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<blockquote data-quote="Alzrius" data-source="post: 2708877" data-attributes="member: 8461"><p>This is a topic I've been harping on quite a bit for the last few days, but I can't really get it out of my head.</p><p></p><p>Mainstream d20 (that is, Fantasy/Modern d20, and not BESM d20, M&M 2E, etc.) is probably one of the most flexible game engines I've ever seen. Given the level of complexity involved, it's incredible how it can handle such a wide range of genres and scenarios.</p><p></p><p>However, the d20 system's major failing point is when it tries to incorporate a high degree of power. "Epic" levels invariably fail at being truly epic, in regards to accomplishing truly cosmic feats that you see in various comics, anime, novels, etc.</p><p></p><p>Epic levels really only offer (monsters notwithstanding) epic feats, epic skill uses, and epic spells and magic items. Of those four things, only epic spells truly push the envelope in terms of power. A wizard with 200 levels isn't going to be able to <em>disintegrate</em> a continent. A fighter won't ever find a magic weapon that does enough damage to destroy a planet.</p><p></p><p>Is this a major problem? No. Most gamers that I've seen don't really seem to want to play with that level of ability. But that doesn't change the fact that, when you take the system past the "normal" power level, it increasingly fails to deliver the necessary breadth of power. Even given the plethora of resources available, I'll never be able to make a d20 character design of SSJ4 Goku (Upper_Krust's not-yet-available <em>Immortal's Handbook</em> notwithstanding...I hope). While I could use another gaming system for that (such as the Fuzion system in R. Talsorian Games's DBZ RPG), I don't <em>want</em> to use another system, I want to use the d20 system, since it's the system with the most compatible products.</p><p></p><p>With extremely few exceptions, no one particularly seems to be focusing on this issue. This probably focuses on the (aforementioned) point that cosmic d20 gaming doesn't seem to appeal to too many people. But however small it may be, the desire for it is still there, and it remains a void that the system has yet to properly fill.</p><p></p><p>I know it isn't out yet, but I'd really like a copy of <em>The Fantastic Science</em> when it comes out if this post is the Chosen One.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Alzrius, post: 2708877, member: 8461"] This is a topic I've been harping on quite a bit for the last few days, but I can't really get it out of my head. Mainstream d20 (that is, Fantasy/Modern d20, and not BESM d20, M&M 2E, etc.) is probably one of the most flexible game engines I've ever seen. Given the level of complexity involved, it's incredible how it can handle such a wide range of genres and scenarios. However, the d20 system's major failing point is when it tries to incorporate a high degree of power. "Epic" levels invariably fail at being truly epic, in regards to accomplishing truly cosmic feats that you see in various comics, anime, novels, etc. Epic levels really only offer (monsters notwithstanding) epic feats, epic skill uses, and epic spells and magic items. Of those four things, only epic spells truly push the envelope in terms of power. A wizard with 200 levels isn't going to be able to [i]disintegrate[/i] a continent. A fighter won't ever find a magic weapon that does enough damage to destroy a planet. Is this a major problem? No. Most gamers that I've seen don't really seem to want to play with that level of ability. But that doesn't change the fact that, when you take the system past the "normal" power level, it increasingly fails to deliver the necessary breadth of power. Even given the plethora of resources available, I'll never be able to make a d20 character design of SSJ4 Goku (Upper_Krust's not-yet-available [I]Immortal's Handbook[/I] notwithstanding...I hope). While I could use another gaming system for that (such as the Fuzion system in R. Talsorian Games's DBZ RPG), I don't [i]want[/i] to use another system, I want to use the d20 system, since it's the system with the most compatible products. With extremely few exceptions, no one particularly seems to be focusing on this issue. This probably focuses on the (aforementioned) point that cosmic d20 gaming doesn't seem to appeal to too many people. But however small it may be, the desire for it is still there, and it remains a void that the system has yet to properly fill. I know it isn't out yet, but I'd really like a copy of [I]The Fantastic Science[/I] when it comes out if this post is the Chosen One. [/QUOTE]
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