A generic or universal role-playing game system is a role-playing game system designed to be independent of setting and genre. Its rules should, in theory, work the same way for any setting, world, environment or genre in which one would want to play.
History
There is some dispute among role-playing enthusiasts on when the concept of a generic system originated and which was the first one published. According to Shannon Appelcline, Chaosium's Basic Role-Playing (BRP), published in 1980, was the first generic role-playing system. BRP was a "cut-down" version of Chaosium's RuneQuest role-playing game (RPG) and formed the foundation for the Stormbringer RPG, and was also adopted for Call of Cthulhu, the first horror role-playing game. The development of the Hero System from the superhero role-playing game Champions was a profound influence in popularizing the concept. The publication of GURPS (Generic Universal Role-Playing System) as a completely setting-independent game and its commercial and creative success added credence to the movement. It truly became a dominant subject in RPG design with the release of the Third Edition of Dungeons & Dragons and the creation of the Open Gaming License (OGL) and the d20 System.
The term "generic" has been used since the earliest days of gaming to describe a system that can be used for any type or style of game. The Fuzion 5.02 rules uses the term to describe its basic ruleset as separate from its Champions and Interlock forerunners. In the second paragraph of the introduction to GURPS 3rd Edition the authors define "generic" as a means to satisfy players and game masters of many styles of play and feel for rules. This is repeated in the updated 4th edition rules along with acknowledgments to Champions as the first truly flexible character creation system.
It is frequently disputed whether d20, which requires massive alteration with each new genre because of its class and level system, really qualifies as a generic system. Some d20 derivatives, however, such as Green Ronin Publishing's Mutants & Masterminds and True20 Adventure Roleplaying are presented as fully generic systems.
Other influential generic systems include: