Only Human

Only Human 0.4.1

2026-10-01

• Wording tweaks and typo fixes from 0.4.0.
• See 0.4.0 for details.

Downloads:

• Rules: only-human-0.4.1.pdf
• Booklet: only-human-0.4.1-booklet.pdf
• The same content but the pages are arranged into a booklet.
• If you print this on double-sided A4 pages, flipping on the short end, you can fold and staple it into a booklet.
• Character Sheet: only-human-0.4.1-character-sheet.pdf

Only Human 0.4.0

2026-09-27

• I'm now really trying to conjure The Martian or Project Hail Mary.
• Human-vs-Environment stores can have a lot of tension and challenge in them without ever needing to have any of that hinge on causing harm to another person.
• This is a complete revision of the system.
• 16 A5 pages containing all the rules for the core of the game.
• Still missing an adventure/scenario or any concrete guidance on how to make one.
• A very clear procedure to help avoid rolling where unnecessary.
• if you do roll you roll a d8, add a stat (0 to 3) and add 1 if you have a relevant skill.
• If you beat a public-before-you-confirmed-you-were-rolling difficulty number you do what you set out to do.
• If you beat it by four or more something extra gets better.
• If you miss the difficulty (but not by more than four), either you succeed at a cost or fail but get some lesser benefit.
• If you fail by more than four things go very badly (but you gain one XP).
• XP is a spendable resource, movement is broken into zones, there's no HP, you heal by treating the specific injuries you have taken, and a bunch of other stuff, but you should just read the rules, they are better written than this.

Downloads:

• Rules: only-human-0.4.0.pdf
• Booklet: only-human-0.4.0-booklet.pdf
• The same content but the pages are arranged into a booklet.
• If you print this on double-sided A4 pages, flipping on the short end, you can fold and staple it into a booklet.
• Character Sheet: only-human-0.4.0-character-sheet.pdf

Only Human 0.3.2

2020-09-22

• Fix typos.
• Kind of outline attacking non-visible targets
• Streamline cover and too-close-ranged attacking modifiers.

Only Human 0.3.0

2020-08-29

• Streamline the stat, skill, and modifier system.
• Simplify the notion of difficult movement into the restricted state.
• Add contests to the core rules.
• Added the running and readying actions.
• Added a progression section to the GM tips.
• And various other small tweaks to the rules and layout.

Only Human 0.2.0

2019-11-24

• The first version of the game that might be worth looking at.