The Horizon Framework
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Horizon is a free¸ open source TTRPG framework made to be as simple as possible to run¸ play¸ and design for. The Horizon Framework is just that-a framework-a foundation of tabletop roleplaying rules and mechanics.
Designing With Horizon
So far as licensing¸ the Horizon Framework License is used. This license is a perpetual¸ irrevocable version of the MIT license. This means that¸ so long as you include the Horizon logo and the license in your game¸ you can use the framework however you want. Using this license grants you and only you ownership of your game¸ requiring no royalty split or purchase on your part.
The Rules
Horizon runs on a D6-pool rule set that uses Contested Rolls to determine how adversarial challenges pan out¸ a combat system that is simple but easily malleable¸ and includes rules for crafting¸ pets¸ and much more.
A D6 that results in a 4 or 5 counts as a success¸ while one that results in a 6 is called a Triumph¸ and counts as 2 successes. The more dice you roll¸ the better your odds of success¸ but Horizon does not have critical failures or degrees of failure; you either fail¸ succeed¸ or triumphantly succeed. This aims to make Horizon very simple to learn and play¸ and allow for players and GMs to focus on roleplay over rules.
Vista
If playing via Discord¸ GMs and players can look up rules¸ roll dice¸ and track turn order with the Vista Discord bot. Use /vista for how to use the bot (once it is in your server¸ of course).
Virtual Tabletops
Horizon is available on Role¸ and soon to be released on Foundry VTT. We hope to continue to add it to as many VTTs as possible¸ depending on what is requested.
Playing The Game
Horizon has 10 attributes¸ each of which has optional forks (skills based on their attributes). Simple games don't normally use forks¸ whereas ones that wish to allow for more custom play often do. While default forks are included¸ GMs and players can add custom ones for whatever forks are relevant. Horizon is genre agnostic¸ so it can be played in any setting.
Players gain a resource called Fortune¸ which allows them to bend fate to reroll dice. This resource returns slowly but¸ once a day¸ a player can say their chosen catchphrase to regain some of their spent Fortune.
Player relationships are measured with Connections. As players encounter new NPCs¸ they can use Connections to keep track of those relationships. As their Connections deepen¸ players can owe and be owed favors¸ and call them in to gain temporary (general¸ minor) and permanent (large¸ game-changing) advantages.
Players advance with Tiers (levels)¸ acquiring new Talents as they do so. When players roll well¸ they can also gain new abilities¸ or increase their attributes.
Running The Game
Horizon is rules light¸ but closes off those rules as little as possible to allow for customization by GMs. Setting the difficulty of a challenge is as easy as deciding the number of successes required to overcome it. Tasks of average difficulty typically require 2 or 3 successes¸ while a task requiring 4 or 5 successes poses a hard challenge¸ and one requiring 6 or 7 successes is considered nearly impossible for most.
Combat is not required for games that use Horizon¸ but GMs that use it will find that creating adversaries for their players is a quick and easy process. The level of challenge an enemy creates is based on the players¸ their number¸ and their strength. Those especially worried about encounter balance and tracking Life (HP) will find the Time Not Life mechanic helpful¸ as it bases the amount of time enemies persist for on how long they've posed a challenge¸ not on their Life. NPCs are differentiated by Aspects¸ which are special properties that can be mixed¸ matched¸ and determined randomly as a GM sees fit.