What is your Favorite RPG of all time

[The Game Guy]

What is your, overall favorite RPG of all time. Doesn't even have to be a West End Games product either.

[skeloric]

I may just have to say TOON.
Or maybe AFMBE.
It might be GURPS.
It could be the setting of Mage the Ascension.
TORG is in that list for dang sure.

Oh wait, am I supposed to have only one #1?

[Rerun941]

:)

Well put, Skel! Does it have to be just one?

[hellsreach]

Torg



xxxxx

[SDF_II]

Campaign: TORG, the first go-around
Con-One Shot: Paranoia (Ran Dark like the Comics)

SDF II

[Emperor Xan]

For me, it's hands down the basic D&D game. I have not only the basic, expert, companion, master and immortal boxed sets (books, not the boxes) alongside my Rules Encyclopedia. Mystara holds a strange and enduring enchantment over me.

[Grimace]

I'm torn. My first and favored, though rarely played, game was Star Trek. For pure setting, my favorite would be Twilight 2000. For system, it would be Star Wars (West End Games version).

[Kalzazz]

Earthdawn!

[Liteft]

Witchcraft and Armageddon, they brought me back to RPG's and I'm having more fun now than I did when I was 15.

[Temprus]

BESM2 with D6 System/Amber Diceless close enough that I flip flop between the three as to which is my "favorite". Sometimes Godlike & Hero System approach "the favorite" status, depending on mood. :D

[hellsreach]

Earthdawn!

I really wanted to love Earthdawn. Greg Gorden is my favorite RPG designer, so I truly wanted to love it, but I couldn't. While I have not doubt that the probabilities of the dice levels are fluid and accurate, it just seems that it's needlessly complex. I just couldn't get into it.

[Mike844]

I really wanted to love Earthdawn. Greg Gorden is my favorite RPG designer, so I truly wanted to love it, but I couldn't. While I have not doubt that the probabilities of the dice levels are fluid and accurate, it just seems that it's needlessly complex. I just couldn't get into it.

I've heard people say that before, and I don't get it. The chart is right there on the character sheet. You write up all your talents and weapon damages before hand, so it's no more work than looking up your skill rating or bonus with any game. If something new comes up, it takes a second to look down at the bottom of the sheet. After a few sessions, you have the first dozen levels memorized anyways. I don't like games with levels, but of all of them Earthdawn is by far the most awesome. I LOVE the in game rationale for all the things dungeon crawl games use but don't explain - dungeons, traps, monsters, why the PCs get god like abilities as time goes on, how magic items work.... plus throw in a horror vein to it. The actual writing - names of gods and places - sound real, rather than random letter thrown together and pronounced. Awesome. I don't know why the system hasn't been used for other games.

I'm not sure how to judge my favourite: by how much fun I had playing them at the time? By how much fun I'm having playing them now - because that would just mean my D6 Horror game. LOL By how much fun I would theoretically have playing them, if I could find "the right players"? Plus, it's different if I run a game or play a game - which I haven't done in a long, long time.

I also find once I've had a successful, relatively long campaign in a setting - and some time has passed - it's hard to pick it up again. My wife keeps bugging me to play Shadowrun, but I feel I've been there and done that (plus I hate the matrix).

The top of the list:

Earthdawn - except less overall magic in the world (I have an alternate current history)

Shadowrun - 1st edition setting, 3rd edition rules; the matrix is for NPCs

Call of Cthulhu - except you can't play it regularly, or it loses it's unique horror (to me)

Changeling: the Lost - setting is awesome, rules are horrible & overly complex

TMNT - try finding players to take a game seriously, but I still say D6 is perfect for it

[cheshire]

Star Wars D6, hands down. Love the universe, love the system.

[Claybor]

World - Talislanta, TORG

System - GURPS

A few other's I still need to play before I can say - AFMBE,D6,BRP,Cortex

[pathfinderap]

I'm torn. My first and favored, though rarely played, game was Star Trek. For pure setting, my favorite would be Twilight 2000. For system, it would be Star Wars (West End Games version).

You talking FASA Trek?, that is a good game, (I removed the point based action system though)



Witchcraft and Armageddon, they brought me back to RPG's and I'm having more fun now than I did when I was 15.

