d20 Future preview is up!

[Arani Korden]

the preview mentions both the Vrusk and Dralasites... Star Frontiers is back!

And Yazirians.

The feature says that there are eight nonhuman species; I'm tempted to guess that the other five include Fraal, Mechalus, Seshayan, T'sa and Weren. ("But what about the cat-thing on the cover, Arani?" "Could be a Moreau, and anyway, it's just a guess.")

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Three things:

1) What is Star Frontiers?

2) Powered armor is a minimum of 16 feet tall? I think I'll use the Star Wars rules for powered armor instead.

3) We're in PL 5, not PL 6 yet. PL 6 is near-future stuff I think maybe he wasn't too familiar with ALTERNITY.

 

[buzz]

1) What is Star Frontiers?

Star Frontiers was an SFRPG released by TSR back in '82. Some people are very nostalgic about it.
http://www.xmission.com/~layne/Star.html

3) We're in PL 5, not PL 6 yet. PL 6 is near-future stuff I think maybe he wasn't too familiar with ALTERNITY.

I got the impression he was saying were in the early part of PL6. Are the d20F adn Alternity definitions identical?

 

[buzz]

I'm glad that Genetech is being included, though if d20F is anything like d20M, the setting will probably only get a couple of pages. It just seems weird to me considering the full treatment of Genetech that Poly did a while back. That picture of the moreau in the preview is freaking cool, tho'.

I wonder if we'll be seeing an "Urban Arcana" for d20F, and if so, what setting it might be. Genetech? Star*Drive? Star Frontiers?

Dark*Matter? (Hope, hope, hope...)

 

[C. Baize]

Star Frontiers was an SFRPG released by TSR back in '82. Some people are very nostalgic about it.

*Raises hand as one of those very nostalgic about it*

 

[Turanil]

I agree that this biodroid seems to have been written a little fast. For example, it doesn't get a Con score. So it would mean that it is much more mechanical than biological, but then it should have no need to breath and feed. This part is not explained. Either this is a truly mechanical automaton + AI, or it is a bio-engineered creature mi-machine mi-living. In the latter case there would be no need for this almost broken stuff of d10 hp for any class, no Con, and Cha = 5.

I am still impatient to get the book, but hope I won't be disappointed...

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Star Frontiers was an SFRPG released by TSR back in '82. Some people are very nostalgic about it.
http://www.xmission.com/~layne/Star.html


I got the impression he was saying were in the early part of PL6. Are the d20F adn Alternity definitions identical?

I would hope so.

Dark*Matter? (Hope, hope, hope...)

Sorry, but it's not meant to be. Dark*Matter is Modern (not future) and is approximated by the Shadow Chasers setting.

I suggest looking up some Dark*Matter adventures, use some different monsters (be very sparing with spellcasting classes, if you bother to use them) and don't use shadow.

However, if they make a useable Grey race (instead of those greys in the Menace Manual) you can get at least one useable thing out of it.

Hmm... can't wait to see the extraterrestrial template.

 

[Knight Otu]

Looks nice enough...

8 campaign models? I'd rather have fewer, and have other aspects get more attention.

However, after reading the bioroids bit I found something I didn't like right off the bat. What's with them using their 5 charisma for their con skill based checks? Specifically concentration?

At least the Concentration bit has been around since the release of 3rd edition. Creatures without Con score have always used Cha for Concentration in the d20 system.

3) We're in PL 5, not PL 6 yet. PL 6 is near-future stuff I think maybe he wasn't too familiar with ALTERNITY.

I guess that is similar to how GURPS used to say that we're in early TL 8 after 2000, which also was near-future stuff (I think TLs are being changed from what I remember, though).

I agree that this biodroid seems to have been written a little fast. For example, it doesn't get a Con score. So it would mean that it is much more mechanical than biological, but then it should have no need to breath and feed.

I'm not seeing anything about eating and breathing? Apart from being Constructs, which means they have no need to eat or breathe. Besides, it seems pretty clear to me that they are created creatures that are quite mechanical - they run on energy cells, after all.

In the latter case there would be no need for this almost broken stuff of d10 hp for any class, no Con, and Cha = 5.

Can't say that I'm a fan of that clunky "d10 for all Hit Dice" myself. Seems like the writer wanted to emulate the Undead templates that turn all HD to d12s. Except that you become an Undead, but (usually) start out being a Construct.

However, if they make a useable Grey race (instead of those greys in the Menace Manual) you can get at least one useable thing out of it.

As I'm not familiar with Alternity, what is wrong with the MM fraal? Besides, I don't think they'll change the greys for d20 Future.

 

[Ranger REG]

Looks good. Too bad its d20 Modern.

WHOOHOO!!! YEAH!!!

Give it up for d20 Modern!!!

Raise da Roof!!! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

* calm himself, adjust his suit and tie *

 

[Tellerve]

I don't mind the d10 hit die really. Seeing as the other hit die come from the amount of physical or non physical training going into the class...at least essentially. Hence why fighters have more than wizards, or tough more than smart. So, something without a fleshy body to train into something (ie no increasing physical stats) works well for me and the continual d10 hit die. Besides, dc 30 repair check to heal...that'll be tough early on.

I understand I guess that they couldn't give the creature a lot of bonuses if they wanted it to be a +0EL, so I guess I'll just have to take that. And your ADD reasoning, LOL...no not really.

And yes, they don't eat or breathe, they are constructs. And the energy cell thing is again an attempt to maintain them at +0EL

Tellerve