Dragonstar. Is it good?

[Ranger REG]

I was flicking through the Dragonstar book and it intrigued me very much. I liked how they kept all the core classes from the PHB and put 'em in a future/fantasy setting. In other words, the setting *truely* looked like D&D in the far future!

However, I downloaded and read the introductory material that talks about the Dragonstar setting and, unfortunately, did not find it to my liking. I found the idea of a dragon imperium where each dragon, chromatic and metalic alike, takes its turn in ruling the galaxy as "unbelievable".

I think if I used this book, it would just be for the rules. But, I don't know, should I give the setting another chance?

It's a personal choice. To me, I find this Dragon Imperium intriguing. I'd say if you give Michael Stackpole a stack of notes about Dragonstar universe, and he'll pull a great novel.

 

[Eye Tyrant]

I have four of the books (Starfarer's Handbook, Guide to the Galaxy, Imperial Supply, and Raw Recruits). I ran the first two adventures out of Raw Recruits and the group I ran it for loved it. I will vouch that the damage listed for the weapons is a bit much, but hell we're talking lasers and what-not... I like the setting, but feel that FFG is more interested in putting out there other settings. I don't think DS caught on like they had hoped. The handbook is great if you want to homebrew a sci-fi/fantasy game...

 

[ghettognome]

I played in a Dragonstar Campaign a ways back when if first came out. It is today still one of my favorite settings. The really cool thing about Dragonstar is that it is such a vast universe, and you can incorporate any sort of campaign into it. You can go to a world and it could be unevolved as far as technology goes, and take small pieces of dragonstar technology and incorporate it. Then you can go to another world that has been incorporated into the empire and have a high tech game. It reminds be a little bit of Alternity and I loved Alternity. If they would do a sourcebook of the Empire it would be nice, but I would love to see the Alternity races converted to Dragonstar. The books may not have the greatest source material, but the concept is great. Being able to have any campaign converted is kind of nice.

 

[Psion]

I don't think DS caught on like they had hoped.

It initially had a lot of attention paid to it and there was much less competition in the setting arena in those days. What caused it to be less well received were the constant delays. Every book in their schedule was very late.

Of course, I still think its a decent setting and after leaping off of Scarred Lands supplement treadmill, I can definitely see the advantages to only having a core of 5 books.

 

[DMAC]

I just thought I'd mention that I did most of the race illustrations for the Starfarer's Handbook.

I later went back and re-drew/colored my half-dragon diplomat, just for fun:

 

[Will]

I wrote a bunch of Imperial Supply.

Unfortunately, as many people have probably noticed, what I thought would make a good supplement and what the fans thought would make a good supplement were quite at odds...

Didn't help that Arsenal and Factory came out about at the same time. Really, I prefer my approach, but, well. Woops.

 

[ghettognome]

I just thought I'd mention that I did most of the race illustrations for the Starfarer's Handbook.

I later went back and re-drew/colored my half-dragon diplomat, just for fun:

I love that!!! The art in the Starfarer's was some really good stuff!

 

[dead]

It's a personal choice. To me, I find this Dragon Imperium intriguing. I'd say if you give Michael Stackpole a stack of notes about Dragonstar universe, and he'll pull a great novel.

Yeah, maybe I should give it another chance.

So what things are different from *default* D&D assumptions?

For example, I've heard the dragons live alot longer. What's the dragon's life span in DS?

Is there any other changes to default D&D? Coz one reason I liked the look of DS is because it looked like it was literally D&D in the far future without any changes.

[Oh, thanks for the art DMAC!]

 

[Derren]

There are not many idfferences.

The oldest dragon in DS lives for about 7000 years, some classes got slightly altered to better fit in and of course there are many new classes.
There is a new "energy type" (radiation) which works like poison/disease and even the vehicle combat works like normal combat except that the squares arepresent a bigger space (50 feet for ground vehicles etc.)

But its all very D&Dish.

 

[d20Dwarf]

Is there any other changes to default D&D? Coz one reason I liked the look of DS is because it looked like it was literally D&D in the far future without any changes.

The mantra during Dragonstar's creation and then continued support books was: D&D in Space.

I think it hit that mark reasonably well.