Been reading Sword Art Online and some fictions about VR games which piqued my interest. Now I'm quite interested in playing a VR game, sadly it is doubtful that something like that will be developed within the next decade... In the meantime, do you guys think its possible to run a game based on a similar setting? Game-within-a-game so to speak.

I was thinking the greatest part of the VR fiction that caught my interest was the player's ability to do things/discover aspects and have the game respond to their abilities or circumstances creating unique skills or combinations that goes beyond hack-and-slash or simple skill at using the system.

I'm thinking of a classless, level-less system, since we aren't actually in a VR game and grinding will be boring as hell to post but rather one focused on player using skills, items and the environment as well as creating skills, finding weaknesses etc. with their ingenuity.

An example will be picking up a dagger and whacking away at a training dummy will give you a skill of dagger mastery (lvl 1) and some bonuses, but using that dagger in combat against a superior opponent will level those bonuses. Something like dual wielding daggers, doing some absurdly cool combination will probably earn you a special skill. In that regard, ingenuity and good writing will be the driver of advancement and so add flavour to the story.

PS. There will be a story.
This message was last edited by the user at 23:20, Sun 17 May 2015.

So far I like what I see, but you haven't said anything about the "reality" part of the game. Basically what's the reason for including that at all?
EDIT: I'm not saying it's a bad idea. I just want to have an idea what you wanted to do with it.
This message was last edited by the user at 00:39, Mon 18 May 2015.

Could be interesting. As far far as system goes, I've got two suggestions for you:

Champions/HERO System - This system has a very gritty, tactical feel to it, but allows pretty much any concept to be playable. Chargen is pretty detailed, and takes work to get through, but afterwards things are pretty simple for most characters. I'd suggest 5th or 6th edition, as those are the two most recent ones, so more people are likely to have played them.

Mutants & Masterminds - Also classless and levelless, but has a more freewheeling, comic book feel to it. Chargen is less detailed than Champions, but still requires GM oversight. And it is (loosely) based on the d20 system, so most players already know 80-90% of the in-game mechanics already. I'd suggest 2nd edition.

Both systems are points-based, effects-based systems. By this I mean you buy all your abilities, powers, skills, and gear with a base number of points (you can get more points by giving your character a handicap, like being weakened by a glowing green rock from another star system), and the difference between, say, a sword and a damaging spell is the descriptors on the damage.

I'd give this a look.

*cough* BESM *cough*

Seriously though, BESM is directly designed to play anime based RP, and has rules for having a character in VR even.

I'm with Brosuke in saying I'd be interesting in seeing it atleast.

From what I've seen of BESM, it works best for things like Inuyasha, where the characters have a limited set of powerful abilities that they don't use too often, and they run out of juice quickly if you do. For a lot of anime series, that works well. For something like SAO, especially if you get into the Alfheim or Gun Gale Online parts, that starts breaking down more and more. BESM isn't designed for dungeon crawls, which is a part of VRRPGs. I'd go with Champions, personally. It has a bit grittier, more dangerous feel, which living in a game should. And Endurance is already a mechanic in the system, helping to limit the use of high-end skills (like an MP gauge), while both it and Stun damage recover at a fairly quick rate, so you can get that video game character feel.

DarkPrince: Think you misunderstood bro, that's why I called it simulation. It's for people to have an idea that instead of just following the Sword Art universe, its meant to simulate a virtual reality game.

srgrosse: Wow, thanks for the system recommendations. Haven't tried Champions/HERO before but it does seem like a possible candidate though I have an issue with detailed chargen and point-based character as I would prefer a more organic character growth.

Sleepy: BESM seems a bit off given what srgrosse said, but I would need to know more and the game is not really anime based.

If systems are a possibility now, I'd vote for Mutants and Masterminds 3rd myself. But I would need to see the game to know if I'm joining regardless, so don't feel like you have to pay attention to me :)

In reply to srgrosse (msg # 7):

What you have seen has been misinterpreted. If you use the BESM 3rd Edition rules, you as the GM have a direct choice if things cost energy, and specific abilities can cost energy while others don't. Further, energy replenishes quickly outside of battle (per hour rate) so even if energy is used on major abilities, you rarely ever run low. The only ability that says it always costs energy is dynamic magic (but it also specifies the GM can remove that requirement if it doesn't fit the game).

So we'd all pretty much start out as a level one noob, and you as the GM would give out pre-made skills as we discover them?

Sounds like an interesting idea. I'll second that suggestion to use BESM too. The insane level of customisablity in Besm would be a major boon to something like this, and it's main weakness(poor balance due to aforementioned customisability) would be negated by the simple fact that you're in direct control of the skills created.

Icedark - All three systems talked about are points-based systems.

I would ask what you mean by 'organic character growth'? If you're talking about if someone uses their, say, firebolt attack more and more, the ability gets more powerful, then a point-based system works well for that. As you gain XP, you can put those points into skills, abilities, feats, etc., and grow them as you please. The benefit of these systems is that they are already pretty well balanced, as long as you keep some GM oversight.

Champions/HERO System is a robust system that can make literally anything you can think of, and if you consider that Endurance (the energy you use for most powers/abilities) regenerates quickly once out of combat (minutes instead of hours like BESM) then it makes it a good substitute for MP like you'd see in many video games. When going for an RPG feel, where you can rest for a bit and be back to full strength, MP-wise, that's a better fit IMO than BESM.

Likewise, it has a more tactical feel to it than BESM, which works with many RPGs.

HERO is originally designed for superhero games, but there are guidelines for fantasy, street-level heroes, sci-fi, and so on. Also, there are a series of maneuvers, including Martial Arts maneuvers, that allow more customization. And a fancy sword gained through looting a monster could easily be statted up in several different ways, especially if the sword had secondary abilities (such as being able to launch a fireball as a spell, or giving the wielder enhanced speed).