Another good call on these two as well,

But I have far too many games to just choose one,
And I modify systems and settings of many,

Best of
Best Fantasy Setting: Forgotten Realms (3.5 edtion)
Best Steampunk Setting: Iron Kingdoms
Best Sci/Fi Setting: Star Trek
Best Horror Setting: Witchcraft and Armageddon (both part of the same setting)
Best Comedy Setting: Paranoia
Best Supers Setting: Marvel Universe
Best Historical Setting: Privateers & Gentlemen
Best Pulp Setting: Spirit of the Century
Best Contemporary Setting: Feng Shui

Runners up
Best Fantasy Setting: Kingdoms of Kalamar
Best Steampunk Setting: Castle falkenstein and Victoriana
Best Sci/Fi Setting: Star wars, Farscape and Stargate SG1 (Share second place)
Best Horror Setting: Call of Cthulhu
Best Comedy Setting: Toon
Best Supers Setting: DC Universe
Best Historical Setting: Sengoku
Best Pulp Setting: Justice, Inc and Hollow Earth Expedition
Best Contemporary Setting: Spycraft, James Bond 007 and Top Secret S/I

[Whill]

Star Wars D6, hands down. Love the universe, love the system.

Ditto. As if any of you are surprised. :cool:

[pathfinderap]

Ditto. As if any of you are surprised. :cool:

You lie, we all know you like F.A.T.A.L


(jest)

[Viriatha]

Cyberpunk 2020, 2nd Ed. AD&D, d6 Fantasy.

[clownshoe]

WEG Paranoia for giving our large-ish group of friends at school a positive outlet for all that scheming and backstabbing. :D

Plus the GM was a serial-killer-in-training (I assume, he's consequently dropped off the face of the planet), but he really knew how to run a game and make everyone feel welcome.

[skeloric]

You lie, we all know you like F.A.T.A.L


(jest)
Even as a jest, that is a strike likely to wound.
Maybe a fatal wound.
;)

[Dasharr]

I'm very fond of some of the games already mentioned: Earthdawn, Basic D&D (and retro-clones of it like Labyrinth Lord), and Star Wars d6 (despite my complaints about a few things about in the other forum).

But if I had to pick just one favourite game, I'd go with Fading Suns (original system, 2nd edition).

[pathfinderap]

Even as a jest, that is a strike likely to wound.
Maybe a fatal wound.
;)

Groan :p


You are very punny

[pathfinderap]

But if I had to pick just one favourite game, I'd go with Fading Suns (original system, 2nd edition).

I am starting to eye that game up for my collection ;),

[The Game Guy]

I would have to say for me, while I love Star Wars D6 my favorite game of all time is the Hero System/Champions.

The rulebooks are big and bulky and scare people but it is a really great game.

[pathfinderap]

I would have to say for me, while I love Star Wars D6 my favorite game of all time is the Hero System/Champions.

The rulebooks are big and bulky and scare people but it is a really great game.

I have no exp with Hero System/Champions but from what I can see from here, looks like an overly complex system, sorta like Gurps but on steroids and alot more messy,

[skeloric]

I have no exp with Hero System/Champions but from what I can see from here, looks like an overly complex system, sorta like Gurps but on steroids and alot more messy,
I have about 7 Hero System books and it is the one RPG I would not even attempt without a computer program crunching the numbers for me on the fly.

[pathfinderap]

What are the support books like for HERO,
I buy alot of Gurps books but hardly ever use the system (which is not bad)
but like the range of support books they release (not all, some are crap)

[Whill]

Star Wars D6, hands down. Love the universe, love the system.


Ditto. As if any of you are surprised. :cool:


You lie, we all know you like F.A.T.A.L

(jest)


Even as a jest, that is a strike likely to wound.
Maybe a fatal wound.
;)


Groan :p

You are very punny

That might strike a fatal wound if I knew what F.A.T.A.L was, but I don't, and I know that path is just joking anyway.

[Whill]

What are the support books like for HERO,
I buy alot of Gurps books but hardly ever use the system (which is not bad)
but like the range of support books they release (not all, some are crap)

path, this might be a good place to ask about GURPS...

