FYI: Goblinoid Games has purchased the rights to Starships & Spacemen by Leonard H. Kanterman (Fantasy Games Unlimited, 1978).

Here is the announcement over on the Goblinoid Games forum.

You can now purchase a PDF of the original game on RPGNow.com for $4.95 USD.

I'm dimly remember this as a Star Trek clone. I bought it for ideas for Traveller, but I don't recall ever actually using it for anything.

That looks like some Jeff Dee art on the cover- which makes me want to posess it, regardless of its merits.

I've seen that one before, but never looked at its inside. Back then I just assumed it was something related to Space Opera, and ran away screaming.

Are we sure this isn't another Encounter Critical hoax? A second time would be lame.

RPGPundit

Here's a little more detail on the original edition.

Quote from: RPGPundit;376782Are we sure this isn't another Encounter Critical hoax? A second time would be lame.

RPGPundit

No, it's not a hoax.  I purchased the PDF through RPGNow.com.  It's a good quality PDF.

As an aside, a dude named Aramis is starting up a PbP game of Starships & Spacemen over on Old School Star Trek.  So far it's just me and Falconer.  Come on over and join us help explore the galaxy and kill fervent Videni!

Quote from: Drohem;376822No, it's not a hoax.  I purchased the PDF through RPGNow.com.  It's a good quality PDF.

As an aside, a dude named Aramis is starting up a PbP game of Starships & Spacemen over on Old School Star Trek.  So far it's just me and Falconer.  Come on over and join us help explore the galaxy and kill fervent Videni!

What's the game like?

Quote from: Silverlion;376876What's the game like?

It's cool and I dig it.

The PDF from Goblinoid Games includes the Starships & Spacemen Expansion Kit included as well as the Starship Reference Sheet.

The Starships & Spacemen Expansion Kit was published in the Different Worlds magazine and includes errata on the game.

It's a simple level game.  Roll 3d6 for abilities.  There are 8 abilities, 4 of which can be improved by leveling.  Task resolution is a d20 vs. a 'to hit' number, and rolling below the number.

Characters must choose one of three branches: Military, Scientific, or Technical.  There are subclasses that can be chosen, but are not required.  Each Branch has a prerequisite score of 9 needed to enter, and each subclass has one or two prerequisite scores of 12 needed to enter.

Experience is earned by doing things in your field of expertise, and not by just killing things and taking their shit.

It's has rules for both space ship combat and personal combat.

It's a game based off the original Star Trek series with the serial numbers filed off.

Hmm, makes me wonder if anyone has or will get the rights to the original SFRPG "Space Opera".

Quote from: Cylonophile;376907Hmm, makes me wonder if anyone has or will get the rights to the original SFRPG "Space Opera".

You might want to look here then.

Quote from: jeff37923;376910You might want to look here then.

Thanks, Jeff.

Quote from: Drohem;376892It's cool and I dig it.


It's a game based off the original Star Trek series with the serial numbers filed off.

Interesting. What alien races does it have?

I once spent a lot of time playing space opera.
It sucks.

Quote from: Silverlion;376918Interesting. What alien races does it have?

Terran = humans

Rigel = KHAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
Well, they are based off Khan's appearance in the TV series since this is 1978 and Star Trek II hasn't been made yet.  The Rigel are genetically altered humans for generation ships that left earth in the 1990s in fear of a nuclear apocalypse destroying the earth.  They were later discovered when FTL speed was discovered.

Tauran = emotionless green-skinned aliens, i.e., green Vulcans.

Andromedan = blue furry humanoids which are trisexual and highly emotionally tuned.  Think of furry blue Betazoids from the Next Generation.  They are naturally psionic.

Zangid = humanoids similar to earth Orientals.  Original bad guys of the setting.

Videni = religious fanatics on a holy war to conquer or convert the galaxy.  New bad guys on the block.

The Zangid and Videni are not player character races.

Star Explorers was a board game that is sort of a companion to Starships & Spacemen that was produced by FGU.  It's still available at the FGU website.