Actually, systemless supplements, like perpetual motion machines or communist economics, are one of those ideas that just seems so good that everyone tries it, and then finds out it just doesn't work.
Consider: If a supplement contains specific mechanics, then, anyone who uses that system can use it 'as is', and those who do not must make an effort to convert. Whereas, if a supplement uses no mechanics, or 'systemless' mechanics, then, EVERYONE must convert. And, since there is no agreed-upon conversion, two people using the same systemless supplement for the same system may end interpreting the same character/spell/item in wildly divergent ways. A system-specific supplement has a guaranteed core audience, while a systemless supplement does not. Some "generic" books have carved out a succesful niche market -- the citybooks, for example -- but, for the most part, the concept doesn't work nearly as well in practice as it does in theory. Note, BTW, that Mongoose ramps up the "crunchy bits" with each new release. _______________________________________________ Ogf-l mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
