Has enthusiasm died?

[Viktyr Gehrig]

In my case, enthusiasm is still consistent. The release of the Menace Manual, with its Fraal and Sesheyan and Sasquatch, kicked me into gear to finally run my Planescape/Star*Drive crossover campaign that I've been planning since before d20. I'm using d20 Modern for Star*Drive with very small modifications (kludgy cybertech system conversion and I adjusted some of the racial mods for the MenMan creatures) and I'm quite satisfied with the results-- though I am truly eager for an actual rerelease of Star*Drive using d20 Modern/Future rules.

I'm also planning on using d20 Modern in conjunction with Four Color to Fantasy for a superhero game (which will be greatly aided by having Fraal stats).

There are a couple problem areas in the rules that need tweaking-- d20 Modern's extensive use of multiclassing highlights some flaws in the d20 multiclassing system, like the handling of BAB and saving throws. However, I really love the way d20 Modern approaches using a class-based system without using set archetypes, and its flexibility in designing characters. I'm hoping to see more d20 Modern material in the future (including the rest of the core mini-settings and some general supplements).

 

[NeuroZombie]

I'm also planning on using d20 Modern in conjunction with Four Color to Fantasy for a superhero game (which will be greatly aided by having Fraal stats).

I am working on the same type of thing, although with Deeds not Words for superpowers. I love the way it handles powers and I love the idea of the experience tithe.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Not familiar with DnW. FCTF is the only superhero d20 material I have, though I've read through SAS and M&M... I'm not really fond of either.

 

[King of Old School]

Perhaps that's why Wizards won't step on AEG's "turf" yet (after having been so chummy with the Oriental Adventures/Rokugan debacle). Spycraft proved what d20 can do in terms of modern-day genre games. And they did WAY before Wizards entered their d20 Modern into the market. Granted, it is specific (that is, until AEG used the Spycraft engine to power Stargate SG-1), but it is very successful, and well-established. I don't think Wizards is ready to compete in that area, at least not yet, so it's better to stick what they already know best.

It's nonetheless a limitation for a game that purports to be useful for any modern action-adventure concept. The people who get upset when d20M gets referred to as "D&D Modern" should accept that it's Wizards' fault this perception exists. I love d20M, it's a fantastic game design IMO but it could have been much better and IMO its lack of success is down to poor design decisions. Plus, it bugs the crap out of me when people suggest that superscience and SF elements are somehow less appropriate for a modern game than fantasy. SF does not equal "futuristic," folks! Look at Genetech, or MIB or the Six Million Dollar Man if you want proof...

And if Wizards is "better to stick with what they already know best," why even bother with a modern RPG? In that case they should stick to generic medieval Tolkienesque fantasy and be done with it.

As for The Matrix, the Poly mini-game is pretty much Wizards' contribution to that genre, even though it is more like Tron meets the Matrix.

??? Wizards has nothing to do with Polyhedron anymore AFAIK, it's Paizo's baby now.

KoOS

 

[DanMcS]

In my case, enthusiasm is still consistent. The release of the Menace Manual, with its Fraal and Sesheyan and Sasquatch, kicked me into gear to finally run my Planescape/Star*Drive crossover campaign that I've been planning since before d20. I'm using d20 Modern for Star*Drive with very small modifications (kludgy cybertech system conversion and I adjusted some of the racial mods for the MenMan creatures) and I'm quite satisfied with the results-- though I am truly eager for an actual rerelease of Star*Drive using d20 Modern/Future rules.

Planescape-Stardrive, huh? I'm having trouble picturing it, but it could be fun. Stardrive was definitely a great book.

But do you really think they'll re-release it? Look at what they've done to d20 modern- rather than rerelease DarkMatter, which won accolades for being a great game book, and had a small but loyal pre-existing fan base, they give us Urban Arcana. Bah. And Stardrive was never even as popular as Darkmatter. I'd like to be wrong, but I'm afraid these two settings are dead and gone.

 

[Biohazard]

[ Plus, it bugs the crap out of me when people suggest that superscience and SF elements are somehow less appropriate for a modern game than fantasy. SF does not equal "futuristic," folks! Look at Genetech, or MIB or the Six Million Dollar Man if you want proof...]


Amen! [Stands and cheers] Or try The X-Files, or Close Encounters of the Third Kind, or Resident Evil (you don't think genetically engineering horrific mutants is sci-fi? )...well, you get the point. Part of the problem is defining exactly what "modern" means. Does it mean exclusively "the present"? So is 2003 "modern" but 2000 isn't? How about 2004? Or 2010? When does it stop being "modern"?

Remember that Polyhedron released Pulp Adventures for d20 Modern. Did anyone gripe and say, "Hey, the 1930's ain't modern!" I would suggest that "the modern era" can be seen as anything from early 20th century to mid-21st. I have no problem using d20 Modern for Shadowrun, Blade Runner, Johnny Mnemonic, The Running Man, Total Recall, or any similar sci-fi setting.

Does anyone want to comment? What does "modern" mean? (Maybe I'll start a new thread)...

 

[nobodez]

Does anyone want to comment? What does "modern" mean? (Maybe I'll start a new thread)...

Just jumping in here...

Yes, made the check, okay, now, as to what "modern means to me, I'd have to say anything during or after the industrial revolution. Yep, that'll do it for me. To me, that's what the "modern era" is, when we became an industrial society. (I guess that'd mean that it was more of an "industrial era" then the "modern era," but that's getting way too nitpickiy for me.)

 

[johnsemlak]

Does anyone want to comment? What does "modern" mean? (Maybe I'll start a new thread)...

I basically agree with nobodez, but in traditional history Modern history begins after the renaissance/reformation period. However, this definition is getting increasingly out-of-date

However, I think the IT revolution also has a lot to do with what we, today think of as the Modern era and so possibly only after that does it begin.

 

[zenld]

Every period thought it was modern. Its all in what you compare it to.

As to d20M, I use it for everything from the industrial revolution to futuristic. If/when more "advanced" science fiction works become available, I will probably add them to my d20M game but not replace it.

Just my thoughts.

zen

 

[Ranger REG]

And if Wizards is "better to stick with what they already know best," why even bother with a modern RPG? In that case they should stick to generic medieval Tolkienesque fantasy and be done with it.

Well, they want to show that d20 can be multi-genre. But they also learned the hard lesson from TSR, don't make the games drastically different that you have two different audiences.

While there are a number of contributing factors that led to TSR's financial downfall, one of them is making way too many different game products for so little audiences.

??? Wizards has nothing to do with Polyhedron anymore AFAIK, it's Paizo's baby now.

True, but many of the mini-games are designed by the Wizards folks (present and former employees), or at least connected to Wizards. For example, the creator of the new contest-winning Eberron, Keith Baker, is responsible for the recent DEATHNET mini-game. David Noonan designed PULP HEROES mini-game, who recently wrote a support article to make PULP HEROES compatible with d20 Modern. Stan! did Omega World.