The Campaign Builder's Guild

For awhile now I have been looking for a new role playing system to try out. So I thought I would ask the extremely knowledgeable members of the CBG what there favorite systems are and why they like them.

SAME system. As I understand it, it is custom tailored to each game it will be played in by the runner of the game. Additionally, there's no innate mechanical difference between any two character of the same level. All growth with levels is identical. Only abilities and options change whether a character is a fighter or mage.

For instance, in SAME M:tG there are five colours you character can assign to abilities. There are three classes per colour which determine what abilities your character can select. A character's BAB always equals his level, as does his base AC bonus before taking into consideration his abilities and actions. Character would gain levels by acquiring mana sources.

As another example, in Avatar SAME (the system I tried to develope) all characters' BAB and AC was equal to half the character's level, HP=3+5xLvl and damage options would become available as the character gained levels to be roughly in line with 1+2xLvl per successful attack sequence.

I'm a fan of Tristat. Curious about BRP now that they're putting out some kind of generic toolkit this fall.

One you might not have heard of is F20. Three bucks for charity gives you point-buy d20 with reasonably complete set of options (similar to Tristat with no annoying roll unders). Were I to run it, I'd probably tone down the number of attributes... maybe go into greater detail on gear. Gear is always rough. I assume because it varies greatly from genre to genre? Anyway, F20's got all you need for a modern-era game... the rest you can handle as abilities and such.

I'm not really sure what to say on this, since I don't know what you play. Aside from GURPS and D&D, the only systems I've played are out of print.


That said, if the fact that it being out of print isn't too much of an obstacle for you, and if you're not worried about the extreme potential for powergaming (one ruling even says something along the lines of "...anything you can imagine"), then try the Marvel Universe RPG.

I'm a fan of several indie games, especially The Riddle of Steel (which I cannot praise enough), and recently, The Burning Wheel.

If you'd like something from a larger developer, I used to be a big fan of Shadowrun.

I like the HERO system a lot though it can be math intensive at times. It has lots of flexibility.

I think it really depends on your gaming style and what type of system you are looking for. Do you need something that is rule heavy or light? How often to you use the rules and for what situations. How flexible do you want to be?

I like HERO for superhero games, but I wouldn't try to run a Mage: the Ascension with those rules.  I could, but the game would have a different feel to it. Nobilis and Amber are diceless games with nice rule sets and I think they work when you have experienced players who can really visualize and describe their actions in detail.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Legend of the Five Rings, because I enjoy the dual skill/class system it has, but otherwise I'm all over d20. I recently picked up Star Wars Saga Edition, and I'm going a little crazy with glee.

Star Wars Saga? I envy in your general direction.

Quote from: Phoenix KnightI'm a fan of several indie games, especially The Riddle of Steel (which I cannot praise enough), and recently, The Burning Wheel.

If you'd like something from a larger developer, I used to be a big fan of Shadowrun.

 The Riddle of Steel looks rather interesting I am going to have to give it a try. Thanks for pointing it out to me.

Quote from: RavenspathI like the HERO system a lot though it can be math intensive at times. It has lots of flexibility.

I think it really depends on your gaming style and what type of system you are looking for. Do you need something that is rule heavy or light? How often to you use the rules and for what situations. How flexible do you want to be?

I like HERO for superhero games, but I wouldn't try to run a Mage: the Ascension with those rules.  I could, but the game would have a different feel to it. Nobilis and Amber are diceless games with nice rule sets and I think they work when you have experienced players who can really visualize and describe their actions in detail.

Its not that I am looking for something specific like heavy/light rules or flexibility. I am really trying to create my own proprietary system so I want to expand my scope to systems that are not d20 based.  Donâ,¬,,¢t get we wrong, I really like d20, its good system, I just want to see what is beyond it.

Quote from: Kap'n XeviatI have a soft spot in my heart for Legend of the Five Rings, because I enjoy the dual skill/class system it has, but otherwise I'm all over d20. I recently picked up Star Wars Saga Edition, and I'm going a little crazy with glee.

Legend of the Five Rings, is very interesting. Once I read more about it I am going to give it a try. As for the Star Wars Saga Edition how is it?

Quote from: Phoenix KnightThe Burning Wheel

I'd go with that for tolkienesque fantasy.

For generic gaming, I tend to homebrew something quick and lite. Rules always have assumptions (about style of play and game setting both) inherent in them. Lighter rules tend to have less setting assumptions, so they are easier to fit into any homebrew.