The only GURPS book I have is GURPS Space 4E, which in an excellent full-color resource for designing sci-fi campaign worlds, and it is almost completely devoid of game mechanics. I find it is very well-written.

My question is, are you aware of any cool space opera / sci-fi settings books by GURPS? Thanks.

[Lee Torres]

While the question was for pathfinderap, I'm gonna chime in with three of my favorite GURPS worldbooks for space opera/sci-fi...

GURPS Lensmen

GURPS Uplift

GURPS Tschai: Planet of Adventure

The first is classic Golden Age Space Opera, based on the series of novels by E.E. "Doc" Smith. Uplift is based on David Brin's Uplift Universe, and Tschai is the planet from Jack Vance's series of novels. All brilliant and highly recommended if they're still available!

[Whill]

I very much appreciate your reply Lee, as I was opening up the question to the public.

I'm taking it those are not 4E. That's really ok, because I wasn't planning on playing with that game system anyway. I am just a little more familiar with 4E then the older versions. I admit I am interested in well-written, cool space opera setting info to use as possible inspiration for my Star Wars D6 campaigns.

[Lee Torres]

Remembered another good one, although I suspect long out of print:

GURPS Humanx

Based on the novels and short stories of Alan Dean Foster set in the Human-Thranx Commonwealth. None of these is GURPS 4E, but the good thing about GURPS is the "transitional" documents from one edition to the next are generally available on SJG's website, so working with older materials isn't too tough.

That said, I typically convert them to other systems myself - ran Lensmen as a D6 campaign many years ago, and converted Uplift, Humanx, and Tschai to Traveller (well, MegaTraveller actually).

[pathfinderap]

That might strike a fatal wound if I knew what F.A.T.A.L was, but I don't, and I know that path is just joking anyway.

Yes.......joking........that was it....joking..... lol

Count your blessing you have not even heard of this book,
but forewarned is forearmed as they say (bizarre really, whats that got to do with your fore arm??)

F.A.T.A.L

its the Necronicom of the RPG world, many have lost both sight and sanity from its blasphemous pages, only the truly stupid and perverted try to find and read this cursed book of degeneration,

If you want to know more, I believe that there are members of the RPG.NET forums that have read this (which, looking back could explain alot)

Ask them

[pathfinderap]

My question is, are you aware of any cool space opera / sci-fi settings books by GURPS? Thanks.

Yeah as Lee has already mentioned, Humanx and Lensmen (sorta like Jedi's in fact many people think Lucas got the idea for Jedi from the Lensmens books,)

Reign of Steel, is good if you want Terminator,
Blue Planet isn't bad either,
Transhuman Space is okay, a tad cyberpunky for me though,

if you want further infomation on any of these just say which ones you are interested in,

[Cryonic]

I would have to say for me, while I love Star Wars D6 my favorite game of all time is the Hero System/Champions.

The rulebooks are big and bulky and scare people but it is a really great game.

The core book is bigger than most phone books and full of tons of OPTIONAL rules. If you want to see the system without a lot of those options, find the Sidekick book. It is most of what is in the core book, but without all the fluff and optional material. Much smaller.


I have no exp with Hero System/Champions but from what I can see from here, looks like an overly complex system, sorta like Gurps but on steroids and alot more messy,

HERO (as Champions) predates GURPS and they do share a few mechanics in common. E.g. roll 3d6 and get under a number for skills. It is very complex and after playing it for a few years, I'm not sure I'd want to run it. Tons of gotchas and lots of opportunity for munchkins to find the cost points to make hugely powerful characters for few points.


I have about 7 Hero System books and it is the one RPG I would not even attempt without a computer program crunching the numbers for me on the fly.

Yeah, that is why they offer Hero Designer. It does a good job of dealing with the crunch during character creation, but isn't usable in game for actually handling combat and such any faster than a human with a decent understanding of the rules. Same with GURPS and the Character Builder/Character Assistant.


What are the support books like for HERO,
I buy alot of Gurps books but hardly ever use the system (which is not bad)
but like the range of support books they release (not all, some are crap)

Range of support books, ok. Artwork, mostly junk in the recent edition. Flow and logic, ok. For things like Vehicles and Vehicle combat, I'd find another system to handle it. The writeups for vehicles are needlessly complex and have lots of oddities in the stock vehicles in the books (e.g. a main battle tank can sink a Nimitz-class carrier).

