tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post1068376262386912895..comments2023-12-19T23:00:50.340-05:00Comments on The Geek Gazette: Rifts vs Gurps vs Hero vs d20 Modern vs True 20Geek Gazettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041253917215490424noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-67805793207465144202008-08-18T18:33:00.000-04:002008-08-18T18:33:00.000-04:00I'm a big fan of the HERO system. It's flexible a...I'm a big fan of the HERO system. It's flexible and powerful. It does lack a certain granularity for lower-power (ie. not superheroic, high fantasy, space opera) games, but it still handles those genres quite well in my experience -- the biggest potential problem is that two characters with similar concepts might end up being "the same."<BR/><BR/>However... HERO is not easy to learn. Leaving aside the math that's involved, it takes a while to get used to the concept of buying the effect of the power and specifying your own special effect. Most systems -- and all d20 systems that I've seen -- wrap up the two together, even if they add a blurb about possibly changing the special effect (as 4e does).<BR/><BR/>For a lot of people, learning Magic Missile is easier to grasp than buying a 6d6 Energy Blast, No Range Penalty and defining it as a bolt of force. It's just the way most systems (including other generic systems like GURPS) work.<BR/><BR/>What this means is a potentially steep learning curve for your players. You'll need to decide whether that's worth it.<BR/><BR/>Personally, though, I would like to recommend tracking down a copy of Nobilis. It's one of the best RPGs I've ever had the pleasure of playing. Diceless system, very focused on roleplaying and intrigue, and you play at a very high power level (think the Endless from Sandman) while simultaneously being provided with actual challenges and threats due to the nature of the game. And to top it all off, it's an amazing read, too. Really can't recommend it highly enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-34290798412397053982008-08-18T18:03:00.001-04:002008-08-18T18:03:00.001-04:00@ everyoneThanks for the suggestions.@ everyone<BR/>Thanks for the suggestions.Geek Gazettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11041253917215490424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-26890875758198042972008-08-18T18:03:00.000-04:002008-08-18T18:03:00.000-04:00@ pghgamerI have actually been toying with the ide...@ pghgamer<BR/>I have actually been toying with the idea of running Savage Worlds, but I am honestly trying to keep from buying more books for different systems. My collection is way out of control anyway. <BR/>I would like to avoid buying another system and would rather buy books for the systems I own. <BR/><BR/>Gurps is on there just because I wasn't thinking straight when I made the list. As of right now Gurps is off the list, as is Savage Worlds. If I don't own it, we aren't going to play it. Though once this experiment is over I may ask for suggestions regarding games I do not own already and those two will probably be at the top of the list given the good things I've heard about them. <BR/><BR/>So thus far we have a very good argument for Rifts and a good argument for d20 modern.Geek Gazettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11041253917215490424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-2200614051572451282008-08-18T17:55:00.000-04:002008-08-18T17:55:00.000-04:00@ donny I love 20 Modern, and have run several gam...@ donny <BR/>I love 20 Modern, and have run several games with one of my current players including Monte Cook's World of Darkness. That was before the new group formed. When I moved into the area his former group was the one I started gaming with.<BR/>But like greywulf said I am kind of wanting to get away from the d20 system for a bit. We've spent so long playing in that system, or some variation of it, that I want to run something different.I only put it on the list in the event that everyone thinks it is truly the better system.Geek Gazettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11041253917215490424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-21040177312257599822008-08-18T17:51:00.000-04:002008-08-18T17:51:00.000-04:00@ greywulfThe reason I was wanting another Rifts b...@ greywulf<BR/>The reason I was wanting another Rifts book is because I need a few pre-stated monsters. I don't want to go through and create all the baddies as well as the adventures plus have to know the character creation rules so that I can teach them, while I am still learning the game myself.<BR/>I've been asking around the sites and the guys over at the Palladium Forums suggest getting one of the cheap world books. They say they come with a few stated baddies I can use.Geek Gazettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11041253917215490424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-40014231210588783722008-08-18T11:57:00.001-04:002008-08-18T11:57:00.001-04:00How about Savage World? The book is like $10 and c...How about Savage World? The book is like $10 and can be molded to your specs. Or you can use the FATE system..cheap as well.<BR/>I've been toying around with the Post-Apoc idea as of late as well. I was going to do old school Gamma World...pghgamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11152650344338851511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-82405560871176185192008-08-18T11:57:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:57:00.000-04:00How about Savage World? The book is like $10 and c...How about Savage World? The book is like $10 and can be molded to your specs. Or you can use the FATE system..cheap as well.<BR/>I've been toying around with the Post-Apoc idea as of late as well. I was going to do old school Gamma World...pghgamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11152650344338851511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-26642662589756798072008-08-18T11:23:00.000-04:002008-08-18T11:23:00.000-04:00If you aren't stopped bu the prospect of a sin...If you aren't stopped bu the prospect of a single book, I'd recommend D20 future. The Apocolypse and Cyberscape supps are reasonably standalone as well with the core material in hand.<BR/><BR/>It would be first on my list, due to the absolutely minimal learning curve, D&D 3e, but dissimilar enough to feel different.<BR/><BR/>Wanna try another oddball? I recently wrapped a 5 year Dragonstar campaign. It's from Fantasy flight. Never got the 3.5 update, but it was a fun game nonetheless.Donny_the_DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679820663329606114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-88432537127129582742008-08-18T09:16:00.000-04:002008-08-18T09:16:00.000-04:00When we tried GURPS a while back, we used GURPS Li...When we tried GURPS a while back, we used GURPS Lite for a few sessions. It was good enough to give us a feel for the system.<BR/><BR/>http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/lite/Alex Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17104864340940538702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1722905538095487703.post-62203537590527676252008-08-18T08:57:00.000-04:002008-08-18T08:57:00.000-04:00Just one question - what makes you feel you "...Just one question - what makes you feel you "need" to own any additional books beyond the core rules for each system?<BR/><BR/>I've gamed RIFTS for many a year, and only ever owned the one core book. It's served our needs perfectly well in all that time. The advantage of doing this is that it's up to our gamer group to fill in the gaps. <BR/><BR/>Any additional source material is more of a limit to your own creativity. They're useful if you want a setting that's ready made, but certainly not what I'd call essential.<BR/><BR/>As to which system to choose - I suggest taking a break from d20-based gaming and play a few sessions in RIFTS. You've already got the book so no additional cost is involved, and if it doesn't pan out you've lost nothing. If the players do enjoy the system & environment there's no shortage of places and playstyles to explore. <BR/><BR/>Also, RIFTS character tend to be quicker to generate than your average GURPS or HERO character to there's less risk of the players getting bored before the game even begins :)<BR/><BR/>Any of the games you've short-listed are great choices, mind. I doubt you could go wrong with any of them.<BR/><BR/>That's my vote, anyhow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com