Timewaster's Guide Archive
Games => Role-Playing Games => Topic started by: Mad Dr Jeffe on April 16, 2003, 02:48:23 PM
-
Just Curious what everyones favorite sci-fi RPG is.
My $.02 has to be for Shadowrun.
-
west end Starwars!
-
That is a good one,...
WEG should have never lost that liscense
have you seen The Metabarons by WEG
Its the same rules system, different setting.
Its really a beautiful RPG book.
(http://www.westendgames.com/images/mbrb.jpg)
Huge too like a coffee table RPG.
-
For my money, the best sci-fi game has to be Rifts. I always loved WEG Star Wars, though, so it's up there, but Rifts holds an unreplaceable spot in my heart.
-
Hands down, Deadlands: Hell on Earth
-
I've not played many sci-fi RPGs. But I did play one. Alternity. I didn't know much about the system but I had fun in the game. I know, I suck, but I've not played any other sci-fi RPG so my opinion is a bit biased. Oh well! I'm looking for Spycraft books. That one looks interesting.
-
I have to agree with Fell, there is just something special about Rifts. Course I also have a great appreciation for After the Bomb.
-
I'm going to have to place my vote behind WEG Star Wars. I *tried* to like Palladium. I really did. Even after I stopped playing to a decade I came back and tried to like it again. But it didn't work. What is *up* with those rules?
-
Oh, are we talking about rules? Then WEG Star Wars definitely wins over Rifts. I prefer Rifts because of the world and the possibilities.
(On a similar note, I'm slowly working on an unholy hybrid of house rules that combines Rifts, CODA/d20, and Inquisitor. Should be interesting, if I ever get it off the ground. I'm thinking Rifts skills and character templates, CODA/d20 combat rules, and Inquisitor's damage system. I'd love to add in some system of feats, as well, but I have no idea how. While I'm on the subject, does anybody want to suggest any other really cool RPG mechanics from other games that should be included?)
-
Heh, how about d20 Modern's Wealth system! Just joking about that. I found Alternity's alignment system pretty good. If you need an alignment system, go with Alternity's.
-
Maelstroms(Hubris Games) mechanics for the die hard roleplayer.
Advanced Squad Leader for combat!
-
alignments are lame, get rid of them
-
I just finished reading Atlas Games' Unknown Armies, which has a REALLY messed up attitude but some interesting mechanics ideas. You'll get a review soon, but it's worth checking out.
And I *like* d20 Modern's monetary system... for a modern setting. It works better than having a stricet monetary value and worrying about modern life economics. I mean really, it works like that. Some weeks I can buy a few extra things. In other weeks, I can't afford to even get a soda from the machine. It's not like my base expenses v. income changes. And I don't even want to work with an ABSTRACTED set of "this is how much you have to pay to live in this social class" sort of scale. It's artificial and doesn't help me enjoy the game. A cost DC remains playable and still makes how much money you have a factor. (It also doesn't screw up economies and things like that).
And yeah, the dumbest idea ever made for role playing games (and yes, it comes from my first love, D&D) is alignment. It doesn't help you model a real personality and there are realism problems with it. Stay away from it.
-
I've always seen alignment as an optional rule, it's just that the writers usually forget to mention that part.
-
A certain Gary Gygax would disagree with you... he thought it was an essential rule.
-
For example, D&D Paladins. HARD CORE required rule. I can see it applied in certain ways. If a Cleric violates alignment he loses powers. But you could establish an ethos or code of behavior for him.
Same with Paladins. With paladins you could do the same: in fact, you could make the game more diverse by creating a code of behavior for each order of Paladins, giving you a range of options. The key with that though would be making it a code hard to stick to. Shouldn't make it applicable just by makinga code of behavior that happens to match a new character's personality exactly. Give him something to work at.
-
One of my old GM's would allmost allwayse assign a palladin, monk or a class like that a coupple of rules of conduct they had to follow. He did that in several different systems.
-
In our game, we have done away with the LG-CE alignment system. It just doesn't make any real sense. We now incorporate a 1-20 system for alignment with a 2 being a saint on earth and a 19 being a ruthless, mean-spirited sociopath (it is nearly impossible for a mortal to be at either 1 or 20). This way, we know pretty much where the character's morality lays (thus certain chreatures would be attracted to players only with, say, a 5 or better alignment) while leaving the player pretty open in regard to how he wants to portray his character. A Paladin might need to keep an alignment of five or better or risk his status, while a perfect assassin would be somewhere around a 12-13 or so: low on morals enough to be chillingly ruthless, but far from being a bloody-handed thug who revels in terror.
As for my favorite Sci-Fi game? Well, RIGHT NOW it is Farscape because... well, because its FARSCAPE!
-
How does farscape play? Is it a D20 product?
-
Yes, it is d20. So you could have Moya against Takhisis. Just a thought :)
Farscape gives details on all of the races, worlds, organizations, etc. of the Farscape universe. It has it's own character classes and has a few subtle changes from d20 proper that make it fit into the Farscape mold of storytelling. I like it a lot. You should see our female Luxan we rescused from a harsh life as a pit fighter. She finds fighting the Peacekeepers much less dangerous.
-
I might have to check it out
-
I have the Farscape d20 RPG but I have unfortunately, as of yet, been unable to play it. Perhaps when I have a chance to play it, it will become my favorite sci-fi rpg.
-
I just rememberd a few other favorite Sci-fi games of mine.
Robotech (obviously despite the tediousness of the palladium system)
Trinity
Blade runner like future with psychics
Spell Jammer- Giant Mutant Space Hampsters PEOPLE!!!!!!!
-
I'm gonna add Paranoia to the list.
Not a great game. But a fun as heck game. And more interesting to me than most any aother SF genre.
-
Serve the Computer; the Computer is your friend.
If you do not serve the Computer, you may be used as reactor shielding.
The Computer is happy; the Computer is crazy.
The Computer wants you to be happy; this will drive you crazy.
Man, I loved Paranoia!
-
I always liked the loyalty test err placement test at the beginning