Carry Out Missions in the Final Frontier!

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Starships & Spacemen was first released back in 1978, and was the second science fiction RPG in development in the early 70s.

This second edition of the classic game is compatible with Labyrinth Lord and Mutant Future. The best elements of the first edition have been kept--the classes and subclasses, the excellent starship rules, and the space adventuring rules. Classes, races, and abilities have been made more in line with Labyrinth Lord.

This second edition has elements that let you customize the style of play whether you prefer an "original series" feel, a "next generation" feel, or something in between.

You won't be bogged down by an over-complicated and detailed galaxy. That's one of the difficulties sometimes when trying to play in an established licensed universe. With Starships & Spacemen get just enough information to get going, and plenty of advice for designing your galaxy. Galactic space will be yours to customize.

Ummm - it was most certainly *not* the second SF RPG! The first was Metamorphosis Alpha. Second was Ken St. Andre's Starfaring, both in 1976. In 1977, Paul Hume's SpaceQuest, Michael Scott's (Kurtick then, since dropped) Star Patrol, and, of course, Traveller were released, I'm not sure exactly what order. That would make S&S at the most the *sixth* SF RPG released.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmice;546831Ummm - it was most certainly *not* the second SF RPG! The first was Metamorphosis Alpha. Second was Ken St. Andre's Starfaring, both in 1976. In 1977, Paul Hume's SpaceQuest, Michael Scott's (Kurtick then, since dropped) Star Patrol, and, of course, Traveller were released, I'm not sure exactly what order. That would make S&S at the most the *sixth* SF RPG released.

-clash

Oops, sorry about that! From my sources it was the second in development but publication was delayed a few years. Thanks for pointing those out!

5 dollars for the PDF reward? Finally, after the LotFP HC and the T5 madness, a sane crowdfunding project! I'm in.

Also $40 ($50 overseas) for the HC + PDF seems very reasonable.

Dan, is it going to use a modified LL engine, like MF?

Quote from: The Butcher;5468465 dollars for the PDF reward? Finally, after the LotFP HC and the T5 madness, a sane crowdfunding project! I'm in.

Also $40 ($50 overseas) for the HC + PDF seems very reasonable.

Dan, is it going to use a modified LL engine, like MF?

Thanks for the support! Yep, it will be compatible with Labyrinth Lord and Mutant Future. There will be some minor mechanical differences, but there will be conversion notes. For example, in S&S PSI powers use points you have to spend from a pool, whereas in MF they are just at will abilities.

All supporters at any level get a PDF copy of the playtest draft right away, so you can be off and running with it from day one if you like. You also get access to the playtest forum so you can throw in your 2 cents about the draft. SO far feedback has been very positive; I think it is a solid game. We'll just do some last polishing based on feedback.

Quote from: Goblinoid Games;546842Oops, sorry about that! From my sources it was the second in development but publication was delayed a few years. Thanks for pointing those out!

No problem. I was there, and I remembered all but SpaceQuest off the top of my head. I was very much looking for SF games back then.

-clash

Son of a bitch.

Quote from: J Arcane;546879Son of a bitch.

If you mean because you're also working on a sci-fi game, no worries. There is always room for different perspectives. I'm excited to see how your book turns out, and I'm always up for cross promotion!

Quote from: Goblinoid Games;546893If you mean because you're also working on a sci-fi game, no worries. There is always room for different perspectives. I'm excited to see how your book turns out, and I'm always up for cross promotion!

I was mostly being facetious. Should've added a Smiley.

two different takes, i'd say.  S&S seems more like early Trek, whereas H&H is taking the gonzo heavy metal angle.  a similar engine just means crossover potential!

edit--LOL that's what 's are for

Yes, the great thing about a lot of these games is that it is a cinch to port stuff over. I'm looking forward to what ideas I can mine from Hulks and Horrors.

We have 18 days left and we are only $305 from hitting the funding goal for Starships & Spacemen 2e!

So, what's happening now? I continue to examine feedback on the playtest draft and make changes. The game is very solid, but the feedback has been spectacular and no doubt will be a much better game because of it. There were a couple of rough edges that we can smooth out now. It's hard to see those kinds of things when you are so close to a project, which is why feedback from new eyes is so valuable. Thank you so much to everyone who has either posted on the S&S forum or sent me an email.

Here is a breakdown of the timeline for this project once it is funded. I'll be finishing edits and commissioning art through August. We already have a cover illustration, so we have a head start in that department. Mark Allen did the cover back in 2010 when I was first getting ready to do this project, but because of other projects and design delays poor Mark hasn't been able to share his work for a long time!

I think it is reasonable that we will have all art done in early September, then it's just a matter of finishing layout and getting print-ready files together. The finished books will be delivered in October, as indicated in the estimated delivery time for the perks of this project. I can say at this stage that it's a very solid time estimate based on the way things have gone for previous books I've published.

More updates to follow!

Best,
Dan

We hit our stretch goal!

Everyone who pledged(s) at the Sub-Lieutenant level or higher will receive an iron-on/sew-on Space Fleet insignia patch!

This is the tough spot in a crowdfunding campaign where you have to decide if there should be more stretch goals, and what those could be.

I've mentioned in a previous update that stretch goals have become somewhat controversial. One reason is because if they are overdone, they become so expensive to produce and ship that they actually work against the goal of the funding program by costing money that would otherwise go into production.

That's why I've decided with only one week left in the campaign I'm going to throw my focus into making the book the best it can be as we move into the next phase of commissioning art and putting final touches on revisions and layout.

That means instead of a stretch goal, additional funds raised at this point beyond my original needs will contribute to adding more art to the book. I think this is a great way to improve the product and reward everyone for believing in this project and supporting it.

There was a comment asking how to add additional books to your order. To do that you will need to do the following before the end of the indiegogo campaign:

Add $20 per perfect bound book.

Add $35 per hard cover book.

Note that if you are upgrading from Ensign (and these prices assume you are already a contributor) and you live outside the US, you will need to add (only one time no matter how many books you order) $5 for shipping to Canada, and $10 anywhere else in the world. If you originally pledged above the Ensign level you should have already added this for shipping, so you don't have to do it again.

To do all of this you have to click on a perk as if you are making a new contribution, then scroll down to enter your own total. Then please send me a private note alerting me to your new contribution and what books you are adding, and I'll add that to my list. If you want to add miniatures, I'll paste my discussion of that here from a previous update:

Bridge Crew: $30

Any piece from the bridge crew (standing or sitting characters, chairs, panels): $2.50 each (note that sitting characters and chairs are sold separately)

Sick bay bed with patient: $10

Control Panel: $10

If you add any of these please specify in the notes section when you order which sets or pieces you would like to add.

Congratulations on getting funded.



P.S. thanks for LL

Quote from: Gib;565687Congratulations on getting funded.



P.S. thanks for LL

Thanks for your support!

This has been a very successful campaign and I thank everyone who contributed to make it happen. It wraps up late tomorrow (Saturday) for anyone who still intends to jump in.