Optimum Fudge is my name for a multipurpose implementation of Fudge designed to expedite some of the more laborious efforts that GMs and players confront in character generation, object design, system conversion, and scenario writing. It doesn't replace any of the rules of vanilla Fudge, nor does it remove any of the options. Rather, it offers ready-to-use options to add to one's game or ignore as one pleases.

The essential rules of Fudge require no alteration, and just about any permutation is compatible with any option or addendum in Optimum Fudge. Whether one prefers subjective or objective character generation, narrative or tactical combat resolution, broad or narrow skills, Damage Capacity or wound tracks, Optimum Fudge is a resource, not a reiteration.

As far as my own gaming techniques are concerned, I am happy to GM for events in which some characters are designed subjectively and others objectively, characters have differing numbers of attributes, and combat may vary between story elements and objective resolution (whether with alternating or simultaneous rounds) from battle to battle. Whatever serves the mood of the group and the flow of the game is what matters in my gaming experience.

That being said, sometimes I find it useful to have prepared lists to assist those players who desire them, and to assist myself when I am writing a scenario or generating NPCs. The lists are merely suggestions to be reduced, expanded, or modified. In fact, I encourage it. Some items are inappropriate for inclusion in a generic list and those gaps ought to be filled by the creativity of players and GMs.

The Alternate Rules, as with everything else in Optimum Fudge, consist of elaborations of existing rules. Certain ideas are only hinted at in the Fudge rules, and some of the parameters are vague. This is not a criticism, for this is one of the great strengths of Fudge. They are merely my perspective on how to resolve issues within a game system that encourages a "do it yourself" ethic. The primary purpose of all this is to establish in my own mind the answers to questions I can foresee having during gameplay. It helps my players and me to know in advance what sorts of factors may be taken into account in a combat situation, for example, or what effects wounds will have. I like to "just fudge it," but I also like to "be prepared" (as much as I can).

The title is not intended to convey my belief that it is the "best" flavor of Fudge as a whole or that it offers the best options, but rather that they are the best for me and my purposes at this moment, and they may prove useful to others. More to the point, I needed a collective title for these options and for purposes of expressing universality I tend to prefer Latin terms. Ergo Optimum Fudge.

• Attributes (The Revised Basic List)
• Attributes (The Original Basic List)
• Attributes (The Long List)
• Skills (Revised)
• Skills (Original)
• Skills (The Big Chart)
• Gifts
• Faults
• Supernormal Powers
• Supernormal Drawbacks
• Trait Conversions
• Difficulty Level Conversions
• Record Tracks
• Record Gauges
• Mass Scale Chart
• Strength Scale Chart
• Speed Scale Chart
• Alternate Rules
  • 1.31 Attributes
  • 1.8 Random Character Creation
  • 4.31 Melee Modifiers
  • 4.35 Hit Location
  • 4.4 Ranged Combat
  • 4.61 Damage Die Roll

Fudge is a role-playing game written by Steffan O'Sullivan, with extensive input from the Usenet community of rec.games.design. The basic rules of Fudge are available on the internet at http://www.fudgerpg.com and in book form from Grey Ghost Games, P.O. Box 838, Randolph, MA 02368. They may be used with any gaming genre. While an individual work derived from Fudge may specify certain attributes and skills, many more are possible with Fudge. Every Game Master using Fudge is encouraged to add or ignore any character traits. Anyone who wishes to distribute such material for free may do so - merely include this ABOUT FUDGE notice and disclaimer (complete with Fudge copyright notice). If you wish to charge a fee for such material, other than as an article in a magazine or other periodical, contact Grey Ghost Press.

The following materials based on Fudge, entitled Optimum Fudge, are created by, made available by, and Copyright © 2004-2010 by Gordon A. Cooper, and are not necessarily endorsed in any way by Grey Ghost Press or any publisher of other Fudge materials. Neither Grey Ghost Press nor any publisher of other Fudge materials is in any way responsible for the content of these materials unless specifically credited. Original Fudge materials Copyright © 1992-2004 by Grey Ghost Press, All Rights Reserved.