Interesting discussion! In writing Shadow Lords rpg ( shadowlords.net – Shadow Lords – Mythic Sword & Sorcery RPG if you want to know more ) I’m specifically trying to convey the mood and style of Jack Vance, David Gemmell, Howard etc. Through the game mechanics, while trying to keep them not invasive-disconnected. So basically the idea is that you can take the game and just play it like a trad game (mostly), but the mechanics will steer you toward drama (as in that described by Lex Larson​) since the game is geared also toward myths (like in truth every good sword & sorcery should be), but still with a strong visual/cinematic feel (because Conan stories were very first person visceral and visual experiences).

For example when you roll for something you make a pool of dice from traits groups (like in cortex+) of which only one group is the same for every character (attributes: steel, flesh, finesse, guile, insight, heart), the rest are either created by the player or taken from their heritage (class/playbook).
So, for example, we have a fairy that use her “glamour” to seduce, while adding her “educated at the winter court” explaining how they are used in intrigues there so she can easily seduce this country boy, etc.
A special trait group is the HUBRIS and the forces&drives that push the hero to do things. When dramatic moments arise that touch the hero drives, he can choose to use her hubris and do things she can regret later, or let the gm use it (making the roll harder) but preserve her soul.
This choice is made in a series of questions from gm to player, so is basically internal monologue
“You are alone with the child king, you are the rightful heir,not him! He watches you smiling with those childy eyes and says unc unc, his way os saying uncle…what do you do? If you throw him from the window no one will notice, but you will have to roll your hubris and maybe the gods will be angry…or not…ehat do you do?” 🙂