Cowboy Bebop

[FCWesel]

I was wondering if anyone has doen a CB game, and if so what system did you use? If you were to do a game based in the CB universe what game system would you use?

 

[SpringPlum]

We did a game inspired by Cowboy Bebop (but with original characters) and the system that we used and that I still think fits it best was non-d20 BESM--Big Eyes, Small Mouth.

 

[CrusaderX]

I've always wanted to play a Cowboy Bebop type game using D20 Star Wars. Bounty Hunters are already a staple in that universe, but playing Spike and Faye type hunters rather than Boba or Jango type hunters would make for a fun twist.

 

[Squire James]

I don't know of any specific "Cowboy Bebop RPG", though I wouldn't be particularly surprised to see one if their video game takes off (it should also be noted that games based on popular series RARELY live up to heightened expectations).

Sticking to d20, I recommend the revised Star Wars system if you want to stay with a single book. Nix the Jedi and Force classes, obviously, and consider nixing the Force feats too (though allowing a few to stick around could make for an interesting game if you're willing to depart from the events in the show a bit).

The setting material is up to you, of course. An actual reason to watch the series again... to take notes on how the show does each planet. Make them different... getting bounty heads on Venus should be a very different activity than getting them in Jupiter's moons!

A good soundtrack is recommended. The series itself relies on it more than you might think, so a similarly-themed RPG should probably have a very wide range of music as well. Perhaps even themed music for various locations (classical for outer space, techno for Jupiter's moons, oldies rock for Earth, etc.).

 

[Herpes Cineplex]

One of the two games our GM is thinking of running after we're done with our Scarred Lands campaign is a Cowboy Bebop game using the Spycraft rules.

It's got the chase scenes and the gunplay covered, after all.

--
and it requires less tweaking than the star wars rules would
ryan

 

[I'm A Banana]

d20 Modern.

It was a blast, if you can capture the 'neogrit.' If you can afford to import a few soundtracks, that does wonders for the feel, too...try playing a really slow track during an epic battle, and see where it takes you.

For the cowboys:
* Spike: Fast Hero/Martial Artist
* Faye: Charismatic Hero/Personality
* Edward: Smart Hero/Techie
* Ein: Smart Hero
* Jet: Tough Hero/Soldier/Investigator
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Setting-specific Advanced Classes:
* Soldier [d20 Modern]: For the wars that have ended
* Martial Artist [d20 Modern]: For the fancy fisticuffs
* Gunslinger [d20 Modern]: For the fancy gunfights
* Infiltrator [d20 Modern]: For syndicate spies or special agents
* Daredevil [d20 Modern]: For your average bounty hunter
* Bodyguard [d20 Modern]: For your noble thugs
* Field Scientist [d20 Modern]: For techies; ship-makers, gate constructors
* Techie [d20 Modern]: Hackers and inventors
* Investigator [d20 Modern]: For your typical detectives
(Field Medic: N/A, though it wouldn't hurt anything, I suppose)
* Personality [d20 Modern]: For those who can get anywhere (they don't have to be celebrities)
* Negotiatior [d20 Modern]: For smoooooth talking.
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A few other ideas:
* A "Desperate" feat: +4 bonus on a [wealth] check, but -4 on the one after that
* A "Syndicate Member" Advanced Class full of organized crime goodies

Other than that, d20 modern is the *perfect* system for a Cowboy Bebop flavored adventure.

 

[RodneyThompson]

I'm writing a supplement for d20 Future that's heavily inspired by the likes of Cowboy Bebop and Firefly. Can't say much more about it other than it exists, but it's coming.

 

[FCWesel]

I'm writing a supplement for d20 Future that's heavily inspired by the likes of Cowboy Bebop and Firefly. Can't say much more about it other than it exists, but it's coming.

Hey Moridin, can you tell us when you think that book is going to hit the shelves and your impression of D20 FUTURE compared to D20M and SPYCRAFT?

BESM, huh? How is that?

What about the "old" D6 system by WEG?

 

[RodneyThompson]

Hey Moridin, can you tell us when you think that book is going to hit the shelves and your impression of D20 FUTURE compared to D20M and SPYCRAFT?

We're shooting for a GenCon release, I believe, on the book I'm working on. As for d20 Future, I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say. It is a supplement for d20 Modern so if you are familiar with those rules you'll be ready to go. As for Spycraft it's a totally different system. Besides, since I wrote d20 Future (along with JD Wiker and Chris Perkins) I can't really give you an unbiased view, so you'll just have to wait until it comes out.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I was just thinking that the only thing Modern lacks is some good spaceship fighting rules and low-G stuff that your CB character may occasionaly deal with. d20 Future will almost undoubtedly patch those holes.