New Systems at Gencon!

[Seatbelt]

So Gencon is coming up in a few months and I want to try my hand at some systems other than SAGA and 3.5/pf (no 4.0 please). I'm really looking for more space or sci-fi type games or games set in a modern era/1900's. But if you have any other systems you enjoy please suggest them. :)

[The Rose Dragon]

Have you tried Burning Wheel? I haven't, but it sounds like the next Holy Grail of RPGs from what people tell (that, or I just keep running across people with the same peculiar tastes).

Alternately, you can always try Qin. Qin is awesome.

[Bang!]

I've been plugging a few of the games I've been playing lately pretty hard, so I'll try not to go overboard on them: 3:16 - Carnage Amongst the Stars is quick easy violent scifi fun, InSpectres is a can full of zany investigative hijinks in a modern setting and Diaspora is the coolest example of elegant, straight-faced science fiction I've ever seen.

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One game I haven't seen get more than a passing mention on these boards, but that's been my most often-played rpg for about a year, is Fiasco. It's very different from traditional rpgs: it doesn't have a GM, it doesn't have complex problem resolution mechanics, it is not designed to run an ongoing plotline. The rules are designed to very smoothly manipulate players into hanging out, doing some light improv, and building an interesting narrative in about two hours time. The default setting is modern/1900s, and stepping too far away from that could be problematic. It's a fun and easy game to joke around with, have a couple beers and pass an evening without preparation or a time crunch. It's also about the least nerdy-feeling rpg I've played; I've been able to get people who would never dream of playing D&D to sit down, do some storytelling, and have fun with it.

A game I haven't played, but am really excited to get my hands on is Eclipse Phase. It looks like a flashy scary scifi game with attractive packaging and a few really distinct features (modular minds, for one).

If you get a chance to dabble with any of these games, I'd definitely recommend it.

ETA:
Also, Qin is awesome.

[dsmiles]

I can't help but put RISUS into the hat. And Mouse Guard, and Mutants & Masterminds/DC Adventures, and Rolemaster/HARP, and Call of Cthulhu, and HoL, and last but not least: Paranoia.

[Captain Kidd]

During long, boring deployments (software not war ) we've started playing the Dresden Files RPG while the ops do all the work and we devs hang around in case something breaks. The FATE system is a nice break from Pathfinder and fighting vampires (and creepy little girls with a nasty voodoo doll - ouch, big ouch is all I can say) in the modern era is also nice. We've set it local, so we all know the area well.