A wish for a D20 System for real.

[Rubeus Hagrid]

With the D20 modern rules coming out, and the addition of the revised rules to the Star Wars game, I'm finding myself hoping that we'll eventually see a universal D20 book (I envision a chrome-look cover with embossed images.. Perhaps a dragon in the upper left corner, a blaster crossing a lightsaber in the upper right, a mask and cape in the lower left, and a skull in the lower right, with an emossed D20 facing up on the 20), maybe in the 35-50 dollar range, that contains one set of universal rules, suggestions on how to create campaings and alternate rules for alternate situations, and maybe some 3-4 page sample mini-campaigns to match the icons... Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Superhero, and Horror. Maybe a chapter on tone adjustment, from comedic through heroic through dark through gritty.

Then perhaps instead of a D&D 4th Edition, there could be a 20 dollar D&D Sourcebook for D20.. And a 20 dollar Star Wars book, a Superhero Book, etc, etc...

That's all stuff, nonsense, and cloudy dreams, of course, but its what I'd like to see.

 

[Creamsteak]

I'm a new gamer and I honestly think that learning completely different rules sets for every RPG is fun, but detracts from the desire to just play. A standard set would be great, but somebody would be making a lot of money off it, and another guy would be really jealous and do something else.

Physically and in the eyes of the people buying it, it happens to be great.

Monotarily, I don't see it happening.

 

[Crothian]

I like how it is now with similiar rules but enough of a change the feel isn't lost. I really think a general book would be to bland. Even now we have different tweeks to the general fantasy system. So, I think one general book would be lost because everyone would want the specific genre books for the game they want to play.

 

[Turlogh]

One rule set to rule them all would have to be super heavy duty and yet flexible in structure to accommodate every thing that universal implies- something that no system has yet been able to do. They are either full of exceptions or way to rules heavy for good game flow. It is something that would be good to see but would have to be designed as such from the ground up, not just a set of rules for one genre/setting/style that come out and then the additions (afterthoughts?) later.

 

[Horacio]

Two words:

Hero System

 

[Psion]

There is a REASON I don't play GURPS.

 

[Holy Bovine]

You said it Psion.

I like learning new systems and a 'generic' one just gives a bland taste to the games. Horror role-playing shouldn't have the same system as fantasy which shouldn't have the same system as sci-fi etc.

I don't know why i feel this way but I know what I like.

And I don't like GURPS.

 

[Synicism]

Personally, I think a universal d20 system would be an interesting idea. Then again, it all depends on how it worked.

One of my biggest problems with the d20 system is that it hasn't lived up to its potential. It was supposed to be a flexible system that we could do anything with. And a lot of people have tried (Deadlands, Dragonstar, Weird War, Cthulhu).

But there are just a few things (classes, levels, oodles of hit points) that really proclaim its heroic fantasy heritage. It's really very disturbing to have high powered characters shrugging off plasma bolts to the face or automatic machine gun fire just because they have lots of hit points, for example.

Could a universal system fix this? Maybe. Personally, I like a single system that's versatile enough to handle multiple game settings. That leaves me time to figure out the really important stuff without having to learn about a new set of rules every time.

Then again, I like GURPS. It's not perfect (what is?), but it does enough things sufficiently so I can play just about anything from wild and over the top (IOU), to gritty realistic fantasy (a converted Kingdoms of Kalamar). I think a d20 based system that was good enough to handle multiple genres would be a good idea.

 

[SableWyvern]

For me, D&D is inextricably linked to fantasy. And while D&D does not technically equal d20, they are, in effect, the same thing. Any non D&D d20 setting is D&D mechanics shifted to a different world view.

Theoretically it could work, but I think that settings are too closely linked to their systems in the minds of gamers. The World of Darkness d20 thread on the old boards was a point in case.

Interestingly enough, I enjoyed Rolemaster Black Ops. Perhaps that's because Rolemaster does not have the enormous PC power levels that are intrinsic to D&D.

 

[Vaxalon]

I said "it would never work" but what I mean is that it would be very unlikely to work in any but the most stilted manner.