Mixing Genres: Sci-Fi Campaign using 5E Rules

[CleverNickName]

My main gaming group is halfway through Storm King's Thunder, and I've been a player in it for a couple of years (we get together to game about once a month, sometimes twice a month if the stars align). When we finish that adventure path up, sometime next year probably, we will all retire our characters and I will be taking a seat in the DM's chair once more.

I prefer to write my own adventures rather than use published adventure paths. And writing a complete adventure path for characters level 1 all the way to 20 can take me a while...so I'm starting now. I sent out a few e-mails to my group, asking them separately what kind of story they would like to tell and what kind of gaming setting they would like to play. I figured that would give me enough to start writing the story.

The results were almost unanimous: 5/6 players wanted to play a science-fiction setting. The Mass Effect games, the Alien movie franchise, and the Star Trek universe were cited as examples (and Dr. Who, but I'm not sure if that's sci-fi or alt-history). This was unexpected, because this gaming group has drawn a hard line on the rules we use, and it will be 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons. Always. No exceptions. I think 4E and Pathfinder really left a bad taste in their mouths.

So they want to play a game with paladins, bards, spells, and dragons...in space. First, how awesome is that? (Very.)

Second, has anyone ever tried to run such a thing before? Do you have any advice? Do you know of any 5E resources that I might be able to use?

 

[Satyrn]

Esper Genesis is a 5e product.

I used to play Dragonstar in 3e, which was D&D in spaaace, but I don't really have any advice. It was a long time ago in a city far far away.

Edit: I ought to include a link to the free, basic rules of Esper Genesis

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Esper Genesis is a 5e product.

I used to play Dragonstar in 3e, which was D&D in spaaace, but I don't really have any advice. It was a long time ago in a city far far away.

Those were exactly the products I was going to reference.

Even if you don't want to play Esper Genesis, because it's not technically D&D by your standard, you could still use it as a reference for how to reflavor the fantasy stuff into sci-fi stuff. If what you want is really just fantasy with spaceships, then Dragonstar should have some ideas about how you do that.

 

[Satyrn]

Those were exactly the products I was going to reference.

Even if you don't want to play Esper Genesis, because it's not technically D&D by your standard, you could still use it as a reference for how to reflavor the fantasy stuff into sci-fi stuff. If what you want is really just fantasy with spaceships, then Dragonstar should have some ideas about how you do that.

And that's exactly how I ought to have suggested he use them.

 

[jgsugden]

For Sci-fi or Modern Settings I like to use the 4E D&D mechanics as a base.

However, I would give it a test run with the Starfinder materials from the Pathfinder folks. Even if you do not use it for the long run, you can mine it for ideas.

 

[Satyrn]

Oh. And Mage Hand Press is in the late stages of a Dark Matter kickstarter. They've done quite a bit of compelling 5e stuff.

They're offering a 30 page preview at that link ( just scroll down a little)

 

[Swarmkeeper]

@Capn Charlie created this coolness: "Fifth Age: A Hard(er) Science Fiction conversion for 5e DnD"

Free and right here on EN World, to boot. Nice.

 

[Ed Laprade]

However, I would give it a test run with the Starfinder materials from the Pathfinder folks. Even if you do not use it for the long run, you can mine it for ideas.

I was going to suggest looking at Starfinder as well. They had the entire rulebook up for free as a PDF. Not sure if they still do, but it is certainly worth checking out.

 

[CleverNickName]

Holy carp, everyone...thank you for the excellent suggestions!

[MENTION=6801204]Satyrn[/MENTION]: thank you for the link to Esper-Genesis, I had no idea that it even existed. I briefly looked it over, and it checks both boxes: it's 5th Edition rules, and it's science fiction. I am going to download it as soon as I get home and start tinkering with it. And from what you said about the Mage Hand Press kickstarter, I'll definitely be checking that out as well.

[MENTION=6799753]lowkey13[/MENTION]: Thank you for the list of source material. I am especially, incredibly, super-stoked about the Numinera 5E resource! I would really love to run a Numinera campaign one of these days, and this just might be the way to introduce my table (and myself) to that system. And it's nice to see an old vrusk like Star Frontiers getting some 5E love...I played that game like crazy back in high school.

