OK, let's get some answers out there.

@ Antilles
The Union functions more like the Articles of Confederation (for my US friends) than a true country in the way we define them now.  A close example would be the European Union but less organized.  Each city (city-state if you prefer) is pretty much free to do as they see fit.

In Riverton, highwaymen are given hard labor but if they kill someone they are typically hanged.  Now, the question is does Fulton's Find consider themselves within Riverton's influence or not?  I'll allow a general knowledge check for anyone who might have overhead something interesting.

@ Reverandboo

Are you walking up to Magdar et al before the little stout man lays into him or after?  Basically I want to know if you are interrupting the man or not.  And if so, is it on purpose?

Welcome!  Glad to see that RL allowed you to join us.

[What you get for your money]

What you get for your money
The cover of this big heavy tome is colour; the interior is black and white. Interior illustrations are good quality and frequent enough; moreover, they never feel like without being padding. The Fantasy Craft book is a stitch hardcover with pages of good quality paper able to withstand years of gaming table abuse. When asked on the forum the Crafty guys confirmed that this was a deliberate choice.
As a pdf the image resolution is good, the document is searchable, and there are three layers of bookmarks. On the first page is a place to click to hide the page frames, presumably to save ink if you print pages. At 52.1MB it’s a little on the big side but not overly so.
There is a lot of font 10 writing; other larger companies would have taken these rules padded them with fluff and spread them over four books. This is very good value. Reading cover to cover there are almost no typos and the writing is concise. There is very minimal fluff, a deliberate choice to keep the game a generic toolkit and deliver value. As you work with the rules you can feel the parts fitting together and you know the rules have been carefully thought through and tested. On many occasions the Crafty guys have put back release dates to ensure a quality product. On these occasions there is grumbling but when you finally get the book it is of the same high quality as this core book (though supplements are soft cover).

[I would break the paragraph here to better highlight your comment on timing of FC versus Pathfinder and 4th ed.]

Interestingly, Fantasy Craft's development process predated both 4th Ed and Pathfinder. Fantasy Craft would have been released at the same time as these other games except Crafty felt compelled to delay release while they revised the rules top to bottom. The result is was a faster, more elegant game than their SpyCraft system.

TIP: Character sheets are available as pdf’s free from the Crafty or Fantasy Craft Database sites. A form fill-able pdf version enables you to store your character on your computer and email a copy to your referee.
TRICK: You can copy and paste text from the pdf into a word processor. This enables inexperienced players to make cheat sheets with class abilities, spells etc.

[James]

Magdar looks up at James and shakes his head.  [Catela] "No, no shire reeve here ... that I know of.  Fulton's Find isn't on a high traffic path so there is no permanent militia.  The townsfolk, women too, form the militia on an as-needed basis.  Something's not right though.  The speaker - the head of the town council - should be here.  Obediah should is going to see what he can find out.  I hope nothing else unnecessary has happened."

His pride that the town knows how to defend itself and his pain are both evident in his voice.

---~~---

Rebeca is out of it but pulls it together for a moment of panic.  [Catela] "They didn't get the satchel, did they!?" After hearing that it is safe she continues, "It's the mail and the deposit certificates for the townsfolk's life savings."

---~~---

After a few more moments, a portly man with a slight limp and a large mustache comes up to Magdar and the rest of the caravan.  [Catela] "What happened to Rebeca?  How could you have let this happen to her!?  I knew it was a mistake to trust a barbarian such as yourself.  How I let the council talk me into letting you train our people ..."

(click to show/hide)

Both James and Tavish notice Brindlglib's efforts to listening in on the conversations.

[Unpredictable]

Alexander Gaelwyn
Unpredictable Human Bard
Burglar 2

"No constable, I'm sorry, I didn't see anything.  I was leaving a lady's apartment after ... ah ... well, I'm just glad I got out before her husband got home.  Can I buy you a pint at the pub over there?

No, well, I'll be sure to keep my eyes out for ... what did you say the thief looked like?

Yes, yes, an elf, now that I think about it, I'm sure I saw an elf walking a little too fast in that direction.  Sorry to keep you from your duties sir."

As the constable rounds the corner, Alexander stuffs the pointed ears in his pocket and twirls his newly acquired coin pouch around his finger.  "Nothing quite like free, I always say."

---~~---

Alexander is a slight human of approximately 5' 9" with light brown hair and deep blue eyes.  He considers himself a lady's man and enjoys performing including displays of acrobatics as well as singing.  His signature weapon is a rapier.  His clothing style tends toward flashy.  However, most outfits can be turned inside out for more discreet movement.

---~~---

Going for something of a cross between an old-school bard and a thief with an eye toward Swashbuckler should the campaign continue.

Please count me as interested.

[Your Dungeon, Your Dragon, Your way]

5.   Rules not overly complicated slowing play even for experienced gamers

Perhaps something more along the lines of this?
Rules that aren't so complicated as to hinder experienced gamers.


