Bottom Line:
-Core mechanic runs the way its supposed to be, and is internally coherent.
(eg. "roll d20 and ask for 10+". That's it for a core mechanic;
"My system can do this and this and this and this and this" with 30+ pages of skills and jobs, but no dice or resolution? That's just someone's rant;
"Rolling d20 and last time when you walk did you move your left leg or right?" might sound interesting, but it makes no flicking sense when its together.)
One step away:
-People being able to understand it.
(eg. "roll d20 and ask for 10+" That's not too complicated;
"P = p power-n = (1/20) power-n>10" That's a guarantee that anyone but a mathhead won't even touch it.
"Dispersed with thy Icosahedron, and least thee seek above and beyond such holy union" now that's just being an unnecessary a$$hole.
BTW. "It works fine for me" is probably the worst excuse you can come up with here. Of course it works for you since you made it, but if it only works for you then putting it up is just a waste of everyone's time including yours. Orz)
One step beyond:
-The internal gimmicks you added don't clash with each other.
(eg. Scifi game with Psychic power and magic in a world of common people but also transformable super-monsters and mecha-cthulhu? Sure, why not.
None of them worked with each other at all? You might as well just make 5 separate games.
Yes, I am looking at you Cthulhutech.)
Bonus step:
-Don't be an a$$hole when people call you out.
(eg. The hobby's around long enough that nothing you come up with is going to be new. You only never seen it before because:
1.) It just doesn't work.
2.) It works, but is just a hassle to actually use.
2b.) It works, but its outright boring or just not fun that people just use the easier/simpler/better alternatives.
2c.) It needs a calculator/computer. If you have to ask why this is a problem, yeah you're already f__ked. =___=
3.) It already existed but you don't know because you've only ever read - And might not even played - DND and/or CoC, so you're just putting up ABCs to a bunch of geezers thinking you've found the next best thing after sliced bread.
4.) It's never in that particular mix, but its around in bits and pieces out there.
Choose your combination.)
Bonus bonus step:
-Anyone can make a system in 5 minutes. Don't think you're any special.
(eg. Make it a job that you can pay taxes on, now that makes you special.
Otherwise? whatef. ~~~=3=~~~)
An amazing GM can make miracles out of anything including FATAL, RaHoWa, RIFTS and d2, so "running" is completely irrelevant to the point if we're just talking systemcrafts. Actually, the goal of a system should be that even an "average (and a little below) GM" can handle it well. Everyone calls out on DnD/PF, but they can do that pretty okay, and that alone makes them good systems.
Actually, even just having the first 2 would work.
Everything you added after that are just fluffs, even if you added numbers and mechanics to it.
Like I've always said, making new systems are really VERY EASY.
It's the Ignorant A-hole part that caused 90% of the crap.
