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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 6198382" data-attributes="member: 92305">I think so.  It's not a structured system like, say, AD&D Second Edition, where all players declare actions.  Yes, people are basically declaring actions, but they do so in an organic way that continues with the roleplaying scene.A typical roleplaying scene--the give-n-take with the GM--usually goes like this:GM:  At the end of the corridor, about 30 feet away, is a massive door with a big, round handle on it.  It's closed to you.Player:  I approach.GM:  OK, so now you're in front of the door.Player:  I'm going to press on the door, trying to push it inwards, into the room I assume is on the other side of this thing.GM:  It pushes open easily and quietly.  That's surprising for such a big, heavy door.  Inside, you see....Combat is done the same way, except things that you can't control, like whether or not you hit your target, is done with dice.  And, the result plays out with the GM's description.Like this...GM:  ....On the other side of the door, you see this creature.  It's a big hairy looking thing, vaguely humanoid, wearing a loin cloth of animal skin.  Maybe it's this planet's inhabitants.  You've never seen the kind before.  He's about nine feet tall, and carries a massive club spiked with metal points.  He's running towards you!(Here, the GM will roll dice behind the screen.  This is the creature's Running check.  That's the creature's first action--to approach the intruder.  His second action will be to club the intruder, but notice these actions aren't "declared", per se.  The GM just describes what's happening.(Then, the Player can react.  Of course, sometimes, the GM's NPCs are also reacting to the player's actions--the player opened the door, and the creature on the other side reacted with an attack.)Player (knowing now that he's opened the door and sees this big, honkin' alien charging him):  I'll pull my blaster and shoot!  Two shots!(Player rolls dice for his first shot and tells the GM.  If the attack is higher than the alien's run throw, the blaster fires before the alien can get to him.  If the run throw is higher, then the Player Character was a bit slow pulling out his blaster.  The alien will get to him, and then the Player will fire at point blank--not a good idea to charge people with blasters.)GM (after the player has just told him that his blaster attack is higher than the alien's run throw.  Then, the blaster attack is compared to the creature's defense.):  Like lightning, your blaster in in your hand as you squeeze off a round.  It goes wide, he's upon you and swinging his club!(GM rolls dice for the club swing.  Player rolls his second shot.  Which ever throw is higher goes first.)GM:  He swings, stunning you!  You drop your blaster as the weight of his blow knocks you to the ground!(Technically, we're moving into round two, here.  But, it's not that obvious in the game, the way it is played.)GM:  As you look up, blurry eyed, the wind knocked out of you, you see this big, furry alien grip that massive club with both hands and raise it up above his head.  He's going to pound you with an incredible blow!Player:  I'm going to roll out of the way!(GM rolls the club attack.  Player rolls the dodge.  The higher roll goes first.  If the Club attack wins, he'll pound the player.  But, let's say the player's dodge roll wins.)GM:  Where you got the energy, you don't know, but roll to your right at the last second.  The alien screams, slamming his club into the spot where you were a moment ago.  You actually feel the ground tremble on impact.  A splinter from the club flies off your face.Player:  I'm going to get up and run!GM:  The Alien is coming around for another swing!(Player rolls DEX to get up from the prone position.  The Alien rolls his club skill for the attack.  Which ever roll is higher determines which action happens first....See how organically and smooth that plays?  It's almost as if the mechanics take a backseat to the action, as it should be.  The game rules are not as much "in your face" as they are in most RPGs.  It's almost as if the GM is just making it up as he goes along, playing off of whatever the player says (but, in reality, the dice throws are governing the action along with the GM's description).I think it's a marvelous system.  I've never seen an rpg system quite like it.  Some systems are close, but not quite like this (from the games I've played).</blockquote>

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