Quote from: RomanJust wondering--

What's your favorite generic RPG system, and why?

No, no, no--I don't want to start arguments and flame wars and such. I don't want to know why "Game X" sucks. I just want to know which generic RPG systems you like to run / play, and why.

Thanks!

~Roman

GURPS and D20, with Hero coming in a close 3rd (but it seems to be out of favor these days).

I play generic systems exclusively (depending on whether or not you count D&D as generic because it uses the D20 system--which I am for purposes of this).

Cheers,
-E.

Is it too much to name one you wrote and are in the process of playtesting?

Aside from that, it depends on the feel I want. For gritty realism, GURPS, for thespy literary feeling, FATE.

I think PDQ needs more love, along with PiG's Impresa system.  I also like FATE (though I wasn't wild about its implementation with SotC).

But Risus is likely my favorite.

Might sound counterintuitive, but 1st edition D6 Star Wars. Yes, generic. I found I can adapt it to any genre within an hour by changing the skill and equipment lists.

Surprisingly, I like JAGS. Link below.

-Marco

Quote from: PremierMight sound counterintuitive, but 1st edition D6 Star Wars. Yes, generic. I found I can adapt it to any genre within an hour by changing the skill and equipment lists.

The D6 system was marketed as a "generic", multi-genre system some years back, wasn't it?

!i!

I like to use Hero if I feel the need for the game to be incredibly crunchy. If detailed combat is important, or if the players will benefit from having a very crisp and exact idea of what their special abilities will do.

I like GURPS if world is very familiar or less super-powered. I believe that's force of habit. GURPS handles wierd powers better now than it used to. GURPS was designed to kep the character sheet as simple as possible. That's laudible, but sometimes I can look at a GURPS sheet and not get really good idea of the character.

If we're playing in a high-energy world, with less emphasis on details, I like Savage Worlds. Especially if there are going to be large, chaotic skirmishes. SW boils it down to what's mst entertaining.

CORPS is a great balance of detail and simplicity. The only reason I use it less often is because it's less popular than other games, and I don't always feel like reteaching the rules again.

I love Fudge. When you catch the rythm of playing, it's simple, fast, and satisfying. I can use it in a setting where all the players feel very comfortable, or where the group itself is very tight and can gloss over something odd without losing momentum. If that isn't the case, I would probably pick something else.

I have similar guidelines for Fuzion. It's crunchier than Fudge, but it still takes a good bit of advance work to get it to hang together.

HDL is a new game that works in th same niche. It uses funky dice mechanics and a deck of cards, reminiscent of the Masterbook system to evoke somewhat high-powered, combat oriented roleplaying. I'm not sure it will prove more popular than Mastrbook, though. That's too bad. I like the supplemental cards.

BRP runs most easily for me, because it most closely imitates the way I analyze a problem in my head. My monograph copy is getting pretty tattered. I'm looking forward to Deluxe coming out soon.

The Ultime Power is an insane, awesome little generic game, losely related to MetaScape. Honestly, I can't recommend this game unless you truly have the inner metal to contain the real ultimate power. It's far too intense for your mere hobbiest gamer.

edit: I forgot that I enjoyed BESM 2nd. I played it a lot at cons. It was lighter than GURPS, but still satisfying. I haven't picked up the third edition. I know some folks like it better, but I don't think I would, and at them moment, I have a ton of othere games that fit that niche.

Well, I'm pretty fond of GURPS and that other game I've sworn off talking about of course.

But in the end my 100% system will probably get converted to a fair number of settings, 'cause, like Marco, I'm biased.

Quote from: RomanWhat's your favorite generic RPG system, and why?

Crunchy:  Hero System because it can handle almost anything and doesn't break down.

Light:  Fudge because of the plain English labels and dice resolution system.

Quote from: KrakaJakI like BESM 3rd.

It's got all the fussiness of GURPS, removes the ridicolously detailed combat and is very fun to play!

GURPS 3rd combat isn't "ridiculously detailed" at all, if you actualyl, you know, read that part where it says that Advanced Combat is optional and take it to heart.

Now, 4th on the other hand, I cannot say the same thing for.  Therefore, I dislike it, because I liked Basic Combat, and 4th is pretty much Advanced Combat with the only part left optional being the actual hex grid.

This is part of why GURPS 3rd Edition is my favorite generic system.

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaThe D6 system was marketed as a "generic", multi-genre system some years back, wasn't it?

Well, yes, even though I'm not sure if that marketing line came before or way after 1E D6 SW. My point is that I only have one single version of it designed for one single, rather specialised setting, and yet it's very easily convertable.

Is there a generic version of BRP or is it something you rip screaming from Cthulu or whatever?

Chaosium released BRP first as a little booklet in its boxed sets, then as a series of "monographs," their web-vended tape-bound products, and in November there will be a large, hardcover volume called Deluxe Basic Roleplaying.

Quote from: walkerpIs there a generic version of BRP or is it something you rip screaming from Cthulu or whatever?

In the past, I've managed to rip it very gently and willingly.  And, as Stu points out, Chaosium has finally gotten around to organising a fully developed generic toolkit game.  It's due to be released, oh, any ol' time now.

!i!

I've refrained from posting here because my favorite is quite obvious. My second is BRP and I can't wait for the deluxe book.

Quote from: J ArcaneI liked Basic Combat, and 4th is pretty much Advanced Combat with the only part left optional being the actual hex grid.

I like 3rd... well... before it became 3.5 with the compendiums. I like 4th better.

However your comment strikes me as absurd. Combat in 4th is modular, so much so that there are 4 different chapters on it with increasing complexity and detail. 'Combat Lite' in the 'Characters' book, 'Combat', 'Tactical Combat' and 'Special Combat Situations' in the 'Campaigns' book. Each of which you can pretty much take pieces and parts from.