Hi folks!

I'm thinking of acquiring one of the title-listed games and I'd like to know which one I should get.

At first, I was thinking about the new Dead Reign, which looks neat. But then, got me thinking about Systems Failure. Almost the same thing, but with bugs instead of zombies, isn't it? And cheaper too. What I'd like is to run is a modern survival campaign. Zombies are a classic, of course. Then again, it doesn't hurt to add a little originality and use bugs instead.

Also, should I get Beyond the Supernatural instead? What am I missing by buying a setting specific game as opposed to the more open BTS? What are your opinions on those three? Is it possible to play ordinary people with these games (as opposed to psychic or powerful OCCs)?

Thanks to all Palladium aficionados!

I have beyond the Supernatural. I've read systems failure.

Beyond the Supernatural is kind of like CoC, except the players are big time heroes rather than regular investigators. Not as over the top compared to other Palladium games, but certainly over the top for the genre.

Systems failure is more Sci-Fi-ey from what I've read. There's a lot more to do with technology and such. Alien (the movie) heroes in a Aliens(the movie) situation.

I hear Dead Reign is very much about the fight for survival. Characters are supposed to be normal dudes facing overwhelming odds. I'm very interested in picking this one up myself.

If you aren't specifically tied to Palladium but are seriously interested in doing Zombie survival then I recommend All Flesh Must Be Eaten

Quote from: KryystIf you aren't specifically tied to Palladium but are seriously interested in doing Zombie survival then I recommend All Flesh Must Be Eaten    

That's a great answer to his question.:rolleyes:

I own Dead Reign and Systems Failure.  They are actually very different in scope.  SF is designed, it seems, for you to find the actual military resistance and join up.  Otherwise, it's hopeless.  

Dead Reign is a post-apocalytic world where zombies have overrun everything.  It's much more "gritty."  I plan on using the world for a game in the future.

Systems failure was utterly awesome.

RPGPundit

I thought Dead Reign was the best thing put out by Palladium in years - the cleanest version of their rules ever produced.  System Failure is an interesting game, but more light-hearted.

I'm not really a fan of Beyond the Supernatural, the first edition was perhaps Palladium's least interesting game (it lacked the unique imagination of their other games).  And the second edition had an improved system from first edition (though the first edition was fine), but is somewhat half finished (with many monsters and the entire magic system absent).

Systems Failure is a blast.  It would be my pick because I find the Bugs more interesting than zombies and its got a cool Tremors / Pitch Black vibe along with the 28 Days end of the world gig.  Remember the Qatar desert battles in Transformers 1?   That's how I picture lots of fights against the bugs.   There is support for SF, but its scattered in the various Rifter magazines.

Beyond the Supernatural is the action movie version of CoC.   Very fun, and plays more like Hellboy than CoC where you "bump back" against evil.   I was not impressed with 1e or 2e (especially compared to the far superior Nightbane by Palladium) and 2e probably won't see support in 2009.   If you like Palladium and big tough horror heroes fighting even bigger tougher horror evil, you gotta snatch up Nightbane!  

Dead Reign is Romero's Night of the Living Dead.   It already has one small supplement out and is due for another one at the end of the year.  

As for AFMBE, I always want to like the game and it always lets me down.  I have played it four times, but have not run it.  The support stuff is great, but it never feels like a bloody nightmare and I am unsure why exactly.

Spinachcat, the only way Dead Reign resembles Romero's movies is that there are zombies in them.

Dead Reign has several different types of zombies, remember.  It is also full of random search tables.  Searching corpses, houses, businesses, etc.

If you're focused on the survival aspect go for Dead Reign. The others don't seem to capture that feel as much. And don't bother with BTS. Well, let me qualify that, I'm biased on that particular one. I'm still bent about how Palladium abandoned that game, especially after all the running-his-mouth that KS did about it a few years ago. Just my personal grudge I suppose. But DR is the more gritty, survival-centered game. SF is cool, don't get me wrong, but it leans a little more Terminator 4-ish: "join the resistance and save the world" as opposed to the "just worry about saving your own ass and living to see tomorrow" of DR.

Quote from: joewolz;315401Spinachcat, the only way Dead Reign resembles Romero's movies is that there are zombies in them.

I disagree.  The original DR concept as presented in the Rifter was less Romero and more gonzo, but Kevin's rewrite was heavily influenced by his enjoyment of the Romero classics.  

At the end of the original Night, we are supposed to feel the Z-threat is somewhat contained, but certainly not in Dawn & Day (or Land or Diary) and I feel DR has a strong Dawn & Day vibe.

Certainly DR would be an easy fit for a "Land of the Dead" inspired campaign.

What was the original concept like? I never read the rifter...

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;315940What was the original concept like?

More gonzo.  Necromancer death cults, more intelligence among the undead, and some other stuff that was outside the Romero genre.  

There are lots of discussion on the early posts of the Dead Reign forum on the Palladium site before Kevin announced the game was going to be overhauled.    

I have not seen it, but I heard there was (or will be?) a second Dead Reign Rifter with stuff that Kevin left out from the original manuscript and combining the 2 Rifters + DR, players could "recreate" the original concept.

I personally would have rathered Kevin go MORE gonzo and more non-Romero / non-traditional with his Z-world, but I totally understand wanting to give customers a playground to re-enact their favorite films, Romero style video games and books like World War Z.

EDIT:  The original DR was introduced in Rifter 40 and Rifter 45 has the "Alternate Setting" based on the original manuscript.

Quote from: RPGPundit;315940What was the original concept like? I never read the rifter...

RPGPundit

In the Rifter version, all the zombies were created by and overlorded by a demon from another dimension. There were some very smart zombies, called 'talkers' or something like that. They could talk normally, mover regularly and had a direct psychic connection to control 'shamblers'. But they were still zombies.

The Zombies were organized and treated people like cattle. There were many people ranches usually led by a 'talker'.

Out in the boonies, there were freedom fighters. Humans set out to overthrow their zombie overlords.

It was extra dumb. In a good way, but I think I like the current Dead Reign better (which I'm just starting to read).

KrakaJak, that sounds a whole lot like Systems Failure, actually.