For those so inclined there's a humble bundle of the Dr Who RPG.
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/doctor-who-rpg-books
I didn't know there was new version. I have the old FASA one.
Heck of a deal there. I need to learn to love .pdfs somehow.
Though I dislike the rules (too fiddly and intrusive for me), I have every book in the line and have mined the Doctor source books in particular for many, many adventure seeds. They are excellent books and well worth a read.
The other books aren't bad, but less useful to me since I do not use with the 'Vortex' rules in any way, and they consist more of rules-related material.
The bundle is a fantastic deal.
I like the system, but even if you don't there is a lot of background information to mine in these books.
It's great that The Time Traveller's Companion has a cover with Jack Harkness and River Song, two characters that Whovians like to argue about whether they count as companions or not. I wonder if that was deliberate.
Not sure how anybody can feel like the rules are too fiddly as it's a simple Attribute + Skill + 2D6 vs target number system, with only 12 skills and 6 attributes. Characters also get good and bad Traits, like in Champions etc, to flesh out the characters but again not in any heavy way.
There are Story points, which I suppose acts in a way not too dissimilar to Fate points could be deemed to be intrusive I guess. However the various effects you can spend them on are all written on the character sheet and are a good way of both evening out less powerful characters to others (a bit like good stuff/bad stuff from Amber) while getting the characters to act in a similar way they do in the TV show. Same is true of their initiative system - Talkers, Runners, Doers, Fighters, in that order - which is inspired.
Whilst some people may think it's all a bit too much like Fate, or whatever, it really is an eclectic mix of good ideas that hang together well in a simple system. There is plenty of Traveller ideas in there too.
But anyway, yep, that is an amazing deal they are giving there. Hundreds of dollars worth in that final package, and it's for charity so good on them.
Quote from: DavetheLost;976735The bundle is a fantastic deal.
I like the system, but even if you don't there is a lot of background information to mine in these books.
It's a soerly tempting deal.
My only issue is that the game itself, perhaps inevitably, looks rather prosaic.
Aside from the funky initiative system, are there any other cool gimmicks that make the game Whovian? I'm a HUGE Who fan and I remember the old FASA game.
Can i play a Dalek? (Check for traps....then assume rightful place as rulers of time and space)?
EDIT: to be clear, if you pay the top amount, do you get everything, or do you have to buy each tier separately?
Quote from: Biscuitician;976787It's a soerly tempting deal.
My only issue is that the game itself, perhaps inevitably, looks rather prosaic.
Aside from the funky initiative system, are there any other cool gimmicks that make the game Whovian? I'm a HUGE Who fan and I remember the old FASA game.
Can i play a Dalek? (Check for traps....then assume rightful place as rulers of time and space)?
EDIT: to be clear, if you pay the top amount, do you get everything, or do you have to buy each tier separately?
You pay the top amount and get it all
Fuck it, who cares about Children In Need if I can get the stats for the Kandyman
SOLD!
It's a fun system. I was in the beta with Pundit for a bit, which is where I first heard of him. It's not my favorite system but it sure is easy to run. Fun fact, I have three Doctor Who RPGs that I bought at Sentry Box in three different locations. The FASA game, as well as that small book with Sylvester McCoy on the cover.
I may have to get this bundle, though I imagine I'd just use it as source material for another system.
Quote from: TrippyHippy;976759Not sure how anybody can feel like the rules are too fiddly as it's a simple Attribute + Skill + 2D6 vs target number system, with only 12 skills and 6 attributes. Characters also get good and bad Traits, like in Champions etc, to flesh out the characters but again not in any heavy way.
There are Story points, which I suppose acts in a way not too dissimilar to Fate points could be deemed to be intrusive I guess. However the various effects you can spend them on are all written on the character sheet and are a good way of both evening out less powerful characters to others (a bit like good stuff/bad stuff from Amber) while getting the characters to act in a similar way they do in the TV show. Same is true of their initiative system - Talkers, Runners, Doers, Fighters, in that order - which is inspired.
Whilst some people may think it's all a bit too much like Fate, or whatever, it really is an eclectic mix of good ideas that hang together well in a simple system. There is plenty of Traveller ideas in there too.
