I have been looking at it, any reviews, thoughts, plays? How does it compare to say Traveller? What sort of FTL does it use? What sort of star map (3d or 2d)? Is it softer or more hard sci-fi?
http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=32
Quote from: dragoner;893862I have been looking at it, any reviews, thoughts, plays? How does it compare to say Traveller? What sort of FTL does it use? What sort of star map (3d or 2d)? Is it softer or more hard sci-fi?
http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=32
Never heard of it, but love me some sci-fi, so will have to dig into this.
Cool, I'll check it out as well. It doesn't seem to have had much traction and I wonder why.
It was unmemorable, as I recall.
I like it. Make sure you pick up the revised & expanded edition!
It's a rules-light 2d6 roll-under system, called GenreDiversion i, which is also used in a number of other games from Precis (Coyote Trail, EarthAD.2, Ghostories, Mean Streets, Vice Squad) so you can easily do genre cross-overs. The star maps are 2D.
There's a review of the core book on this very site.
Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;893921It was unmemorable, as I recall.
If it actually works it would be more memorable than any edition of Traveller to date.
Quote from: David Johansen;893959If it actually works it would be more memorable than any edition of Traveller to date.
I don't see why it wouldn't "work".
True, the setting is not particularly original or surprising, but then it's obviously not intended as such. It's very much space opera in the vein of Star Trek with the
Intercosm supplement adding a bit more of a Star Wars feel.
Quote from: David Johansen;893959If it actually works it would be more memorable than any edition of Traveller to date.
Traveller works just fine, assuming you have a calculus background.
Classic Traveller gave us years of gaming fun, no calculus required. Of course we mostly just used the Three original books for rules.
So you never had to shoot at a vehicle then?
Anyhow, I'm just crabby because T5.1 isn't out yet. I loved Classic Traveller but I'd argue you need Striker (vehicle design and combat), Mercenary (weapons that didn't belong in WWII), High Guard, and Citizens of the Imperium (more character types) to do much with it.
I always liked Mega Traveller better because it was more complete in three books and actually handled vehicle combat in the core.
Quote from: 3rik;893924I like it. Make sure you pick up the revised & expanded edition!
It's a rules-light 2d6 roll-under system, called GenreDiversion i, which is also used in a number of other games from Precis (Coyote Trail, EarthAD.2, Ghostories, Mean Streets, Vice Squad) so you can easily do genre cross-overs. The star maps are 2D.
I've got one beef with the
ImPresa/GenreDiversion/Active Exploits family of games: The selection of stats. There's just one physical stat (Fitness), and four stats for mental/soft abilities (Awareness, Creativity, Reasoning, and Influence).
I can see that in a modern day or SF setting a concentration on mental abilities could make sense but in "physical", adventurous genres like space opera (or fantasy or pulp, since GenreDiversion is a universal game) I'd like to see more variance in basic character abilities, or else Fitness becomes the one stat everyone wants to excel at.
That said, I always wanted to buy
HardNova ][ in print. But small press games such as this are not in distribution.
Last year I was very happy to find a German online store that claimed to have a copy. Turned out that it was a mistake on their side...
Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;894057I've got one beef with the ImPresa/GenreDiversion/Active Exploits family of games: The selection of stats. There's just one physical stat (Fitness), and four stats for mental/soft abilities (Awareness, Creativity, Reasoning, and Influence).
I can see that in a modern day or SF setting a concentration on mental abilities could make sense but in "physical", adventurous genres like space opera (or fantasy or pulp, since GenreDiversion is a universal game) I'd like to see more variance in basic character abilities, or else Fitness becomes the one stat everyone wants to excel at.
I think this is the case because it focuses more on an investigative style of roleplaying with games like Mean Streets and Ghostories.
Anyway my opinion on GenreDiversion as a whole (including HardNova) is that it's light. Light on rules (which I like) and light on setting (which I don't like). I like the rules, they are simple and functional, but the setting material is so sparse that I always start looking for something more fleshed out. To each his own, just be aware of this. It could be perfectly fine if you like building a setting from scratch.
Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;894057I've got one beef with the ImPresa/GenreDiversion/Active Exploits family of games: The selection of stats. There's just one physical stat (Fitness), and four stats for mental/soft abilities (Awareness, Creativity, Reasoning, and Influence).
I can see that in a modern day or SF setting a concentration on mental abilities could make sense but in "physical", adventurous genres like space opera (or fantasy or pulp, since GenreDiversion is a universal game) I'd like to see more variance in basic character abilities, or else Fitness becomes the one stat everyone wants to excel at.
I agree, though it would be very easy to split up Fitness into two physical stats, say Strength and Dexterity, without requiring a major overhaul to prevent the system from breaking.
Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;894057That said, I always wanted to buy HardNova ][ in print. But small press games such as this are not in distribution.
Last year I was very happy to find a German online store that claimed to have a copy. Turned out that it was a mistake on their side...
Results for hardnova | Book Depository (https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=hardnova&search=Find+book)
Results for Precis Intermedia | Book Depository (http://www.bookdepository.com/publishers/Precis-Intermedia)
Precis will provide you with a free supplementary pdf-copy if you mail them proof of your purchase.
Quote from: jan paparazzi;894085I think this is the case because it focuses more on an investigative style of roleplaying with games like Mean Streets and Ghostories.
Anyway my opinion on GenreDiversion as a whole (including HardNova) is that it's light. Light on rules (which I like) and light on setting (which I don't like). I like the rules, they are simple and functional, but the setting material is so sparse that I always start looking for something more fleshed out. To each his own, just be aware of this. It could be perfectly fine if you like building a setting from scratch.
For me, HardNova II offers enough of a framework to start with. There's a bunch of planets with inhabitants, a timeline of events, starmaps, aliens, vehicles, weapons and tech. You could and probably should fill in a lot of the details but a lot of this can be done on the fly while running it. IMHO, it's hardly "starting from scratch".
Hard Nova is a very barebones sci-fi game. You get a complete yet simple, no-fuss set of rules with a loosely sketched setting. Depending on your preferences that could seen as be a virtue of a flaw.
I never got round to running it, but then goes for a lot of the games I own - it's not a reflection of the game itself - but I do like how its sparseness leaves room for the GM's own personality and vision.
Quote from: 3rik;893924I like it. Make sure you pick up the revised & expanded edition!
It's a rules-light 2d6 roll-under system, called GenreDiversion i, which is also used in a number of other games from Precis (Coyote Trail, EarthAD.2, Ghostories, Mean Streets, Vice Squad) so you can easily do genre cross-overs. The star maps are 2D.
There's a review of the core book on this very site.
Did you recommend it to me on the geek? I have looked at some reviews. The other GD games are also of interest, because I can then use them for setting on various worlds.
Quote from: dragoner;894151Did you recommend it to me on the geek?
Possibly.
Quote from: dragoner;894151I have looked at some reviews. The other GD games are also of interest, because I can then use them for setting on various worlds.
I'd say the info on Precis' site tells it like it is. Don't expect anything flashy or fancy, just easy to pick up, no bells and whistles. And especially with the Revised & Expanded versions you get quite a lot of buck for your money.
Quote from: 3rik;894237I'd say the info on Precis' site tells it like it is. Don't expect anything flashy or fancy, just easy to pick up, no bells and whistles. And especially with the Revised & Expanded versions you get quite a lot of buck for your money.
That's the plan. I just wanted to see if anyone had played it, and what their feelings are, I figured here might be the place to find that out, as Brett is admin, that is actually what brought me back here. Next sci-fi game I run is going to be more hard sci-fi, 3D maps and such, it would be nice to find the perfect system where I didn't have to do any work other than figure out the setting, but I don't think that will happen.
Hi. I've been very busy these days. Did you have specific questions about it?
Quote from: brettmb;894300Hi. I've been very busy these days. Did you have specific questions about it?
Hi, thanks for dropping in. I think most of my questions have been answered, I'm sure I will have more later. Do you plan any expansions such as spacecraft?
Quote from: dragoner;894302Hi, thanks for dropping in. I think most of my questions have been answered, I'm sure I will have more later. Do you plan any expansions such as spacecraft?
I don't foresee any new titles for the game unless part of a new edition (it is an older title). Future sci-fi development will likely be focused on a new edition of Shatterzone (http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=109) though.
Quote from: brettmb;894309I don't foresee any new titles for the game unless part of a new edition (it is an older title). Future sci-fi development will likely be focused on a new edition of Shatterzone (http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=109) though.
Does it use the same mechanics as the old Shatterzone, d6?
HardNova uses the genreDiversion i rules, which is roll-under 2d6. Shatterzone uses an early version of the MasterBook rules, which is roll-over 2d10 using a bonus chart. Any future version of Shatterzone would probably be genreDiversion 3E, which is roll-over 2d6 (the same in the upcoming Bloodshadows 3E).
Interesting, I did not know that GD was going to roll over (I have actually been working on that mechanic), are the stats the same? It seems there was talk of there being only one physical stat. Are there going to be conversions to the latest system?
The genreDiversion 3E Manual (http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=104) has been around for some time. This introduced the roll-over mechanic and includes conversions for the GDi games. Conversion is pretty simple. Only the difficulty and skill values need to be converted, but this is simple. Abilities are the same, but can be more detailed with ability gimmicks (like musclebound and acute hearing). Lots more options too.
