Adding to my RPG Library: What next?

[PCD]

Folks 'round here have been very helpful and insightful as of late, so I return with this question.

I've added HERO to my library. It is a very detailed, flexible and versatile system.

I've added TriStat dX to my library. It is a very fast, flexible and versatile system as well.

What should I get next and why?

Again, I am looking for a "all I need is the core book" game system.

Leaving D&D behind has made me curious and excited about other RPG's and gaming in general.

 

[Professor Phobos]

Well, Call of Cthulhu is the game I cut my teeth on, and I think it's probably the finest RPG ever.

Unknown Armies is marvelously well designed and probably the most complete rulebook I've ever seen.

At the moment, my weapon of choice is Unisystem (particularly unisystem lite), and so I'd recommend All Flesh Must Be Eaten/Armageddon, or Buffy/Angel.

You can get Witchcraft for free, and see if you like the "classic" Unisystem.

 

[Crothian]

If you like Buffy or Angel, these core books are just gorgious. They do have suppliments (well, Angel in theory will) but you don't need them to run the games.

 

[ThaneCawdor]

Depends on what you want to run.

Personal/Perenial Faves I would recomend are:
Exalted-though more for the setting than the system
Shadowrun
Feng Shui- quick and dirty lite system focused on action movie RP
Blood of Heroes (aka MEGS, aka DC heroes)- My favorite superhero system hands down. Easily scalable powers so you can run any type of hero, from JLA power level down to low powered "Marvel Knights" types. Besides I just hate HERO

Other ones you might want to look at, if not buy:
Mage the Ascension-(2nd EDITION!!!) Revised (aka 3rd ed) did more damage than it fixed, but it still has one of the best magic systems around
Deadlands (orignal or 2nd ed not D20)-the system is clunky but there is just something about a wild west RPG that digs out card decks and poker chips

 

[Crothian]

Qags, if you can find it. Its cheap, simple and it works.

Immortal: An odd self contained game playing people who have lived a very long time.

Noir: the RPG set in the genre. Very well done and a cool read.

 

[Caspian Moon Prince]

I second the Exalted and Blood of Hereos vote. Like before, only exalted for the setting(I would personally use BESM for the system).

A few others I can think of:

Fuzion(it's free. Not sure the web site, but it's released by R. Talsorian Games)

The Dark Eye-Sort of like D&D, but less emphasis on levels.

Agone-A french RPG. It is another one where I love the setting, but the system isn't all that great(combat looks like a pain)

 

[Wombat]

I always try to put a good word in for Over The Edge -- the setting is surrealistic, but great under a number of systems. Much more surprisingly I have used the system, sans setting, a goodly number of times. I ran a fantastic pulp/noir setting, a fun superhero game, and a grand fantasy game.

If you like really wild settings, I might suggest trying out the dense, chewy Mechanical Dream -- it's as wild and complex as Tekumel.

Blue Planet -- a game I truly love, mainly as a setting; the system is not as bad as some people make it out to be, but it is a matter of tastes.

And then ...

<drumroll>

ARS MAGICA

<complete drumroll>

Great system, great setting, lots of fun all the way around AND you can download it for free over at RPGNow

 

[Zoatebix]

ooh! Paranoia! Your players will love you! REALLY!

I second Blue Planet (the setting at least - though I've only played in it, never GMed), Exalted, and Mage. I have the free RPGnow Ars Magica but I haven't had time to monkey around with it yet. Same with Fuzion, I've got the PDF, but it's been years since I read it.

I've also heard good things about Feng Shui. Another volume along the same vein is Hong Kong Action Theatre. I think the edition you can get for $5 from RPGnow is tri-stat, but HKAT's campaign model and philosophy are pretty unique.

 

[JoAT]

The orional HKAT was awesome! I need to peek at the Tri-stat version, and pick up Heaven and Earth, too. As for other new things, one of my personal favorites has always been the Marvel System - the SAGA version was sub-par, but both Marvel Superheroes and Marvel Universe (the current system) are quite good - Marvel Universe is diceless too, so, once you know the system it's a play-where-you-go-system. Actually, on that note, I've always heard that Amber was a good dicelss system...

Hrmmm... Speaking of free systems, I don't know if anyone has the lisence for this, or if it's lasped or something, but there are plenty of websites that one can download the older Marvel Superheros rules from - like this one: http://www.geocities.com/marvelsteve/rules.html

There are also alot of home-brewed systems out there - some are suprizingly good. Like Thrash http://thrash.blackbird.nu/

 

[VorpalBunny]

Well, Call of Cthulhu is the game I cut my teeth on, and I think it's probably the finest RPG ever.

Unknown Armies is marvelously well designed and probably the most complete rulebook I've ever seen.

At the moment, my weapon of choice is Unisystem (particularly unisystem lite), and so I'd recommend All Flesh Must Be Eaten/Armageddon, or Buffy/Angel.

You can get Witchcraft for free, and see if you like the "classic" Unisystem.

Seconded. Call of Cthulhu is a must for any RPG library. I'd also suggest:

- The Lord of the Rings RPG. Just because it's not supported doesn't mean it's not a great game.
- GURPS. The fourth edition is due out at GenCon. It's definitely work a look. The sourcebooks themselves are a wealth of information even without the RPG.