SJG does a far better job in creating sourcebooks for GURPS.

[pathfinderap]

Range of support books, ok. Artwork, mostly junk in the recent edition. Flow and logic, ok. For things like Vehicles and Vehicle combat, I'd find another system to handle it. The writeups for vehicles are needlessly complex and have lots of oddities in the stock vehicles in the books (e.g. a main battle tank can sink a Nimitz-class carrier).

SJG does a far better job in creating sourcebooks for GURPS.

Wa?, main battle tank can sink a Nimitz-class carrier? that would take a lot of shells, even nukes can't sink the Nimitz,

I was thinking about HERO's pulp sourcebooks mostly,

[Cryonic]

I very much appreciate your reply Lee, as I was opening up the question to the public.

I'm taking it those are not 4E. That's really ok, because I wasn't planning on playing with that game system anyway. I am just a little more familiar with 4E then the older versions. I admit I am interested in well-written, cool space opera setting info to use as possible inspiration for my Star Wars D6 campaigns.

3rd and 4th are almost the same with some things, like point costs, being different (at least based on my skim through the 4th Ed book). So a sourcebook for 3rd ed should be pretty much usable under the current system.

[Emperor Xan]

Having both current editions of GURPS and HERO, I'd have to say that I'd much prefer to play HERO. While it is a bit complex, HERO has a lot of nice features to it that once you've created a character, you should be able to just look at your character sheet to know what you need to roll. GURPS, from what I've seen, doesn't let you do anything with vehicles. They're pre-generated and one of the stiffest parts of the system.

As to the source books for HERO, they're hit-or-miss. If you're looking for a bit of background on a genre, they're awesome, but nowhere near as exhaustive as the GURPS books in immersing you in the setting. Very little is in the HERO source books of real value that you don't already have in the core book. That said, they're very handy for having figured out a good portion of the math for you when it comes to conventions dealing with equipment/abilities part and parcel to the genre.

[hellsreach]

Ah F.A.T.A.L., of what a celebrity you've become.

Take out the vulgar, offensive misogynistic, rape fantasies of a mis-socialized thirteen year old... Take out the racism, the abysmal historical inaccuracies (of a game that calls itself the most historically accurate game ever), and the backwards socio-political diatribe... Take out the lame derivative mechanics that are both terribly lacking in useful game-play options, and massively, albeit inaccurately detailed rules on the stupidest, most inconsequential factors of the human condition and you are ultimately still left with a really, really poorly designed game. If Hybrid is the insane scribblings of a psychotic madman, and RaHoWa the Mein Kampf of roleplaying, F.A.T.A.L is the worst example of a dime-store bathroom reader written by a functional illiterate cat-piss teenager in rut.

[skeloric]

Just to REALLY put FATAL into perspective, it has rules for how far different orifices will stretch during extremely NONconsenual acts.
Yeah, and that is the HIGH POINT of FATAL's rules, it goes downhill from there.

[Whill]

I can't believe that something like FATAL was ever even published. Sounds awful! It's also hard to believe that so many of you know that much about this game. :confused:

[pathfinderap]

I can't believe that something like FATAL was ever even published. Sounds awful! It's also hard to believe that so many of you know that much about this game. :confused:

Thats only cuz we are RPG.NET veterans,

I don't think anybody here is stupid enough to read the damn thing,
But I'm surprised you as a roleplayer didn't know about this, there are none worse than that book

[Cryonic]

I'd never heard it mentioned in all my years of gaming.

[pathfinderap]

Just to REALLY put FATAL into perspective, it has rules for how far different orifices will stretch during extremely NONconsenual acts.
Yeah, and that is the HIGH POINT of FATAL's rules, it goes downhill from there.

:eek:!!!!!?? LA-LA-LA I'M NOT LISTENING!!! :eek:

No details! are you mad???!!,

[pathfinderap]

I'd never heard it mentioned in all my years of gaming.

Then, surely you did not frequent RPG.NET for any prolonged period of time,

[Lee Torres]

I read a review of it online some years back - never bothered to find the actual game online, because the review was both hilarious and scathing in the way that the 1908 blast was scathing to Tunguska. Same (minus the reviews) with RaHoWa - just seemed a horrible misuse of role-playing games to promote an agenda to me.

