If hitpoints are an absolute dealbreaker, both Blood Games and FTA aren't the games for you.

Quote from: SkyrockIf hitpoints are an absolute dealbreaker, both Blood Games and FTA aren't the games for you.

Unless you mean escalating hit points - In Blood Games, hit points are static or decrease with time. FtA! hit points do increase.

-clash

Quote from: KazI haven't checked out that link yet but I have looked at the Web site and some of the promotional stuff (as well as Zachary and Pundit's reviews). And I've got to say, I'm very much impressed thus far. I don't really like randomizing character creation, but reading about the system in Epic has me excited to try it.

Great!  We also have a point-buy system for random roll-o-phobes, and I know some folks who just pick out childhood and apprenticeship events from the random tables.

Quote from: KazWhat would you say is the learning curve on this? The character log looks a bit intimidating at first glance.

Veteran rpg'ers usually don't have a big problem with it.  At con games I get folks up and running in about thirty minutes, including explanation of the mechanics.  It's a 2d10 + skill level mechanic.  Anything having to do with another person is an opposed roll (my skill vs. your skill).  Anything contested having to do with environment uses difficulty levels (5=easy, 10=moderate, 25=impossible).  

The sheet is designed so you'll have only one number to add to whatever your roll is when you're rolling.  The idea is to have calculation occur outside of an intense moment in play.

Sticking points are usually:
- consecutive movement in tactical play (as opposed to "you move," then "I move")
- skill advancement is impacted by mental attributes to simulate learning aptitude (i.e., Will affects your ability to learn melee arms skill, Intuition has a big impact on how quickly you pick up stealth skill)

Quote from: KazAre there Hit Points involved?

Nope.  There is a damage tracker called life points (LP).  Normal folks start with about 4, and you might have 5 or 6 if you're really big or tough. The damage system is six "buckets" of that many LPs - as you fill up each bucket and become more damaged, negative modifiers accrue.  Most characters spend their entire careers with their starting life points.  Skill makes you more able to get out of the way of damage, not absorb more of it.  It makes combat nice and dangerous, even for highly skilled characters.

Quote from: Kaz1. Fire and forget spells

Spell points, derived from skill, as well as tactical integration of magic.

Quote from: Kaz2. Non-human PCs or NPCs in a non-space setting

The system pretty much assumes a human base-line level of ability.  The default setting has only very rare occurrences on non-humans.

Quote from: Kaz3. Hit points!)

See above.

Without prejudice to any of the other suggestions, I'd recommend BRP or possibly Mongoose Runequest.

The only problem is that a fantasy BRP isn't in currently in print (though it will be, hopefully soon, when Chaosium releases Deluxe BRP), and Mongoose Runequest (which includes Lankhmar, Slaine, Elric) may or may not have everything you need in it. So this is written from the basis of having access to the Avalon Hill Runequest (RQ3) and/or the Chaosium Elric/Stormbringer (SB).

So,

Quote from: Kaz1) I want a somewhat freeform magic system. Being able to have multiple magic systems is a major plus. (For the setting.)

RQ III has three magic systems, basically tied to three world outlooks: spirit/shamanistic magic, divine magic, and sorcery. The latter is somewhat freeform, but it needs tweaking. SB has a variety of magic systems once you include the supplements. Call of Cthulhu may add more, but I don't know CoC well enough to say.

Quote2) I'd like it to be classless, but that's not a deal breaker

No classes in BRP.

Quote3) I'm a medium crunch fellow. I like some extra bits here and there but just the idea of FATAL makes me cry.

Depending on the options you include, BRP is light to medium crunch. CoC is very light, apparently. SB has some crunch but still doesn't have ultra-detailed combat. RQ has hit locations and armor-by-location, along with a strike rank system that (in RQ2 & RQ3) precisely defines when each character acts in combat.

Quote4) I don't mind doing some tweaking.

IMO, BRP is very tweakable because the system is very straightforward and modular.

I suggest GURPS 4th edition.

 Its pretty flexible.....several magic system choices.


- Ed C.



..

Quote from: KazAre you saying "free" as in "free of cost"? Or generic?

Reign is not free.  It's one of the more expensive games to obtain since it's only normally available through LULU and their shipping prices can be a bitch.

Oh man, there is so much awesome in this thread. I will sift through it once deadline passes (tomorrow afternoon). But thanks a metric shit ton for all of this. You guys have been delightfully helpful and super mega informative.