Now for the new post

Your Dungeon, Your Dragon, Your way
Over the years I looked at numerous fantasy games trying to find a game that would replace 2nd edition AD&D. Such a game would need to offer with a similar feel in play as well as and offer the diversity of all the iconic fantasy races and classes. GURPS, Tunnels and Trolls 5.5, FATE 2e, and Legends of Anglere all deserve honourable mentions.
As time went on, most games on the market came tailored for their own highly specific worlds and my hope of finding a good fantasy toolkit faded. Then I encountered the Fantasy Craft tag line “Your Dungeon, Your Dragon, Your way”. This seemed to indicate that in a market where most games were built around a specific setting here was a game that put creative freedom back in my hands (criterion 3). I got my hands on the free preview. Fantasy Craft was a d20 game and therefore easier to get players for. The classes and species (races) allowed for all the classic fantasy genre archetypes even giants and dragons! (criterion 1) Next I read reviews of the game, the game was well received by reviewers, so I took the plunge.

TRICK: Drakes are a PC species that looks like a classic dragon. They are probably only not called dragons so dragons can be D&D style monsters festooned with all manner of non-traditional magic. Call drakes dragons, make your players happy.
FEATURE: In Fantasy Craft what most fantasy games call races and sub-races are called species and sub-species.
 

Not sure how you are using the word FEATURE even after I went back and read your definition.  I think of FEATURES as an optional element that allows flexibility.  Pointing out how terminology differs doesn't seem to fit the word FEATURE.  Perhaps TIP or NOTE?

Overall, very well written.  I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Brindlglib]

After nearly an hour and using most of his supplies, Brindlglib is able to patch up the wounded.  He has felt that some Other has been assisting him.  It is a bit of an unusual feeling.  James, for his part, has felt at peace and for a short while doesn't even mind being mistaken for a priest.

Rebeca has been stabilized and, though unconscious, has been loaded onto her own wagon.  The caravan has become subdued and nervous.  Magdar stands over Boxer - Rebeca's dog, mount and friend.  He sprinkles the body with earth and raises his head to the heavens before yelling out a wordless challenge.  Magdar then removes some of his special black barrels and loads the other two injured folk into his wagon.  He then assumes charge of the caravan.

He guides the caravan onward but the joviality that had been present in the days leading up to the attack is now gone.  Toward the end of what would have been an otherwise beautiful day, the caravan arrives at a natural apple orchard near a spring and a old stone bridge.  The apples are as sweet as promised and dinner is has a special flavor all it's own.  The next day brings the caravan to the mining town without incident.

Fulton's Find looks like a small hamlet from the outside.  Other than the anemic cross road, there are only a few buildings.  The low hills that form the roof of the mine can be seen between the trees down the left path .  A few family farms can be seen on the right path.  The paint is peeling from most buildings in several places; however, the colors are bright and show a certain determination and optimism.  The most well kept building in the area is obviously the Sun temple.  However, there is also a well worn path leading into the woods.

A gaggle of children near the temple run toward the caravan yelling.  The youngest, a girl of about four begins asking, [Catela] "Where's Boxer?  Where's 'beca?"  The acolyte who was minding the children steps toward James and says, [Catela] "Good day good bro... good sir."  One of the young boys looks at Tavish and asks, [Catela] "Are you a marine?"  Another pokes at Ryar'Bett's tail and says, [Catela] "You're a lizard!"  The acolyte begins making the children return to their lessons before speaking quietly with Magdar.  He then hurries off toward one of the buildings.

I'm pushing forward.  If you wanted/needed your character to do something else, please let me know.

Gentry, you are a mad genius.  Please consider this idea stolen ... uh, borrowed.

[A personal historical context]

A personal historical context
Though not a fan of 3.5 I sympathise with all the 3.X refugees out there. Let me explain.
It all started in the early 80’s when I discovered role playing games in general and soon after AD&D. As high school teenagers we had many good weekends exploring dungeons and creating our own fantasy worlds. Over the two decades that followed we came to understand the deep structure of the rules and created new races and classes including dragons and giants well before the official versions. Second edition AD&D cleaned-up the layout, improved the clarity, and tweaked the rules just a little. We ate it up. You could use your old 1st edition stuff with the new edition but that was what was expected from a new edition in those days.
The 3rd edition of D&D felt like a betrayal. The ethos was lost, no longer was the game presented as a toolkit to build your own worlds; the gods of Greyhawk were in the core book as defaults! It seemed much of the ‘poetry’ was lost and replaced by mechanics and a battlemat. You couldn’t use your 1st and 2nd edition stuff with the new game because it was a totally new game. This was not a new edition, it was called D&D but that was about the only similarity. The production quality of the new volumes fell.  They were riddled with typos, poor writing, and ‘clunky’ rules.  In time I played a few sessions of 3rd edition and had to admit it wasn’t a bad game; however, it just wouldn’t do what I wanted. As the years went by my ability to find 2nd ed. players diminished. I wanted to find a game that captured the spirit of those first twenty years and encouraged creativity but used a modern set of rules.
My criteria were:
1.   Mechanics that would allow for representatives of the iconic species of western mythology and fantasy literature
2.   Game that wasn't must be not be tightly linked to a specific world and ideally would not be presented with a setting
3.   Game that provides a toolkit for creating your own settings and encourages you to do so
4.   Rules detailed enough to delineate what is possible in unfamiliar settings
5.   Rules simple enough for the novice but deep enough for the not overly complicated slowing play even for experienced gamer
[I would suggest a space here to break up the list from your comment.]
Your criteria might be different; however, please note that I wasn’t looking for something that would perfectly recreate AD&D.

