When comparing Low Fantasy Gaming vs Risus, the Slant community recommends Risus for most people. In the question“What are the best tabletop RPGs?” Risus is ranked 12th while Low Fantasy Gaming is ranked 40th. The most important reason people chose Risus is:
Risus has a very minimalist rule system that breaks down all actions to their core function. Risus comes with a super short, four page rulebook (available in many forms and formats) that's easy to read, includes examples and has a bit of humor thrown in to make the process or learning more enjoyable.
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Pros
Pro Rules Light
Light rules framework with emphasis on GM rulings
Pro Dark & Dangerous Magic
Every time a spell is used, the caster must test for a Dark & Dangerous Magic effect.
Pro Open World Gaming
Specific rules to support open world/sandbox/episodic adventures, including Party Retreat & Chase rules, and random encounter tables based on location rather than level.
Pro Free PDF book
Free PDF download at the link: https://lowfantasygaming.com/
Pro Fast, Gritty Combat
Quick and engaging combat with martial exploits and injuries & setbacks when reduced to zero hp (assuming not dead)
Pro Can be taught in less than 10 minutes
Risus has a very minimalist rule system that breaks down all actions to their core function. Risus comes with a super short, four page rulebook (available in many forms and formats) that's easy to read, includes examples and has a bit of humor thrown in to make the process or learning more enjoyable.
Pro Very flexible rules
Risus is not confined to a selection of pre-defined character-classes, settings or abilities. Characters are described via clichés such as Witch Doctor, Gambler, Musician with a number of dice assigned to each cliché that are then used in challenges that relate to the appropriate cliché.
Pro A large following that provides a lot of content
A large amount of adventures, artwork, characters, clichés as well as optional rules can be found for Risus. An excellent resource for all aforementioned things as well as many others is Risusiverse, a fan-made website of all things Risus.
Cons
Con Not a new Low Fantasy Setting itself
The free LFG PDF is a rules system for use with your favourite low magic setting, not a new low fantasy setting itself.
Con Little guidance can be found for GMs and players
Some prior understanding of how an RPG is played and what is the role of the GM is required as the rules cover only the very core of the system.