Funny thing is, I think I saw recently that someone has put out a fantasy RPG called FATAL that is NOT the one we're talking about here. Did they just avoid Google altogether to not learn that they were effectively tying their fate to the most reviled RPG ever? It'd be like Disney releasing a film called "Plan 9 From Outer Space."

"What do you mean there was already a film called 'Plan 9 From Outer Space?' Why were we not informed?"

[Whill]

I'd never heard it mentioned in all my years of gaming.


Then, surely you did not frequent RPG.NET for any prolonged period of time,

I hadn't heard of FATAL either, but no, I have never frequented RPG.net for any prolonged period of time. I am intimidated by how massive it is, and hard it is to keep up with. I just checked and there were 345 registered users logged in, and 395 guests at the site. I do sometimes like the product info and reviews at that site.

But anyway, some of the users at that site had to have read it to discuss it. I think if I picked up the box or book I would have set it down in discuss or disinterest. I definitely wouldn't be interested in reading threads about it. I'm getting sick to my stomach just learning about it here in this thread.

[pathfinderap]

I hadn't heard of FATAL either, but no, I have never frequented RPG.net for any prolonged period of time. I am intimidated by how massive it is, and hard it is to keep up with. I just checked and there were 345 registered users logged in, and 395 guests at the site. I do sometimes like the product info and reviews at that site.

But anyway, some of the users at that site had to have read it to discuss it. I think if I picked up the box or book I would have set it down in discuss or disinterest. I definitely wouldn't be interested in reading threads about it. I'm getting sick to my stomach just learning about it here in this thread.

But those 345 active members are spread out across alot of sub forums,
You shouldn't be intimidated, and yeah, some must have read the damned thing to give a report,

[pathfinderap]

I read a review of it online some years back - never bothered to find the actual game online, because the review was both hilarious and scathing in the way that the 1908 blast was scathing to Tunguska. Same (minus the reviews) with RaHoWa - just seemed a horrible misuse of role-playing games to promote an agenda to me.

Funny thing is, I think I saw recently that someone has put out a fantasy RPG called FATAL that is NOT the one we're talking about here. Did they just avoid Google altogether to not learn that they were effectively tying their fate to the most reviled RPG ever? It'd be like Disney releasing a film called "Plan 9 From Outer Space."

"What do you mean there was already a film called 'Plan 9 From Outer Space?' Why were we not informed?"

"Plan 9" is not the worst, again avoid for the sake of sanity
"Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn" (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mh1A2RRXYmg/Rrch54C6ymI/AAAAAAAABS4/r4POwJnW_c4/omg.jpg)

[skeloric]

"Plan 9" is not the worst, again avoid for the sake of sanity
"Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn" (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mh1A2RRXYmg/Rrch54C6ymI/AAAAAAAABS4/r4POwJnW_c4/omg.jpg)
Link does nothing, seems Google agrees.

[skeloric]

near the end, FATAL was offered as a free PDF and I grabbed it up and burnt it on a CD.
The horror that is FATAL is mine FOREVER!

[Whill]

Maybe you should burn the disc itself. Why would you want that anyway? It sounds disturbing. :(

[skeloric]

Maybe you should burn the disc itself. Why would you want that anyway? It sounds disturbing. :(
The guy who wrote FATAL is actually a pen name used by Uwe Boll.
So, having an RPG written by Uwe Boll is a bit of a coup, though a dubious one.

[Lee Torres]

The guy who wrote FATAL is actually a pen name used by Uwe Boll.
So, having an RPG written by Uwe Boll is a bit of a coup, though a dubious one.

*Utterly failing his SAN roll, Lee's skull implodes from the sheer horror*

[Emperor Xan]

The guy who wrote FATAL is actually a pen name used by Uwe Boll.
So, having an RPG written by Uwe Boll is a bit of a coup, though a dubious one.

That sort of explains why his movies suck.

[Mike844]

I would have to say for me, while I love Star Wars D6 my favorite game of all time is the Hero System/Champions.

The rulebooks are big and bulky and scare people but it is a really great game.

