Basic principles of the RPG...
The Monster Commute RPG (MonComRPG) is designed to provide a rules-lite, but very structured game system to offer fun, fast-paced games. It is based upon the FUDGE RPG, a fantastic open-source game platform by Steffan O' Sullivan with extensive input from Internet user-groups.
I wanted to create a system that is easy to understand, that places role-playing and fun above min-maxing and rules calculation. While I've enjoyed such games, I've often been frustrated with the difficulty in understanding the myriad of rules in such complicated games. Being a visual thinker, I'm attempting to make MonComRPG as visual as possible to make it easy to understand.
Another difference between MonComRPG and other RPGs is that the game is more focused on play, rather than character advancement. Just like in some movies, the hero doesn't focus on endless advancement... she's focused on adventure.
In MonComRPG, all character Skills and Potentials are rated on a seven-level, ascending adjective scale: Terrible, Poor, Mediocre, Fair, Good, Great, Superb (with the addition of Legendary.) In this scale "Fair" is very competent, and represents an average worker's skill level at their job.
A "Potential" takes the place of attributes in other RPGs. Basically, it's the upper limit in which your character's skills could progress in BODY, MIND, or SPIRIT.
In essence, Potentials simply limit the skills that reside within them. For example, BRAWL is a skill that falls under Body. If Body is "Fair" than it will be very difficult to raise BRAWL above "Fair". It's possible, but expensive and limited. Potentials themselves can be raised, though only after life-changing circumstances in the character's life experience.
