Is there a system where the primary "level up" mechanic

GURPS

>>48422216
That's really not how GURPS works without a ton of fundamental changes. I wouldn't recommend it.

>>48422216
>>48422293
I expected as much. I dont remember anything like what I want when I skimmed over it.

>>48422196
This sounds like a terrible system

>>48422516
Why?

It sounds great since I can reward people with items and not have them just go "Can anyone use this? No? No one can use bows? Ok were just gonna sell it and split the gold." Now if I give them an item that does a thing someone can get it and use it.

>>48422196
Just a thought OP, but shouldn't there be some personal skill involved? Like if you train with horse and lance while you wear plate armor you Could swap to dagger and leathers, but you would be the worst fucking thief on the planet. Make everyone worthless at start, and the gear they choose to use often they will be better at.

>>48422196
You could look into something like BESM and set up all the abilities through equipment. Pretty easy to do, just remember to still give some XP so they can buy mundane skills too.

>>48422564
>I want a system where you are what you are based on what you have and "leveling" up is mostly just getting more familiar with your tools

Thats what I mean by what I said here. If you use your tools often you get better at them. But nothing is stopping you except having the tools. So if the party finds say a grappling hook. Anyone can use it and get good with it despite what they already do.

So something like every 100 exp you get to put a point in an item you have. Now you basically have +1 when using that item or something similar.

>>48422570
Big Eyes, Small Mouth? If so I'll look into the system.

>>48422196
Does everyone have the same skill with each of the items you mentioned? Is "picking locks" only applicable when using those exact tools on exactly the type of lock they're designed for, or can it apply to other locking mechanisms? Do you acquire skill with one type of sword independently of another?

If the items don't grant an innate ability to use them, then why can't you use literally any classless system? All you're describing is scarcity, or monitoring inventory more closely.

>>48422196
shadowrun is classless with a focus on character skills and equipment.

>>48422599
In the cases you're talking about, items are just modifiers, which is fine for what you want.

A grappling hook gives a bonus to climbing. If you're shit at climbing, it'll make a huge difference, or none at all.

Even in D&D--which is hardly degined as a flexible system--any of your characters could use that bow. It just isn't as great an option as what the characters specialize in.

>>48422821
You bringing that up reminds me of people that would rather skip their turn than take a penalty to an action. Some people hate moving outside of their specialty.

>>48422196
Sid Meier's Civilization

>>48422613
That's it. Note that 3rd edition is much cleaned up compared to previous, but the point values look crazy in comparison. It's all based on the value of an effect to the rest of the game though, and there are several types of "item" power that represent some bit of gear containing other abilities, like a sword contains Weapon stat and a witch's broom probably contains low level Fly.