Underrated RPGs

[Starfox]

Heavy Gear. Great worldbuilding, really solid rules, and scales between characters and vehicles well.

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I looked at this for my Crimson Skies back in the day. Had the aerial system been a little better, I would have used it.

 

[aramis erak]

The TL;DR version is that they're two very different game experiences because of a few seemingly small changes--in particular to how Body Armor and Karma work, but in some other areas, as well.

The feel's not that difference for a one-shot, but campaign play really gets different. Advancement happens much more often, but with far less impact, in Advanced, while MSH is slower, but in huge chunks.

A close reading of the three really reveals the Revised Basic edition to be a somewhat scaled back version of Advanced rather than an upscaled version of the Original. Revised still has a lot of the unwanted (for me) baggage of Advanced without any of the merits that distinguish play in Original.

The publishing order, however, was MSH (1984), RMSH (1985), AMSH (1986). The changes were requested by players... or so TSR claimed.
I've also run AMSH with Ultimate Powers Book and Realms of Magic; RoM really changes the feel with only minor tweaks as well.

 

[LyleTheLloyd]

My choice is Paranoia. It's one of my favorite table toppers and hardly anyone plays it. I've been dying to get it going.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

My other pick is Wild Sea. It's kind of PbtAish but with a much more detailed character creation system. The setting is awesome. Post Appocalyptic world where the plant life has taken over the planet. Player characters are a crew in a ship that cuts its way across the canopy (which rapidly regrows.) Fantastic character options like being a spider colony, a cactus person, or a being formed from junk and spare parts. Amazing game!

I believe it's a hack of Blades in the Dark, which some may argue is a hack of PbtA
Setting definitely awesome. Someone gifted me the kickstarter HC, and it's a work of art in and of itself - even if it is landscape orientation.

 

[Keith Langley]

Radiance Role Playing Game is a favorite of mine. Published in 2008, it borrows from 3rd and 4th editions of D&D, add some steampunk and retro sci fi, and packages it in an elegant system with meaningful choices at every level-up. And, the pdf is free.

 

[Atomoctba]

My choice is Paranoia. It's one of my favorite table toppers and hardly anyone plays it. I've been dying to get it going.

Do not die more than six times, citizen.

 

[dbolack]

Whispering Vault
Khaotic

 

[jdrakeh]

Khaotic

Oh, man! Now there's a name I haven't heard for a long time! I was/am a huge fan of Marquee Press's games, but Khaotic was the absolute best; a truly original game premise that, when combined with the house system's mechanics, was decades ahead of its time.

 

[LyleTheLloyd]

Do not die more than six times, citizen.

Your orders will be obeyed to the letter, Friend Computer.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

Do not die more than six times, citizen.

Dying is treason!