Character creation can be intimidated to the uninitiated, but game play - when you're done - is very smooth. Best superhero RPG hands done, in my opinion. Then again, I didn't bother with the last edition since they seem to have just changed rules "because".

If it 'aint broke, don't fix it.

I spent a bit of money trying to get into GURPS, but I don't think I have the energy to learn a new system - never mind explain it to someone else.

My criticism of both games is balance. In theory, point generation means everyone has equal abilities. In application, munchkins try to abuse and roleplayers can come up with great character concepts that are just overly weak.

GURPS sourcebooks are generally much more kick ass, although old school (ie 80s) Champions books were fairly cool (I vaguely recall - or so it seemed at the time).

[pathfinderap]

Link does nothing, seems Google agrees.

No, its right, OMG!!11!!

[pathfinderap]

near the end, fatal was offered as a free pdf and i grabbed it up and burnt it on a cd.
The horror that is fatal is mine forever!

unclean! You shall be purged with fire!!

[pathfinderap]

Maybe you should burn the disc itself. Why would you want that anyway? It sounds disturbing. :(

Great minds lol :)

[pathfinderap]

The guy who wrote FATAL is actually a pen name used by Uwe Boll.
So, having an RPG written by Uwe Boll is a bit of a coup, though a dubious one.

I did not know that,

:eek:







:eek:


:confused:



:eek:

[Boojie]

My favorite game to run or play in?
Hmm To run would have to be Torg. But my favorites that i play in or have played in are, Dark Heresy, Champions, and Palladium fantasy. I am currently playing in 3 games right now one for each of those and having a blast. But Torg will always be my favorite game to run.

[skeloric]

No, its right, OMG!!11!!


Google
Error
Not Found
The requested URL /_mh1A2RRXYmg/Rrch54C6ymI/AAAAAAAABS4/r4POwJnW_c4/omg.jpg was not found on this server.
At least that is what it tells me.

And then after all that (including getting the "fail" page again), it finally worked.

[BigKyle]

Hello !
New guy here !

As for answering the OP, I have two, and I can't decide which one I prefer over the other.

Star Wars D6 and Shadowrun

[Whill]

Welcome to the board! And good answer. :cool:

[Kalzazz]

I always thought FATAL was just supposed to be a funny parody, I thought the book was amusing, but no way would I ever want to actually play the game

Space Opera wins for the game that completely confused me the most when I was trying to figure out how to play it http://www.godsmonsters.com/library/graphics/games/SpaceOpera.jpg we never actually did play it since we couldnt figure it out

Oh, also read through, own and have never played Raven Star, which also made the list of worst RPGs ever (though notably not for horrifying reasons like FATAL, its just horribly written and seems to lack, well, coherent rules of any form http://index.rpg.net/pictures/show-pic.phtml?picid=11888 )

I absolutely love the Earthdawn system, the step chart gives a fun way to give all your dice a chance to play, and all the learning neat powers as you level up is quite fun (everyone gets neat powers), I like the setting, but is a bit low magic at times, so our current Earthdawn campaign is in a more medium magic setting instead of Earthdawns default lower magic one

[pathfinderap]

I always thought FATAL was just supposed to be a funny parody,

:eek: noooooooo, no, no, no, no, not funny, bad, very bad book,

you didn't read it did you?

[Rerun941]

Oh, also read through, own and have never played Raven Star, which also made the list of worst RPGs ever (though notably not for horrifying reasons like FATAL, its just horribly written and seems to lack, well, coherent rules of any form http://index.rpg.net/pictures/show-pic.phtml?picid=11888 )

Sadly, I know of this RPG. I went to college with the guys who wrote it. (If you look in the credits, there's a thank you to the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at Illinois Institute of Technology.) It's basically these guys taking their homebrew game/campaign and publishing it. Poor/no design. Badly written. Very amateur.


I absolutely love the Earthdawn system, the step chart gives a fun way to give all your dice a chance to play, and all the learning neat powers as you level up is quite fun (everyone gets neat powers), I like the setting, but is a bit low magic at times, so our current Earthdawn campaign is in a more medium magic setting instead of Earthdawns default lower magic one

I generally liked the Earthdawn setting. The concept of namegivers and that magic infused everything (albiet at low power levels) was pretty original. I read a review that summed up the problem with it tho. The setting got to the point where every rock, tree, and shrub in the game world was mapped out. There was no area left where GMs and players could truly "run free".

