Nothing too major this week, but I’ve been trying to get myself back on course and start working on my Sci-Fantasy RPG setting, and so have been reviewing my choices for a good system that can handle what I need it to do. My initial plan is to make use of a modified version of the Star Wars Saga Edition rules; I have pretty much all the books and played the hell out of it for years, so I’m very familiar with the system. There are a few flaws, certainly, but most of the issues can be addressed with some minor rules modifications; otherwise, it’s mostly reskinning/restating what’s come before.
What I’ve Played Before
I’ve also been looking into other possible systems I could work with to expand my options and test the waters elsewhere. Going with systems I’ve actually played previously, topping the list is Savage Worlds. I’ve tried Deadlands and my own Fallout homebrew, and the system works pretty well; using playing cards for initiative and poker chips for flavor is great fun. The rules are simple and quick to grasp, and you can do pretty much anything you want with it by reskinning the existing powers. On the one hand, that’s great, but for my tastes, it seems to lack a bit of complexity that I’ve been used to since the coming of the d20 system back with D&D 3E.
Second is the AGE system, specifically the Expanse RPG supplement for it. I’ve played Fantasy AGE through several games and have the Modern AGE books, so I’m fairly familiar with the system. It’s not bad; pretty simple, fast, and we had a good time with it. Though there are only three classes in the Fantasy version (and none in the Modern and Expanse versions), the characters you make are always going to be different based on the different combinations of specializations you pick. I’ve not played it a ton, but it’s enjoyable and we’ve had a lot of fun when we have played it around the local table. No huge issues here, just not logged as many hours in it as with Saga.
Third is actually the precursor to the Saga Edition version of Star Wars, the Revised Core Rules. The less said about that the better…the Vitality/Wound Point system is horrible. Though I will say that the hyperspace travel rules are much more robust than what you have in Saga Edition, and therefore, the one thing I enjoy from that system over SE. Related is d20 Modern and it’s Sci-Fi supplements; we’ve had good luck with d20 Modern in the past (I’ve even run a successful Gundam game using them), but it could definitely stand some modernization, for lack of a better term.
Fourth is Starfinder, of which we’ve played about 3 games and never gone back to. I’ve got all the core books thus far, and it seems like a good system, but for whatever reason, we’ve not gone back to it. I’ve not logged enough time with it to have a solid opinion, but I think at the time we were all feeling a bit bummed out in the Sci-Fantasy department thanks to the utter failure of Disney Star Wars at the time we tried it (that’s a whole other rant that I’m not keen to get into; suffice to say, Disney pretty much took Star Wars to the shed out back and pulled an Old Yeller). Aside from some powers that didn’t seem to mesh with a “Xenodruid” concept for the mystic class (I want druidic style powers, not mental blasts, no matter how useful they are!), we were having a good time with it, just not that good of a time, I guess. I dunno, might go back to this eventually, but for now, Starfinder is on the shelf.
Fifth, there are some scifi rules for D&D 5th Edition, and we had even considered doing a Star Wars game using them at one point, though we never got further than the first game or two. Again, Disney, ya done fucked up.
What I’ve Not Played Yet
Moving into the realm of systems I’ve not played, but have been looking into, Traveller (Mongoose’s 2nd Edition) tops the list currently. Thanks to some reviews from Seth Skorkowsky on Youtube, Traveller is on my radar. The system seems pretty simple, and there’s a ton of resources available for it. I love the idea of the career path at character creation (and apparently, in the older versions, you could die during creation, so that’s fun), and their world/universe creation system is very intriguing (in fact, I plan to try it out shortly). My concern here is exactly how I’d implement all the different races I plan to have, and whether magic is even possible in the system. I know there are psionic powers, but I also know they’re exceedingly rare and there aren’t a ton of them.
Next up, there’s Jovian Chronicles/Silhouette system and Mekton Zeta, though these I think are meant more for mecha games, and I eventually plan on introducing giant robots, so they’re certainly a possibility. I’ve read through some of the books, but haven’t dived deep into them. They seem a bit too technical for my tastes these days but remain a possibility.
I’ve not looked into it much, but I know of Ecplise Phase, and as I understand it, that’s a bit more transhumanist and for horror games. Not sure how the system works, but I may look into it.
There’s Stars Without Number, which seems to have a decent amount of content, though I’m not too familiar with it at all. Think I glanced through the core rules but didn’t get too deep in.
There’s the FATE system, which goes on a completely different kind of track compared to the systems I’ve mentioned before. I’ve read through the rules, and it seems almost too simple to me.
Finally, there is the Star Wars Age of Rebellion system. Though I have the first three core books, I got them more for the art than the system. When you introduce special dice I have to buy to play your game, you’ve lost me. I know I can use regular dice, but the point still stands. Still, it seems like an interesting system, though those from the local gaming group that has tried it didn’t seem to be fans since they’ve only played a handful of games with it.
To the Far Beyond
Needless to say, I’ve got options. It’s just a matter of picking the one that I’m most comfortable with or taking aspects of different systems and working them into the system I develop.
But, what are your thoughts on these systems, and do you have any other systems that you prefer or suggest I look into? I’d appreciate any feedback you have!
Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
