Favorite Sci-Fi system/setting?

[SSquirrel]

You should take a look at SLA Industries. The 1.0 version can be downloaded for free here. It's not d20, but I believe the setting will fulfill your needs. Darker setting? Check. Cybernetics? Check. Mega-corps? Check. No VR that I can remember, but a fair share of alien races, high-tech stuff and other features you may want to check yourself.

Cheers,

Not sure how much actual spacing goes on in SLA honestly, but it's definitely a fun one. Friend ran it in college and had a great style. I have the newer editions of the books and just got 2nd printings of the original main and karma books (karma even has the old wotc logo on it) and the hard to find GM screen Heck that GM screen was the whole reason I bid. $15 incl shipping was awesome.

My first CP2020 guy was a dope dealing street kid and I got shot and killed w/in the first 5 minutes. My GM decided to have me change the name and have it be the dead guy's twin, who was also pushing drugs for one of the other players like his bro Did I mention that all but 2 of us eventually died in that first game?

 

[scourger]

It's hard to bring sci-fi to my game table. There are many systems/settings that have such potential, but I will only comment on the ones that I would actually run right now given the opportunity in my group.

First is Savage Worlds using Star Wars Miniatures. Savage Worlds is a great system, and there is a Star Wars conversion document on the web (probbaly at Savage Heroes). The minis add such an element to the game for me. Plus, I think the players would have more buy-in because they would have the movies to set the scene for the game.

Second is Rifts Machinations of Doom Although I really think of Rifts as post-apocalyptic, it has many sci-fi elements; and I guess post-apoc is really a sub-genre of sci-fi anyway. R-MOD is a great graphic novel and sourcebook that stats out all the comic characters. The story is cool, and it is written the way we really used to play Rifts all those years ago. If I can do it, I'll make counters using the art in the book and just run it for a good time.

Third is Dark Heresy. It is a clever game, but the default setting is too gothic for me. I want it a little more sci-fi and much less goth. Just like 40KRP, which we had fun with for a while. I've really enjoyed some of the 40K novels, so the game is interesting to me.

Others that captivate are Omega World d20 and Judge Dredd d20. Both very cool games. OW probably edges JD for me becase OW is really Gamma World updated to 3.0 rules. I had a lot of fun running those games, but they are probably over for good (sadly). I also like Necropolis for Savage Worlds. But, my players aren't grabbed by it. The Star Trek Deep Space Nine RPG is really intriguing because it is my favorite of the ST shows. But, the rules do nothing for me. Plus, it would be difficult to find minis. Finally, I don't think I could sell any of them to the group.

Good luck.

 

[sunrisekid]

near future sci-fi

If you're a fan of Gibson's writing you could take a look at the GURPS Cyberpunk rulebooks. Some of the realworld technological references are pretty dated but the gritty noir feel is there. Good rules for dealing with implants and prosthetics. Easily combined with the other GURPS sci-fi books which others on this board have mentioned.

 

[Jack of Shadows]

My votes,

Battlelords of the 23rd Century
Dark Heresy

JoS