True 20 questions

[ValhallaGH]

I was just wondering if there was a system that had the advantages of using neither.

There is, and you're already familiar with it. Mutants and Masterminds. You can run almost anything with it, but you're probably not going to use it for all the disadvantages of a system that doesn't use a structured level mechanic.
Primus, character creation is intricate and time consuming, even when a player knows what they want to make.
Secondus, there is always someone wanting to abuse the flaws system to achieve greater levels of power.
Tertius, it's a lot of information to expect your players to absorb, especially when the setting and game style impose a number of mandatory limitations in excess of the base rules.

Depending on what you want to do, and how you feel about rolling a single d20 to game, M&M and True20 can fill just about all of your gaming needs. Every now and then you're better off using some odd system (like Deadlands) but you can do even those types of games fairly well using either True20 or M&M.

 

[buzz]

That's unfortunate. Do you know of any completely class-less systems fot fantasy?

Burning Wheel
The Shadow of Yesterday (free online)
FATE (free online)
Reign
HeroQuest and Mythic Russia
Artesia: Adventures in the Known World
Hero's Banner: The Fury of Free Will
Questers of the Middle Realms

 

[Skywalker]

Why sould supernatural powers always be balnced with physical mediocity? There are other ways to mke fun stories.

True 20 is flexible enough to do this. For example, an Adept 5/Warrior 3 can have Acrobatics, Climb, Jump, Stealth and Swim as skills. The result is that you have a physically trained magic using PC.

What True 20 does do is balance combat with magic with skills on a per level basis i.e. a point buy system. It doesn't balance these off one another in relation to an entire concept. If you want to be good at combat and magic take a bit of both and choose the most suitable skills.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

I'm a little late to this thread, but I'd just like to say that I am also a supporter of True20. I agree with most of the pro's and con's listed.

As to the damage system and the clarity of the text in the book (specifically the first printing), I agree with barsoomcore that it has issues. Unlike barsoomcore, though, I was able to figure it out without help and get confirmation that my understanding was correct. That's only because I'm smarter than barsoomcore...I just felt that needed to be said.