I'm kinda afraid that the same thing is happening to my beloved Star Wars. Thank goodness I just ignore nonsense like the Yuu-whatsits Vong. *gag*

PS - Star Wars d6 forever :)

[Whill]

The setting got to the point where every rock, tree, and shrub in the game world was mapped out. There was no area left where GMs and players could truly "run free".

I'm kinda afraid that the same thing is happening to my beloved Star Wars. Thank goodness I just ignore nonsense like the Yuu-whatsits Vong. *gag*

PS - Star Wars d6 forever :)

I also ignore the Yuu-whatsits Vong. I think a very large part of the Expanded Universe is crap, and actually contradicts G-canon. I'm fond of quoting George Lucas about Star Wars canon and continuity...

He said there is his Star Wars universe (the movies), the Expanded Universe (includes all publishing) and then each fan's universe. So what we really have is a Star Wars Multiverse, and each fan can define what is his Star Wars universe.

What I personally accept as Star Wars canon as a fan is the same as for my campaign universe, which I sometimes call "Whill's Universe." Even though I may be a minority on this board, I accept all 6 movies. My interpretations of them is continuity in the game world of any campaign era that must be maintained. I also accept a few novels taking place before and during the film saga. I accept most of the WEG game material.

However, I just wiped the slate clean of all publishing that takes place after RotJ. Blank slate. I may use some elements of previous published fiction, but they will be in an original way so the players won't have a clue what will happen, and there is no future continuity to maintain. It probably won't be for a while, but when I have a campaign in that time period, we truly "run free."

[Shadowsfate]

Favorites for the concepts of the setting and/or rules: Torg, Fading Suns


Favorite to Run: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, D&D

Favorite to play: Almost anything, as it means that I don't actually have to run a game for a change (and , unfortunately, that hasn't happened in many years)

[Mike844]

I absolutely love the Earthdawn system, the step chart gives a fun way to give all your dice a chance to play, and all the learning neat powers as you level up is quite fun (everyone gets neat powers), I like the setting, but is a bit low magic at times, so our current Earthdawn campaign is in a more medium magic setting instead of Earthdawns default lower magic one

:confused:

Glowing magic crystals instead of lanterns or torches. Healing potions readily available, also with many Adept specific magical healing abilities. Every character having magical abilities. You can have your eye eaten out by a magical worm inside a gem to give you better ranged attacks. Flying ships. Harvesting magical naturally occuring elements... and you need MORE magic?!?! How can you get more? A rabbit in every hat? A deck of cards in every pouch?

[The Game Guy]

I always thought FATAL was just supposed to be a funny parody, I thought the book was amusing, but no way would I ever want to actually play the game

No, the designer of FATAL was very serious about it and actually thought he was going to be able to publish it.

Thank god the site and the author went away. All he does is reenforce the bad stigma this hobby has

[pathfinderap]

:confused:

Glowing magic crystals instead of lanterns or torches. Healing potions readily available, also with many Adept specific magical healing abilities. Every character having magical abilities. You can have your eye eaten out by a magical worm inside a gem to give you better ranged attacks. Flying ships. Harvesting magical naturally occuring elements... and you need MORE magic?!?! How can you get more? A rabbit in every hat? A deck of cards in every pouch?

nice, lol :D

A rabbit in every hat please, SOLD!

[Stormchild]

Not to forget that every talent is magical in nature and skills are just a lighter version of the talents. And then there are the Horrors. Magical creatures from another dimension that can overtake people who use magic too openly (among other nasty things). I love the magical nature of Earthdawn, because this is not your typical Tolkien-inspired world. It is a fantasy world in its own right and it explains why there are monsters and treasure in underground caves.

[Cryonic]

And the Horrors reappear in Shadowrun (timeline Dunkelzahn's Will).

[skeloric]

I think my problem is that increasingly companies and products are steering further and further away from where I want to be.
There are days when I think of leaving RPGs and gaming behind forever.
All of my "gems" are defunct games that might never again be supported.
I feel like I am the last of the 8-track tape fans in the world of Audio CDs.
I've pretty much stopped buying new Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels because almost all of the authors I like are either dead or retired.
I'm still waiting on a "Gem" in some respects as well.

