What RPG systems do you like?

[Davelozzi]

For d20/OGL - Spycraft, D&D, although M&M is pretty cool too.

My favorite non-d20 is Alternity. I also like the Feng Shui system a lot for it's ease of use, but my opinon is based on three one-shots that I've played it, I'm not really familiar with the entire rules set.

My opinions are biased as when I was growing up I was a TSR slut and rarely checked out other companies' games. I bought Shadowrun for the setting but never cared for the rules. These days I'm a lot more likely to check out other stuff but, although the fact that d20 is so widespread and in so many invarnations makes it too easy not to.

I would really like to check out Ars Magica. It's one of the few games that I feel like I really missed out by not picking it up when I could've.

 

[Golem Joe]

Lejendary Adventure
Savage Worlds
7th Sea

 

[maddman75]

My favorite non d20 system is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which runs on the Cinematic Unisystem. First, the author CJ Carella is just great - he can make reading about combat modifiers entertaining. The system itself emulates the feel of the show almost perfectly, with the heros kicking ass and taking names, while the "white hat" friends try not to get killed and make witty remarks. It is very easy to learn and intuitive. You could set a Buffy character sheet in front of a non gamer and they'd have a good idea what their character could do.

While it does a great job of having a game pretty much like the show, with a PC as a slayer and the others as her friends, you aren't limited to that. Even for people who don't like the show I still recommend the game. If "modern action-filled horror game" sounds fun, you can forget that it says "buffy" on the cover if that really bothers you. You needn't follow along with the show's canon if it doesn't turn you or the players on.

 

[CleverName]

My Wednesday night game fluctuates back between HERO and D&D. So I gotta plug HERO. It's a slog for most people to grok, but once you do...well, you've heard the story. Also I love the company and Steve "the machine" Long. Most impressive company back from the dead.

I also really like M&M. I have not got a chance to play or run it yet though.

I really enjoy systems like MAGE's magick system, but came very disenchanted with the metapork...

 

[Silverglass]

Empire of the Petal Throne
3E D&D (over the earlier versions)
1st Edition Runequest (Glorantha was the best Game setting ever IMHO)
Cyberpunk (original)
Ars Magica
Call of Cthulu
It Came From the Late Late Show (Stunt Doubles rock)

 

[Numion]

Cyberpunk 2020. Nice straightforward and pretty simple system. Deadly.

Rolemaster aka Chartmaster aka Rulemonster. Nice to play, even though overtly complex and too specific at times (pole vaulting as it's own skill?). Charts galore, but thats part of the games allure for some. I'd never ever ever run it myself, though. As a player with a good GM it's enjoyable.

WFRP. In need of 2e, seriously. Wonky rules, but I'd mention it because it's a really ooold system, and as such very good. Very athmospheric. Great example how rules can enhance roleplaying, even though people here tend to claim that rules and RP are totally independent.

Those are also the games a grew up on. For 3 years it's been 3e mostly

 

[Arnwyn]

I like:

- D&D/d20 for fantasy gaming,

- Fuzion for futuristic gaming.

 

[fusangite]

1st Edition Runequest (Glorantha was the best Game setting ever IMHO)

That's true too! But I think we're just being asked about system.

 

[Voadam]

I would really like to check out Ars Magica. It's one of the few games that I feel like I really missed out by not picking it up when I could've.

Get it legally for free as a pdf at www.rpgnow.com

 

[Voadam]

d20 and D&D are great systems. Recently I've been looking around at other spin offs or just plain stand alone RPG systems. (My personal goal has been looking for other systems which give a little less "pulp" feel than standard D&D). I've seen Harn and YAGS (http://www.bifrost.demon.co.uk/games/yags/). And I was curious as to what favorite RPG systems and spinoffs the community has. So, query in an state your mind. Homemade systems are fine too. What other high quality systems do you like and why?

I like warhammer FRP for the quick fierce combat with evocative crits.

I like character creation and xp system for Shadowrun.

Ditto for Vampire the Masquerade and GURPS.

VtM is a good system for supernatural vampires, but not for non supernatural humans. GURPS is great for gritty games, but less so IMO for high powered heroic ones.

Paladium allows the inner powergamer rules cruncher to go wild, but quickly ends up with over the top characters and the combat system is a bit of a mess.

Ars Magica is great for its magic system, buth I only raided it for the magic sections and never played it so I can't say about how it fares.

Earthdawn had great magic stuff but I never got past the step mechanics and simply raided it for its magic descriptions and options.