D20 Modern is out!

[Ketjak]

D20 Modern Versatility

This is a short comparison of published D20 Modern information. I'm noting differences, not picking on any published version of anything. I do not own D20 Modern, though my copy is on pre-order from Amazon. <grin> Polyhedron/Dungeon has been publishing D20-like settings and systems for months now.

If you're a D20 Modern fan and haven't already subscribed to Dungeon, I pity you at the very least for missing Omega World (not a D20 Modern world, per se) and Mecha Crusade. Shadow Chasers was fun, too. I'll never play Thunderball Rally, but it works and serves as a fine example.

From the D20 Modern FAQ:

Q. What sort of damage do firearms do?
A. The following values have been mentioned:

* Lighter weapons like .22 and .25 calibre [2d4]
* Most handguns including 9mms [2d6]
* Magnum handguns, 5.56mm rifles, and most shotguns [2d8]
* .62mm rifles and 10-ga shotguns [2d10]
* 50 cal weapons, like the Barrett Light Fifty and M2HB machinegun [2d12]
* M72 LAW [10d6]

Interesting. Shadow Chasers (from Dungeon #91) gives all firearms a 3-die progression. Thunderball Rally (Dungeon #93/Polyhedron #152) uses 2-die progression. Both ostensibly use the D20 Modern ruleset, albeit an abbreviated version.

The Star Wars RPG (revised) has 2 slugthrowers with 2 dice, and a bunch of energy weapons with 3 dice of damage.

I'm not sure which method I like better. I think I like Dungeon version of Shadow Chasers for its lethality.

+ + +

Armor Class/Defense is handled differently between games, too. Shadow Chasers-Dungeon says to add half the AC of D&D armor to Damage Reduction; primary Defense bonuses come from class level (but not as much as classes in Star Wars). Thunderball Rally says armor bonus converts to Defense. Star Wars armor provides Damage Reduction, not Defense; Defense comes from character level.

I think I like the Star Wars/Shadow Chasers-Dungeon method.

+ + +

Shadow Chasers-Dungeon uses Vitality Points-as-Hit-Points and Wound Points a la Star Wars. Thunderball Rally uses the same system but calls them Hit Points. Star Wars has the VP-Wound Point system. Omega World uses a HP-only system with reserve points that allow relatively rapid non-combat healing; this is a brutal world, folks.

I think I like the Star Wars/SC-Dungeon system best. If I want cinematic combat, the OW system works very well.

+ + +

Action points seem to be minor variations of each other. SC-Dungeon characters get 1d4+1 per level (it seems). Thunderball Rally grants a different number per level based on the class of the character. Star Wars characters get 1 Force point + 1 per level + 1 if the character has the Force Sensitive feat + 1 per "dramatically heroic" act they perform. Jedi characters get bigger bonuses when they use Force Points, and any character's bonus adds to all d20 rolls made in the round the FP is used.

I like the SC-Dungeon method best of all, since there aren't any class-based balance issues.

+ + +

All in all, the Dungeon articles have shown me different ways in which I can manipulate the system and, more importantly, how to stress the activity I feel is important in my version of D20 Modern. I didn't discuss how Feats affect the system, but it's clear from reading Star Wars, Thunderball Rally, Mecha Crusade and Shadow Chasers-Dungeon how to reward specialization & character concept through Feat selection.

I also don't understand why some folks think D20 Modern can't handle sci-fi. Star Wars is essentially D20 Modern, and it seems to handle sci-fi well... as does Mecha Crusade.

I'm rambling. Sorry. D20 Modern is cool.

- Ketjak

edit: removed a stray S in the last "Mecha Crusade" and an extra U in the last "Thunderball Rally."
edit redux: changed "conception" to "concept;" conception is reward enough, no?

 

[Plane Sailing]

Excellent scoop, (even though it will probably be ~5 weeks before it hits the UK).

One question - I've heard on the wizards board that they have paid a lot more attention to assigning challenge ratings to non-combat situations. PB has mentioned something about assigning CR's to critical skills - care to mention a little more about this?

Also... Star Wars d20 scored very highly in my mind for providing a great range of NPC's (multiclassed appropriately to give types such as smuggler, spy, officer, gambler etc.) I'm much more interested in this sort of NPC than monsters. Do they do anything along these lines?

Cheers

 

[cbatt]

Excellent scoop, (even though it will probably be ~5 weeks before it hits the UK).

One question - I've heard on the wizards board that they have paid a lot more attention to assigning challenge ratings to non-combat situations. PB has mentioned something about assigning CR's to critical skills - care to mention a little more about this?

Also... Star Wars d20 scored very highly in my mind for providing a great range of NPC's (multiclassed appropriately to give types such as smuggler, spy, officer, gambler etc.) I'm much more interested in this sort of NPC than monsters. Do they do anything along these lines?

Cheers

I'll answer the bit about the NPCs, because it's something that really impressed me about this game.

