Grim Tales: need D20 Modern?

[Maerdwyn]

This is a relatively simple question - I just ordered Grim Tales, but don't have D20 Modern. Will that be a big problem for me, or can I get by well without it?

 

[Henry]

Grim Tales is a 99% standalone game - any parts you would need d20 modern for (perhaps XP tables, levelling up rules, spells for your casters to cast, some fully-statted out firearms) are fully available in the Modern System Reference document, available at

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/msrd

 

[HellHound]

Actually, a number of those items are the items expressly NOT found in the Modern SRD (XP, Leveling up), and that are not found in any d20-licensed game.

For those, you are best off going to the D&D core books or D20 Modern.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Well, I have the core books (3.0 edition, anyway), if it's just spells and such missing, I'll be okay - a couple reviews I read implied there was a "heavy reliance" on d20 Modern, so I wasn't sure how I'd fare.

Thanks,
Ian

 

[Henry]

Actually, a number of those items are the items expressly NOT found in the Modern SRD (XP, Leveling up), and that are not found in any d20-licensed game.

For those, you are best off going to the D&D core books or D20 Modern.

D'oh!

Forgot about Levelling up and XP - oops.

Still, the other elements I mentioned (spells, firearms) are found there - if you have D&D, Star Wars, etc. you'll have the XP and level-up - they stay the same.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Really all you'll need is the XP charts and stuff for leveling up and the Point Buy methodologies and stuff, I think.

The firearms and stuff GT actually has it's own system for building if you want to use it ... I used it for making flintlocks, but generally use Modern's weapons for Modern Weapons (as I have GR's UltraModern Firearms).

--fje

 

[Committed Hero]

The firearms and stuff GT actually has it's own system for building if you want to use it.

And with this system you won't get weapons with obvious advantages over each other, the way that some d20 Modern stats show; the emphasis is on "balance." While some folks may disagree with this focus, GT says it will do so & sticks to it.

Don't forget that d20 Modern books have purchase DCs worked out, as well. You'll have to convert prices to DC if you go with 3.0 - not that it's too hard a chore.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

For flavor reasons I tend to talk about cash values alot, and I use alot of on-the-fly conversions, so I made an index card with the Modern Price DCs copied out onto it from 2-50. So I can say: "That cloak will cost 20 silver." or "That handgun is 350$" and I'll be able to see what DC we're rolling against.

This also helps when I want to hand out a cash-value award, so we can see what the sale value is and how it'll affect their Wealth scores. My favorite index card, ever. I just leave it on the game table, anymore, as I use it when I'm prepping and everything else.

--fje

 

[Skywalker]

This is a relatively simple question - I just ordered Grim Tales, but don't have D20 Modern. Will that be a big problem for me, or can I get by well without it?

If you have the PHB, you will have everything you need, including a list of spells. You don't need d20 Modern for GT.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Thanks everyone!

The book arrived today and I have begun delving greedily into it