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Good Non d20 systems?

Definitely have to put in a good word for Hero System 5th edition. The best game bar none for superheros. And flexible enough to handle any other genre as well.

I like WoD from White Wolf mostly for setting and atmosphere. the system never really worked for me.

GURPS is cool for realistic games.

BESM for anime.
 

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There's always Talislanta, a sorta high-magic fantasy setting, which, though it uses a D20, doesn't use the D20 mechanic. It's similar though.

On a d20 roll, a 0 or less is a mishap. 1 through 5 is a failure. 6 through 10 is a partial success. 11 through 19 is a full success. 20 or higher is a critical success. You roll and add modifiers, instead of having a set DC.

Tal makes a lot of use of the mishap mechanic because of the world's reliance on magic. Long ago, the excessive use of magic caused a Great Disaster that damaged the whole world, leaving the world to recover (which it has), and weakening magic. Though magic is very commonplace, it has restrictions. A given spell can only do one type of thing (attack, or defend, or illusion, but not a combination), and any given person can have no more than 7 magical enchantments on him at once, or else none work. Plus, though you can conceivably try to cast anything, all spells have a chance of mishapping, so you don't want to over-exert yourself.

Great magic system, and it's simple and adventuresome for everything else too. :)
 


There are so many Systems out there that I like but this one is now the favorite in my Group.....

Lejendary Adventure:
This is Gary Gygax latest RPG, it's Rules light and plays fantastic!
The only downside is that it look ugly but when the game starts then you will see what beautifull gem is hidden inside it.

Have FUN!
Graf Flanf
 


I can't believe I only saw Deadlands mentioned once. It is put out by Pinnacle Entertainment Group (http://www.peginc.com) and is one of the best rpg systems I have ever played, and the setting is very imaginative.The premise is that in the mid 1800's these demonic beings were awakened and unleashed Hell upon the planet. Cowboys and Zombies and all that. I sometimes run a fantasy version in the Black Company world using Tonk instead of poker.

hellbender
 

Systems I'll give a tip of the hat to:

Exalted (The system is slightly modified from the normal storyteller system, but the basics are still all there... but Exalted just rules, end of story. The new book on Dragon Blooded is cool too)

BESM - It's like Heros Lite or something. A system that fits in one 250-ish page softcover book and can do ANYTHING you can think of. Based off the Tri-Stat core system (Also used in several anime RPGs, and Hong Kong Action Theatre), the book contains just about anything you could ever want to make, in any genre I can concieve.

Feng Shui - Ok, balanced it is not, but fun it is.

Shadowrun - System is clunky in a few places, but overall it's got a decidedly different feel from most games... very deadly!
 

Earthdawn is now in 2nd edition and being published by living room games.

I really like Earthdawn and Shadowrun for the magic of their systems but I find the rules overly complicated. The flavor they put into the magic is great and I have liberally borrowed a lot for D&D use.

Ars magica has the best conceptual division of magical types in any game I have played or seen.
 

Thanks for all the tips. I think I'll have to check some of these out. I'm looking for something to run once the group finishes RttTOEE and we take a short break from D&D. I used to have about 35 different game systems but now I have no idea where most of them went and I'm looking for a change from d20 for awhile.

P.S. Maybe I shouldn't call WW stuff crap, but it's just not my type of game, or setting. I've read some of the Vampire stuff and it reminded me of an Anne Rice vampire novel. That's not good. Vampires aren't immortal lovers in frilly shirts, they are Nasferatu and the vampire from Salem's Lot, beasts who prey on the living!
 

Flexor the Mighty! said:

P.S. Maybe I shouldn't call WW stuff crap, but it's just not my type of game, or setting. I've read some of the Vampire stuff and it reminded me of an Anne Rice vampire novel. That's not good. Vampires aren't immortal lovers in frilly shirts, they are Nasferatu and the vampire from Salem's Lot, beasts who prey on the living!


Well, now, that isn't totally fair. There are Nosferatu in Vampire, as well as a whole slew of other types of creatures to play. I used to play Vampire and Werewolf quite a bit, and never had a character like an Ann Rice construct, although my gangrel vampire did wear a frilly blue Mexican wedding suit, but that was due to the character's lack of social skills, and he wasn't appreciated at the black tie event.

hellbender
 
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