d20 Near Modern? (Or Help With My Home Brew Setting)

[shadow]

I've been thinking of an idea for a homebrew sci-fi setting for some time. I originally wrote the setting using GURPS rules, but I began to think that GURPS rules were too realistic for the cinematic type of game that I wanted to run with the setting. With the advent of the d20 system, I realized that I had stumbled upon the perfect system for my setting. I've been thinking of using d20 Modern rules for it, but I've run into a few stumbling blocks (mainly the slightly lower, and occasionaly higher, level of technology than what is presented in d20 Modern).

Mainly my setting is what I would call a "diesel-punk" setting. Imagine steam-punk (Deadlands, Castle Falkenstein, etc) moved up the psuedo-historical timeline about 30 or 40 years. (Imagine wild contraptions that run of gas/diesel power) My sci-fi setting takes place on a desert planet where civilizations are few and far between (kind of like Tatooine on Star Wars). Years ago it was a thriving mining colony, but the natural resources were eventually used up. A planet wide war ensued between the human colonists and the native inhabitants, the Mu (more about them later.) In a reign of destruction most of the high technology was destroyed. Because my campaign doesn't feature "warp speed" or "faster than light travel" it meant that the planet was effectively cut off from the rest of the colonized universe. Hundreds of years have passed, civilization has rebuilt itself, but it hasn't gotten to the point of ultra-tech that it was at before. Instead it is in a "diesel-punk" stage. Because of the lack of water, most people live in city states centered around oasises. Roaming the wilderness are the Mu, the native inhabitants of the planet. The Mu are humanoids about the size of human children. They display uncanny psionic ability (they can qualify for the psion prestige class) and are able to live and thrive in the harsh wilderness. However, the Mu are despised by the humans who see them as little more than savages and blame them for the collapse of the previous civilization. (It is very much like the situations between the American Indidans and pioneers). Even though the campaign is mainly at a "deisel-punk" technology leve, there are some "lost artifacts" that still exist from the previous civilization.
All in all think TriGun (without as much humor) combined with WildArms combined with Deadlands combined with Road Warrior to get kind of a picture of it all.

One of the main problems I have is how to translate the setting into d20 modern rules. Although the heroic classes can work without much change d20 Modern assumes characters have access to modern day technology. This might not necessarily be the case in my setting (It's probably closer to 1930's/40's technology with a fantastic twist). Also, the wealth system works really well in d20 modern, but I can't see it in my setting with where barter is used just as often as actually currency and credit cards are non-existent. Any suggestions?
Also, how does the setting sound? Any questions or suggestions?

 

[Malacoda]

Originally posted by shadow
I've been thinking of an idea for a homebrew sci-fi setting for some time. I originally wrote the setting using GURPS rules, but I began to think that GURPS rules were too realistic for the cinematic type of game that I wanted to run with the setting.

I used to be a hardcore GURPS fan who later turned away from the system, so I can relate. I like d20 Modern a lot. I’d rather have point-based than class driven characters, but otherwise prefer the core concepts of d20 over GURPS.

Your setting sounds interesting, and ripe for exploration. You gonna give us a web site on it?

One of the main problems I have is how to translate the setting into d20 modern rules. Although the heroic classes can work without much change d20 Modern assumes characters have access to modern day technology. This might not necessarily be the case in my setting (It's probably closer to 1930's/40's technology with a fantastic twist).

I honestly don’t believe that would be a stumbling block to using d20 Modern. If you have no problems with the hero classes, then there shouldn’t be much of a barrier. Unlike D&D, I don’t think equipment is tied into the expectations of the game all that much. They may expect you to have a gun in most cases, and certain genres might have more stringent expectations, like a spy campaign, but otherwise, Modern is more driven by character abilities over equipment.

Plus, basic personal firearm tech is not that different today than from what it was in the 1930s or 40s. I would trim the weapon list of obvious advanced military firearms, but otherwise it would be similar in that timeframe. I am not sure on the timeframe of the 9mm, but they had .45 semi-auto pistols a century ago. Likely less reliable when it comes to jamming, but in a cinematic campaign that is not likely to matter much.

I’d say the only problem might be armour, but if it is Mad Max-like, chain shirts are not unreasonable. Kevlar and such would be out.

Also, the wealth system works really well in d20 modern, but I can't see it in my setting with where barter is used just as often as actually currency and credit cards are non-existent. Any suggestions?

I don’t see Wealth and Wealth rolls as being vital to d20 Modern. You’d have to tinker with occupations and a few feats, but you could easily create a basic economy. You’d have to give prices to weapons, but they have a Wealth DC to dollar conversion, so it wouldn’t be too much work for anything in the book.

I honestly believe you are good to go. The only things I think would be some work would be any new advanced or prestige classes that you want. But that is true of most d20 homebrew settings.

 

[Tanstaafl]

One of the main problems I have is how to translate the setting into d20 modern rules. Although the heroic classes can work without much change d20 Modern assumes characters have access to modern day technology. This might not necessarily be the case in my setting (It's probably closer to 1930's/40's technology with a fantastic twist).

Part of this depends on who your characters are... are they streetpunks who own the cloths on their backs & a rusty dagger; personal guards for the city mayor with access to the highest tech on the planet; part of a secret orginization of some sort (think of the previews for The League of Distinguished Gentlemen)?