There's also a supers resource, Bold & Brave, for GD3E.
Stormrift is a stand-alone game using GD3E, as will Bloodshadows 3E be.
Bloodshadows actually changes the ability gimmicks a bit - instead of having a positive and negative version of something like strength, which is musclebound (x) vs weak (x), there's only strength (+x or -x).
I have and like both Hard Nova II and Coyote Trail.
I have run and played Coyote Trail but not Hard Nova II.
My only gripe is as already mentioned: The Fitness stat being the only physical stat. This tends to result in characters that place an emphasis on that stat over any of the others as it affects so many different skills. This was particularly true of Coyote Trail games where fistfights and gunfights were so commonplace. Fitness was definitely THE stat to have.
Other than that, it is a fun light user friendly rules set.
Rules light, clear and concise is top of my list of favorite things about game systems, that way the setting stands out more.
Quote from: 3rik;894119For me, HardNova II offers enough of a framework to start with. There's a bunch of planets with inhabitants, a timeline of events, starmaps, aliens, vehicles, weapons and tech. You could and probably should fill in a lot of the details but a lot of this can be done on the fly while running it. IMHO, it's hardly "starting from scratch".
Maybe starting from scratch is a bit exaggerated, but it is sparse. It's a good game, but I already got bothered by the nWoD openness and this is even more barebones. It's not for me. I want more detail.
Well, the game is more designed for a ready-to-play experience. That's why it includes so many scenarios (mini-adventures).
Quote from: brettmb;894358Well, the game is more designed for a ready-to-play experience. That's why it includes so many scenarios (mini-adventures).
In a way it's a little like the Last Parsec. The universe forms itself as you play and roll into one adventure after another. I personally like it better when I have a framework/lay of the land (just like the board of a boardgame) in which I can move the NPC's/factions around. If that makes any sense.
This is as a GM. As a player I am perfectly fine with it. As a player I am fine with everything and I will play any game, np.
Sure. It's a different experience.
Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;894057That said, I always wanted to buy HardNova ][ in print. But small press games such as this are not in distribution.
Last year I was very happy to find a German online store that claimed to have a copy. Turned out that it was a mistake on their side...
Actually, most of our titles are available via Ingram book trade distribution, as well as Amazon US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain - and as 3rik pointed out, via Book Depository with free worldwide shipping.
Brett, now that you're here anyway, do you have any plans for Two-Fisted Tales?
Funny you should mention it. I should have a manuscript for a new edition in a few months and the new cover is almost done. Changing the logo and feel of style of the game.
Quote from: brettmb;894421Funny you should mention it. I should have a manuscript for a new edition in a few months and the new cover is almost done. Changing the logo and feel of style of the game.
Any "issues" in particular that you want to address with this new edition?
Quote from: 3rik;894497Any "issues" in particular that you want to address with this new edition?
Well, the abilities are being standardized a bit more. Some super powers are being added. Just a general tightening up of everything. And wait until you see the new cover and logo.
Quote from: brettmb;894532Well, the abilities are being standardized a bit more. Some super powers are being added. Just a general tightening up of everything. And wait until you see the new cover and logo.
Are you using the same artwork as in the current edition?
Quote from: 3rik;894633Are you using the same artwork as in the current edition?
They'll be in there, but so will new art. Totally new rocking cover.
RPGPundit just posted a review of HardNova Revised and Expanded: http://www.therpgsite.com/showthread.php?34376-Hardnova
Quote from: brettmb;894637They'll be in there, but so will new art. Totally new rocking cover.
I'll have to see if it's worth picking up once it's done as I already own the current version in print and as far as I've noticed it's perfectly serviceable. I also have the 2FT cards. Will those work just the same with the new edition?
2FT is a great but unfortunately highly underappreciated pulp game, by the way. It deserves more love.
The RPGPundit's review http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/2016/04/rpgpundit-reviews-hardnova.html
Nevermind.
Quote from: 3rik;894762I also have the 2FT cards. Will those work just the same with the new edition?
I believe so, but I won't be sure until I get around to editing the manuscript.
Quote from: brettmb;894766I believe so, but I won't be sure until I get around to editing the manuscript.
Well, as long as the current cards also work with the new edition. I don't fancy having to get a new set of cards as well.
Quote from: 3rik;894802Well, as long as the current cards also work with the new edition. I don't fancy having to get a new set of cards as well.
Since all you need is regular playing cards, even if the wordage changes a little, they will still work in that sense :)
Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;894057I've got one beef with the ImPresa/GenreDiversion/Active Exploits family of games: The selection of stats. There's just one physical stat (Fitness), and four stats for mental/soft abilities (Awareness, Creativity, Reasoning, and Influence).
I think that's really the one thing that makes the game different from a lot of other systems.