Pages 271 to 283 cover 15 two-class combination "Ordinary Archetypes". Each at three different power levels.

Example:
Strong/Fast Ordinary
Low-Level Bounty Hunter (Strong Ordinary 1/Fast Ordinary 1)
Mid-Level Bounty Hunter (Strong Oridnary 3/Fast Ordinary 3)
High-Level Bounty Hunter (Strong Oridnary 5/Fast Ordinary 5)
[A full stat block for each entry is provided, including basic possessions and such.]

Ordinaries are non-heroes. They don't get action points. They're all built using the standard point spread (15,14,13,12,10,8). They're limited to the 6 base classes. This section really illustrates the awesome flexibility of the new 6 base-class system.

I'll get to the Encounter Level / Challenge Level stuff in a bit. Need to read up on it; though it appears to have been smoothed out quite a bit.

Hope that helps.

 

[mythusmage]

Re: D20 Modern Versatility

Originally posted by Ketjak I'm rambling. Sorry. D20 Modern is cool.

- Ketjak[/i]

I did notice that. Now to get a copy that has pictures.

Where the rules are concerned, the official d20 Modern rules are found in the core rules themselves. Shadowchasers was a special preview, the rest special cases.

Where Action Points are concerned: The PC gets so many every time he advances a level. The number he gets has to last him until he reaches the next level. An Action Point can be used either to improve a skill attempt, or to activate certain talents.

Skill Try: The player spends one Action Point. This gives him one or more d6es to roll. The roll (or highest roll in the case of multiple d6es) is then added to the d20 roll to see if the skill attempt succeeds.

Example: Bob the Tough Hero (1st level) needs to drop a mook before said mook can brain a team mate. Bob's side arm is a short range 22 auto-pistol, with a range increment of 10 feet. The mook is 25 feet away. So Bob's player decides to burn an Action Point to make his chances somewhat better. The d20 roll is a 15, the d6 roll is a 5. with a -4 for range, the modified d20 roll is a 16, enough to hit the AC 13 mook.

Talent Use: To use certain Talents the PC's player must spend one Action Point. Once the point is spent the PC may use the talent. Hopefully in the proper manner, but there's no accounting for inventiveness.

Hope this helps.

 

[thundershot]

Here's what everyone should do!

Go to amazon.com

The price is $27.97. Shipping is free.

Go pre-order another book that you eventually plan on getting, like Savage Species.

Checkout.

Put MAPPCTBANK35 in as a promotional code (it's the code for the month) and you'll get 5 dollars off of 35 dollars.



Chris

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

How are skills - like driving, working on machines, kissing the girl - handled? Is an exotic weapon feat required to use a sword? When are the setting books due?

 

[mgrasso]

Anyone snag a copy of d20 Modern in the Chicagoland area or southern Wisconsin yet? I've pretty much called everywhere and no one's got a clue when they should see them.

Mike

 

[Buttercup]

I went to my FLGS today, and this is what happened:

Me: Do you have D20 Modern yet?
FLGS: D20 Modern?
Me: Yes, it's the latest release from WotC.
FLGS: Hmm. Never heard of it.
Me: I know that some people have purchased copies in the past few days, but perhaps not in _________ (my town).
FLGS: Well, this is the list of everything WotC has in print. It's not on here. You must be mistaken.
Me: No, I'm sure it's coming out. Why not go to their website?
FLGS: Website? You mean WotC has a website?
Me: (swallowing my irritation) Yeah. Try www.wizards.com/dnd
FLGS: You've got it memorized?
Me: Just type it in. You'll see.
FLGS: (...typing...) Hmm. It's got a thing for the Monster Manual II. I told you you were mistaken.
Me: Click where it says "enter the website,ok?"
FLGS: Sigh. Hey! Look! "D20 Modern Launches with a bang!" How do you know this stuff.
Me: Nevermind. When will you get it?
FLGS: Huh. Dunno. (Looks at paper he showed me earlier.) Our distributor doesn't have it on the list of things WotC has in print...
Me: Ok, well, thanks anyway. Bye.

You might be asking why I'm calling them my FLGS. After today, so am I. StupidLGS, perhaps.

 

[Bagpuss]

Here's what everyone should do!

Go to amazon.com

The price is $27.97. Shipping is free.
Chris

Hmm even outside the US?

Problem is in the UK, Amazon, WH Smiths, etc. etc. if fact it seems every online bookseller in general only discounts by the amount they then add for delivery.

Amazon.co.uk are currently doing free delivery on orders over £39 pounds, which is funny as with the discount D20 Modern becomes less than £39 pounds (probably until you add the Postage and Packing).

And even though it is often cheaper to order it from the USA I'm not willing to wait a couple of months for the book to reach me.

 

[Jarval]

You might be asking why I'm calling them my FLGS. After today, so am I. StupidLGS, perhaps.

Sounds like they need pointing in the direction of EN World

I wonder how long it's going to take d20 Modern to hit the shores of the UK...