I've got to be the dissenting opinion here. I honestly prefer the approach that d20 Modern uses. Don't get me wrong - I think Spycraft d20 is great; I was a Top Secret/S.I. fan back in the day, and I'd love to play a d20 version.
However, there's one thing I can't do in Spycraft d20 that I can do in d20 Modern - model my friends and I accurately as d20 characters. In a more traditional class structure, it's hard to pin us down - we're obviously not Fighters, Monks, Wheelmen, etc. If you track us by what we're good at, though, we break down nicely into the d20 Modern ability-focused classes.
Let's take a look at my friends and I. I figure we're old enough to be 3rd level characters.
- Dan, the big guy who's friends with
everyone, to the point where random people recognize him from work; he's a Charismatic Hero 2/Strong Hero 1.
- Dennis, the techie who plays soccer, loves to drive fast, and is very lucky; he's a Smart Hero 1/Fast Hero 2.
- Seth, the writer who's easy to get along with, well-read, and knows just enough martial arts to spar dangerously; he's a Smart Hero 1/Charismatic Hero 1/Fast Hero 1, with the Martial Arts feat.
- Maggie, the aspiring comic artist who, like Dan, is well-known from work and easy to get along with, and has a heart of gold; she's a Dedicated Hero 1/Charismatic Hero 2.
- Z, my wife, an aspiring artist who's a jack-of-all-trades and has a wide circle of friends (along with a stubborn streak a mile wide
); she's a Smart Hero 1/Charismatic Hero 1/Dedicated Hero 1.
- Finally, me, the relatively shy computer programmer who doesn't excel at any physical tasks. Smart Hero 3 all the way.
I just realized they're not dancing! They're marching! They're coming for me! Run! RUN!!!
