Blue Rose mostly would work, except I do think it has escalating HP.

Blue Rose doesn't have escalating HP, it has wound levels.

I'm rather surprised nobody has mentioned Bruning Wheel.

Well I looked through my copy of Stormbringer, then I thought maybe Runequest-3 (which I have) sans magic might work, since I will likely want to set it in a pseudo-European milieu rather than the Young Kingdoms, probably using one of Rob Conley's 'Points of Light' settings. Then I cycled round again to Pathfinder and 4e D&D, and just not having so many fights... guess I'll be at this awhile.

Quote from: S'mon;664708Well I looked through my copy of Stormbringer, then I thought maybe Runequest-3 (which I have) sans magic might work, since I will likely want to set it in a pseudo-European milieu rather than the Young Kingdoms, probably using one of Rob Conley's 'Points of Light' settings. Then I cycled round again to Pathfinder and 4e D&D, and just not having so many fights... guess I'll be at this awhile.

There are certainly many choices.

One of the ways you have made this hard is your duration of campaign.  Every comment and cross comment I am seeing I read through with that in mind.
I think you are right to stick with a skill based, and one that allows the PCs to get better in social skills as they use them, so that they will play into that direction of the game.

You know, as an even slightly focused combat game Lejendary Adventure has major issues, but the non-combat side is pretty good.  It's actually an ok non-combat game, with interesting broad non-combat skills (termed Abilities under Lejendary).  So, a use for that game, if you have it about.

Quote from: RPGPundit;664569Blue Rose doesn't have escalating HP, it has wound levels.

Oh yeah. Like Mutants and Masterminds. Thanks, Pundit.

Quote from: S'mon;664708Then I cycled round again to Pathfinder and 4e D&D

As you say, there is no real need to use something other than a game you already have mastery.  In your next 4th edition campaign, tailor the skills and feats to the campaign.  You could do this yourself without too much writing.  Leave the Powers alone for the rare combat that does occur.

Alternatively, you could use other peoples' content to define the non-combat skills and feats.  LibraryLass mentioned Blue Rose.  Rather than pulling what you would like to use from the other aspects of that game, use True20 as a source.  Pull the non-combat skills and feats, replacing some of the standard 4th skills and feats.  Also, AEG produced a pretty well done Feat source book titled Feats.  In particular, the Quest feats are excellent replacements for Paragon feats, in a non-combat focused game.  The quest feats insure that one doesn’t overly focus on the mundane in a low combat game too.

Here is a quick run through of this for 4th D&D.

Use these two lists that combine selections from D&D 4th and True20 for the campaign's skills and heroic feats.

True20 Adventure Roleplaying

Skills

Acrobatics (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Arcana  (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Bluff (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Concentration (True20)
Diplomacy (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Disquise (True20)
Gather Information (True20)
History (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Intimidate (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Medicine (True20)
Perception (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Religion (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Search (True20)
Sense Motive (True20)
Slieght of Hand (True20)
Stealth (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Streetwise (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Thievery (D&D Player’s Handbook)


Heroic Feats

Alertness (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Animal Empathy (True20)
Assessment(True20)
Attractive(True20)
Benefit(True20)
Challenge(True20)
Connected (True20)
Contacts (True20)
Dedicated (True20)
Durable (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Eidetic Memory (True20)
Escape Artist (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Inspire (True20)
Iron Will (True20)
Leadership (True20)
Linguist (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Light Sleeper (True20)
Low Profile (True20)
Lucky (True20)
Master Plan (True20)
Night Vision (True20)
Skill Training (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Startle (True20)
Suggestion (True20)
Talented (True20)
Taunt (True20)
Tireless (True20)
Toughness (D&D Player’s Handbook)
Track (True20)
Trackless (True20)
Trailblazer (True20)
Wealthy (True20)
Well-Informed (True20)


Replace Paragon Feats with these Quest Feats from AEG’s Feats


AEG’s Feats

Absolute Faith
Beyond Good and Evil
Blood Kin
Brush with Greatness
Carrier
Carte Blanche
The Chosen One
Chosen by the Gods
Cosmological Secret
Favor of the Gods
Forsaken
Glimpse into the Beyond
Honorary Nobility
Honored Enemy
Lost Soul
Master of the Field
Notoriety
Oracle’s Wisdom
Penitent
Revolutionary Figure Head
Ritual Atonement
Scourge
Souless
Soul Twin
Stronghold
Supernatural Mentor
Surety Bond
Unclean Soul
Unnatural Blessing
Vendetta

Quote from: Kuroth;664830As you say, there is no real need to use something other than a game you already have mastery.

