I'd like your help finding a good, universal system.

Wait, wait!  Don't go.  I really need some help here.  I've done my own research, but there's so much out there now (compared to back when I was first gaming in the late 90s) and I can't possibly get a good survey of it on my own.  I'd really appreciate the opinions of people who know the Hobby a lot better than I do.  

I'm looking for a universal system with the following criteria:

1. It's a true universal system, meaning there's a core rulebook for it that's independent of any setting.

2. It dosen't suck*.

3. It's got settings for it, preferably a lot of settings...preferably a lot of awesome settings.

4. The system is capable of handling character power levels ranging from low-level dudes to almost-but-not-quite godlike.  This is the key point for my criteria.

5. Point (4) supersedes point (3).  If I can find a system that can handle very high power levels, but no settings, I'll consider it.

Right out of the barn, I'm eliminating the following systems: GURPS, HERO, and FATE.  Why?  For reasons.**

I'm somewhat familiar with Savage Worlds and EABA.  While my exposure is limited, I like both systems.  Has anyone used them in a high-powered campaign?

Beyond this, can you think of any other system besides these that might work?

I thank you for your time.  It's much appreciated.



* Note: You know perfectly well what sucks.  What does and dosen't suck has been conclusively proven through objective, logical analysis on this board, as well as the extrasensory geek powers many of us possess that are able to detect TTRPG suckery.

** Note: These are awesome systems that don't suck.  My rejection of said systems is a matter of personal preference, and not reflective in any way of the collective, inherent worth of those systems, their developers, or those who play them.

Big Eyes Small Mouth (BESM): Core book and a bunch of themed expansions.

Gurps: Go with 3rd ed for the most freedom. Lots and lots of setting books.

Mythic: No setting books. But it can cover about any setting. Can even be played without a GM.

FU: A GM-less system that like Mythic can cover alot of settings. Its had a few fan settings made like "FU you axe wielding Maniac" and others.

D&D!: No really! What hasnt it been adapted to?

And others like Meckton, Hero System, Amazing Engine, TFT, and so on.

Of these I like BESM the most. For some reason Gurps keeps turning me off after trying to work up interest. Usually turned off by some player being a little too stringent or fanatical. Mythic is great. But it has no setting books and is very dependant on the players creativity.

Quote from: noman;907420I'd like your help finding a good, universal system.

Which die mechanic do you prefer? And are you ok with skill-based resolution, or loathe it?

If you like the idea of GURPS, but hate the fiddliness, then SW is a great choice.

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;907450Which die mechanic do you prefer? And are you ok with skill-based resolution, or loathe it?

I'm good with any dice mechanic, including diceless, except for dice pools.  I can't stand dice pools.*

* Note: My above mentioned aversion to dice pools has nothing whatsoever to do with the inherent worth of dice, dice pools, people who like dice pools, or people who identify as dice pools.

Quote from: robiswrong;907452If you like the idea of GURPS, but hate the fiddliness, then SW is a great choice.

That's the direction I'm leaning.  How does SW handle high-power (read: near-godlike) level games?

Eaba is fantastic, love it a lot.  But it doesn't really have a lot of developed setting material for it (yet).  I personally tend to use Gurps much more myself because of the extremely large among of developed material readily available.

Another possibility for you might be BRP.

I'm going to say - Savage Worlds.

In terms of high-powered, I've yet to personally run it at that level, but they certainly have plenty of rules for supers, and capital-ship combat. It has it's own "feel" at that scale. I tend to think it's a little lethal at that level.

If you have *any* desire to just use a basic system that will scale from normal everyday people and go to crazy-cosmic scales, I'd also offer up Advanced FASERIP (or any of it's knockoffs like ICONs, etc. But you'll have to do your own setting-work so this doesn't technically meet your criteria.)

Quote from: noman;907454I'm good with any dice mechanic, including diceless, except for dice pools.

Are your players role-players? Wargamers? Powergamers? Do they want to create stuff in their world? Do they want to sit quiet while you tell them a story and tell them what their character does, and they just roll dice for you?

I like the idea of universal systems.  Rarely, however, do I find they are better than systems that specifically target a setting.

BRP most definitely does not suck, though it is better for human and high adventure power levels than "not-quite-godlike" power levels.  It is far and away my favorite universal system.

SW is probably closer to what you are describing - and many people think that it does not suck. It does have an impressive variety of unique and creative settings.  It goes from pulpy to super pulpy, but may leave off super low-level gritty and godlike.

Fudge can do just about anything, but it is not really a game, it is more of a game design kit, and it doesn't have many published settings that I am aware of.

D&D, mentioned above, is a pretty awesome option.  I never thought of it as a universal system. But yeah, there are tons of adaptations.

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;907464Are your players role-players? Wargamers? Powergamers? Do they want to create stuff in their world? Do they want to sit quiet while you tell them a story and tell them what their character does, and they just roll dice for you?

I'll go with (C): All of the above.  

I have to deal with a variety of playstyles, but that's no big deal.

I'm going to suggest JAGS (Just Another Game System).  It's like a more structured GURPS that doesn't have some of the quirks that are endemic to GURPS.  It's pretty well supported for an independent game.

I'd suggest Star Cluster 3 but you probably want more of the low tech / fantasy end, for which there's a standalone version called The Book of Jalan.

I agree with Madprofessor: BRP is excellent, even at high levels (I have used it for some serious kick-axe Conan games) but probably not quite God-like level.

Quote from: noman;907468I'll go with (C): All of the above.  

I have to deal with a variety of playstyles, but that's no big deal.

I guess you just need any rules then that have all kinds of setting books for it. Just no GURPS and the others you mentioned. Find out from the players which setting/genre they want to play in. Then get the closest setting book that has separate rules in another book. I'm thinking Savage Worlds stuff.

SW has rules for supers but the scale feels off. There really isn't that much difference between strong and super strong in feel. Hero does universal well except for gritty. It can be done but it is such a hassle that it is easier to just go with Gurps. ORE handles the scaling well. I like EABA also but haven't plugged in Supers yet to see how it plays.