Favorite Game Mechanics?

[J.K.Mosher]

Solve? Not sure, I just want a mechanic that gives a good mix of usability and
randomness.

As for other favorite mechanics. What's one's preferred method of Character generation?
Random Rolls, Point Buy? Drop the lowest?

I kinda like the random roll used in most of the D&D systems. Though point buy is great for
pbp style games.

[Onix]

I have a random roll for my system. For years a couple of players asked for a roll and assign system. You'd roll the same dice, you just got to pick where the numbers went. We came up with two new methods for generating characters and everyone was happy. Then everyone went back to random roll and I haven't heard of anyone using the new system since.

[John Michael Crovis]

[Onix]

[vulpinoid]

[Onix]

I think one of the flavors of Star Wars uses it too. I think that's where the request came from.

[Rob Lang]

I wanted to get away from roll dice, you hit, they take damage, roll dice blah blah, snore. I wanted description and I wanted it from those players who aren't comfortable with it! I also wanted there to be more tactics than putting your character in the right place on the map given the weapon choice. I wanted a PC to be able to trip up a foe and stamp them into the ground repeatedly. Comical if it's a human doing it, lethal if it's a cyber.

[trodgers]

I'm going to take a look at your combat mechanics, Rob. Sounds interesting.

I think I first saw the roll and assign in a version of AD&D. Isn't it one of the options listed in the Player's Handbook for second edition? 4d6, drop 1; 3d6 assign; 3d6.

Unearthed Arcana listed different methods for rolling, in order to customize your stats without reassigning. So you'd choose a warrior, say, and then based on that you'd be told how many dice you get to roll (still keep the 3 highest):
Strength 9, Constitution 8, Dexterity 7, (not sure at this point, maybe 6 charisma, 5 comeliness, 4 wisdom, 3 intelligence). It tends to create what you'd want from the assigning method without assigning. It also tends to allow higher stats.

I've always been a fan of PCs tending to be more impressive than the average folk. If I want to play an everyman, that would be something out of the ordinary and it would require a compelling story. That is, it would have to be built right into the story. Otherwise, I want to be a hero. Heroes aren't typical. And they're not just lucky.

[BubbaBrown]

[trodgers]

To be fair, most games I've played allow plenty of opportunities for heping even in combat and even if you're not equipped with heavy firepower.

COMBAT skills
Martial arts can be devastating in 2nd Edition, Role Master, and MERP.
Non-lethal combat in the same games can include entangling, entrapping, disarming, blinding, or distracting opponents.
Even providing cover fire or using pack tactics provides distinct benefits in most RPGs. In my game, for instance, flanking and rear attacks become possible when you have multiple characters facing off against an NPC. You don't have to be tough to hit someone from behind. Or if the opponent faces you to attack, it gives a rear shot to the powerful warrior you're helping out.

NON-COMBAT skills
This is an area where perhaps players don't know what they can do in some games, so they don't do what they're capable of. Insults, traps, distractions are all possible within the normal rules of any RPG I've played.