Post originally by Polaris at 2005-01-20 18:59:15
Converted from Phorums BB System

FBM,

I don't know if I would call you a fan-boy, but you made a couple of unfair characterizations first about me and then about FRED.

First of all, I DON'T "hate" Hero. In fact it is my favorite system....for Superheroes and for Ultra-high power generas of other types. It's power construction system is the only one I have found that doesn't break at these exalted levels of power. However, you (and others) should be willing to admit that FRED has flaws. The skill system happens to be one of them which brings me to the second point.

For a genius (INT 18) it costs 3 points in order to succeed at a skill 72% of the time. This is TERRIBLE. MOST people with only average INTs have Int based skills with skill ratings better than this. As for "cost too much", I can actually compare that with what you could have bought in HERO.

For three points you can live forever.
For three points you can buy 2 points of RESISTANT defenses of your choice
For three points you can buy a weapon skill level.
For three points you can buy three points of strength (and all the goodness that comes with that).

Shall I go on? Go talk about it on the Hero boards sometime. FRED is a good system, but it's skill system isn't one of it's strengths. Compare FRED with GURPS 4E in a skill heavy setting like B5 (or any Espionage setting) and GURPS 4E blows FRED away.

-Polaris