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I prefer classless - I crafted my own current RPG system without classes. The main downsides are "player choice paralyzation" and the fact that if you usually have to take a lot more time on the character creation process. I tried to mitigate that some by following the example set by Shadowrun...

Less geophysical and more geopolitical, one of my PCs looked at one of my countries that has 19 separate cult controlled (but allied) areas and said something like: "You cant have 19 things like that, the only example in the world is the US with its 50 states." I had, of course, done research...

- What kind of games do you write, and why? Mostly fantasy, it is what I like to run. I wanted to evolve past D&D 3E, and made my own system. I wanted a system that captured a certain feel and style of play. I wanted more gim/gritty (But not Warhammer style "grimdark"), a flatter growth...

The ultimate perfect system? I created it! :) However, everyone's perfect system is different... :( So if you are looking for a fantasy game with gritty death and dismemberment, rules that ca cover any instance, and be easy to play and GM, like only using d20s and d6s, etc... Then you...

I made a couple of blogs about creatures and races in my world that are different. A lot of it involved turning myths and legends into ordinary creatures. Combining things in a satisfying lore way... :) For example, my lizardfolk live in a swamp - this swamp is in a cool area, but kept warm by...

As I have aged, the only real deal breaker anymore is ease of play. How easy is it to play a character? How easy is it to GM? I don't have the patience for most fiddly bits anymore. :) Heck, it is almost to the point where I don't want to play anything but my own RPG system anymore, everything...

Classes were actually a reason I made my own RPG system. I liked the idea of multi-classing, rarely liked the implementation. So I made a slassless system. I for one really grate against class based systems anymore - Gives me the feeling of being boxed in. It was why I orginally had high hopes...

I may not like 4e as a system overall, but I liked their goal of removing "penalties" to do things and making it bonuses if "proficient". Also, the minion rules are nice (If a bit similar to other systems that did it before). It really made me thing of the LotR scene with Boromir in the movie -...

I'm too lazy to sign up and read - But it sounds like you decided on a similar direction I took for my world (Been playing one game or another in it since 1993). I wanted a more R.E. Howard feel (Low magic, gritty, disease, etc) after all the "heroic"-ness of playing 3e - So I made my own RPG...

Never influences me. The only reason I check out awards is to see if they were awarded to worthy games. By the time any awards are out, Ive already examined the games anyway. :) Smoss

In my campaign world and RPG setting they don't. At all. Different species entirely, no fertility between them (Besides, I tried to make the other races as "not human" as possible). There are some magical alterations involving other races into humans, but nothing too major. Feel free to check...

I really liked the direction they took with Star Wars Saga with less classes and more options (A soldier class that could be used in many ways. or multi-classed with the others). For a 4e style game, that might come to a Defender, Controller, Striker, and Leader class - four classes with...

Back in 2nd Edition I created a race called the Automatons - Based loosely on the "warforged" style race from the game Ultima 7 Part 2 (Serpent Isle). There were some serious mine-able ideas from their interpretation. In the game you met the automatons at times, what few were around. They were...

I've mentioned my favorite moment as a DM elsewhere before - I had created a tome of prophecies. The PCs were using it to know where to go to solve problems. The more they did this, the more suspicion crept in them that something was fishy. All of the problems ended up starting BECAUSE the PCs...

My blog entries are entirely about my design methods (Posted up for the inspiration of others). There is a good bit of detail in them. I'll be adding more later. Ben covered a lot of the basics pretty darn well. If you want more stuff to draw from, feel free to peruse my stuff. :) EN World...

The thought of the unbeatable monster can be a fun one - Ask anyone who has to fight Lovecraftian horrors... :) Certainly some uses of the rules make them easier. World design and tone is important. There is a reason why I designed my own RPG system along the path I did. I wanted heroes who...

Since I designed my own system, I had to create my MM from scratch. So a lot of nifty monsters were needed - some reskinned or reflavored. I liked a lot of the little touches - Like my lizardfolk that live near fumeroles that spew out sulfur. Their nasty smell gave way to the legend of the...

Definitely looked at it. My last blog post actually briefly touched on this a bit - Especially when I talked some about the one government in my world that is a Theocracy. The philosophy of each culture helps drive their ambitions and goals. I am hoping to expand a little on all that in my next...

My answer to that question ended up designing my own system... :) But then I had worked on tons of house rules for 2e and 3e over the years, plus some totally new rules systems. SW Saga gave me the final inspiration I needed (That last piece of the puzzle). So when 4E came out i inspected it...

When I used to play more than I GM'ed, our DM had an NPC fence that we grew to love - DeMorgan Riis. He was a bit of a bumbler. Always trying to keep up with fashion and such - But oddly wore a frayed sunhat and some cruddy boots caked in mud on his travels (A helm of speak languages and boots...