Post originally by SteelCaress at 2003-10-15 09:07:29
Converted from Phorums BB System

It actually works pretty well as a serious system with a few tweaks (like Health). Health avoids the issue of being unable to fight back because of reduced cliche dice. Also health can be fairly universal: mental health, spiritual health, corruption health, etc.

I also give bonus dice based on good descriptions. If you can describe your Poodle Trimmer's actions well enough, you may get at least an equivalent number of dice as that Ninja. That prevents the "I'm better than you so you're screwed" syndrome.

The cliche system also works very well for scale (take a look at Mobile Armour Fighting Team Risus for giant robots), and for coming up with stats on the fly. Don't want to spend a day and a night poring over GURPS Vehicles or GURPS Traveller? Great! Just think of some basic functions and turn 'em into cliches (like Interstellar Capabilities, Ion Laser Cannon, etc).

Basically, to run a serious game, you'd need a game world, and a clearly-defined list of cliches, being open to negotiation if players think of a kewl idea that fits into that world. Other than that, it reminds me of Over the Edge a bit, with all the character possibilities. Any type of character can be created, and if you're stuck for ideas you have no lack of source material (found as links on the Cumberland Games site).

What are you waiting for? Quit reading! Get over there now! <http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/risus.htm>

I don't make any money off this, but it's one of those rules-light, *innovative* games that deserves attention. With any luck, more systems like this will topple the d20 Tower of BS.