I actually liked the last few episodes of Caprica, but yeah, that show reallly meandered from the mid-season finale on (more meandering than usual, I guess).

Wait - O'Neal typed that too. What's what I get for not reading the article.

Not enough ghosts or wrestling. Or wrestling ghosts.

Settlers of Canaan is a game, too.

Yeah, @avclub-b31df16a88ce00fed951f24b46e08649:disqus got it — if the players have at least some grasp on what they're doing, and aren't prone to analysis paralysis, then combats can move right along in 4E. Also treating some enemies as minions (they go splat easily) helps too.

I think this is why I like the FantasyCraft tweak on 3.5 - it stays within the d20 wheelhouse, but changes the class/feat emphasis enough so that melee types have lots of options.

Savage Worlds is great. It's easy to learn, and works really well for pick-up games. I still prefer the related system used in Deadlands classic, but I'm also stupid.

This. There's a lot I like about conventions, but I'm always wary. I went to Origins a few years ago, and while it was enjoyable I also felt myself squirming half of the time. Some of the people I gamed with were nice folks, but there were plenty of people that fit squarely in the ultra-dorky gamer stereotype and…

@avclub-ce6c92303f38d297e263c7180f03d402:disqus  I've heard nothing but good things about Mouse Guard.

Ah, you are right. (Fiasco does look great, though. Seems perfect for one-offs.)

Has anyone started a "recommend a game" topic yet? If so, I'm starting it now.

I've always thought the same thing. That said, hasn't the GM-less model been around a while? I know Ars Magica uses it, and that game is pretty old (and pretty rules-heavy too, from what I remember).

The complaint is coming from the fact that every class, even the most mundane, have a list of kewl powerz that recharge at different rates. Don't get me wrong — I actually like 4E, but feel like there's at least something to the gripe.

WotC gotta eat.

I sometimes play games on message boards (like on RPG.net or Boardgamegeek). I played a game a few years ago using the Spycraft rules; they're based on the D&D 3.5 rules, but have a lot of options for running something more modern. The group I was with played a game that lasted a few years, and the campaign took a lot…

Yeah, Mansions is fun, but the recent goof Fantasy Flight made with the expansion shows they need to really have some quality control.

Lev Grossman confirmed that the whole ending action set piece in The Magicians is basically poking fun at how goofy some dungeon crawls can get in RPGs. "Hey look, there's a random dining room in the dungeon!"

Nerdy fact: Stephen Lea Sheppard, who plays the DM, was (is?) one of the moderators at RPG.net. He's a hardcore gaming nerd. Great message board moderator too.

Paizo has done a great job of actually supporting Pathfinder, giving the people who don't dig 4E a way out. That said, I prefer FantasyCraft over Pathfinder. It tweaks the 3.5 ruleset and adds a toolbox aspect to the rules. It really makes things open ended; you can have gritty, low-magic games or high-fantasy…

That game is a blast, despite how broken it can get in some scenarios. It's worth seeking out the first edition, since the current one has terrible quality pieces.