No classes, no levels, OGL - how does that sound?

[Zappo]

A casual comment by Agnostic Paladin in the "More reasons to love Monte" thread made me realize that the only generic OGL system is currently D20. D20 is wonderful but many people often remark that they'd like a system without classes, without levels, or both. And in any case, while it probably can do anything well enough with enough work, it is definitely geared towards a heroic/epic gameplay.

So if I want to make a new game, and I want it to be based on an existing system so that I can attract more players, I have only one choice, and that is D20. What if I want my new game to have no classes or levels? I'll have to bend D20 backwards to make it do that.

Wouldn't it be cool to have a 100% OGL skill-based system? Like D&D for D20, it would have an OGL setting to begin with, but it wouldn't be limited to it.

So, tell me what you think. I probably should ask this on some other boards as well, since this is a D&D board and the interest in such a project is probably somewhat lower, but I don't frequent other big RPG boards. If someone wants to post a similar poll at some other forum, please do so and write the results here.

 

[Bagpuss]

You already have generic skill based games of all sorts, Hero, GURPS, Fuzion I'm not sure how OGL will would help them since I doubt 3rd party publishers would be that interested, since they don't support a large enough fan base.

Anything new is going to suffer even more, having seen D20 Modern I'm still wondering if that can be a success. I haven't heard of that many publishers rushing to support it only a few here and there.

 

[Zappo]

Hey, you who voted 'other'! I said 'specify', too!

 

[Bagpuss]

I just did above!

 

[Ravellion]

Maybe, but I don't care about the setting, I jsut want to see how the rules work first.

Rav

 

[FungiMuncher]

I voted 'other' so here's my specification.

As a DM, I'm finding that having levels is really convienient. Sure, the quality of the system could be improved, but it does help with preparation time.

I would, however, like a more customizable class system. The number of prestige classes is crazy! And too many times players multiclass into just one level of a class to take the front loaded abilities (Ranger, anyone?) Something a bit more smoother or cleaner would be nice.

I'd imagine a game with just one class, say, 'Adventurer' and then you'd choose abilities based on the character concept. It would be a task balancing the abilities, however.

FM

 

[Olive]

I'd imagine a game with just one class, say, 'Adventurer' and then you'd choose abilities based on the character concept. It would be a task balancing the abilities, however.

well, in CoC d20, you all play what is effectively an expert...

can someone give me an example of a classless/leveless game... i've only played DnD and Warhammer, with a little bit of Chaosium CoC...

 

[Crothian]

well, in CoC d20, you all play what is effectively an expert...

can someone give me an example of a classless/leveless game... i've only played DnD and Warhammer, with a little bit of Chaosium CoC...

QAGS, Story Teller (argueibily), Torg (I think)

 

[dglass]

I played GURPS for a long time before I grew tired of. I still have the books as they are great to read but I think it is easier with levels. Using classes I'm not too sure. Classes seem to keep things focused. However, there is one player who always has a character concept that doesn't fit neatly into any pidgeon hole.

 

[Tonguez]

D20 has a thing called Feats and feats provide a wonderful mechanic for building a classless system.

We already have the Toughness Feat(s) affecting HP and the Training feats generating skill points. So Hp and Skills are already covered and everything else can fall into place from there (ie BAb, Def, Saves are all Skills)

I was toying with the idea of a single base class which gains 10 feats at creation and one feat per 2000XP (variable for game 'power' level (eg a Supers Game might have a new feat per 500XP)

Point buys get too complicated after a while (which is why I switched from Gurps to 3e)