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Author Topic: ISO Space  (Read 2003 times)

Tyndale

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« Reply #15 on: December 27, 2019, 11:29:09 AM »
Quote from: Lurkndog;1117492
So the Jedi rules are basically aimed at making OT Luke Skywalker, an adventurer with some force abilities added. If you want the full-powered Jedi from the prequels and sequels, you may want to look at the newer systems.


Personally, not having full-Jedi powers is a plus for me - at least for characters.  Thanks for making that distinction.
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Chris24601

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« Reply #16 on: December 27, 2019, 11:38:21 AM »
Quote from: Lurkndog;1117492
Add me to the recommendations for WEG D6 Star Wars.

One big advantage of the D6 system is that it is very simple, and that makes it easy to get started with, and also very easy to adapt. I've used it for both Babylon 5, and an age of sail pirate campaign.

One disadvantage of D6 Star Wars is that it was written before the Prequel Trilogy. So the Jedi rules are basically aimed at making OT Luke Skywalker, an adventurer with some force abilities added. If you want the full-powered Jedi from the prequels and sequels, you may want to look at the newer systems.

Another advantage is that, thanks to the Opend6 material WEG came up with (see here) you can tweak and add all manner of things to fit your own particular vision.

I, for example, hacked a d6 Star Trek (complete with conversion rules for starships from the Spacedock advanced starship rules from the LUG Star Trek. Part of the hack included dropping down to just one physical stat (if you were competent physically on the shows it didn't much matter if it was due to agility or strength; lifting and acrobatics skills let you differentiate if needed), but bumped it up to five "mental" scores (piloting in Star Trek is less reflexes and more navigation and inputting of attack patterns) with an optional Psi stat and a bit of pruning of the Force powers to fit (TK is extremely rare... almost unheard of, but telepathy fairly common).

One downside to the D6 system is that's it's fairly lethal with a pretty severe death spiral and the main way to avoid it involves spending the same XP (character points) you need to improve on adding extra dice to single checks. This creates a perverse incentive where the PCs who risk the most improve much more slowly than thise who don't take risks (and therefore don't have to spend CP on boosting rolls to avoid death).

My personal house rule is just to award XP equal to the character points gained. XP can only be spent to improve skills and CP can only be used to improve rolls.

Shawn Driscoll

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« Reply #17 on: December 27, 2019, 01:06:54 PM »
Quote from: Tyndale;1117489
Another question, is am seeing the term "hard" and "soft" upthread and feeling this has specific meaning.  Am I correct to infer that "hard" has to do with accuracy of technology/physics?
Hard sci-fi just means that there are space helmets is all.

Quote from: Tyndale;1117490
I'm mostly familiar with Burning Wheel, and not sure I want to run Burning Empires (a whole other conversation).
Woah! You like your coffee super black. People have tried to get me to play Burning Empires. I'm a 2nd-gen gamer though.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2019, 01:10:35 PM by Shawn Driscoll »

estar

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« Reply #18 on: December 27, 2019, 04:02:31 PM »
There is White Star a well received version of OD&D adapted for space opera style science fiction.

The sci-fi RPGs I used the most are Classic Traveller, and Mongoose Traveller 1st edition. Cepheus is a very good clone of MgT 1e. You can still order hardcover of the Traveller Book.

My guilty pleasure is 2300AD which like the Universe RPG uses real life star placement for its setting. Also has some hard sci-fi aliens like the Kafers which grow more intelligent the more violent (or stress) they get.

Omega

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« Reply #19 on: December 27, 2019, 09:18:57 PM »
Quote from: Tyndale;1117489
Holy shit ton of options, Batman (a good thing). Thanks all!  I ordered the 30th Anniversary Star Wars Box because is seems like a good place to start - and I am a sucker for boxed sets.  I also am reading the SWN Revised and Free version now.  Another question, is am seeing the term "hard" and "soft" upthread and feeling this has specific meaning.  Am I correct to infer that "hard" has to do with accuracy of technology/physics?

For me "hard" SF tends to lean to realistic depictions. No anti gravity linear ships! No magic. That includes nanites! No to very low psi. Probably either no FTL or a relatively slow one. Few to no aliens without good reason. Biomodded races are ok as long as it doesnt drift into the equivalent of magic biomods etc.

The further into soft SF you get the more prevalent any one or more of the above omissions gets. Magic Nanites. Powerful Psi. Anti fucking everywhere Gravity. etc.

RPGPundit

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« Reply #20 on: December 29, 2019, 02:31:35 AM »
My upcoming Space Opera game will be RPGPundit Presents #100. But it won't have ship-building rules.
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Lurkndog

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« Reply #21 on: December 30, 2019, 04:33:29 PM »
Quote from: Tyndale;1117495
Personally, not having full-Jedi powers is a plus for me - at least for characters.  Thanks for making that distinction.


