As much as I love the HERO system and am curious about Gurps I am still looking for my perfect RPGheartbreaker game. One which would be a simpler version of GURPS or HERO. Something less granular but still a Universal RPG point buy system.

I'd prefer a non d20 system, as I already own the d20 Modern books from WotC and they were quite good. I've already got that covered.

I am looking for suggestions/opinions from the forum members on games I could check out that might fit this bill.
   
Savage Worlds (I know the sys well but I can't let go of the fact that stats don't effect skills)
Tri-Stat
d6 (The old West End Games system)
ORE (One Role Engine that powers "Wild Talents" & "Godlike")
FATE (I own the newest ver but it's SJW roots make me feel dirty even opening it now)
Masterworks (The old "Torg" engine that looks like it's available again from PreciseIntermedia)
Basic Role-Playing (by Chaosium)
Unisystem (Eden studios game engine for "All Flesh must be Eaten")

* Note: I am not looking for information about the above games per say as I am semi-familiar with them all, that is unless you are well versed with any of them and want to toot their horns.

While it's d20 at its roots, Mutants & Masterminds may be what you're looking for. If you don't mind abandoned systems, Fuzion was intended as a simpler crossbreed of HERO and Interlock, and I believe the Action! System evolved from that, so they might be worth checking out.

Damn your right (Mutants & Masterminds), I even own the new edition books. Dunno why that hadn't dawned on me that they were an option.

Thanks for bringing it up.

Oh now that you say d20 "True20" was pretty cool from the bit I read of it, and was generic'ish.

Well, GURPS Lite is the obvious answer.

A more helpful answer would be Heroes & Other Worlds, a moderned-up clone of The Fantasy Trip, which you probably know was the simpler forerunner to GURPS.  It's just fantasy, though.

Dark City Games has three ultra-lite rule sets also based on TFT:

Legends of the Ancient World (fantasy)
Legends of Time and Space (Sci-Fi)
Legends of the Untamed West (Old West)

They're still genre specific, but you've got a few choices at least.


EDIT-Or were you looking for information specifically on the games you mentioned in your post?  If so, then forget I said anything.

You can also look into Precis Intermedia's GenreDiversion 3e

Unisytem (I prefer classic). d10 roll. Point buy. Universal. It doesn't have a real "universal" book however, you have to cobble things together from various sources like Witchcraft, All Flesh Must Be Eaten, Conspiracy X, Terra Primate and Armageddon. It's a simple system and plays fast.

OVA (2nd edition) is a HERO-eqsue game with a simple resolution system. It's light and fun. It is anime-focused, but you can file off those serial numbers and run almost anything.

Tri-Stat is an older game that powered a supers game and several off-shoot generic multi-setting books. I find it a tad wonky, but it had a decent following. You can't beat free. :-)

It also spawned the Big Eyes Small Mouth (BESM) RPG, the 3rd edition being the newest iteration.

All these systems are somewhat lighter than Hero/GURPS.

Quote from: RunningLaser;808479You can also look into Precis Intermedia's GenreDiversion 3e

That was going to be my suggestion... it's a system I'm just now discovering but seems to bring a lot of GURPS' mindset in a less maze-like package.

Of the games you list it thing Basic Roleplaying is probably the closest to a less crunchy GURPS. They are both quite solidly in the realistic simulation tradition. The rest, while fine games, tend to be more cinematic, action orientated games and use some form of Hero or Fate Point metagame mechanic.

Thank you Technomancer

And I love the forum pic. Is that from the Buck Rogers TV show, the Draconians?

I'd say something like FUDGE or D6 would be best if you're trying to avoid complex systems. With either, all you really have to do is make a character sheet with whatever you think is important to your game and you're done. If players want cool powers, say it costs X amount and have them write it down on their sheet under "COOL POWERS". Both systems are beyond flexible, but without much overhead. Now, of course, you can add whatever sorts of complexities you want, but if you're going that route it'd probably be easier to use HERO or GURPS as that's already spelled out for you.

Most of the D6 stuff is free, anyway, and easy as f to run. I am a huge fan of Star Wars 1st edition, so I ignored a lot of crap in those books, but they're pretty great resources.

Years ago, there was a Fuzion hybrid of HERO/Interlock called "Champions: The New Millennium," which allowed you to use the power creation system from HERO if you needed it, but otherwise was wholly self-contained and simple.  We used it for years, spectacularly.  I'm  sure you can find it cheap at some second-hand shops or elsewhere.  I loved it.

The old school answer is The Fantasy Trip (assuming you are interested in renaissance or earlier historical or fantasy gaming).

EABA is another universal system, published by BTRC. It's a single, fairly slim volume (320 pages) and more stripped back than either GURPS or Hero.

I have only read it, not had the chance to play it. It has some interesting features, like the fact that rounds double in length with every additional round. All advantages or powers are built from a small set of basic components.

Quote from: Future Villain Band;808488Years ago, there was a Fuzion hybrid of HERO/Interlock called "Champions: The New Millennium," which allowed you to use the power creation system from HERO if you needed it, but otherwise was wholly self-contained and simple.  We used it for years, spectacularly.  I'm  sure you can find it cheap at some second-hand shops or elsewhere.  I loved it.

I was so pissed when the HERO sale to Fuzion happened I boycotted that edition of HERO/Interlock. But perhaps I was to hasty in doing that.

I'll see if I can find an copy of the old book somewhere online and check it out.

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Looks like the Interlock system lives on as the"Action!" RPG by Gold Rush Games

Quote from: Future Villain Band;808488... Fuzion hybrid of HERO/Interlock called "Champions: The New Millennium," ...

Called... Fuzion!  :-)

Quote from: Gwarh;808495...But perhaps I was to hasty in doing that. ..

It's not a bad system. You can still find all kinds of free and paid stuff out there for it.

Quote from: Gwarh;808495Looks like the Interlock system lives on as the"Action!" RPG by Gold Rush Games

Spiritual successor perhaps. It had influence. So did GURPS. It is missing a powers system. However, I found using the Atomik plugins with Action! to be a pretty decent system combo.  Actually, you might want to check out the Atomik add-ons as alternatives for a lighter powers/magic/creature method and tack on your favorite rules-light base.