...What would be your personal choice?  And why?  Like the ideas?  Are the mechanics crunchy/light enough to suit your GM style?  Force of habit?

Me, if I don't feel like using Classic Traveller, I'm thinking it'd be a dead tie between StarCluster 2 and Nebuleon.  I'd also have to give Spacemaster a good look...

Well, if I'm running an epic space campaign that probably means I'm running Star Wars, and if I'm running Star Wars then I'd be using Star Wars d20.  I don't even own the latest version of the book, so I suppose I would have to buy it.  I suppose my reasons are a combination of brand recognition and good experiences with the previous edition.

I'd like to use Traveller d20, but modified using d20 Modern & Future. T20 came out before d20 Modern and Future, and could benefit from such a revamp.

Well, given a day to prep, the sf rpg I wrote that inspired the redesign on "among the beautiful creatures".  Because it's fast and dirty and done enough to go forward.

Given a week, Galaxies in Shadow.

But if I had to go right now, Space Master Privateers.  Which is a great deal of fun and I have a method that makes characters in 15 minutes without a computer.

Quote from: David JohansenBut if I had to go right now, Space Master Privateers.  Which is a great deal of fun and I have a method that makes characters in 15 minutes without a computer.

I'm always amazed that game doesn't get more love.  Wonder why that is?

My ideal balance of light and crunchy; adaptable; fast; familiar.

Traveller, either LBB or GURPS.

Define "epic".

I'm thinking that D20 mod and future is gonna be my choice. But it is as usual a fortuitous coincidence that I thinking of running a space game as the next campaign, so I'm interested in what folks are thinking.

Quote from: Zachary The FirstI'm always amazed that game doesn't get more love.  Wonder why that is?

Well, first off, it straddled ICE's collapse.  They reformatted it and made a mess in doing so, then went bankrupt for over a year.  Then they finally got the vehicle book out and misprinted several vital tables.  Not that I'm thrilled with some of the design decisions behind the right set of tables either.

Also, the fans really hated the setting.  Personally the setting's not bad, it's just not what people wanted.  I think if they'd gone with an anime look the animal people thing would have played better.

I think the rationale for animal people is sound.  They're the sf equivilant of elves, dwarves, and orks.  However I do feel that the racial builds were far too specific to certain carreers.  It's not that I mind Oorts being smarter, but being absolutely specialized as scientists?  Not so much.  Though, an Oort thief might be a pretty scary character.

I like D6 Space a lot, but we recently started a campaign where we were all in the mood for really epic sci-fi without bogging down in weapon stats and ship speeds, and we decided to go for HeroQuest!  It's worked very well for us so far.  Our third episode is a week from Monday.

If I were to start an "epic" space campaign right now. I think I would use either D6 or Heros Unlimited. I like the space material for HU, and I know the material system like the back of my hand. So while fairly crunchy I can keep it fast moving.

I would choose between StarCluster, Cold Space/FTL Now, Nebuleon, and Hard Nova ][, depending on the style of campaign I wanted to run and/or the setting I wanted to run it in. I run a lot of SF.

-clash

...I'd be remiss if I didn't include a strong Lensman influence.

Well, everyone knows it'd be d20.  Though d20 would do okay for lensman.