Posted this on gmail Buzz, thought I’d post it here too.

I’m starting to think most rpgs can be shaved down to a simple concept: The characters are troubleshooters and they go about solving problems. Be it killing bad monsters hiding in dungeons (D&D), or worse monsters hiding in abandoned buildings(Horror), saving people in danger (superhero) etc, it’s all about solving problems. So are personal goals like making money, gathering magical items or whatever.
Games do deviate from this theme, but that’s OK, I’m not trying to say every game works like this.
Now the question is, can a generic system be created that will support games like this? Such a system will be pretty useful for setting up games with generic premises (zombies! post apocalypse! heists!).

I think that troubleshooting as a premise can be used as a starting point. This would allow you to focus on some things in your system like:
1. Characters are in a group, so include mechanics/advice on putting a group together.
2. Groups will have goals, so include mechanics tied to that.
3. Each character will likely have personal goals, so you have mechanics that reinforce that.

What I’m thinking specifically, is bolt-on sub-systems and mechanics that can be added/removed depending on what you want to play. This could lead to an engine that can cover a lot of different themes.

For example:
Post apocalypse, resource management, zombies.

You’d take the basic system, include the mechanics that allow you to create your apocalypse, include the resource management mechanics (food, weapons, etc) and of course, the rules for zombies and how they work (player-GM created).

Do you want the game to be horrific and dramatic?
Include relationship mechanics and sanity mechanics.

Want it to be more about shooting things in the head and gunporn? Include the mechanics that cover detailed combat.

To further elaborate, it’s not really about troubleshooting, it’s about running games where the GM or the players and the GM have a clear idea of what they want to play.

Let’s say I ask you, ”I want to play a post apocalyptic game, what system should I use?”
You say ”Apocalypse World”.
I say, ”Can it handle epic road trips across the American wasteland?”
You say ”Well, maybe. But it’s more about societies and resource management”
I say ”Oh well that won’t work, I don’t care about that.”.

That’s what I’m talking about. A game where you have your setting, you have your situation and you need a simple system where you can adjust the dials and land close to what you’re looking for.

I suppose GURPS is the answer to that, which probably negates the need for a new system, yet I’m not a fan of GURPS either. Too many fiddly bits.

Which is interesting. I guess I’m talking about a generic, lightweight system with indie sensibilities (Keys, Aspects, Tokens, no-GM, etc).