But anyway, yep, that is an amazing deal they are giving there. Hundreds of dollars worth in that final package, and it's for charity so good on them.
I dislike story points, I dislike the degrees of success, I disagree with many of the good and bad traits. I don't need any of these things to run a Doctor Who campaign. So the system is pretty much a dud for me.
The game line is still a fantastic resource, however.
Does anyone know if the bonus 30%off code that comes with this bundle can be used for cubicle 7 pdfs at dtrpg? I was tempted by the gamesmasters companion, but their store only has book and pdf, not just pdf (afaict).
Quote from: Biscuitician;976939Does anyone know if the bonus 30%off code that comes with this bundle can be used for cubicle 7 pdfs at dtrpg? I was tempted by the gamesmasters companion, but their store only has book and pdf, not just pdf (afaict).
I believe not. It's only for their own webstore.
Quote from: dbm;976941I believe not. It's only for their own webstore.
Yeah, looks that way. Shame, I don't see much point buying books along with this collection.
Can't really complain though, this bundle is an incredible deal.
Anybody ever play the old FASA Dr. Who game?
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Quote from: Dumarest;976977Anybody ever play the old FASA Dr. Who game?
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It was shit, lets be honest
Quote from: Dumarest;976977Anybody ever play the old FASA Dr. Who game?
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My friends and I tried, but as I recall the rules set was very clunky. Actually, I might be able to say the rules set was very FASA and mean the same thing...
Quote from: Dumarest;976977Anybody ever play the old FASA Dr. Who game?
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I made a character for it once. My friend that owned it was generally reliable about actually running games that he bought, so it is possible he didn't like it. I can't remember anything about the mechanics.
The quality of the game aside, I liked looking through it was the closest thing to a good guidebook on the show that I had seen at the time.
Quote from: Biscuitician;976950Yeah, looks that way. Shame, I don't see much point buying books along with this collection.
Can't really complain though, this bundle is an incredible deal.
Lots of people are recommending Paternoster Investigations, which isn't part of the bundle.
I was more interested in whether the GM Companion or the Strange Creatures (bestiary) is worthwhile.
Paternoster looks good, but is rather specific to Victorian London only. The Bestiary looks like it gives more depth for creating aliens and monsters which interests me.
Quote from: Baulderstone;977076I made a character for it once. My friend that owned it was generally reliable about actually running games that he bought, so it is possible he didn't like it. I can't remember anything about the mechanics.
The quality of the game aside, I liked looking through it was the closest thing to a good guidebook on the show that I had seen at the time.
The Dalek logic flowchart was a thing of beauty. It was either ridicule that worked anyway, or a sincere structure that was hilarious.
There's 25% off pretty much the entire range on DriveThru at the moment...
Quote from: dbm;977133There's 25% off pretty much the entire range on DriveThru at the moment...
I noticed!
I picked up the GM Companion. I'd be interested in the All Strange Creatures book, but I'm not sure how much use it would be. I'm really only interested in the alien traits and rules for creating unique alien characters/monsters. The rest is probably culled from the sourcebooks.
Quote from: TrippyHippy;976759Not sure how anybody can feel like the rules are too fiddly as it's a simple Attribute + Skill + 2D6 vs target
You're welcome.
Quote from: Biscuitician;976787Aside from the funky initiative system, are there any other cool gimmicks
You're welcome.
Quote from: Krimson;976894as well as that small book with Sylvester McCoy on the cover.
I believe that was Time Lord, which I still utterly love. I didn't care for the FASA rules, which felt much more like Star Trek than Doctor Who to me.
Quote from: RPGPundit;977650I believe that was Time Lord, which I still utterly love. I didn't care for the FASA rules, which felt much more like Star Trek than Doctor Who to me.
Maybe because they took the Star Trek mechanics they wrote in 1982 and turned them into Doctor Who in 1985.
I quite like them, though.
Quote from: RPGPundit;977649You're welcome.
for what, you're not credited with developing the game. Ego, much?
Quote from: RPGPundit;977648You're welcome.
You invented the roll 2d6 beat difficulty mechanic, did you?
In your dreams boyo.
