Darwin's World

[Melkor]

Having found myself a bit disappointed with the new D20 GW, I wanted to ask Chris Davis a couple of questions about Darwin's World:

Are their rules for PC Mutant Animals in DW ? I've looked at the web previews, and I thought I remembered reading a review that stated that "Mutant" was a template that could be added to any creature. This would lead me to believe that any monster from say the D20 Modern Menace manual could have "mutant" added to it, but that doesn't mean you could take a creature, add "mutant", and make it a PC.

Also, how close is Darwin's World compared to the original Gamma World ? Any similar monsters ?

 

[Gallo22]

Having found myself a bit disappointed with the new D20 GW, I wanted to ask Chris Davis a couple of questions about Darwin's World:

Are their rules for PC Mutant Animals in DW ? I've looked at the web previews, and I thought I remembered reading a review that stated that "Mutant" was a template that could be added to any creature. This would lead me to believe that any monster from say the D20 Modern Menace manual could have "mutant" added to it, but that doesn't mean you could take a creature, add "mutant", and make it a PC.

Also, how close is Darwin's World compared to the original Gamma World ? Any similar monsters ?

I hope you don't mind my 2 cents worth. I picked up Darwin's World and a few supplements a while back and while it's not GW, it is very good. Lots of back ground information and of course mutations. It's not as "silly wahoo fun", like GW but it is very nice all the same. I think it is more to what GW is (or should be) than the new GW D20 book. I'm going to use alot of it (DW) for my GW game as opposed to the GW D20 book (of which I'll use some) and combine it with Omega World. That's what makes D20 so great!!

Gallo22

 

[PosterBoy]

Are their rules for PC Mutant Animals in DW ? I've looked at the web previews, and I thought I remembered reading a review that stated that "Mutant" was a template that could be added to any creature. This would lead me to believe that any monster from say the D20 Modern Menace manual could have "mutant" added to it, but that doesn't mean you could take a creature, add "mutant", and make it a PC.

Yes, the mutant is a template. As a base, each mutant has 3 mutations and 3 defects, which is designed to be equitant to a feat or negative feat. These numbers can be adjusted by other feats that allow you to have more or less mutations/defects at the cost of feats. Also, our mutation system uses varying levels of mutations. You take advance mutations (selecting them again), increasing their power or hindrance, so two mutants might have the same mutation or defect, but at a different degree.

Also, how close is Darwin's World compared to the original Gamma World ? Any similar monsters ?

Maybe a GW/DW fan can jump in here and help answer this. In all honesty, I have never owned Gamma World, so I can’t make a fair comparison. I’m not sure about Dominic Covey, who wrote the creative elements of the DW setting. It wasn’t our intention at all to make a GW clone. I didn’t even realize people would make any connection to GW until after DW1 was already published. For me, Fallout was the biggest influence.

Perhaps you can tell me the monsters you are looking. One that I here mentioned all the time are mutant plants. We do have a plantman in DW. Actually, here's a complete list.

Abomination
Albino Apeman
Amoeba, Bubble Cell
Amoeba, Giant
Blindworm
Blob
Carrion Raptor
Ch’kit
Crawler
Cyclat
Cynemie
Death Sentinel
Desert Anemone
Desert Horse
Doom Harvester
Ethereal Flyer
Fraxx Steed
Gront
Heliogryph
Heap Turtle
Life Lamprey
Lurking Panther
Marionette Worm
Mongoliant
Monstrous Cockroach
Mutagon
Mutant Bug
Night Terror
Othydog
Othydont
Pit Creature
Plantmen
Probing Waddler
Prox Beast
Purple Angler
Rad Wolf
Ratbite
Rattlecharmer
Ravening Hound
Sandman
Screamer
Shadow People
Slime Mole
Snoffle Hog
Terminal
Terminal, Abortion
Terrolops
Two-Headed Mutant Bear
Underling
Utarn
Wild Man
Winged One
Zombie, Plague

 

[Gallo22]

Hey Chris. Just as a side note...you folks at DW should do a supplement for using plant npcs. Alot of GW fans want one and S&S decided to leave it out of the new GW D20 books. Just a thought, this might make a nice pdf??

Gallo22

 

[PosterBoy]

Hey Chris. Just as a side note...you folks at DW should do a supplement for using plant npcs. Alot of GW fans want one and S&S decided to leave it out of the new GW D20 books. Just a thought, this might make a nice pdf??
Gallo22

We have a "Plantmen as player characters" paragraph in its lisiting in the monster section.

 

[Gallo22]

We have a "Plantmen as player characters" paragraph in its lisiting in the monster section.

Thanks, I'll take a look. I did not see that!

Gallo22

 

[Melkor]

Thanks for the reply. Great information.

So I guess what I am trying to figure out is - Mutations are a template,
but do you have an actual set of rules for creating ANIMAL PC characters in
Darwin's World ?

 

[PosterBoy]

Thanks for the reply. Great information.

So I guess what I am trying to figure out is - Mutations are a template,
but do you have an actual set of rules for creating ANIMAL PC characters in
Darwin's World ?

No. Nothing specific on animal characters.

 

[Darrin Drader]

I would imagine that now that GW is out, people are finally interested and taking a good hard look at DW. I hope this gives you guys a boost in sales. You've had the premier post-apocalyptic game practically since the release of D20. Revamping to fit D20 Modern was also a very cool move on your part. I like to think that GW and DW compliment one another extremely well. PA fans should really check out both systems.

Cheers!

 

[tburdett]

And to those of you who might be pondering a Gamma World purchase, remember that Darwins World 2 is scheduled for a hardcover release in December.