For character/story over "5' step, rate of fire"
There are an oodle of systems in indie scene that vary wildly but have advantage you can pick up virtually all the worthy ones for price of core books of most games (most are avalable as pdf's).
In a Wicked Age, Trollbabe for "fast production of story" (Trollbabe may be getting revised and republished this year).
Spirit of Yesterday for "sort of close to traditional" but with a focus on character and the stories of characters if played true to its spirit.
Prime Time Adventures and Dogs in the Vineyard are other options (if you don't like imagining your story as a TV show first won't suit you and if you can't get into the particular setting of Dogs then it won't grab you).
Burning Wheel is a crunchy system that some don't like but which is very "character" centred.
These are also mostly games with more distributed player authority and less GM fiat, which encompass more than combat in their conflict resolution and move away from conflicts in which "failure is death".
Some are structured to produce more "narrative" outcomes as in "heroes suffer setbacks before victories"
Google and various message boards can get you reviews (rpg.net) and play reports etc.
Rob
