Since I started the last thread on this, I feel the need to at least comment.  I have run a few sessions with my players, and due to a bit of luck, the party was fairly well balanced in terms of starting power.  We did have a ghost mutant who was a former elite soldier, but we got lucky on the psi sword and he was only doing 1d10 with it.  The assault rifle and sniper skills he came with were more a factor.  We only had one character that came up a bit "lame" and that was because he was a former farmer, but had a very good endurance stat.  So all worked out regarding basic balance.  
   
      I like the game and how it played,  but it did seem a bit less deadly in game than I was expecting, I think that was because we had a large group of characters (several players had two characters expecting deaths).   After 4 game sessions we have had a death, and that was due to splitting the party while investigating the camp of a tribe of warmorts (sometimes you critically fail that stealth roll and the clown horn you didnt see under your foot still works great).   I think the game has the creator's heart and soul poured into it, I know at one time he was a nigh one man show.   I like that the game is gritty.   It is very similar in tone to Darwin's world as mentioned,  I like the advancement system as well.    The game played pretty straight forward for us, and I would certainly recommend.    It is a bit gonzo, it reminds me A LOT of a dirty gamma world.

Quote from: LiferGamer;1143457trechriron - either here or in a new thread, care to share and MAYBE rate PA games?  I've been itching for some Thundar the Barbarian style stuff...

  I probably lack his breadth or depth of experience, but what sort of PA game are you looking to run, and for something like Thundar, what did you have in mind?  I do not feel I can rate all the games I have, because I have only played 4 of them.

Quote from: oggsmash;1143575I probably lack his breadth or depth of experience, but what sort of PA game are you looking to run, and for something like Thundar, what did you have in mind?  I do not feel I can rate all the games I have, because I have only played 4 of them.

I'm down for less mutants, but a balanced Magic vs. Science setting, less Post-Post Apocalypse like RIFTS, more Gamma World.  Hell, Palladium After the Bomb reskinned without Furries has some appeal.

Quote from: LiferGamer;1143457trechriron - either here or in a new thread, care to share and MAYBE rate PA games?  I've been itching for some Thundar the Barbarian style stuff...

You're wish is my command...

My list is not that extensive. I'm a huge generic system nerd, so much of my "home brew" or one-shot gaming takes place with a generic. However, I have a short list...

Apocalypse World
Remains one of my favorite GM experiences. It forces you to flex some improv and creative muscles. Unique approach that is mostly "classic" rpg with some "story" procedural framing. AW (kind of) teaches story-gamers how to classic. Pretty simple, so you can hack it with various flavors of which you can find TONS of ports all over the place. This game leans heavy on the flavor of the recent Mad Max movie with a touch of the supernatural if you wish. Some of the best GM advice in here for any GM of ANY game.

Atomik Highway
Lots of flavor, simple d6 dice pool where 6 is a success, you roll attribute as pool, skill adds points to up any die roll. Simple fun ideas within if a little frustrating on the layout (you must get into the book for a basic system overview, which I prefer upfront...). A handful of supplements and solid spirit. This is a more "Gamma World" with mutants and marauders.

Barbarians of Lemuria
A fast, simple system. Great ideas and advice. Geared to sword and sorcery but brimming with that Thundar the Barbarian feel. Not too hard to adapt to a "so far in the future we went into the past" storyline. Also, Everywhen is the generic version of BOL with some new bells and whistles. If you like the BOL approach, Everywhen could make a PA port easier.

Darwins World
Made for various systems (I own the True20 one), including 3.x d20, modern d20, and Savage Worlds. Tons of influences in here with a cool setting. Covey and Davis's love of Gamma World shines through. It's a touch darker in tone, however. If you're familiar with one of the supported systems, it's a great way to kick off a classic PA game with little fuss.

Unhallowed Metropolis
For a different apocalypse than the standard fare, UM really stands out. Victorian England after a horrible zombie plague + blight. Lots of gas masks, coal towers, steampunk, classic horror elements ala Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula, et al. A simple d10 pool system inspired yet simplified from Vampire days of yore. Lots of style in here and the setting invokes some great adventure seeds.

GURPS After the End
If you like detail, and some "physics emulation" in your RPG soup, it's hard to beat GURPS. These series of PDFs help you hit the ground running in a PA GURPS style. TONS of details, ideas on long term endurance, scavenging, radiation, mutations, and probably any other PA subject you could throw a stop sign at. GURPS wears gritty like a worn-in leather jacket studded with shrunken skulls and brimming with sharp metal.

I've run a lot of GURPS, have a large library but never grabbed After the End.  I may dig into Apocolypse World and Unhallowed Metropolis just for the reading.

Lots to chew on, I appreciate it.