Hey, I hoped my review helped for Epic!  It's a game I'd really recommend, especially based on your criteria.

Quote from: ReimdallVeteran rpg'ers usually don't have a big problem with it.  At con games I get folks up and running in about thirty minutes, including explanation of the mechanics.  It's a 2d10 + skill level mechanic.  Anything having to do with another person is an opposed roll (my skill vs. your skill).  Anything contested having to do with environment uses difficulty levels (5=easy, 10=moderate, 25=impossible).  

The sheet is designed so you'll have only one number to add to whatever your roll is when you're rolling.  The idea is to have calculation occur outside of an intense moment in play.

Yeah, I can vouch for it being a pretty easy game to learn (in the Game Manual, there are plenty of checklists with references to explain each step and ensure you're on your way).  I have had some slow players, and they've not had an issue with it that I know of.   Resolution is very straightforward, and I've found that the characer sheet actually is very well laid-out to keep things going smooth in play--for instance, the boxes for damage level tracking keep it all easy to note and remember any penalties.  I'd add I really like the "Buckets" for Life Points or LPs--it's a simple but elegant way to track damage and its effects without being worried about a while slew of diverse modifiers or having characters that can laugh while taking a spear in the gut with no ill effects.

I've also found the Guild/Profession system in Epic to be one of the easiest for creating your own organizations and different skillsets for characters.   I really can't express how well Epic has taken some of the best gaming ideas from over the years and turned it into a emergently innovative, quality game.

(Sorry I'm a bit late to the party.  I should also add I love the modular goodness of Iron Gauntlets, but it sounds like IMO Epic might be a bit more what you're after in this case)

Quote from: KazOther important particulars:
1) I want a somewhat freeform magic system. Being able to have multiple magic systems is a major plus. (For the setting.)
2) I'd like it to be classless, but that's not a deal breaker.
3) I'm a medium crunch fellow. I like some extra bits here and there but just the idea of FATAL makes me cry.
4) I don't mind doing some tweaking.
5) I have no loyalties to systems.

EABA is one of the better medium crunch generic system I know that is currently available and gets moderate support. There's all kinds of ways to play with the powers section and come up with interesting magic, but in that respect, you will need to use your creativity as it is a bit dry as presented.

It does fantasy really well, it's a reasonably small work, easy to digest and reasonably detailed. It is also a versatile game that can be used for lots of genres.

Quote from: NicephorusThe little that I looked at Riddle of Steel, it seemed very limited, mainly focusing on duels.  
 
I really need to look more at Savage Worlds.  The free preview makes it look decent and their $10 rulebook sounds like a sensational deal.  I also like their one sheet adventures on their website - Here's a scene and some bad guys, go to it.

Riddle of Steel is basically a fantastic man-to-man melee combat system bolted onto a mediocre RPG and a mind-boggling (not in a good way - freeform effects with scientific lingo :confused: :confused: :confused:) magic system.

NOTE: Fantastic there kinda implies you want one, maybe two good hits to drop a human being, and that first one to make him almost incapable of fighting back.

Quote from: Christmas ApeRiddle of Steel is basically a fantastic man-to-man melee combat system bolted onto a mediocre RPG and a mind-boggling (not in a good way - freeform effects with scientific lingo :confused: :confused: :confused:) magic system.

Yeah, every part has been written by someone else, and I had to write some formulas for usual magical effects as damaging or buffing to get at least hard numbers out of it rather then guessing how much damage a sonic-fast rock does.

The duel part is working like a charm however, with lots of bloodshed and tactics. You should look that you can break down every combat to duels though, because mass combat can be a hell to figure out.

And I should add that I find that the quick-start version better then the full-blown version.

Hero System 4th edition (5th edition is too friggin' big and overwhelming). For less than $10 you should be able to pick up the core book and the Fantasy Hero for 4th edition Hero. That's all you'd need and anything else you want you can literally build with the system itself. And no, there isn't crazy math. I suck at math and have never hit a stumbling block in Hero System. I also find it to be more versatile than GURPS and, unlike GURPS, you can do everything with just the core book.

-=Grim=-

Hey, any updates on what he went with?

This campaign won't take place for awhile. I'm going to take some free time over the holidays here to go over all the info and links I've been given.

Right now, though, Epic Role Playing is the early favorite.

That's great to hear, Kaz!

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.