Everywhen vs Index Card RPG
Compare Everywhen and Index Card RPG side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Everywhen | Index Card RPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Universal | Universal |
| Tags | Rules-Light, Pulp Action, Heroic, Fast-Paced, Sandbox, Low-Prep | Fast-Paced, Dungeon Crawl, Low-Prep, Rules-Light, One-Shot Friendly, Combat-Heavy, Pulp Action, Ascending AC, Tag-Based |
| Core Mechanic | Roll 2d6 + attribute + career (or combat ability) vs. 9+ to succeed. Bonus/penalty dice add extra d6s, keeping the best or worst two. Hero Points let you bend the rules. Careers replace skill lists: your background defines what you can do. Mighty Successes and Calamitous Failures add dramatic swings. | 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 | 2d6 | d20 + d4–d12 |
| Complexity | Low | Low |
| Availability | Paid | Free quickstart |
| Runnability | 4 of 5 book tools | 3 of 5 book tools |
| License | Proprietary | 3rd Party License |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Publisher | Filigree Forge | Runehammer Games |
| Year | 2018 | 2019 |
| Languages | English | English |
| Best For | Groups who want a fast, career-based universal system with tons of optional rules switches: run weird westerns, cyberpunk, age of sail, high fantasy, or anything pulp and heroic. | 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 | Career system eliminates skill lists, fast-playing 2d6 core, large optional rules toolkit (resolve, psionics, arcana, vehicles, mass battles, investigations), two included settings with more published separately | Very fast play, extensive GM tools, five genre settings included, highly hackable, timer dice create real tension |
| Considerations | Requires GM comfort with rulings over rules, BoL veterans may find overlap confusing, no free quickstart | DIY philosophy can overwhelm new GMs, loot-as-progression feels punishing if gear is lost |