History of the 3D-RPG System

When I started developing the 3D-RPG System over ten years ago, it was from a strong desire to achieve an unheard of balance in a system. I was tired of systems where weapons weren't deadly, and a hero had nothing to fear except from the strongest of dragons. Where no matter how good your plan was, there were things that just couldn't be overcome due to sheer numbers. I set out to design a system that was realistic, yet wasn't so realistic that you were afraid to try anything. It didn't take long to succeed in this, but the system suffered from another problem. Too many rules weighed things down and made the game slow.

Cutting the excess baggage

Since then my players and I have spent years looking at individual rules and trimming the fat. If we didn't like the way something played out, if it was too complicated, or it was difficult for even the most basic gamer to grasp I would sit down and ask myself “How can I do this better?” The result is a system that is easy to understand with familiar concepts. It doesn't take a genius to play, and there's not a ton of math to get in the way of the fun. The longest part of the process is building a character which inexperienced gamers can probably manage in under an hour. Most of the information you need regularly is laid out on a single piece of paper. Most importantly it's fun, it's flexible, and it has been repeatedly tested in multiple genres.

Familiarity

The system incorporates aspects of the most popular gaming systems such as D6 and D10 based storyteller systems, as well as popular D20 based systems. This familiarity will make it instantly accessible to anyone, yet it brings something new to the gaming table. These changes, hybridizations, and revolutions are sure to make more than one person say aloud “That's great!” The rules have been designed so that characters are limited by the ideas of the player, not overburdening rules. Speed and flexibility are beautifully intertwined with low overhead and extra attention to the details that make the game fun for all types of gamers. With this system I hope that we can truly revolutionize table top gaming.

Community

While no one system can please every gamer, I have worked hard on developing a system in which every gamer can find things that they love. And because this is a labor of love, I have decided to share the system with the world for free. This web site will be the portal by which gamers of the system will get together, discuss the system, share their modules and creations, and build an open community the likes of which have never been seen before. This is my goal, and I look forward to working with all of you to achieve it. Thank you for your time!

Paul R. Dillinger, Creator of the 3D-RPG System
May 24th, 2008

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