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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Neonchameleon" data-source="post: 6057189" data-attributes="member: 87792">As a fan of GURPS, I couldn't disagree more.  The point buy is one of the two weakest parts.  And I don't know Champions, but claiming that M&M covers the superhero genre well is really not in line with my experience (which is, admittedly, of 1e).  Knowing how many ranks in a given skill Batman has is not in line with the superhero genre; he's the Goddamn Batman.  You just assume he's trained in ... just about anything and move on.  When I wanted to do my professional stage magician street level PC in M&M I forget how many skills she took.  In MHRP I'd just say "Covert d10, Psych d8" and give her "Watch the hand" as a distinction, and move on.  I wouldn't be spending points on escape artist, bluff, sleight of hand, etc.  And that isn't how superhero comics or movies work. As for the point buy actually being balanced, yeaaaahhhh.  It claims to be.  Generic and point buy doesn't mix (see the GURPS ultratech/strength issues for a clear example; a TL11 form fitting suit can give you a strength of 80 - way into the superpowered brick range).  Point buy is only balanced along the single axis that the points were designed for.  And I speak as someone with more GURPS books on his shelf than any other system.  The CharOp forum was at times ridiculous.  It was also the area that best understood how the rules of the game worked.  It was therefore invaluable if you didn't take it seriously.  The GM is used to playing a well designed system that doesn't land the game designer's job on his shoulders.  The problem is that optimising in a badly designed system is a Scylla and Chyribdis matter.  On one side you have a disruptive behaviour if you engage in it too much in some systems.  On the other side, people who aren't optimising at all are either RPing someone who is fishmalk-insane or not accepting the conceits of the setting they are roleplaying in and are therefore not roleplaying or rping in a setting that the character isn't invested in. What level of optimisation is desirable is a balance - and it's where you strike the balance that matters.  Optimising gets a pass because it is necessary - and desigining a system where optimisers can walk away with the game without serious effort merely shows that the game is badly designed.</blockquote>

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