Hello everyone. Before I start, I want to mention that I am in no way affiliated with XDM and will not get anything for posting this, or for you guys checking it out. I just think it's something awesome, and want to share it with everyone.
XDM is basically a guide that gives a new way to look at table-top RPGs, and games in general. (I'm incorporating a lot of the ideas into Darkness Rebirth, causing me to need to redesign most of the gameplay system
). Rather than focusing on rules and total accuracy, Gaming should be about the fun of the experience, the storytelling, and doing something awesome. I agree with the notion that table top gaming has become far to complicated and convoluted in its rules. Have you ever tried teaching someone who hadn't ever played a D&D like game how to play D&D 3.5 or 4.0? It's a nightmare. I was able to pick it up so quickly because I'd played knights of the old republic a few thousand times, but even then it took a week or so for me to really start to get a grasp of the rules. XDM comes with its own very simple D20 system, but the majority of the book is just theory on how to make games good. (most of it applies more to games like D&D than it does to the included games system.)
IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET YOUR NON-GAMING FRIENDS/GIRLFRIEND INTO GAMING, YOU REALLY WANT THIS BOOK.I bought the book myself, and loved it. It doesn't feel like you're slogging through another core rule book, GM guide, or gaming module. It's funny and well written. Heck, even my friends not interesting in gaming borrowed it because they thought it was fun to read.
But here's a link to the site, since I'm not as good at describing the awesomeness that is XDM as the creators are.
http://www.xtremedungeonmaster.com/?page_id=17(again, I am not affiliated, and will recieve no compensation for you clicking that link)
(if nothing else, look around the site and enjoy their humor. They're funny guys)