If I could create my 'perfect' game system, I would start with the mechanics system chaosium used in ringworld and clean up a few glitches.

Character creation would be point based and have a healthy list of skills, advantages and disadvantages like gurps.

It would use a variety of dice for damage and other factors. No "just a d6/d20 or any of that, dammit gamers collect all sorts of dice, they should have some systems that let them use 'em all!

Hit locations and damage multiples depending on area (I.E. bullet to head does more damage than bullet to thigh) would be a must. So would optional bleeding rules.

Armor rules would reflect that wearing a steel breastplate may stop the damage from sharp, pointy weapons but you need padding under it to stop heavy, blunt damage. I.E. a breastplate might stop all damage from a sword thrust of swing, but it will at most just reduce the damage from a warhammer or heavy club, the padding under it is what stops the heavy impact damage.

I know I'll never see a perfect system, but I can dream, dammit.

What would your perfect system be like?

There is no such thing as a perfect system, unless you only play one sort of game.

There are such things as a comfort zone of mechanics and setting elements, though. Which is what I think this is about.

The elements I like are:

Hit points. Plain old HP. Although not "realistic", I think theyre very reliable and gameable.

Characters that develop from neophyte to veteran in play, rather than before play.

Modular development strategies for characters. And here, I'm really talking about the ability to pick things from a list of options to create a character.

All control over setting elements in the hands of the GM; Emphasis on fantasy.

When I started work on JAGS, I wanted something that was like GURPS but a bit more scalable (in specific ways). I also wanted a system that had a few elements such as:
1. The better you hit the more damage you tend to do/the harder you are to hit the less damage you tend to take.
2. There was a way to distinguish high-skilled characters from relatively low skilled ones in a way that wasn't as annoying as just having a low skill roll.
3. Something that had a solid tactical combat system with a lot of variation in how characters could be built to perform.

-Marco

Quote from: Abyssal MawThere are such things as a comfort zone of mechanics and setting elements, though.

Nah, I don't believe that either. I like games as diverse as Burning Wheel and HeroQuest. One's heavy-crunch and gritty, the other's light and cinematic. I also like Nicotine Girls, which is a far cry from either in setting.

But I'll say again: if you only like one sort of game, there's probably a perfect system for you.

Quote from: droogNah, I don't believe that either. I like games as diverse as Burning Wheel and HeroQuest. One's heavy-crunch and gritty, the other's light and cinematic. I also like Nicotine Girls, which is a far cry from either in setting.

But I'll say again: if you only like one sort of game, there's probably a perfect system for you.

But those are all swine games which make you feel really special because theyve been endorsed. How are those any different if the real reason you play them is so you can pat yourself on the back?

Nicotine girls. haha.

Quote from: Abyssal MawBut those are all swine games which make you feel really special because theyve been endorsed. How are those any different if the real reason you play them is so you can pat yourself on the back?

I'm sorry, I don't subscribe to your definition. I could just have easily have said, in retrospect, Pendragon and Villains & Vigilantes – dickhead.

Quote from: droogI'm sorry, I don't subscribe to your definition. I could just have easily have said, in retrospect, Pendragon and Villains & Vigilantes – dickhead.

hahah. I was going to link to the funny "Jeff Dee at the Forge booth" story from a couple of years ago but I can't find it now.

Quote from: Abyssal Mawhahah. I was going to link to the funny "Jeff Dee at the Forge booth" story from a couple of years ago but I can't find it now.

A true classic!

Link provided: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=3012.msg29142#msg29142

Cheers,
-E.

Now what does that story, which I know, have to do with my game preferences? Are you going to extend your tag to anything designed by Greg Stafford (because you know, Ron Edwards likes him) or Jeff Dee (because of that story)?

Why don't you want to admit that you just have narrow tastes in games? I won't hold it against you.

I'm not criticicizing your game preferences, I'm just saying two things.

1) Your'e as limited as everyone -- or anyone else. Pendragon and Villians and Vigilantes have also been specifically endorsed by the Forgies. In the sense that I only care about adventure games that emphasize fantasy, sure! On the other hand, at least nobody could ever accuse me of playing RPGs because it makes me cool or something.  You guys are hilariously sensitive.

2) People really do have preferences and comfort zones for certain types of mechanics. Ask anyone. You'll always see someone who prefers percentiles, or prefers point build or wants everything to be in dice pools or whatever. I think this is what we're really talking about.

And unfortunately, I don't know any funny stories about Greg Stafford.

Quote from: Abyssal MawYour'e as limited as everyone -- or anyone else. Pendragon and Villians and Vigilantes have also been specifically endorsed by the Forgies.

Really? Can you point me in the direction of those threads that 'endorse' V&V?

I was playing Pendragon while you were sucking on your mama's clit, baby. Before I ever heard of the Forge, RPG.net, or a dickhead like you.

QuoteOn the other hand, at least nobody could ever accuse me of playing RPGs because it makes me cool or something.  You guys are hilariously sensitive.

Oh, hilariously. You're a funny guy, for a dickhead.

QuotePeople really do have preferences and comfort zones for certain types of mechanics. Ask anyone. You'll always see someone who prefers percentiles, or prefers point build or wants everything to be in dice pools or whatever. I think this is what we're really talking about.

People like that only like one sort of game. It's simple.

Quote from: droogReally? Can you point me in the direction of those threads that 'endorse' V&V?

I was playing Pendragon while you were sucking on your mama's clit, baby. Before I ever heard of the Forge, RPG.net, or a dickhead like you.


Oh, hilariously. You're a funny guy, for a dickhead.


People like that only like one sort of game. It's simple.

Man, I've hit a nerve!

So let me see if I have the situation down.. you probably thought you had an awesome thread derailer where instead of talking about favorite mechanics (the original purpose of this thread) you could accuse everyone of being only interested in "one sort of game". It's the perfect slam!

But then it gets turned around on you. "I like games as diverse as [three games endorsed by the Forge]!"

So now your'e all pissed and stuff?

I will enjoy taunting you further.

Quote from: Abyssal MawSo let me see if I have the situation down.. you probably thought you had an awesome thread derailer where instead of talking about favorite mechanics (the original purpose of this thread) you could accuse everyone of being only interested in "one sort of game". It's the perfect slam!

I'm not slamming anybody apart from you, dickhead. I said that I didn't believe there was a perfect system, then you got rude.

Nothing wrong with only liking one sort of game. I played one game exclusively for years. That's RuneQuest. I thought it was the perfect system. Now I'm older, wiser, and more exposed to different things, I realise I was wrong. That doesn't negate many fun-filled years playing RQ, though.

Found that V&V thread yet?

Quote from: droogI'm not slamming anybody apart from you, dickhead. I said that I didn't believe there was a perfect system, then you got rude.

Nothing wrong with only liking one sort of game. I played one game exclusively for years. That's RuneQuest. I thought it was the perfect system. Now I'm older, wiser, and more exposed to different things, I realise I was wrong. That doesn't negate many fun-filled years playing RQ, though.

Found that V&V thread yet?

It got quoted by someone else above. The endorser would be Ron Edwards himself. So far your entire list seems to be the games that have been specifically endorsed by Edwards, which makes me sort of question your motives*.

Although the concept of a guy so fucking lame that he only plays specifically endorsed games in order to seem cool/good about himself is totally implausible, I have to admit, I am not going to put it past you.

Me? rude?

In any case, this isn't about "a" perfect system but about "your" perfect system.. attesting to personal preferences for favorite types of mechanics. Or haven't you heard? "system does matter".

* Ok, seriously, I'm not questioning your motives. I'm really just taunting you because your'e full of yourself.