Priceless relic.
  7. Secret portal.
  8. Kidnapped prince.
  9. Time crystal.
  10. Tome of spells.
  11. True queen.
  12. Enormous egg.