How to decide which system?? Narrative focus

[Gulla]

And then there's my default suggestion of 'Ars Magica' which I recommend to everyone not knowing the system and looking for something that plays very different from D&D.

I think Ars Magica is very well-suited to be played 'by forum', particularly if you focus on establishing and running a covenant. It also means you have a ton of well-developed minor and major characters to draw on for your narrative.

I definitely agree with this, but Ars isn't by nature very rules light. With players who like (and you trust to) handle the system off screen it is very well suited for PbP, but it's a far bit away from modern/SF play

 

[Agamon]

I definitely agree with this, but Ars isn't by nature very rules light. With players who like (and you trust to) handle the system off screen it is very well suited for PbP, but it's a far bit away from modern/SF play

Yeah, the idea here isn't a narrative-based game, necessarily, but a rules-lite game to allow for narrative focus. And also something cyberspace-y; I'm not super familiar with Ars Magica, but I'm pretty sure that ain't the best fit.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Both ENWorld and RPG.net have forums for people interested in play by post. I don't have any suggestions on how to weed out the folks who will flake out after three weeks, as they seem to be the most common people to sign up on such threads. (And to announce their intentions to DM as well, unfortunately.)

But the good folks are definitely out there. I've been running a set of two parallel 3E games since Feb. 2006 on a private forum.

 

[Hussar]

A good place to look for some really rules light stuff is Free RPG Games . They have a bajillion games there, some good, some bad. But, they're all free and easily accessible by all the players.

 

[CuRoi]

I'd also say Cortex could work. It's the basis for the Serenity RPG. I've played in one campaign and run another within that system and it works well for narrative purposes. In fact, it begs for it in some cases where the rules aren't just as dense to cover situations. Be careful though introducing it to DnD players who like rules heavy systems - they'll break it fast and you have to smack them with the mighty DM Club a bit to keep them under control : )

Also, the age old FUDGE rules are great for customizing a rules-light game. Back when the Matrix came out, I ran a Matrix camapaign for my friends using a ruleset based on FUDGE. Worked out great and was good for cinematic style action that didn't get boged down in + this and + that.

 

[Jhaelen]

Yeah, the idea here isn't a narrative-based game, necessarily, but a rules-lite game to allow for narrative focus. And also something cyberspace-y; I'm not super familiar with Ars Magica, but I'm pretty sure that ain't the best fit.

Oops, I somehow must have missed the cyberspacey part - didn't I see a recommendation to look at Prince Valiant?

Anyway, according to the oWoD Mage: The Ascension rpg, the Order of Hermes is still around in the modern world

For cyberspacey magick look no further than the Virtual Adepts!

 

[pemerton]

A free story-telling-style game, which is setting-neutral and rules light, is The World, The Flesh and The Devil.

 

[Wednesday Boy]

I'd take a look at whichever version of Fate fits the genre you're interested in (Legends of Anglerre - fantasy, Diaspora - sci-fi, Spirit of the Century - pulp, Dresden Files - modern supernatural, bit like WoD).

I'd recommend FATE as well. The base concepts are great for a narrative game and the system promotes a shared storytelling outlook.

(Although in my experience playing Dresden Files I do think the magic rules are overly complex and the system should consolidate some skills.)

 

[Agamon]

Oops, I somehow must have missed the cyberspacey part - didn't I see a recommendation to look at Prince Valiant?

OP updated his request on page 2.

 

[Hussar]

If you're looking something cyberspacy and nicely rules light - I'd suggest Sufficiently Advanced The system is nice and juicy for SF and very rules light. Ignore most of the setting stuff and you've got the makings of a decent system that can handle pretty much whatever you want to chuck at it.