daniel
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 217
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Post by daniel on Aug 12, 2014 21:22:01 GMT -8
So here are the parameters, me and a group of friends want to play something sci fi but we kind of ran into a bit of a thing, none of the systems we seem to know really do what we all want in a way we are all happy with.
So dos anybody know of a game system that dos Sci Fi well, is not some archaic weird system that needs a science calculator.
Gurps – no, one of the players there hates it. FATE – none of us really played it at all or much and its so different we are a bit worried D20 Modern – because it blows ass Traveler – Its been brought up but we aren’t really shore
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Aug 12, 2014 22:29:27 GMT -8
Dark Heresy is pretty bad ass in a weird dark, gothic giant spece merine sort of way...
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Aug 12, 2014 22:37:59 GMT -8
Traveller Traveller Traveller Traveller
Mongoose Traveller is my favourite, easy to pick up and play. But GDW's starter edition is currently on offer at bundleofholding.com - it's old school though, espect to die during character creation.
OR
The new Firefly RPG
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Post by Kainguru on Aug 12, 2014 22:40:21 GMT -8
Traveller by Mongoose - not the new 5th edition. But to better suggest a specific system it depends on the flavour of sci fi you're after ie: space opera or gritty? Transhumanist or decadent? Etc. Aaron
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HyveMynd
Supporter
Dirty hippie, PbtA, Fate, & Cortex Prime <3er
Posts: 2,273
Preferred Game Systems: PbtA, Cortex Plus, Fate, Ubiquity
Currently Playing: Monsterhearts 2
Currently Running: The Sprawl
Favorite Species of Monkey: None
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Post by HyveMynd on Aug 12, 2014 22:41:32 GMT -8
So here are the parameters, me and a group of friends want to play something sci fi but we kind of ran into a bit of a thing, none of the systems we seem to know really do what we all want in a way we are all happy with. So dos anybody know of a game system that dos Sci Fi well, is not some archaic weird system that needs a science calculator. Just to preempt everyone else... How about Savage Worlds? I'm kidding, of course. Savage Worlds may be the system you end up using, but I'll need to know more about what you and your group want out of this game before I can suggest a system. "Sci-Fi" is a very broad term that covers everything from the factual 2001: Space Odessy to the fantastic Barbarella.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2014 0:37:46 GMT -8
As hyvemind has already asked what sort of SciFi are you after and also what sort of system are you after? I can list off a range of systems both with settings and generic ones that could be options but its difficult without details. Off the top of my head Traveller, Firefly, Parsec, Cthulhu Tech, Star Wars, Star Trek etc are all possible options and that's without even looking at generic systems.
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daniel
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 217
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Post by daniel on Aug 13, 2014 2:16:27 GMT -8
Savage Worlds - There is a long answer, but in short no a few of the members of the group me included dislike it for being to samy. Traveller - it has been talked about, its one of those that is considered. Firefly - no Parsec - will look into this Cthulhu Tech - Grate setting idea, meh system is i believe how it has been commented on SW, ST - a bit to specific though there is some talk about maybe housruling Saga a bit
As for what kind of sci fi, well its still a bit up in the air but the direction of the talk has been going to something of a small group possibly military in nature but not as normal soldiers. To large part the problem is its still some what up in the air since we kind of tripped all over a question of system
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Post by Kainguru on Aug 13, 2014 2:21:05 GMT -8
Hammers Slammers Traveller supplement and/or the New 2300AD Traveller both by Mongoose. Hammers Slammers is very much Merc's in Space while 2300AD is grittier than standard Traveller, rotating habitats etc as gravity cannot be artificially created, very limited FTL etc Aaron
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snoman314
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 225
Preferred Game Systems: GURPS
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Post by snoman314 on Aug 13, 2014 2:24:11 GMT -8
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Post by Kainguru on Aug 13, 2014 5:01:08 GMT -8
Fantastic universe/fluff . . . transhuman era. The system itself is very clunky still and I avoided mentioning it precisely because of your desire to avoid too much calculation - there are a LOT of rules with almost as many exceptions and there is a degree of number crunching required to find resolutions. I personally rather like it, but think that it could do with a major makeover (ie: 2nd edition) to tidy up the presentation. However, on the major plus side, the PDF's are legally free!!!! as explicitly stated by the designers. So you could buy it off drivethruRPG or just go one of the designers blogs and download the same PDF gratis - the philosophy behind this bold move: 'We're here spread the word (if you like us please buy the book)'. They even allow sharing of the PDF's provided they're not altered and due credit is given . . . Aaron
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Aug 13, 2014 5:42:08 GMT -8
Good call on Mongoose Traveller 2300AD, my group had a loooong campaign of the GDW version some years back.
I know you guys are worried about Fate, but if you are into Transhumanism, there's a Fate RPG called Nova Praxis which I liked, but couldn't persuade my current group to play. Or Mindjammer might be worth a look especially if you like Iain M Banks' Culture novels (and who doesn't? (actually don't answer that, I know plenty of people who don't. But they're all fools. FOOLS I tell you!))
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Aug 13, 2014 6:42:51 GMT -8
The latest bundle of holding has a pile of classic traveller stuff in it from Nineteen hundred and eighty three...when we looked at distant 2014 and wondered just what those martian colonies would be wearing as the latest fashions... bundleofholding.com/index/current
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Post by shadrack on Aug 13, 2014 7:46:56 GMT -8
I would go with Eclipse Phase or FATE (specifically Bulldogs => very Firefly-esque).
Of course, at some point there is supposed to be an official Fate conversion of Eclipse Phase. (an extra from the 'Transhuman' kickstarter. If you're anxious about EP, flip through Transhuman, life paths, easier character creation. Full of win.
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Post by Kainguru on Aug 13, 2014 7:52:12 GMT -8
. . . . if you like Iain M Banks' Culture novels (and who doesn't? (actually don't answer that, I know plenty of people who don't. But they're all fools. FOOLS I tell you!)) They are indeed fools not worthy of mention, fit only for the casting off into the cold hard vacuum of interstellar space . . . Aaron
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newyorkjoe
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 16
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds, Palladium, BRP, 0e/1e
Favorite Species of Monkey: undecided
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Post by newyorkjoe on Aug 13, 2014 20:20:17 GMT -8
It may help if the poster can provide a little more information on what he wants. It seems that he is looking for a scifi space opera. Does he want a lot of aliens? Does he want a long campaign or one shot? Does he like a setting like Star Wars, Star Trek, or Firefly? Does he want robots?
We know he ruled out d20, GURPS, Savage Worlds. However, these systems are probably the better options for a long campaign where players expect to see their character develop.
Out of the systems discussed Mongoose Traveller is probably the cheapest. It is already developed for space opera. Its structure is the traditional GM/player party style.
Does he know FATE is a story teller style system, that tones down the GM role and makes the players develop the story? It has several published scifi settings including Diaspora, Bulldogs!, and Star Blazers Adventures.
Ashen Stars uses the Gum Shoe system and focuses on investigating and solving mysteries. It does not focus on combat.
Other systems not mentioned are
Star Wars by Fantasy Flight comes in two flavors, Edge of the Empire and Age of the Rebellion Star Frontiers - an old, non-d20 TSR game, legally available for free Star Hero - Hero done as scifi Basic Role Playing - generic Call of Chulhu rules minus the Chulhu stuff, adaptable to scifi Core Command by Dream Pod 9 Battlestations by Gorilla Games - heavy on map based combat Cosmic Patrol - a story teller system, probably FATE-like, but maybe simpler
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