Good "shooter" sci-Fi RPG

RPGPundit · March 17, 2015, 05:51:20 AM

This is pretty much the opposite of the type of sci-fi games I like to run.

tuypo1 · March 17, 2015, 06:02:22 AM

i am not much into running a sci-fi but if i were it i would most likely draw on my being a star trek fan space is just an excuse to go to lots of different places and i can do the same thing with the planes

Quote from: golan2072;820237Classic Traveller.

Space Marines? CHECK! As a career in the most basic rules (book 1)!
Powered Armour? CHECK! Battledress.
Shotguns in SPAAACE? CHECK! And they hit HARD!
Big plasma guns? CHECK! With Book 4: Mercenary.
Alien beasts to shoot at? CHECK! In Book 3.
Alien Bugs ala Starship Troopers? CHECK! In the "Chamax" adventure.
Aliens ala the Alien(s) film(s)? CHECK! The "Reticulan Parasite" in an early JTAS magazine!

Even "civilian" PCs tend to be ex-military with serious combat skills.

The only thing missing are vehicle rules, unless you want to use the Striker wargame rules (which are a bit complicated) and then you get ALL THE TANKS YOU WANT!

In space everyone can hear you pump your 12-gauge!

does it have alien bugs ala the enders series (although i suppose those weren't really war storys)

Premier · March 17, 2015, 01:04:22 PM

Stars Without Number is a good sci-fi OSR game, and it's easy to tweak it one way or another as your preference dictates. It has rules for starship (and, in the non-free version, mech) construction as well as large-scale behind-the-scenes political, business and military conflicts between different factions. The Skyward Steel supplement details space fleets and naval campaigns, Darkness Visible is about espionage and secret ops, Engines of Babylon is good for expanding your vehicular options for tactical combat, and a mercenary-oriented supplement will be published later this year.

Gabriel2 · March 17, 2015, 01:12:59 PM

I think there was a d20 Starship Troopers RPG by Mongoose a few years ago. I don't know if it was any good.

Stargate SG-1 could conceivably fit the bill with not too much tweaking. I didn't like that one when I owned it, though.

Buck Rogers XXVc?

flyingmice · March 17, 2015, 01:42:18 PM

Quote from: S'mon;820207The RPGs all seem much more low-key than the videogames - they do ALIENS style squad level stuff, you can be Hicks but not not Shephard or Master Chief. I really don't think there *are* any high-power military space opera rpgs on the market? Even traditional Star Wars type space opera is pretty thin on the ground.

RPGPundit reviews In Harm's Way: StarCluster

-clash

Xavier Onassiss · March 17, 2015, 01:47:06 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;820646This is pretty much the opposite of the type of sci-fi games I like to run.

I tend to agree, but since the OP asked, I posted something I figured he could use.

danbuter · March 17, 2015, 02:08:02 PM

Quote from: Gabriel2;820673I think there was a d20 Starship Troopers RPG by Mongoose a few years ago. I don't know if it was any good.

I actually think it was one of the best products made during the d20 craze.

David Johansen · March 18, 2015, 12:12:51 AM

So build 300 point GURPS space marines

Attributes:
ST 15 [50];
DX 14 [80];
IQ 13 [60];
HT 15 [50].

Sub Attributes:
Fatigue 20 [15]; Hit Points 20 [10]; Perception 15 [10]; Will Power 15 [10].

Advantages:
Combat Reflexes [15]; Gizmo [25]; Gunslinger [25]; High Pain Threshold [-10]; Military Rank 1 [5].

Disadvantages:
Blood Thirsty [-10]; Code of Honor (Marines) -10; Duty (the service) -15; Overconfidence -5.

Skills:
Armory (Small Arms) /9 15 [8]; Battle Suit/9 17 [12]; Climbing 15 [8]; Computer Operation 14 [2]; Driving (AFV)/9 15 [4]; First Aid/9 15 [4]; Gunner (Missile Launcher)/9 17 [12]; Guns (Assault Rifle) 18 [12]; Jumping 17 [8]; Sensor Operation (Full Spectrum)/9 15 [8]; Swimming 17 [4].

300