MNblockhead
A Title Much Cooler Than Anything on the Old Site
I will third Cyborg Commando. I actually played a demo with Gary Gygax at Gen Con. I didn't know anything about the game and wasn't that interested in sci fi games at the time. I was in high school and in awe with Gary and wanted to get his signature (still have issue 1 of Polyhedron with Gary's signature on the cover). At the end of the session, I lied about how I liked that game but had to get money from my parents. Then I avoided his both the rest of the convention.
Recently, the game I most loved the idea of but hated to actually try to run was Mage the Ascension. Poorly organized and explained rules drowned in setting fluff. I think the authors of the World of Darkness system just use TTRPGs as a venue for their fiction writing. It is what has really driven me to become a system-first consumer at this point in my gaming life. I would much rather play a great system with a bland or stupid setting than a wonderful and rich setting with obtuse, poorly organized rules.
I will caveat this by saying, however, that this comes from the perspective of running the game. I'd happily play in just about any game with the right game master. I also realize that their are many people who would could make similar complaints about games I love. And it is easy to make these complaints because I find the most TTRPGs do a poor job at clearly explaining and organizing their rules.
Recently, the game I most loved the idea of but hated to actually try to run was Mage the Ascension. Poorly organized and explained rules drowned in setting fluff. I think the authors of the World of Darkness system just use TTRPGs as a venue for their fiction writing. It is what has really driven me to become a system-first consumer at this point in my gaming life. I would much rather play a great system with a bland or stupid setting than a wonderful and rich setting with obtuse, poorly organized rules.
I will caveat this by saying, however, that this comes from the perspective of running the game. I'd happily play in just about any game with the right game master. I also realize that their are many people who would could make similar complaints about games I love. And it is easy to make these complaints because I find the most TTRPGs do a poor job at clearly explaining and organizing their rules.