I'm looking for a game, I don't know what game, but I can say I'm burnt out on Fate, Cypher System, and Savage Worlds
Universal rpg
Classless
Cinematic/dramatic task resolution. Preferably no combat mini-games.
Easy dice resolution system. Preferably avoid rolling more than 2 dice, so dicepools are out.
Skill based system with organic growth like BRP (But not BRP)
Perk and Quirk type system like GURPS (But not GURPs)
Rules light to rules medium.
Can handle any genre, or nearly any genre, at least the common ones like fantasy, sci-fi, pulp action, etc.
Low GM prep and/or easy on the fly NPC generation.
Thanks for any help.
Any recommendations?
It's not for everyone, but you may want to try genreDiversion 3E (http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=104), which covers all those bases. In fact, if you PM me, I'll send you a free download.
Edit: I am a doorknob.
Quote from: tenbones;959411Savage Worlds - It's cheap. Does everything you listed.
Read the first sentence.
Try Fantasy Age/Dragon Age and build your own game out of the concepts. I found the core mechanics very flexible but it is definitely a DiY kind of thing at the moment. For example my Majestic Stars (https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0Bx9oLF40m-b8aTlIYkRKdXZyMUk) or Age of Star Wars (https://dustinanddragons.com/).
Your exclusions pretty much rule out anything I'd recommend.
How about something listed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_role-playing_game_system . Eden Studio's Unisystem was popular 10-15 years ago. I played a session of All Flesh Must Be Eaten, once, and it seemed pretty light and intuitive.
I'm becoming a big fan of Revolution D100 lately. I described it to a friend as "BRP, dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century". It's recognizable as a BRP/Mongoose RuneQuest-offshoot, but with some neat new ideas. Instead of the endless skill lists of BRP-based games, it's got a nice, tidy list, with Talents and Stunts which can be assigned to various skills. Combat is modularly complex from simple "I roll, I win", to drawn-out, bone crunching tactical combat. Likewise, the basic "combat" rules are extrapolated to any sort of conflict (indeed, they're actually called Conflict rules in this game). You use the same Conflict system to fast-talk a guard, fight an orc, or survive a trek in the desert.
Definitely worth a look. And there's a free SRD to take a look and see if you like it: http://www.alephtargames.com/images/ogl/rd100_srd.zip
Universal RPG with Perks and Quirks. Hmmm.... I loath Perks and Quirks, so can't recommend anything.
Mythic: The core of the game is pretty simple really.
FU: About as light as it gets.
Universalis: Its a needlessly big book to get across a simple concept.
TFT: Starts with fantasy trappings. But it can cover pretty much anything.
Marvel Superheroes: TSR. By its very nature its universal and the system is darn easy to learn and use.
Theres a couple of others but the above come to mind when these discussions come up.
Also honourable mention has to go to D&D since its easily adaptable to about any genre.
Why the Universal System requirement? Are you going to be doing some kind of cross-genre megaversal campaign or are you going to be moving to several different campaigns and want to keep one system so the players can keep everything straight? Just curious.
If not Savage Worlds, then Cinematic Unisystem or regular Unisystem might work. Also some version of West End Games D6 system like mini-six or OpenD6 might work, they have several genre books for it. Marvel Super Heroes (FASERIP) as mentioned, fits most requirements.
You also may want to take a look at Washbourne's Barbarians of Lemuria. The engine is simple and expandable and has hacks for different genres (Dogs of War, Barbarians of the Aftermath, etc). You'd have to build your own for some genres, but in that system, it's not hard.
Quote from: CRKrueger;959459Why the Universal System requirement? Are you going to be doing some kind of cross-genre megaversal campaign or are you going to be moving to several different campaigns and want to keep one system so the players can keep everything straight? Just curious.
The latter, little time, don't want to keep learning mechanics just because we want to change genres. Thus universal.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I have some reading to do to figure out if any of these will work for my group.
What's wrong with BRP? Just tired of it? It has some options that can make the game more cinematic (or at least graphic) like the major wounds table.
Fo me, a lot of what makes a game 'universal' is essentially marketing. That is, I could take a bunch of game systems for specific genres but utilise them effectively in different genres. Champions does this already, insofar that it's originally designed as a supers game, but quickly worked itself into a universal HERO system. You could arguably do the same thing with Mutants & Masterminds on the same basis. Call of Cthulhu is 'timeless' in it's backstory so, aside from working out appropriate skills, it can be easily put to use in different eras at least. Traveller is a sci-fi game, but at different technological levels and occasional bolt-on systems for magic, etc, it can pretty much function as 'universal' (literally!). It is worth mentioning Mythras as an intended universal system but like Savage Worlds and FATE there is actually a notable style of play to it (with combat manoeuvres, etc). As I say, it's often just a case of marketing and supplemental support.
I don't believe Universal exists. Every generic system seems to do some genres and some playstyles better than others.
Based on your requirements, I would go with Unisystem. I've been repeatedly impressed with actual play with Unisystem which is kinda paper thin as a system, but apparently robust enough to handle whatever we were doing with enough flexibility so that the GM tweaked stuff easily to achieve a particular style.
However, if you are looking for a free fantasy RPG that fits your criteria, I highly suggest Warrior, Rogue & Mage. It also has a ton of free supplement shiznack.
http://www.stargazergames.eu/games/warrior-rogue-mage/
Try JAGS or BRTC's CORPS or BRTC's EABA. These all seek to be GURPS but not GURPS to one extent or another. EABA is probably the most universal.
Flying Mice has converted their Star Cluster system to a number of settings but it's more like BRP in the eighties than GURPS or HERO. There's even a baseball league system called Tools of Ignorance.
Why did you burn out on SW, Fate and Cypher?
You might want to check out OneDice by Cakebread and Walton. Simple, but has the bits I think you maybe looking for. It has a generic book, plus a ton of genre books(Pulp, cyberpunk, fantasy, supers and etc). Check out the quick start on drivethru. (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/143309/OneDice-Quickstart)
There's the WOIN stuff. Crunchy but not too crunchy. Mechanically solid rules.
well you could try megaversal system / palladium system
Quote from: Deathbydoughnut;959407I'm looking for a game, I don't know what game, but I can say I'm burnt out on Fate, Cypher System, and Savage Worlds
Universal rpg
Classless
Cinematic/dramatic task resolution. Preferably no combat mini-games.
Easy dice resolution system. Preferably avoid rolling more than 2 dice, so dicepools are out.
Skill based system with organic growth like BRP (But not BRP)
Perk and Quirk type system like GURPS (But not GURPs)
Rules light to rules medium.
Can handle any genre, or nearly any genre, at least the common ones like fantasy, sci-fi, pulp action, etc.
Low GM prep and/or easy on the fly NPC generation.
Thanks for any help.
Any recommendations?
Your specs are ridiculously restrictive! I love Mini6 but it's bags-o-dice and not really "perk & quirk".
Hmmm... I don't
think you've excluded Unisystem/Cinematic Unisystem, as seen in All Flesh Must Be Eaten, Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG et al. Maybe try that.
Edit: Heavily ninja'd... guess I was right anyway.
Cakebread and Walton's OneDice fits your bill. As a bonus it is really easy to create new worlds and settings for it.