Interesting find.

[Scott Adams]

At 07:26 AM 3/13/03 -0800, you wrote: 

>
> To my mind there are a lot of decent systems that do not include the D&D
> "Class-level" system and some decent ones that do have some semblence of
> classes and levels. I imagine that most of you are aware of these systems,
> but have issues with them. Here's a list of some systems that might fit the
> bill: 
>
> Classless:


Sounds familiar but not played it.

>
>  GURPS 


Always a good system for good imaginative players/GMs.


>
> FUDGE Harnmaster 


Man.  Not played Fudge in ages.  Interesting system.  What was the main thing
I liked about Fudge?...seems to me it was their combat system.

Harn is always good...



>
> Masterbook Hero Talislanta RPG (this one has a shiny new edition too) 


Not heard of those.  Then again I've run game systems others never heard of :)


>
> RuneQuest Riddle of Steel Conan RPG (this one might surprise some) 



RQ good as always.


>
> With Class/Level, but in a way I feel is less objectionable:  
Rolemaster/MERP
> Age of Heroes (free download) The Atlantis System (a.k.a., The Arcanum, The
> Lexicon, and The Bestiary) Arduin 

Lexicon...wow a name not heard in ages..


>
> There's probably many I'm missing...these are just off the top of my head. 
>
> Although I think P&P is a good system for Simulationist play (which I
> prefer), it is one of the least well written rulesets ever considering the
> complexity. The more complex a system is, the better the rules need to be
> explained. As written, the rules are very hard to digest for even a seasoned
> gamer, let alone a novice player. 



You'd love Chartmaster..err I mean Rolemaster than :)  Not tons of rules
per se
but tons of charts and charts..and more charts to those charts..


>
> I would be interested in hearing people's impression of these and their
> thoughts on the P&P ruleset in comparison. 



Well having run multiple systems like most here you tend to lean toward games
that
are more fun than rule oriented these days after decades of gaming.


>
> Keep in mind, I currently am a player in a d20 game....the campaign has been
> so well done and is so elaborate, it would likely work with any ruleset so I
> don't mind so much. Also, we're at an intermediate level (~6) which I feel
> the D&D system handles acceptably (low and high levels are both problems). I
> also GM a homegrown system of my own devising that is much more
> P&P/Harnmaster-like than D&D-like, but I like to think it is fairly
> innovative (at least for my campaign and tastes). 


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