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> what I really want is a generic system that lets me create my own setting.
> I want flexibility. The ability to create my own worlds, classes, races and whatnot.

Then The Burning Wheel is probably the game for you. You are expected to create your own setting, and the "Monster Burner" book has detailed instructions on how to build your own lifepaths (i.e. races/classes) and monsters.

If you really want to play some sort of RPG, and have a few friends who feel the same, try Burning Wheel. I'll freely admit that it took me awhile to figure out wtf was going on, as it's a COMPLETELY different system than D&D. The math is limited, the rules are pretty simplified, and much more focus is put on actually playing your character than anything else. In fact, the only way to advance is to role-play your character well. Advancement isn't based on killing things, finding treasure, or completing quests. You can play the most sniveling, weaselly character you want and still advance faster than someone playing a tank, just by playing that character well.

The game is set up so that it is VERY player driven, with the entire system designed to rely upon character beliefs and goals, and the way they go about pursuing those goals. "Points" are given for attempting to achieve character goals, and playing the character aligned to their stated beliefs. If your character believes that fights should begin with a knife in the back, and you do so, points to you. If your character believes that courtesy is the most important virtue, and proceeds to tells the mayor to go shit in his hat, no points.

Even more interesting, the base game is a very inexpensive series of 3 books, covering just the rules, and nothing else. There is (last I checked) no official campaign world, which allows you to use whatever you feel like using. I have a friend who uses an entirely home-brew world, and one who ran a pretty sweet campaign based on the Midnight d20 campaign setting.

If you're truly sick of D&D, I'd recommend it. That, or D&D 4.0... ;-)

Have you ever played Burning Wheel, or other indy RPGs? What do you say to people who complain that D+D is taking all the RP out of the RPG?

http://www.burningwheel.org/

Good grief...we're in the middle of an RPG Renaissance, and the best we can get is articles about the latest splatbook from WotC??

How about some of these highly acclaimed and cutting-edge RPGs?

The Mountain Witch - http://www.timfire.com/MountainWitch.html
Don't Rest Your Head - http://www.evilhat.com/?dryh
Dogs in the Vineyard - http://www.septemberquestion.org/lumpley/dogs.html
My Life with Master - http://www.halfmeme.com/master.html
The Burning Wheel - http://www.burningwheel.org/
Weapons of the Gods - http://www.eos-press.com/products-wotg.html

D&D is good if you want to play a kill them and take their stuff style of game... which isn't a bad thing if you enjoy it. D&D can be used for other things, but it's not the best tool for the task of many other styles of games. Check out Burning Wheel for one. It's a great system for fantasy RP similar to what you find in D&D setting, but with a different direction for what the game rules encourage players to explore. If you like to focus primarily on character's past, ethics, beliefs, goals and dreams, then this game suits that style of storytelling much better than D&D.

I used to be all about D+D. But ever since discovering Burning Wheel I really don't care anymore. As far as I'm concerned Burning Wheel is the be all end all of RPG systems.

http://www.burningwheel.org/

The new hotness is Burning Wheel. Independent games written and published by creative individuals beat the hell out of the book-spam WotC has been promoting these days.

Of course, WotC also has the problem of selling a durable good: these books don't just wear out. Once they're sold, they're on the market forever. No gamer will ever buy more than one. They've tried to mitigate this with tricks like "3.5th edition," but few gamers ever bothered updating. Throw in the rampant piracy of the books and rules themselves, and there's really no way WotC can continue with D&D as it is.

(I prefered AD&D 2nd Edition anyway ^_~)

D&D is certainly going strong and chugging along, but I've been most excited about the huge boom in small press RPGs over the past 5 or so year, much of which is fueled by the internet. When game authors can market and sell directly via the web, many things become possible.

Some really good stuff to check out:

Burning Wheel:
Dogs in the Vineyard
With Great Power
The Shadow of Yesterday
Primetime Adventures