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A system like FATE would maybe be a good match for the OP's concerns, since either type of concept relates directly to mechanics such as Aspects there. In other words, personality elements are equally mechanically relevant in play as "i can do X".

I think the more accurate thing to say would be "Different people like different things."

That example seems pretty cherry-picked, considering the example campaign is made extremely simple on purpose, and absolutely everywhere else in FATE the idea of giving up refresh or an Aspect in order to cast spells is pretty much made explicit. (Plus the idea that you're told "decide these...

I absolutely think 4e handled this problem the best way I've seen -- every class has their own power source, which largely effects the flavor of how they do things, independent of power level. FATE works much the same way, and I've always been a fan of that system and ended up bringing Aspects...

Doesn't really seem fair to call this article a review -- it's just a physical description of the book and a couple of photos from the inside.

This was the publishing model of most of the 90s, especially for White Wolf. Obviously nobody needed multiple splatbooks per month, but they sure did sell.

I would treat level of education as flavor only. 3e/d20Modern explicitly don't work if you try to define them this way. For example, an 8th+ lvl multiclass Soldier has the equivalent level of skill to a US Army soldier straight out of basic (comparing skills known, weapon familiarities, etc.)...

I get what you mean, now. More of a premise or a "jumping-off point" than a full idea of how things are gonna go down.

I try to make sure we're all really clear up front -- it's a campaign where the PCs are going to be working together, or it's one where anything goes. If it's the latter, usually we're not running party-based, and people can ally or feud as they wish. We don't have much 'messing with people'...

I'm not trying to be difficult, but why? I mean, I think maybe I'm just coming at it from different base assumptions. Your argument seems to be that they'll learn "better", if right as they're dropped into the basics of roleplaying, they face a bunch of adversity? I know you have a reason why...

My issue is talking to the group and just saying "Hey, here's X idea I had to kick things off, does that sound cool" could go a long way to ensuring everybody has a good time. If I was pitched "a Dirty Dozen kind of deal where maybe my guy is a criminal, maybe they got the wrong guy, but we're...

I'm not a big fan of linear "but thou must" plots. At all. They're rarely, rarely needed, and like mal said above, as a DM it's ultimately a lot more fun to tell a story "with" your players than "to" them. If they want a story told to them, they can just play a CRPG. But even if you're gonna...

This, exactly. Players are often invested in "their game" by which they mean "That timeslot when we get together and game". GMs are often more heavily invested in the system, the prep, brainstorming, all that.

FLGS owners (and employees) can post on ENWorld, too -- if there was "secret retailer information", it would remain secret for, like, 10 seconds.

I also dig games and variants where the players roll all the dice. Apocalypse World (from Vincent Baker, the guy who wrote Dogs in the Vineyard) does that, and it interacts nicely with the game's structure. You're focusing on what Moves you'll make, advancing your threat Fronts, and playing...

Yep, changing "Get another at-will attack" to "Get another at-will attack or at-will stance (utility)" or however they phrase it should work fine. Whatever you call it, they're new, so if they make it clear which is equivalent to an at-will attack, it's compatible. It does interact...

Both games are playable just fine with only their respective PHB1, DMG1, and MM1. A lot of the issues people have with 3e come up in core-only games. They come up a lot more often the more books you add. A lot of the issues people have with 4e are going to come up whether you go core-only or...

Seems pretty insulting to Paizo to me to insinuate that people only buy their product because it's not 4e. I mean, Paizo's been known for years for doing good, solid Adventure Paths, and I often hear their module/adventure support mentioned as a reason people are fans of their products. By...

From a layman's standpoint, I can't think of problems from houseruling "melee touch" to be, well, the thing's six feet long, I can touch someone with it as if I had reach. Does that throw balance out of whack?

Agreed on the Menace Manual. That's got plenty of adversaries to get you going with some X-Files style paranormal action, and they have the equivalent of the old "Ecology" sections to help you figure out why this or that thing that shouldn't exist is present. A decent amount of the fluff is...