History TabletopGame / Risus

''Risus'' is meant to be a more comedic roleplaying game. As Risus happens to be Latin for "laughter", [[IncrediblyLamePun this should come as no surprise to those Latin professors out there]]. However, Risus can, indeed, be used for more serious games. The rules are very simple when compared to many other number crunching [=RPGs=], such as ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and ''TabletopGame/RuneQuest'' (the latter of which is even more rules heavy than the former).

* HandWave: The Risus Companion actually ''encourages'' this: if the DM makes a mechanical decision (like, say, not letting the [=PCs=] teleport, when they could just fine yesterday), he needs to come up with ridiculous explanations for this. Such as ''feeling queasy'' due to eating sausage pizza.

* RPGsEqualCombat: Subverted. Although the rules are geared towards lots and lots of combat, said combat doesn't need to equal violence. Risus combat can include repairing spaceships, playing chess, PassiveAggressiveKombat, and pretty much anything else the GameMaster decides would be fun if portrayed as combat.

Risus is meant to be a more comedic roleplaying game. As Risus happens to be Latin for "laughter", [[IncrediblyLamePun this should come as no surprise to those Latin professors out there]]. However, Risus can, indeed, be used for more serious games. The rules are very simple when compared to many other number crunching [=RPGs=], such as ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and ''TabletopGame/RuneQuest'' (the latter of which is even more rules heavy than the former).

* ThatOneRule: Averted since the rules of ''Risus'' are meant to be simple and straightforward.
** The "cascade" rules in ''The Risus Companion'' are very, very confusing after the simplicity of regular combat.

* UniversalSystem

''Risus: The Anything RPG'', designed and illustrated by S. John Ross, is a [[UniversalSystem universal]] role-playing game system that is (very) rules lite. Seriously. The rules are six pages long. And it's free. Download a free copy from the official page [[http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/risus.htm here]].

This game provides examples of:

"Risus: The Anything RPG", designed and illustrated by S. John Ross, is a [[UniversalSystem universal]] role-playing game system that is (very) rules lite. Seriously. The rules are six pages long. And it's free. Download a free copy from the official page [[http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/risus.htm here]].

* TakeThat: In the main rules, WilliamShatner is quickly mentioned as an example of a cliche. You have to look in the main text for it.

* MartialArtsAndCrafts: Encouraged. A hairdresser can do three times as much damage as a barbarian in melee combat.
** Of course, the reverse is also true -- the barbarian can potentially be three times as effective in an actual hairdressing contest as a hairdresser. And since at least technically neither cliche is ''inherently'' "more important" than the other...
* PointBuy: cliches are bought at character creation by spending points.
* RPGsEqualCombat: Subverted. Although the rules are geared towards lots and lots of combat, said combat doesn't need to equal violence. Risus combat can include repairing spaceships, playing chess, and pretty much anything else the GameMaster decides would be fun if portrayed as combat.

Risus is meant to be a more comedic roleplaying game. As Risus happens to be Latin for "laughter", [[IncrediblyLamePun this should come as no surprise to those Latin professors out there]]. However, Risus can, indeed, be used for more serious games. The rules are very simple when compared to many other number crunching [=RPGs=], such as ''DungeonsAndDragons'' and ''RuneQuest'' (the latter of which is even more rules heavy than the former).

[[ClassAndLevelSystem Classes and Skills]] have been replaced with "cliches" which are, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin cliches]].[[note]]Although you may feel free to call them Tropes instead.[[/note]] Cliches are given ranks in six-sided dice (and, with optional rules, in Funky Dice) from 1 to 6 (displayed in parenthesis next to the cliche). The cliches are broad descriptions of what your character can do in a given situation. So, for instance, a [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Spikey Haired Blond Wielding a]] {{BFS}} (4) would be a fine example of a character who uses his giant blade and badassery to fight the BigBad, rescue (or lose) the girl, and save the world. Suitable actions this character may take would include: dispatching enemies with his {{BFS}}, looking badass in his [[strike:costume]] [[strike:armor]] costume, and winning Big Hair contests.

[[ClassAndLevelSystem Classes and Skills]] have been replaced with "cliches" which are, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin cliches]].[[note]]Although you may feel free to call them Tropes instead.[[/note]] Cliches are given ranks in six-sided dice (and, with optional rules, in Funky Dice) from 1 to 6 (displayed in parenthesis next to the cliche). The cliches are broad descriptions of what your character can do in a given situation. So, for instance, a [[FinalFantasy Spikey Haired Blond Wielding a]] {{BFS}} [[FinalFantasy (4)]] would be a fine example of a character who uses his giant blade and badassery to fight the BigBad, rescue (or lose) the girl, and save the world. Suitable actions this character may take would include: dispatching enemies with his {{BFS}}, looking badass in his [[strike:costume]] [[strike:armor]] costume, and winning Big Hair contests.

[[ClassAndLevelSystem Classes and Skills]] have been replaced with "cliches" which are, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin cliches]].[[hottip:*:Although you may feel free to call them Tropes instead.]] Cliches are given ranks in six-sided dice (and, with optional rules, in Funky Dice) from 1 to 6 (displayed in parenthesis next to the cliche). The cliches are broad descriptions of what your character can do in a given situation. So, for instance, a [[FinalFantasy Spikey Haired Blond Wielding a]] {{BFS}} [[FinalFantasy (4)]] would be a fine example of a character who uses his giant blade and badassery to fight the BigBad, rescue (or lose) the girl, and save the world. Suitable actions this character may take would include: dispatching enemies with his {{BFS}}, looking badass in his [[strike:costume]] [[strike:armor]] costume, and winning Big Hair contests.

* SavingChristmas: One adventure module has an... interesting variation of this. See the trope page for more.

* MartialArtsAndCrafts: Encouraged. Players may attack with inappropriate Cliches in combat as long as they can roleplay or describe it in a really, really, really entertaining manner. This means that a hairdresser can do three times as much damage as a barbarian in melee combat.