What game is the best simulationist game?

[Jahydin]

No mention of Hackmaster yet?

Need detailed rules on:
How to handle arrow wounds? Size modifiers to d10,000 Crit Tables? An exhaustive list of skills with varying degrees of mastery (and a system that makes it even harder to learn as your mastery increases)? A whole system on armor damage and how it affect AC? More realistic stat bonuses (Melee "To Hit" is based on Dex and Int for instance)? No combat rounds, just segments that tic up that you can act on depending on weapon speed?

I could go on an on. Even if you don't ever play it, it sure is a blast to read for those that love clever rules.

 

[Jd Smith1]

your tolerance for math and tables in play is unusually high.

The pursuit of the pure system brings out the best of a man....

 

[pemerton]

Another mention for Rolemaster. RuneQuest is also not bad. Classic Traveller was mentioned too, but my experience playing it over the past few years is that in certain key elements it is a bit less simulationist than you might think at first blush.

Anyone who like The Riddle of Steel might also like Burning Wheel. (Jake Norwood, the author of TRoS, wrote the foreword to the Gold edition of BW.)

 

[Thomas Shey]

Though it wasn't as good in a couple places as it could be, Aftermath! very much leaned into that.

 

[aia_2]

Please do not forget "sword's path" by Leading Edge: possibly the most detailed game for combat... The publisher is the same of pheonix commando already mentioned here above!

 

[GreyLord]

Not an RPG, but it sure plays as long as many of them.

World in Flames. the War Game. Just figuring out a month's logistics will drive you insane (well, not the hardcore wargamers...but it's pretty in depth).

 

[John R Davis]

Rolemaster for me, though haven't played some on the list.

 

[Mezuka]

It definitely simulates comic book reality better than any system I'm aware of. Not so much actual reality. For that, I'm going to go with HarnMaster Gold (HarnMaster 3e has some issues in this regard that keep me from nominating it).

Hello, I'm very interested in HarnMaster. Do you know the difference between the 3.5 pdf on Drivethru RPG and the Gold version? Why is Gold better?

 

[jdrakeh]

Hello, I'm very interested in HarnMaster. Do you know the difference between the 3.5 pdf on Drivethru RPG and the Gold version? Why is Gold better?

Gold is published and was authored by Harn creator Robin Crossby. 3.0 (Core) was published by Columbia Games after they parted ways with Crossby. I've not seen 3.5 by Columbia. And I wouldn't say that Gold is better than 3.0, it's just different (notably more detailed). Here are some comparisons.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

Not an RPG, but it sure plays as long as many of them.

World in Flames. the War Game. Just figuring out a month's logistics will drive you insane (well, not the hardcore wargamers...but it's pretty in depth).

I do love WiF. A few years I got my hands on a box set with all(?) the expansions. Planes in Flames. Ships in Flames. Africa in Flames. Maybe America in Flames... Not sure about the last one and I'm away from home so I can't check. It's unused; all the counters are still un-popped in the frames.

But I don't think I'll ever get to use it. Don't have enough table space. Nor a room I could leave it set up for the... I'm gonna say 5+ days needed to play it. Days spread across numerous weekends.

Big sigh.