Quote from: Biscuitician;977899You invented the roll 2d6 beat difficulty mechanic, did you?
In your dreams boyo.
Read this: RPGPundit Reviews Doctor Who Adventures in Time and Space (http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/2014/12/rpgpundit-reviews-doctor-who-adventures.html)
Quote from: MWMattei;977916Read this: RPGPundit Reviews Doctor Who Adventures in Time and Space (http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/2014/12/rpgpundit-reviews-doctor-who-adventures.html)
More an ego trip than a review
QuoteDWAITAS is set up, rules-wise, to try as much as possible to be emulative of the game. You see a lot of mechanics made to reflect this.
Oh, this is brilliant! RPG rules that emulate a game! I know Pundit probably meant genre, but given the pomposity of the piece, oh what glorious fun this little slip is. And, well honestly, if you style yourself "The RPGPundit" you've got to expect people to take the occasional cheap shot. I can't help a bit of iconoclasm. But it was a good overview of the game.
Quote from: RPGPundit;977650I believe that was Time Lord, which I still utterly love. I didn't care for the FASA rules, which felt much more like Star Trek than Doctor Who to me.
Yes, that's the one. Mind you with the FASA game, at the time there weren't any other options. :D
Quote from: Dumarest;977816Maybe because they took the Star Trek mechanics they wrote in 1982 and turned them into Doctor Who in 1985.
I quite like them, though.
Honestly I enjoyed playing FASA Trek more. Though it did amuse me that a shotgun pretty much killed everything. :D
Quote from: Krimson;978429Honestly I enjoyed playing FASA Trek more. Though it did amuse me that a shotgun pretty much killed everything. :D
As it should.
FASA Trek was great fun. I still come back to it when I want to play Star Trek. I didn't care for the Lost Unicorn or Decipher versions.
Quote from: Biscuitician;977893for what, you're not credited with developing the game. Ego, much?
I gave them the initiative mechanic.
Quote from: Biscuitician;977899You invented the roll 2d6 beat difficulty mechanic, did you?
In your dreams boyo.
Nope, but if it hadn't been for me, it would have been 1d6 in Doctor Who.
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Ironically you clearly care enough to carry on about it.
Quote from: Dumarest;979783Ironically you clearly care enough to carry on about it.
Baiting people into poo-flinging with him is the only communication he has on these forums. I'd hoped it was just in the politics sub-forum, but no....
Yeah but that pic is pretty awesome.
Quote from: RPGPundit;979487Nope, but if it hadn't been for me, it would have been 1d6 in Doctor Who.
You, me, and many others. I seem to remember at least one discussion thread on the 1d6 vs 2d6 issue during the early playtest, and there may even have been a poll on the matter too.
Does cubicle7 not have a license to use the big finish audio stuff, because they've missed a massive trick there, especially regarding the 8th doctor.
Quote from: RPGPundit;979487Nope, but if it hadn't been for me, it would have been 1d6 in Doctor Who.
This is a really fascinating post. Because for years Pundie has claimed that he was responsible for giving them the "Talk, then Move, then Do, than Fight" initiative system. For example, from his review (http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/2014/12/rpgpundit-reviews-doctor-who-adventures.html):
Quote from: RPGPundit's ReviewThe combat system is not much more difficult than that. It adds only a question of initiative and damage. The initiative method was one of my big contributions to the playtest process, and I was inspired in it by classic D&D (which also inspired the initiative method I used in Forward... to Adventure!). Instead of people acting solely on the basis of their personal speed, what they are choosing to do has an effect on who goes when. Talkers always go first, if you are making a speech, you get to act before anyone else. "Movers" are next, so if you're spending the round running somewhere, you go early. After that go the "Doers", people taking special actions that aren't simple attacks. Finally, the "Fighters" go last, those just shooting or punching. I think that this brilliantly emulates how these sorts of conflicts tend to go in the Doctor Who show, and encourages characters to consider actions other than just fighting.
Although with a little googling, I see he's actually spent the last few years slowly walking back this hyperbolic claim to his current position of, "I suggested 2d6 instead of 1d6."
Wasn't Pundie the one who suggested Gygax use the d20?
I imagine it's like playtesting with Baron Munchausen