True! Yesterday I had the inspiration to develop it as a one-shot or short campaign using Moldvay Basic D&D with very low-level demographics (nearly everyone level 1-3) - the extreme simplicity makes it easy to use for a variety of stuff, plus lethality of play at 1st level ought to work well. Attribute checks using roll under stat on d20 can be the main mechanic. Using the AD&D derived 'unconscious at 0, dead at -10' allows for a bit more longevity without increasing combat power or requiring Raise Dead be available.
For attributes I was thinking 3d6 in order, swap any two, then choose a listed Background such as Courtier, Guard Officer, Scout etc that gives +3 to a pair of stats, max 18. That way PCs should have a couple decent stats and a defined role, while most will still be fragile enough to want to avoid combat.
The game itself will use Conley's 'Southland' from Points of Light, with the PCs escorting Princess Dahaeris of the Grand Kingdom through the Westwall mountains to her forthcoming marriage at Castle Westguard, but rather than a plotted session I'm planning to throw in a bunch of NPCs, rumours, random encounters etc and see what happens.

Quote from: S'mon;665139True! Yesterday I had the inspiration to develop it as a one-shot or short campaign using Moldvay Basic D&D with very low-level demographics (nearly everyone level 1-3) - the extreme simplicity makes it easy to use for a variety of stuff, plus lethality of play at 1st level ought to work well. Attribute checks using roll under stat on d20 can be the main mechanic. Using the AD&D derived 'unconscious at 0, dead at -10' allows for a bit more longevity without increasing combat power or requiring Raise Dead be available.
For attributes I was thinking 3d6 in order, swap any two, then choose a listed Background such as Courtier, Guard Officer, Scout etc that gives +3 to a pair of stats, max 18. That way PCs should have a couple decent stats and a defined role, while most will still be fragile enough to want to avoid combat.
The game itself will use Conley's 'Southland' from Points of Light, with the PCs escorting Princess Dahaeris of the Grand Kingdom through the Westwall mountains to her forthcoming marriage at Castle Westguard, but rather than a plotted session I'm planning to throw in a bunch of NPCs, rumours, random encounters etc and see what happens.

Very good to read you chose to take your own path and modify the game to your campaign.  One thing I do for AD&D games that are heavy on ability checks is to use the full value for standard checks, 2/3 value for difficult checks and 1/3 value for challenging checks.  Fewer modifiers to add or subtract, with the values at the ready.  It allows the higher number of these checks to progress quickly in game.  Save throws can be used for a lot of non-combat scenarios too, of course.  Conley's setting is a good choice, by the way.

The Dying Earth RPG certainly fits the OP's bill.

Quote from: S'mon;662646Related to the which-system-for-Game of Thrones/ASoIaF discussion, I was wondering what systems there are that support non-combat-centric play in a medievalesque fantasy environment? Are there any traditional (non-storygame) systems where a noncombatant player character is possible and viable?

Some characteristics I think would be desirable or necessary:
1. Ability to put all resources in non-combat skills/powers/abilities.
2. Ability for noncombatant PCs to be effective in play.
3. No escalating hit points.
4. Probably not level or class based?

This is exactly what i've been trying to allow for in my current game design. Glad to see i'm not the only one thinking about it.

What i'm trying to balance now is to make it so that all the normal combat stats have out of combat applications, rather than having separate statistics for non-combat, forcing players to choose between survivability and social engagement.

High Valor has a combat centric design (Valor is important.) But so too are Will and Faith.

One could play a PC who is a complete pacifist priest or quick witted character who uses those traits to overcome (most) foes. If you want to have no-combat it is easy enough switch Valor to "Daring" and go with that.

Drop some of the monsters like Myrk and stick with the more capable of intellect and cunning foes..

Nothing says you have to best a dragon with skill of arms..

So while combat is fairly central to the tales the game is based on (Beowulf, the Eddas/Sagas/etc.) You can shift gears without really much fuss.

Quote from: LibraryLass;664752Oh yeah. Like Mutants and Masterminds. Thanks, Pundit.

No problem, I'm rather familiar with Blue Rose, having run a lengthy campaign with it.

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