The Dice Deck Designed Role Playing Game has a couple of interesting mechanics. To resolve an action, you roll 2d10, multiply by 10 and add the result of 1d10. If you roll a 10, you roll again, making the result somewhat open ended. You compare this score to attributes which range from 2 to 200 points.
The other interesting mechanic is the use of “culture cards”, which define the various races, and groups in the game.
Dirty 30s is a sourcebook for role playing games set in the 1930s. It has a timeline and notes on fashion, slang, prices, jazz, Natiz, Commies, the Mafia, wars, Airships, weapons, cars, ships trains, art, architecture and more.
The 15 Mil is an online magazine from Peter Pig about 15mm gaming. A feature of the magazine is a “Gamette” — a small set of rules for a specific gaming scenario. The 3rd issue’s Gamette is about French Resistance destroying train tracks ahead of D-Day.
The Dick Tracy RPG brings the classic comic book detective to life. When I was a kid, my dentist had a couple of books with Chester Gould’s complete Dick Tracy strips, and I used to look forward to going to the dentist twice a year so I could read them.
In this RPG system you create characters eight attributes, skills and advantages / disadvantages. Action is resolved with a 2d6+attribute+skill versus difficulty system. Tasks are rated according to a five point difficulty level. The system also has stats for characters such as BB Eyes, Breathless Mahoney, Flattop, and of course, Dick Tracy.
I’ve often thought that these wonderful characters would make great miniatures.
FIKA is an 18 card print and play game in which two players try to win rounds by selling coffee, tea and pastry. It comes with a solo mode. From the BGG description:
Players must use the actions and goals on their cards and the cards in the FIKA supply in order to outsmart their opponent. The player that can win two rounds by getting the maximum value out of his cards, wins the game.
I like these mini games. They’re easy to print and assemble, and for a couple of bucks worth of ink and paper, I can get a nice filler game.