Thanks for your comment, Emmett. My experience wit...

2012-01-03T17:30:31.488Z

Thanks for your comment, Emmett. My experience with systems without settings (particularly fantasy ones) is that it is very difficult to tell them apart. Many of them use the same sorts of mechanics with a very minor twist. Often the spells, bestiary, player races and so on are identical (fantasy tropes) so there is no difference there.

I am looking at extracting the system I use for Cloudship Atlantis, Commando 1940 and Chgowiz and making it into a generic system. This is backwards to the way that most people do it but at least I know it is generic enough to run those three settings! That is essentially what you have recommended in your close paragraph - I have made three settings using the same sorts of rules.

I can't agree more with this statement. "...

2012-01-03T15:19:46.520Z

I can't agree more with this statement.

"Even if you are writing a generic roleplaying game system (such as Fate, Risus or Five by Five) then you should still consider writing an example setting that showcases the unique features of the system."

The fear is that by applying a setting to a generic system, the players will be unable to break out of that setting. In reality if they're not able to break out of the example setting, then they're unlikely to develop a setting on their own anyway.

I'm falling into this trap myself with SPF. I essentially want a modular setting. What I need to do then is to define each of those modular components of the setting and how they work in the system.

In essence this is what GURPS ended up doing. GURPS had the advantage of introducing the idea of a generic system but made the smart move of making sourcebooks that explain the different settings that can be played and how to use the rules in them.

So don't say "I can't make a setting because it will limit the players." Make three settings (or five) and show how the rules work in them. They don't have to be long or overly complex, but they should attempt to explain the extremes of the system.

Comments on The Free RPG Blog: How to write a free RPG - Chapter 4: Setting

Thanks for your comment, Emmett. My experience wit...

I can't agree more with this statement. "...