Dungeon Crawlers vs Index Card RPG
Compare Dungeon Crawlers and Index Card RPG side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Dungeon Crawlers | Index Card RPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy | Universal |
| Tags | Rules-Light, One-Shot Friendly, Dungeon Crawl, Low-Prep, Fast-Paced, Fiction-First, Freeform Magic, Heroic, Theater of the Mind | Fast-Paced, Dungeon Crawl, Low-Prep, Rules-Light, One-Shot Friendly, Combat-Heavy, Pulp Action, Ascending AC, Tag-Based |
| Core Mechanic | Build a pool of Action dice (d6s) from trademarks and edges. Roll Danger dice for obstacles: matching Danger dice cancel Action dice. Highest remaining Action die determines success (6 = full, 4–5 = partial, 3 or less = fail). | Roll d20 + stat vs. a single Target Number for the whole scene. On a hit, roll an Effort die (d4–d12 by type) to chip away at a task's Hearts (10 HP each). Timer dice count down each round to create urgency. |
| Dice | d6 dice pool | d20 + d4–d12 |
| Complexity | Very Low | Low |
| Availability | Paid | Free quickstart |
| Runnability | Book tools not listed | 3 of 5 book tools |
| License | All Rights Reserved | 3rd Party License |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Publisher | Peril Planet | Runehammer Games |
| Year | 2020 | 2019 |
| Languages | English | English |
| Best For | Groups wanting instant fantasy dungeon-crawling with minimal rules: perfect for one-shots, new players, or when you forgot your rulebooks. | Groups who love D&D's d20 feel but want something faster, lighter, and more improvisational. Excellent for high-energy dungeon crawls with minimal prep. |
| Highlights | Entire game fits on 2 pages, character creation in minutes, freeform magic system, built-in adventure generator, same action/danger dice as Neon City Overdrive | Very fast play, extensive GM tools, five genre settings included, highly hackable, timer dice create real tension |
| Considerations | Very minimal: no detailed combat or advancement systems, limited long-campaign support, lacks depth for crunch-oriented players | DIY philosophy can overwhelm new GMs, loot-as-progression feels punishing if gear is lost |