Looking for a new system!!!

[Thunderfoot]

Thanks for all your help everyone (and I REALLY mean it.)
So far, True 20 is good, but still a little too much for what I'm looking for. I can honestly say while I enjoyed playing 3.X I hated the system and the d20/OGL off shoots are all a far cry from what I'm looking for.
WHFRP - while this system is close to what I'm looking for, I'm not really keen on the career paths, but that isn't a total deal breaker - the jury is still out.
EABA doesn't really work for me - d6 systems are just too wonky in my experience (with WEG Star Wars being an exception), but definitely a step up from GURPS
Pathfinder - yet another series of disappointments from Paizo. I must really be old school because, I can't understand why they keep winning awards, I haven't ever seen anything from them that I like. *shrugs*


BRP - Probably as close as I'm going to get in one shot. May have to make a few mods, but it's all there, simple stats, percentile skills. I'm picking this up.
Basic Fantasy RPG is pretty good, a little light on the skills I'm looking for, but about as close to stripped down 1eAD&D as you can get (right down to the XP charts for the classes). Not what I'm looking for, but a great source of material if I plan on writing this thing.
MINIMUS - is a real find. This might be a winner, however, the 'cool' trumps realism has me a little concerned. I was the only person I know who didn't like "Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon" because people can't fly and I don't care how good his hearing is, he can't dodge arrows. Also, only because it's pure fantasy can I stand watching MATRIX, otherwise all the super moves make me ill. (Yes, I'm picky)


I haven't had a chance to look at Savage Worlds yet, but if it's as good as what y'all make out to be, it may be a winner.

Again - thanks for all the help, it's great to be pointed in the right direction instead of just stabbing in the dark.

 

[Thanee]

I haven't had a chance to look at Savage Worlds yet, but if it's as good as what y'all make out to be, it may be a winner.

Savage Worlds Test Drive Rules

But I think BRP could also be a very good choice for you.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Inferno!]

I haven't had a chance to look at Savage Worlds yet, but if it's as good as what y'all make out to be, it may be a winner.

If you give it a try, don't forget the free downloads page for pre-gens and short adventures.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

I actually almost put "World of Darkness / Storyteller" in my post above.

It's a very good system, but does take a lot of work to adopt it to something else, I think (not the basic rules, but anything beyond that is very setting-specific).

The system itself would be very suitable for a generic RPG, though.

I adapted Storyteller to the old Amazing Engine Bughunter's game with about two pages of additional rules for the players and about 5 or 6 for myself (which was mainly monster conversions). I also have a fantasy version bouncing around in my head that I may write down later.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Re: Savage Worlds, if you're at all keen on trying it even once, definitely check out Savage Heroes if you have a free moment. The Conversions page is pretty damn impressive. Well, bits and pieces of it, at least.

 

[Samurai]

I'm a big fan of Spirit of the Century, using the FATE 3e system. It's a fun, highly character-centric system. The setting in SotC is pulp, but the rules are easily adaptable to a variety of other settings, as there is already a space opera book available for it, a Harry Dresden RPG in the works, and numerous fan creations/adaptations for various settings (including my own for the Castle Falkenstein steampulp setting). It meets all your criteria:


Rules Light! - It's rules light, the main rules fit on just a couple pages, the rest of the book is specific examples, character options, GM advice, etc.

Skill based - It's skill based, no classes or levels.

Combat variable - Combat is treated just like any other skill checks, and can be used as much as you want.

Not GURPS - It's not Gurps, it uses the Fate 3e engine, which is a modified form of FUDGE.

Other information: Does not have to be a generic system, but that would be a bonus. - As I said, it's very adaptable, though there is a barebones setting in the book.

Monster design is quick and painless. - Check! Assign some skills and a few values, and that's it! Can be created or modified on the fly. Includes mook rules too!

Magic can be scaled to near non-existence without destroying the system. - The SotC itself doesn't come with actual spellcasting rules, though the Spirit of the Season supplement has some, the Dresden RPG will of course have some, and various fan creations (including mine) each have their own.

Not level based (but this isn't necessarily a deal breaker.). - No levels!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

True 20 has a lot going for it. I'm not 100% sold on it, but my brief exposure to it gave me a favorable impression of it.

HERO 5th has a rules light version that was released as part of its PS238 setting book. Use those rules alongside Fantasy Hero as a setting (or your own).

Mutants & Masterminds is going to have a FRPG expansion due out relatively soon. I'm going to be giving it a hard look if nothing else.

Both of those systems are incredibly flexible.

Skills are as important as you want them to be.

HERO is classless. M&M is too, so I'd expect the FRPG variant to be so as well. This means character design is wide open.

In all 3 RPGs, magic is a big or as little a factor as you choose to make it. While you can run almost any FRPG as low or high magic as you wish, these 3 don't penalize you (IOW, no additional work for DMs or Players) either way.

 

[Thanee]

Mutants & Masterminds is going to have a FRPG expansion due out relatively soon.

Nice.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Derro]

The Shadow of Yesterday

Here's the SRD in a wiki. Interesting stuff. It's indie, kinda quirky but seems like a really focused game. I haven't played it myself but I've read it and heard some actual play as well as a lot of good word of mouth.

Mongoose Runequest

Another SRD wiki. Plenty of crunch, skill based, tons of support. This is a BRP derivative and more focused on fantasy. Settings available are Elric/Hawkmoon, Lankhmar, Slaine, and of course Glorantha. The skill is basic enough to adapt to plenty other concepts with relative ease.

Somebody already mentioned Spirit of the Century. Here's the SRD.

Spirit of the Century is actually based on FUDGE although the lineage is less apparent in later editions. Here's the FUDGE SRD.

Good luck and good gaming.

 

[Nathal]

I am officially fed up with D&D and it's combat based system. I'm looking for something that is more skills based and with an emphasis on role-playing rather than combat. Preferably similar to the old Star Trek RPG by FASA.

I have a basic version written up myself based on it, but if it already exists, I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

What I am looking for:
Rules Light! - and I mean very light, less than 100 pages of material for all books combined wo9uld be super.
Skill based - where actions outside of combat require more than just a glossing over.
Combat variable - not the center of the stage, but easily integrated into the system.
Not GURPS - sorry I don't like GURPS, not elegant and too many rules (in the latest edition)
Other information: Does not have to be a generic system, but that would be a bonus. Monster design is quick and painless. Magic can be scaled to near non-existence without destroying the system. Not level based (but this isn't necessarily a deal breaker.).

I like running historically based anachronistic style games, where real world history can be altered slightly to make the world more believable. I don't like total reliance on magic (of any type) to make the system usable, but like having the option to make it available. Don't mind systems where classes are not "equal" just so everyone is the same (PC don't work for me). Can be modified to suit any unknowns, similar in make up to the original 1eAD&D, but with much less rule finagling.

Does this system even exist or should I start working on my generic translation of the old FASA system? Thanks for any help.

Give this a shot, as it's free: RPGNow.com - Goodman Games - Eldritch Quick Start Rules