So if you could drop one game on a friend for free, at no cost to you-which game would it be? And why?

It would have to be Barbarians of Lemuria. It's a really nice rules light fantasy rpg that is easy to pick up and anyone can make a character in under 5 minutes

I'd go for the old D&D Rules Cyclopedia, if nothing else because it's pretty much the most RPG in one package.

Only real down sides : No included adventure, not very compelling art.

I would give my friend Troy a copy of Agon to which he could adaopt his Roman Legion game.
I would give my friend Clash a copy of Blue Planet, for some sci-fi inspiration. He might already have it, it which case I would give him a copy of Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC by William J. Hamblin.
I would give my friend Ryan one of several novels, because he's hard to shop for in the RPG department.
I would give my friend Paul a copy of Noumenon so he could see what humping a brain is really like.
I would give my friend John a copy of Duty & Honour, because he's cognitively conservative and still thinks the world operates that way.
I would give my brother Graham a copy of of the forthcoming RQ6 in commemoration of 20 years of playing the game.
I could go on, but I have to get back to work.

I would give Jim Skach a copy of 20th Anniversary edition Shadowrun 4! I'd also give a copy of that to each of the players in my group so we'd all have a copy in print! I'd give my wife a copy of Cthulutech, because I think she and I would enjoy it!

LOL. If I am the Ryan in question, I'd be happy to share my wishlist. But novels are fun too!

I'd drop Lacuna on a friend. I found it simple, fun, and veritable imagination catalyst. Plus, then I could run my tabula rasa lacuna adventure again.

Ha! Thalaba, I already have Agon, but I appreciate the thought.

If I had no other info to go on except "a friend" I would throw Don't Rest Your Head at them. It's interesting, novel enough that they might not have a copy on their shelves already, it works, and it's pretty "hackable."

The game I would drop on my friend: Talislanta 4th edition. If they're a good friend, it's an awesome setting with all kinds of cool stuff to explore. If they're not a very good friend, it weighs a good 5 pounds, so I won't have to drop it from very high to get the right effect.

Hey, man! No peeking! That's supposed to be for your birthday.