Bought my first RPG rulebook
 

I'm not really sure if this is the place to discuss this, but I figured it'd be the most appropriate. If not, I'm sure it'll get moved.

I entered the fifth level of geekdom today. I bought my first ever roleplaying game core rulebook yesterday. Specifically, I purchased the d20 Modern core rulebook. I bought it mainly because it was $20(Wizards of the Coast is closing so it was on sale and I figured it was time I learned a pen-and-paper RPG). I've been reading it over quite a bit, and it seems rather well written and detailed. It seems to repeat itself semifrequently, but that's alright.

I was wondering if anyone here wanted to share any of the experiances they've had with the d20 Modern system. Good, bad, or whatever, I'd really like to know what I'm in for. I've never played a pen-and-paper RPG, but I'm thinking I'm going to try and GM a game with my dormmates if I feel I've sufficiently understood the rules in question. Any advice about that would be appreciated.

Also, is any of the RPGs that are going on in this forum based on the d20 Modern system? I looked for a few minutes, but I wasn't really sure if any of them were or not.

Meh, I'm not a big fan of the D20 system of play myself. Recently I ran an RP for the Call of Cthulhu RPG book, and found there were two versions, the Classic version, and a re-done D20 Version. After looking at both, I found D20 to be needlessly complicated and reduce simple things to exercises in patience and annoyance, while the "Classic" version seemed simpler and efficent in waht needed to be done. I've also looked into other RPGs that don't use D20 like World of Darkness, and Shadowrun, and find that I like all of their systems more then the D20 system.

Also, most of the RPs in here don't run on any die system, they run on a sort of freeform RPing system where everyone regulates their own actions and within reason of the RP and their character. However, if you look in here in the future for any more RPs, just know that most of the RPs I GM (Game Master) run on a dice based system, but I avoid D20 systems if at all possible...

The d20 system itself is a masterpiece; it completely made rping accessible to the mainstream. the Modern book itself...well, that's more debatable...

Please elaborate, I really don't mind.

D20 is my thing. I got into it about a year and a half ago, and I've been hooked for a while. Anything else just doesn't seem to have enough structure, at east anything else that I've seen. Me and my legit 14th level cleric say so!

Snefix, do you have any idea what gaming was like before d20 came along? It was quite often a disorganized mess! Bonuses added, bonuses subtracted, and it wasn't until a year ago I finally figured out how the heck you calculate a THAC0 (To Hit Armor Class Zero...yes, AC 0). The Modern system...I dunno. It kinda seems like a really generic World of Darkness. I mean, the classes are things like "Smart Hero" and "Fast Hero", which just seems sort of dopey to me. My friend sorta-successfully ran a d20 Modern/d20 Call of Cthulu game, but I really felt the system left a lot to be desired. Some of the artwork is cool...who doesn't love classic D&D monsters dressed as commandos and pimps and such? The "action dice" concept is also a really good one, as it lets the game be more cinematic. Now, on the other hand, I recently picked up Spycraft d20 at a gaming auction, and I am rather impressed with the level of detail and cool little "extras" thrown in. d20 Modern is not a bad game, but after immersing myself in volumes of World of Darkness lore, the setting and mechanics just seemed bare in comparison.

Nope, I dont' know a thing about what gaming was a thing before d20. I'm 19 and have never played a tabletop RPG in my life. They've always intrigued me, and as the book was discounted I'd figure I should do a little purchasing. And I think I share your sentiments about the "Smart Hero" concept... I was rather bummed to find that there wasn't a good/evil/neutral alignment for the characters. Perhaps that was done intentionally to reflect the moral ambiguity in the modern age.

I've really only had experience with DnD of the d20 system. Frankly I really like it, some of the other rpgs I've seen have the prospect of being waaaaaaaay too easy to god-mod. It may be complicated at times, but once you get used to it d20 is most fun and allows for you to do just about anything that you want to do.

The pre-d20 games were nearly impossible to learn well (THAC0 - *shudder*). It took me about two years to learn how to really play AD&D Second Edition, but only about two weeks two learn Third Edition (d20). This has made RPing amazingly more mainstream and useable, but if you are willing to do a little more to learn a system, others can be more rewarding (it all depends on what you like). I play d20 most of the time, as it is easier on me, but I do like to play Shadowrun/Werewolf/Call of Cthulhu once in a while. It all depends on what you like.

I really like the d20 system. I haven't had much experience with the others, but from what I've played, it all seemed very random and disorganized. That, and all we did for 2 hours was watch as two characters try to beat the tar out of eachother in slow motion as they rolled dice. Anyway, I love D&D 3.0 and 3.5, but I'm cheap so I go for the old 3.0 books.