this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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Some more freeform systems:
Fate, another great "do all" system
Hillfolk, more like theater impro framework.
Another shoutout for Fate! It's great
Fate is much more my jam when it comes to "rework for everything" systems. It fits narrative elements with mechanics without being constraining.
Whenever I play PBTA I keep bouncing against the limits of the system because most of them are laser focused on emulating some sort of narrative genre, and often I want more from my characters than to just play out a selected arrangement of tropes. And as a GM I occasionally feature quests that pull from entirely different genres.
I haven't played Thirsty Sword Lesbians but "a selected arrangement of tropes" hits the nail on the head when it comes to Dungeon World and Blades in the Dark. At least The Sprawl (also PbtA) offered multiclass options and enough lateral advancement that playbooks were more a theme than a rigid dichotomy.
Going back to Fate, this system has become my go-to for "I have a story I want to tell with my party and I just want the rules to, basically, function". Great for those games where the storytelling matters and the rules almost don't.
Cypher is another good one if you need linear (or at least, level-like) progression, and an emphasis on finding and using cool loot