I have been told that I have a tendency to over-edit style.  If I have done that, please accept my apology.

Also, while I share a love of the English language, I speak the President's rather than the Queen's English.  Please watch out for any spelling "errors" I may have made.

(click to show/hide)

IC: He looks bad.  As in too far gone to save.

OOC: Since the mounted character Rebeca/Boxer failed the damage save, I opted to have Boxer die and let a very wounded Rebeca live for drama.

Yes, your pack is with you.

I had never heard of that Elric.  Ahh, well, perhaps he will still get something useful from the post.

[Elric]

Also, for instance, how would you build a character like Elric or perhaps a character along the lines of Rand Al Thor?

By this I assumed you meant Edward Elric of Full Metal Alchemist Fame.  Well, here's my take on him with the explanation of my decisions thrown in.

Q: Does alchemy need to be described by magic?
A: Not necessarily.  I will present this build under the assumption that the answer is no.

Q: How should alchemy be represented then?
A: Let's look at what Ed actually does with it - most of the time.
He transmutes his metal arm slightly in order to give himself a short blade.
He also exploits the weaknesses of his enemies using alchemy to change either his weapon or their body (e.g. Greed's shield) in some way.
Most of the rest of the time, he uses alchemy in a way that we could handwave as dramatic fluff.  The use of alchemy to transmute the ground and use it as an elevator is great but difficult to model with existing spells short of fly.  I'm opting to write it off for now.

Q: Any other things that are either unique or needed to capture the feel of the character?
A: Determination, hardheadedness, stubbornness, refusal to give up, ability to take WAY more punishment than his size/age should allow, quickness, agility, martial arts, and a sharp tongue.

OK, let's get started.

I picked Nimble Fist as his Talent/Specialty pair and Martial Artist as his class.

Nimble covers his speed and acrobatics while giving us some options.
Fist covers more speed, the Two-Hit Combo Feat and more acrobatics.
Martial Artist (class) provides the Martial Artist feat; however, I picked this class more for the core ability than anything else.  Ed seems to be able to bounce back from pretty much anything.  He crawled to the transmutation circle to drag his brother's soul back through the Gate while missing a limb!  That's hardcore.

So, why else would I pick Martial Artist?  Well, the Disciplines looked attractive and the extra Reach could model his battlefield mobility.  The mix of Unarmed and Melee combat feats work well with his armored arm and his open hand as well.

Wuxia also helps free our short (sorry, Ed) friend from some of the restrictions on mobility.

Thus we have the following:

Edward Elric
Nimble Human Fist
Martial Artist 14

STR - 14 - 2 (Nimble) + 1 (Fist) = 13
DEX - 13 + 2 (Nimble) + 3 (Level benefits) = 18
CON - 13
INT - 13 + 1 (Discipline @ lvl 11) = 14
WIS - 13
CHA - 12 + 1 (Discipline @ lvl 2) = 13

Feats
Two-Hit Combo (Fist)
Martial Artist
Qi Basics
Qi Mastery
Qi Supremacy
(Mechanically, the Qi feats help deal with alchemy during combat after some flavoring.)
Sword Basics
Sword Mastery
(His arm weapon could be modeled as a sword sword with the Unborn weapon upgrade.)
Sword and Fist
Aggro Basics
Aggro Mastery
(Ed can be really annoying at times.  But he makes the best of it.)
Living on the Edge (need fuel for Edge tricks)
Lucky Break (need fuel for Edge tricks)
Charging Basics (battlefield mobility)

Proficiencies
Unarmed Forte
Edged Forte

Tricks
Called Shot (Nimble)
Cheap Shot
Parry
Relentless Attack
Shove (Melee)
Shove (Unarmed)*
Mix-Up: Disarm
Mix-Up: Anticipate
Mix-Up: Trip
Mix-Up: Taunt
* At my table, you need to specify.  If you don't need to specify at your table, then pick another trick.

Ploys (from Martial Artist)
Knife Hand (Unarmed Attack Trick)
Provoke
Strut

He's got Reach 3 and can move 55 feat.  He also gets a free attack while charging.  (You can flavor that as an alchemical attack if you like.)

---~~---

I also seriously debated Martial Artist 1 (for the Core Ability) Mage 3 and Rune Knight 10.  In the end, I decided that magic wasn't critical to my concept of Ed.

I hope that helps.

[Catodon]

(click to show/hide)

A reasonable plan.  Catodon, please add a +2 bonus to all of Brindlglib's healing checks.