Space RPGs?

Hey everyone. I've been reading some sci-fi space operas as of late, and it's really whet my appetite to run a space RPG. Only problem is, I don't know of any great space RPGs. I own the Star Wars books, but that's definitely not what I'm looking for. The Battlestar Galactica and Firefly RPGs aren't very interesting to me, either. I even own the Star Trek RPG books, but to be honest, I haven't checked them out too much - the theme seems to be heavily integrated with the system, and I'm not going for a Star Trek theme. I just got GURPS Space and HERO Space, and I'm checking those out.

Thus, I pose the question to the powerful minds on these forums: what Space RPG do you recommend?

Reign of Discordia, of course.

Here it is in PDF: RPGNow.com - Reality Deviant Publications - Reign of Discordia

The print version is available in both color and B&W and can be accessed here: 's Storefront - Lulu.com

I've played a lot of space RPGs looking for one that could do it all and do it all well. Traveller still fills the void better than any other, IME.

Star HERO and GURPS Space were too devoid of flavor due to their generic nature — or too crunchy — depending upon my players.

Manhunter was too clunky and, for some, too thick with 'furry' races.

Speaking of 'furry' issues, Albedo and Justifiers also failed this test for most of my play groups over the years.

Star Wars (d6) was actually my favorite RPG ever, but trying to find D6 players now is like trying to find life on Mars.

Cosmic Enforcers wasn't really a space RPG, but a superhero RPG set in space.

Big Robots in anything are a little too anime-fetish for most of the folks whom I play with.

I could go on, but the point is that Traveller manages to do space adventure better than other games for me and most of the folks whom I have played with over the years.

I still had more fun with Spelljammer than anything... It was so.... fun. In my opinion, of course...

I'd recommend Traveller from Mongoose Publishing. Very nice system and setting.

Fading Suns (2E), Dawning Star and Reign of Discordia were the last 3 sci-fi games that I played and I would recommend them all.

Ghostwind said:

I'd recommend Traveller from Mongoose Publishing. Very nice system and setting.

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Oh, yeah, I should have mentioned that I have traded up from past editions of Traveller to the new Mongoose version. Mongoose Traveller boasts better production values than Classic Traveller, while offering the same setting and a more refined, more elegant, system.

The only space rpg I've played was a few sessions of Spaceship Zero. I'm not a huge space sci-fi fan but I enjoyed it a fair bit. It's not terribly generic though kind of pulpy 50's sci-fi, with classes like slave girl, space pirate and what I played, robot.

Traveller is still one of the best and GURPS Traveller is probably the best package you could get it in, simply because all the universe info is in that book.

GURPS Transhuman Space is one of the most unique future settings out there.

I've liked what I have seen of Dawning Star, yet to actually play it though. I also like the Mechwarrior RPG, but it has the same problem you mentioned with Star Trek (the setting and the system are quite integrated, especially in terms of character creation).