[Whill]

There are days when I think of leaving RPGs and gaming behind forever.
All of my "gems" are defunct games that might never again be supported.

I don't understand this concept. Why do your favorite games have to be currently supported to play RPGs anymore?

Last year I completed my set of WEG Star Wars, and I didn't eBay all that for nothing. True, the game is no longer supported. I am going to play it anyway. I still have the game. Oh, the game is out-of-date now because of the prequels? I update it. The game is d20 now? I take what fluff I want from there, and convert or adapt anything else I want from there. I think the R&E D6 rules themselves rules are out-of-date and the system needs upgrades? I do that myself. I make the game exactly as I want to play it. I then find people to play it, and we do so. Fun had by all by playing a defunct game.

Games can be defunt and still played. The two things seem irrelevant to each other, IMO.

[skeloric]

there is one or two RPGs that still see use but there is increasingly no point on retaining 10 bookshelves in hopes that it might get used.
And I am just getting tired of the RPG companies thinking they can survive without catering to the customer.
I'm the CUSTOMER, if they want my money they had better work for it.
I'm in no way obligated to buy low grade product or product that doesn't quite fulfill my need.
I'm tired of the industry thinking that I somehow OWE them my patronage.
And with only two companies dominating the RPG industry and the rest abandoning print media, I'm no longer certain there even is an RPG industry for me anymore.
if I sit with all my old RPGs, I'm sure as hell not buying any new ones and an industry relies upon people buying.
So if I never buy another RPG, its as good as another loss to the industry as I represent another incremental step towards the collapse of the RPG industry.
So in a sense, by leaving RPGs "behind" I am actually abandoning the idea of ever buying another one because there is no point to ever buying another.
I'll always have a small box of RPGs around, but I'm not really gaming anymore anyway as there are no game groups within my reach playing anything worth playing anyway.
The book is still here and I'm still here but the relevance of it all is fading away these days -- nobody really "GAMES" anymore.

[Whill]

I find it odd that the most prolific non-administrator poster on this forum feels he may never play any RPGs again. Why are you here then? :confused:

I know it's in your nature to be cynical and I accept what you are skel, but you could have a little hope that all this is not for nothing, and that TORG 2.0 will happen. I know it's been a long time in the coming. It may still be awhile yet. But Open D6 is on the horizon, and I feel that will eventually further enable TORG 2.0 into becoming a reality. It would be a shame if you, of all people, would miss it. Heck, I expected you to be a big part of it. Then there might a modern product you can buy, support, and contribute to.

[skeloric]

I find it odd that the most prolific non-administrator poster on this forum feels he may never play any RPGs again. Why are you here then? :confused:

I know it's in your nature to be cynical and I accept what you are skel, but you could have a little hope that all this is not for nothing, and that TORG 2.0 will happen. I know it's been a long time in the coming. It may still be awhile yet. But Open D6 is on the horizon, and I feel that will eventually further enable TORG 2.0 into becoming a reality. It would be a shame if you, of all people, would miss it. Heck, I expected you to be a big part of it. Then there might a modern product you can buy, support, and contribute to.
Its my depression.
It'll pass... I hope.

[amertes]

My favorite setting is Midnight. It is so Tolkeinesque with the naming conventions and all the great setting information that Fantasy Flight Games produced. If I ever have the chance to run it, I would certainly infect more hope into the setting. And maybe even run it as a type of fantasy superhero setting.

[Whill]

Its my depression.
It'll pass... I hope.

Hang in there!!! :)

[Son of Fire]

Frankly? and I know I am going to sound the kiss-ass here? D6.

I have all of the new line and I have switched everything I play into D6? I just really dig it.

[HoracePeabody]

This is a difficult one, I've played a lot of games over the years. If absolutely forced to pick one, it'd have to be Bakshi's Wizards, based purely on the setting. Though Erol Otus' Alma Mater would come close, I like the system and the setting...having said that, FATAL didn't strike me as especially bad. ;)

For system alone, this would seem insane to most but probably 1st edition AD&D...it's the system I think in, whether I want to or not. Though Classic Traveller is likely the best actual system to me, beautifully simple.