You're welcome.

I'm not sure how you can even keep full-powered Jedi on the same page with other party members. Especially after seeing Rise of Skywalker.

Sunsword

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« Reply #22 on: December 30, 2019, 10:54:47 PM »
Quote from: RPGPundit;1117589
My upcoming Space Opera game will be RPGPundit Presents #100. But it won't have ship-building rules.

How soon until it releases?

Brad

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« Reply #23 on: January 01, 2020, 07:15:52 PM »
Quote from: Lurkndog;1117729
You're welcome.

I'm not sure how you can even keep full-powered Jedi on the same page with other party members. Especially after seeing Rise of Skywalker.


You can't, but does it matter? I ran a SW campaign one summer in grad school, we played almost every day for about two months. The lone jedi PC pretty much became the focal point of the game near the end, but it's because he was specifically targeted by the Emperor after the party botched a hit-and-run raid on a Star Destroyer. The game shifted from smuggling and piracy to spec-ops missions for the Rebellion, to straight up trying to find an uncharted planet to retrieve crystals to make a new lightsaber. It was obvious to everyone the game was heading that way, and it wasn't intentional whatsoever. Just par for the course, I guess.
It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.

Spinachcat

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« Reply #24 on: January 02, 2020, 12:40:39 AM »
Quote from: Lurkndog;1117729
I'm not sure how you can even keep full-powered Jedi on the same page with other party members. Especially after seeing Rise of Skywalker.

1) Ignore the Mary Sue bullshit from Rise of Skywanker and define the limits and scope of the Force for your own campaign so you and your players are on the same page long before anyone mouth farts about the movies.  

2) Don't worry about it. I can't speak for the FFG Star Wars, but WEG D6 and D20 Star Wars left the Jedi pretty balanced because all their "points" are sucked into Force powers that they need the rest of the party to be skilled to round out the adventure. AKA, they're a Wizard with a Lazer Sword.

3) Jedi draw heat. They're every foes numero-uno priority in battle. If you run a Star Wars RPG where the PCs don't have plot protection, the Jedi is mostly a glass cannon and surprisingly vulnerable when their luck runs out.

HappyDaze

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« Reply #25 on: January 02, 2020, 01:59:48 AM »
Quote from: Spinachcat;1117919
1) Ignore the Mary Sue bullshit from Rise of Skywanker and define the limits and scope of the Force for your own campaign so you and your players are on the same page long before anyone mouth farts about the movies.  

2) Don't worry about it. I can't speak for the FFG Star Wars, but WEG D6 and D20 Star Wars left the Jedi pretty balanced because all their "points" are sucked into Force powers that they need the rest of the party to be skilled to round out the adventure. AKA, they're a Wizard with a Lazer Sword.

3) Jedi draw heat. They're every foes numero-uno priority in battle. If you run a Star Wars RPG where the PCs don't have plot protection, the Jedi is mostly a glass cannon and surprisingly vulnerable when their luck runs out.

Regarding #2: WEG did generally have a trade-off in that Force proficiency typically required starting with lower Attributes (this could be avoided by learning in play, if the GM provided a teacher) and then sucked down a lot of XP. WotC's d20 were quite the opposite, especially in Saga. The Force could replace many skills and the game heavily favored the Jedi characters. FFG again makes the Force very powerful, but very expensive in terms of XP (however, in a long-running game, non-Force characters can rapidly get to a point of diminishing returns while the Force-user keeps growing...much like a fighter vs wizard issue in D&D).

Opaopajr

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« Reply #26 on: January 02, 2020, 02:32:29 AM »
Quote from: Brad;1117457
The reprint is just 1st Edition SW, which is the best version and my favorite RPG. The one floating around in direct violation of copyright (whatever!) is pretty close, but adds some stuff from later editions so it's not exactly the same. Close enough for horseshoes and hand grenades.

The new FFG game sucks ass, IDGAF what anyone else thinks. I shouldn't need tons of super special dice that cannot be used with any other game and all sorts of meta-game concepts to play an RPG.

Ditto. :) WEG SW 1e forever!

Special mention goes to Stars Without Number, too.
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RPGPundit

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« Reply #27 on: January 04, 2020, 07:06:03 AM »
Quote from: Sunsword;1117749
How soon until it releases?


Not quite sure. We're on #98 now, but we've temporarily suspended the Presents series to provide more time for promotion of the Medieval-Authentic Companion. So it could still be a few weeks.
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you've played 'medieval fantasy' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.