Cyberpunkish/Dune Mix RPG using D20 Modern

[Ryan Wynne]

I am in the process of putting together a game that uses cyberpunk elements as well as some of those from dune.

The game will use D20 modern for the game mechanics.

I was curious what peoples thoughts were on this idea.

 

[Shadowdancer]

This intrigues me. What Dune elements are you thinking of using? The Noble houses? I've always thought that a decent Cyberpunk campaign could be run using Noble houses a la Dune instead of Megacorps. Still have the Cyberpunk-style intrigues going on with the PCs, just a different patron to hire them and send them out on black ops.

 

[Jeph]

Shields?

How will you do the Slow Blade and pyrotechnics?

 

[Ryan Wynne]

This intrigues me. What Dune elements are you thinking of using? The Noble houses? I've always thought that a decent Cyberpunk campaign could be run using Noble houses a la Dune instead of Megacorps. Still have the Cyberpunk-style intrigues going on with the PCs, just a different patron to hire them and send them out on black ops.

I am not sure as of yet which elements I am going to use. The game itself is still in the planning stages.

I do want to make it very much 50/50 when it comes to both elements.

Are there any elements you would like to see incorporated?

 

[Ryan Wynne]

Shields?

How will you do the Slow Blade and pyrotechnics?

I am assuming that this question is directed at me.

As I am not sure what elements (or how much) I am going to take from what, I don't have all the answers.. Yet.

If there are any elements you would like to see added please let me know.

 

[Jeph]

To me, Shields are part of what make Dune, well, Dune. Without shields, there's no reason not to use blaster cannons, and there's no reason to use melee weapons. If you want to preserve this element, you need shields. And you need the penalty for firing a blaster at a shield to be harsh.

Like, both target and firer take 1d20+20 damage, as does everything else in a 1d%x10xdamage dice of blaster weapon readius. So, a 4d6 laser that fires on a shield will, on average, affect everything within 2,020 feet.

Now, the slow blade would be hard to figure . . . large weapons would be virtually useless. Maybe, the Shield provides a +10 Deflection bonus to AC against ballistic weapons and Large melee weapons, +8 against Medium melee weapons, and +6 against Small and Tiny melee weapons, with the Slow Blade feat reducing the melee penalties by 2 when using a Small weapon, or 4 when using a Tiny one. And each attack past the 1st made in a round incurs a -4 penalty on all attacks in the round.

Idunno . . . just some random thoughts.

 

[Shadowdancer]

Maybe Slow Blade can only be used with weapons which can be Finessed?

I'm not really sure what Dune elements I would like to see used, other than the Noble houses. When I read the title to this thread, that kind of jumped into my head, and I thought, "Cool idea."

I like the image of a decadent empire spanning several planets/star systems, and the empire being controlled by various noble houses. And these houses being involved in lots of intrigue.

Also, from Dune, you have to have some sort of Faster Than Light ships, and I also like the mind powers/psionics of the Bene Gesserit. And the Neo-Renaissance style of the equipment, the setting in general.

From Cyberpunk, what I like is the cybernetics, the computer hacking element, the Street vs the Corporations/Ruling Element struggle, the attitude in general.

Basically, a game with Cyberpunk attitude in a Dune setting.

Oh, and guns. Lots of guns. Big guns. Huge, he's-obviously-compensating-for-something guns.

 

[LostSoul]

To me, Shields are part of what make Dune, well, Dune. Without shields, there's no reason not to use blaster cannons, and there's no reason to use melee weapons.

It goes deeper than that. Without shields, there is no reason to have the Houses of the Landsraad. If the commoner is on even footing with the aristocrat, the entire governing system is going to change. No reason for the Padishah Emperor to rule through his legions of Sardaukar terror troops; no reason for the Emperor to worry about the Atreides' new army; and no way for the Bene Gesserit to control breeding over thousands of generations.

Firing at a shield with a las gun should obliterate both targets, and those in a small radius (grenade range, perhaps?) that is centred on the firing gun. (I think that's how it works...)

As far as the BG, Mentats, and Kwitsatz Haderach go, they don't have supernatural or psionic powers (although in game terms it might work out that way). They are just very advanced humans who use all of what they have. These probably should be Prestige Classes (even the KH, because there have been more than one).

Slow Blade: Make it a feat that negates a penalty during shield fighting, but having that feat gives you the same penalty if you are not shield fighting.

 

[Ryan Wynne]

I just want to remind people...

I was talking about Elements from Dune, not doing an entire Dune rpg.

Just to let everyone know and I am taking notes and some elements may end up in the game.

Any more ideas are welcome