by Pat Grant

Created on: August 30, 2008   Last Updated: February 23, 2011

So, you've been playing role-playing games since you were young. You started with D&D and have played it through all its various incarnations. You have tried other RPG type games, some of which were in worlds of fantasy, some in outer space, some in the realm of horror. Now you feel the urge to create your own system and take your spot in the hierarchy of the role-play gaming world. You have attended Origins and Gen Con and thought it would be great to be one of the people there selling your own game, and running events in it.

Whether you have dreamed of becoming a big shot in the RPG world, or if you simply feel the creative surge to undertake such a huge project, there are a lot of things to consider before you start. First of all, remember how much is already out there. There are a lot of systems. You need to figure out what those have in common and how they are different. Then you will be able to figure out how to make yours unique. If your dream is to create something that will grab peoples attention and allow you to truly compete in this highly competitive industry, you MUST be unique. You must offer something that none of the others offer. However, if you're just trying to create something fun for you and your friends, then you do not need to worry so much about this aspect.

What makes role-playing fun? Well, some people find the key element is the ability to role-play. They want to be able to create characters and then act as them in the scenarios they are given. For these folk you need to provide a system of character creation which will allow for diversity and creativity. Give them something they can have fun with, not just number crunching.

Others enjoy the aspect of ROLL-play. These players like to get into the game and see action. Action, in almost all cases, means the rolling of dice. You need a system for them to roll dice to determine the outcome of things they do. This can include fighting, using skills, using abilities, or making rolls to save against things. You want something that will work, yet not be too complicated. I know of one system many won't play because they said they don't like having to do higher math in order to play a game! For both character creation and game mechanics you want a system that will cover everything you need, yet be able to apply the K.I.S.S. principle to it. (Keep It Simple Silly)

Another thing to keep in mind is, do you want to create a game system that also encompasses the world it is played in, or, create

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