The Best Game of All Time...

[Wik]

Edition Wars suck. This thread isn't an edition war. It's about games that will never exist.

Simply describe your idea of the best RPG of all time, probably by mixing and matching good qualities of other games. You don't have to know how these qualities would mix in real life - that's the work for some imaginary game designer!

The Rules:

1) You can't just say one game is the best game of all time. You could say (for example) "4e, but I don't like minions, so it would have better minion rules"). You should be listing multiple games/house rules/whatever.

2) Keep it short. No super-huge lists. Or, if you do, don't expect me to read 'em.

3) The most important Rule: No disagreeing with other posters. You can add/suggest to other posts, and ask questions... but no downright "you're wrong". This is, after all, everyone's unique opinion on the best game of all time!

Have fun!

 

[Wik]

Wikkerrun Worlds

A rules-light game with a lot of customization choices, set in a world of the GM's devising.

1. Multi-Action rules included in the game, so PCs can try as many actions as they'd like (taken from the d6 system)

2. Easy to create monsters/traps/game elements - preferably things that can be created on the fly (Savage Worlds springs to mind)

3. Character Customization Options, in a loose sort of system (I'm thinking Savage Worlds). Has to include advantages and disadvantages (a la Serenity)

4. Can support gritty play, and is one where PCs have to worry about the accumulation of gear (Dark Sun and d20 Apocalypse are both contenders, here)

5. Very quick to learn rules set (d6 system)

6. A magic system that is limited at times, fun to use, and not an instant solution for every problem in the game (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay is the one in my mind, but Call of Cthulu d20 or Iron Heroes d20 could also work).

7. Optional rules for random PC elements (Omega World d20, or Dark Sun's wild talents).

 

[weem]

You have mentioned these in your list, but they are the 3 "big ones" for me...

- Rules light

- Lots of Character customization/options

- Easy NPC/Monster/Encounter creation (tools to help perhaps)


---to clarify---

I think it takes more than this (the 3 I listed) to make the "Best Game Ever" these are just 3 things I really like. I could only create the "Best Game Ever" for me, and no one else might like it - who knows, hehe

 

[Cadfan]

I don't think a single game can cover all possible bases. And I think the most important thing for a game to do is to figure out what kind of game it wants to be, and what makes that kind of game fun, and then to make sure the actual experience of playing the game focuses on it.

With that in mind, here are my top three, in no particular order:

Og: Unearthed
Faerie Tale
4e D&D

Each of these knows what it wants to be, and does its best to be it.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

--A heroic fantasy game with an awesome explicit setting, but with mechanics that can be easily refluffed to fit others.

--A simple unified ruleset that balances realism, abstraction and game balance. (Characters should do cool stuff, but not survive a lava lap; if you call 'em hit points, keep 'em static so that the term actually means something.)

--Enough options to be interesting, but not so many as to be overwhelming. (Class powers/abilities and feats are good, but having both is too much.)

--A level-based system that allows customization, but where no level is obviously better than another.

 

[El Mahdi]

Well, here's my shopping list. May not be possible, as well as never exist, but here goes anyways ... (listed in order of priority) ...

• Realistic. - I want the rules to model "realistic" action as much as possible, within the confines of maintaining a fast play tempo.
• Versatile. - I want the rules to be mechanically flexible enough to model any character concept imaginable, and any genre or setting assumption.
• Understandable and Intuitive rules. - I don't necessarily need "Rules Light", but I do want a consistent mechanic that's basically applied in practically any situation. That allows for a lot of rules and rule complexity, but the intuitiveness means that they are easily remembered and applied in game play. 3E's D20 mechanic was a good example, but even 3E added too much complexity IMO.
• Quick and Speedy play. - I want the rules to enable game play to remain quick and speedy, not get boged down in over complexity. Even though this is the last one listed priority wise, I want this to be a consideration at every stage of design. This isn't the most important factor, but the rules need to be as fast as possible with the above factors being priority. Balanced but Weighted.

 

[Ourph]

My perfect RPG...

A gothic style adventure RPG a' la Robert E. Howard's Solomon Kane stories. The rules would combine 4e's Daily/Encounter/At-will power system and attack/defense rules for combat with Dogs in the Vineyard's dice pool/bidding task resolution system for everything else.

The setting material would be written by Phil Gallagher, Graeme Davis and Anthony Ragan.

It would be packaged with an android DM (programmed with Gary Gygax's DMing skills) ready to run a game at a moment's notice.

The package would also include an android version of me that could go to work, do laundry and mow the lawn, thus freeing up the hours necessary to fully enjoy the gaming experience.

 

[Wik]

My perfect RPG...

A gothic style adventure RPG a' la Robert E. Howard's Solomon Kane stories. The rules would combine 4e's Daily/Encounter/At-will power system and attack/defense rules for combat with Dogs in the Vineyard's dice pool/bidding task resolution system for everything else.

The setting material would be written by Phil Gallagher, Graeme Davis and Anthony Ragan.

It would be packaged with an android DM (programmed with Gary Gygax's DMing skills) ready to run a game at a moment's notice.

The package would also include an android version of me that could go to work, do laundry and mow the lawn, thus freeing up the hours necessary to fully enjoy the gaming experience.

Please keep the game discussion at least sort of realistic.

how can an android mow the lawn? I've seen Bladerunner, and I saw no lawns.

 

[Rolflyn]

Torg, set c. 2010 instead of c. 1990

 

[Lackhand]

Why, the one I'm working on, linked from my signature, naturally!