What's up with it?

I've read a little about it over on Cubicle 7's site. It powers their Doctor Who, and Rocket Age rpgs. It's supposedly rules-medium, and utilizes a 2d6 (+attributes+mods) vs difficulty rating skill system, with interpreted MoS/MoF results. Chargen is point-buy, but uses templates for guidance?

Can anyone fill in any gaps on what this system is like in play? Is it fairly-traditional, or strongly-storygaming-leaning? I imagine it's fairly low-mortality, but are there dramatic-editing mechanics, or something similar? If I read a core book that utilizes this system, will I get beaten over the head with story and fiction terminology, throughout?

I like Doctor Who, but I don't feel inclined to game in the Whoniverse. Rocket Age looks interesting; I do enjoy sword-n-planet, and planetary romance settings/systems.

I've been interested in Rocket Age as well.
Most all I know of Cubicle 7 is from the Dragon Lines/Celestial Empire books for BRP, which are great, and quite traditional.

I've played Dr Who a couple of times. I liked it but in fairness both games were fairly high on character interaction and low on action so I can't really say I seen the system used in anger.

The system is fairly light and traditional to the same extent that something like Buffy (Uni System), classic Cortex or any other game that relies on Hero/Drama points. It's a cinematic emulation rather then realistic simulation style game.

Rocket Age has caught my eye but between Bulldogs! and Star Wars D6 I feel I'm well stocked for space opera so I am not sure I need a new game. As I'm running a supers campaign at the moment I don't really need to make that decision right now.

I own the Primeval RPG and am kind of on the fence about Rocket Age, as I *think* it may be too much 1930s and not enough 1950s SF for my taste. I like the system well enough, though, and the game may still be interesting as a space opera setting toolkit.


From Primeval (the other games may  differ slightly): You roll 2D6 + attribute + skill. If the difference  between the result and the difficulty is:

9+            Fantastic Yes, and...
4 to 8        Good Yes!
0 to 3        Normal Yes, but... You've succeeded but the GM *may* add some sort of complication or secondary problem.
-1 to -3    Failed No, but... It could've been worse. The GM *may* allow you to gain something out of the encounter, but it may not be what you'd expected.
-4 to -8     Bad No!
-9 or lower Disastrous No, and...

It's also recommended that you don't roll if failure is boring, if  success is vital, if the task is trivial or if you've already rolled.

Also, there's no hit points. Damage is applied directly to attribute values.

I've seen that task resolution table before. I think on the Cubicle7 forums.

What scale are the attributes and skills on?

Quote from: Simlasa;698229Most all I know of Cubicle 7 is from the Dragon Lines/Celestial Empire books for BRP, which are great, and quite traditional.

I've got World War Cthulhu and Cthulhu Britannica which are pretty solid.

...And, now that I think about it, a PDF of "The Laundry".

Quote from: K Peterson;698249I've seen that task resolution table before. I think on the Cubicle7 forums.

What scale are the attributes and skills on?

Attributes and skills range from 1 to 6. Characters also get a number of good and bad traits that give them (dis)advantages under certain circumstances or at certain tasks.

In Primeval you also get to create the player characters' HQ by having the players collectively spend a number of points on good or bad traits. I'm not sure if there's anything like that in Doctor Who or Rocket Age.

To answer your other question, it's about as story-ish as the various Cinematic Unisystem games (Buffy, Angel, Army of Darkness, etc.), by design. IMO that means "not very" but obviously sensibilities differ.

KoOS

I have both Buffy and Dr. Who games and also think they're broadly similar: rules medium-light, story points, cinematic.  Dr. Who has a small skill list, plus you spend points on special backgrounds or abilities.  It's similar to Buffy in that weaker characters have more story points but I think Dr. Who is more flexible about it.

The only story game part is story points, but they're less intrusive than aspects in FATE.  It's also set up to emulate Dr. Who, so it's not intended for detailed combat - if you were try to go toe to toe with a hundred Daleks,  you'd die quickly, but it allows other avenues to defeat opponents.

Quote from: Nicephorus;698342I have both Buffy and Dr. Who games and also think they're broadly similar: rules medium-light, story points, cinematic.  Dr. Who has a small skill list, plus you spend points on special backgrounds or abilities.  It's similar to Buffy in that weaker characters have more story points but I think Dr. Who is more flexible about it.

The only story game part is story points, but they're less intrusive than aspects in FATE.  It's also set up to emulate Dr. Who, so it's not intended for detailed combat - if you were try to go toe to toe with a hundred Daleks,  you'd die quickly, but it allows other avenues to defeat opponents.

It's the same in Primeval, the mechanics are set up to help emulate the TV show.

There's a free Rocket Age scenario here:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/120214/Rocket-Age---The-Lost-City-of-the-Ancients?term=rocket+age



Disclaimer: I occasionally freelance for C7 (The Laundry and World War Cthulhu), but I am also a big fan of the Doctor Who RPG.

The system is very similar to Cinematic Unisystem, which inspired it. I think it is a bit more focused on the need for Story Points, however, both in terms of the need to spend them to succeed at rolls and the need to activate certain abilities.

I played a demo game of Doctor Who and enjoyed it greatly. I'm hoping to start a game of Rocket Age the week after next.

Quote from: Dan Davenport;699349The system is very similar to Cinematic Unisystem, which inspired it. I think it is a bit more focused on the need for Story Points, however, both in terms of the need to spend them to succeed at rolls and the need to activate certain abilities.

I played a demo game of Doctor Who and enjoyed it greatly. I'm hoping to start a game of Rocket Age the week after next.

I'm hoping for Rocket Age as well....and eventually DWAITAS, but I'm rather fond of the system.