Castle Falkenstein*. Okay, I really like the setting. I got most (if not all the supplements) but I don't like the rules. Now, I'm sure other folks feel the same way about some games. I don't think it's the whole "I get games for the rules and not the setting" question.

I think that some settings draw you in but you just don't dig the rules. So, anyone else find themselves in the same boat?

*I have this sneaky desire to run CF with FUDGE.

Regards,
David R

Totally.  Unfortunately (at least for diversifying the discussion) Castle Falkenstein is my prime example as well.

I've had this reaction to a few different games, notable among them Exalted and (hee!) Amber.

Quote from: David RI have this sneaky desire to run CF with FUDGE.

This actually makes very good sense.  As I recall, Castle Falkenstein had ranked descriptors very, very much like those you'd use in FUDGE, making the conversion virtually painless and keeping much of the CF contest structure in place.

!i!

For me, Legend of the Five Rings, roll-n-keep.

RIFTS, and by extention to all Palladium Books RPGs.  (Often with a desire to tweak the setting presentation as well, toning down the cartoony cosmetics.)

The thing I've found is that setting is highly mutable, and that I can do pretty much anything I want to do with what I've got.

I don't know a lot about CF, but I think: why can't you do a game of Victorian melodrama with what you have available? Is CF any more than that?

I would only buy a game for a new system. Setting is something I can create myself.

Yes, there aren't very many settings that get me excited. In fact I recently snagged CF off eBay because I wanted to see the system; I'm not that into the setting.

Now, I like the Talislanta setting, and the system seems okay, but if I wanted to use mechanics with a little more "bite" I could easily see swapping in GURPS or TFT. Similarly, I like the setting for SPI's Universe, but although the system seems okay to me, I've read enough comments that it's a dog to make me think of swapping in GURPS or Silhouette if I ever run it.

Star Children -- the setting is Heavy Metal meets Rock & Rule, but the system is a totally uninspired card mechanic that has nothing to do with the setting thematically (at least Castle Falkenstein had that much) and is clunky as all get out, to boot.

I think that this had much to do with the game's rather lukewarm reception, as there seemed to be a fair amount of interest prior to its release, but soon after its arrival it was promptly relegated to the status of "nice try, but largely crap" by many of the previously interested parties.

A shame, really. I'd like to see the setting revised with a far more practical system. And, since I just received my review copy today, let me add Wraeththu to the list (no, I'm not kidding).

Provided you're not a homophobe or bent on having nothing but hard science in your post-apoc settings, the world of Wraeththu seems like it allows for a very interesting socio-politcal roleplay experience. It could conceivably find a large audience -- if it weren't for the system.

Just flipping through the book I've already noted some very troubling statistical anomalies (for example, attempting to do something totally unskilled will likely be easier than doing that same thing with a basic degree of training).

I suspect that it gets much worse than that. I guess I'll find out after Christmas

Quote from: droogI would only buy a game for a new system. Setting is something I can create myself.

I can create a setting but, I've found that some games do a much better job than I ever will. For instance, I was going to run a Napoleonic naval campaign using GURPs. Then I got In Harms Way. A near perfect fusion of setting and rules.

My players chose IHW over my homebrew  But this is more the exception than the norm. Most times I get a really cool setting (by this I mean, that I could not have come up with something as interesting) but the rules just don't click. But then again I've never really been much of a rules guy anyway....

Regards,
David R

For me, it would have to be... Living Steel, Cyberspace, and Manhunter.

I liked the Castle Falkenstein rules.

Quote from: jdrakehAnd, since I just received my review copy today, let me add Wraeththu to the list (no, I'm not kidding).

Provided you're not a homophobe or bent on having nothing but hard science in your post-apoc settings, the world of Wraeththu seems like it allows for a very interesting socio-politcal roleplay experience. It could conceivably find a large audience -- if it weren't for the system.

Just flipping through the book I've already noted some very troubling statistical anomalies (for example, attempting to do something totally unskilled will likely be easier than doing that same thing with a basic degree of training).

Prepare yourself James...you got a fight heading your way

Regards,
David R

Quote from: pigames.net. . . and Manhunter.

Good call. The only bit of good (mechanically speaking) that I recall seeing in the original Manhunter was the abstract ship to ship combat system.

Quote from: David RPrepare yourself James...you got a fight heading your way

Regards,
David R

Well, since most of the people who bash the game (or most games , for that matter) do so based totally on hearsay, it doesn't bother me too much. Incidentally, that's why I requested a review copy -- if I'm going to praise or damn a agame, I'll do it based only on my own experience. And, of course, there's always the IL function

Exalted after it started becoming more and more like a collectible card game.

Quote from: jdrakehWell, since most of the people who bash the game (or most games , for that matter) do so based totally on hearsay, it doesn't bother me too much. Incidentally, that's why I requested a review copy -- if I'm going to praise or damn a agame, I'll do it based only on my own experience. And, of course, there's always the IL function

I'll be looking forward to your review. I don't have an opinion on the game - haven't read it. Some folks here though....

BTW I liked Rats & Gargoyles and also the source material for the W game...which may mean something or may not...

Regards,
David R