[MENTION=6921763]DM Dave1[/MENTION], [MENTION=16046]Capn Charlie[/MENTION]: the ENWorld community is the best gaming community on the Internet, and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise. Thank you for pointing me to the Fifth Age material...I'll add it to my list of materials to check out when I get home. It's looking like a long, awesome weekend of sci-fi and dice!

[MENTION=2629]jgsugden[/MENTION], [MENTION=6855281]Ed Laprade[/MENTION]: I picked up Starfinder as part of Paizo's most recent Humble Bundle (everybody else should, too.) The lore looks interesting, and probably wouldn't take a lot of work to bring it into any RPG system. But as far as the rules go, my gaming group made it very clear that we would be using 5th Edition rules only. (And given our past experience with Pathfinder's rigorous rules, I'm afraid they might revolt.)

 

[CleverNickName]

How about psionics?

In my mind (rimshot) they have always been more of a science-fiction flavored ingredient, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to throw it into the pot. But I remember how unbalanced and awkward they were in the days of AD&D, which put me off of them entirely. Is anyone using psionics in their 5E D&D campaigns? What resources are you using?

Am I just being paranoid about balance?

 

[Bacon Bits]

Stars Without Number might be worth a look. It's pretty heavily inspired by D&D, though I haven't spent a huge amount of time looking at it yet. I've heard nothing but praise for the work of Kevin Crawford.

 

[Reynard]

If you are worried about balance, don't underestimate the value of reskinning: crossbows are guns, wands are blasters and clerics are psionicists. You might have to curate options, but if a player wants to do something you had previously considered a non starter for sci-fi -- a warlock just to pick a random example -- ask THEM how it can work in sci-fi. You not only get the player to do some world building for you, but you also get to make them happy with a "Yes, and?"

 

[CleverNickName]

If you are worried about balance, don't underestimate the value of reskinning: crossbows are guns, wands are blasters and clerics are psionicists. You might have to curate options, but if a player wants to do something you had previously considered a non starter for sci-fi -- a warlock just to pick a random example -- ask THEM how it can work in sci-fi. You not only get the player to do some world building for you, but you also get to make them happy with a "Yes, and?"

Excellent advice...I've already reskinned a lot of the minor stuff and magic items (divination magic = short-range scanners, wand of magic missiles = laser blaster, firearms = well...firearms...)

If you think Warlocks are non starters for sci-fi, you should check out Unearthed Arcana: Modern Magic. I found it the other day and it's got a lot of pretty cool stuff in it. There's a "Ghost in the Machine" option that I think would be rad in a sci-fi 5E campaign.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I'm totally nicking that "Ghost in the Machine" warlock for the sci-fi campaign. Emergent AI superbeing as a patron?! Yes please.

 

[S'mon]

Stars Without Number might be worth a look. It's pretty heavily inspired by D&D, though I haven't spent a huge amount of time looking at it yet. I've heard nothing but praise for the work of Kevin Crawford.

For a more D&D-ish Guardians of the Galaxy type tone, material from White Star is even
more suitable for looting I think - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/produc...-Science-Fiction-Roleplaying-Swords--Wizardry & https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/175521/White-Star-Companion-Swords--Wizardry?src=also_purchased

The best approach with these and Starfinder is just nick the useful bits, ignore the rest. Eg you might find the White Star starship rules and the Serials (PC backgrounds) handy, while using regular 5e races & classes, and the laser weapons in the 5e DMG.

 

[S'mon]

Also you must listen to Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards

[video=youtube;YGV6bCTMM5w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGV6bCTMM5w[/video]

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I would like a d20 Modern 2.0. but there are some problems about balance of power. How to explain it better? Do you remember the survival horror videogame "Alien: Isolation"? Only a xenomorph is a true nightmare, but in other games, for example the 1994 Capcom arcade "Aliens vs Predators" you can kill literally hundreds. A psycho-killer with a knife, for example the night slasher from Stallone's movie "Cobra" is too dangerous for an unarmed civilian character as Ingrid Knudsen (Brigitte Nielsen) but Marion "Cobra" Cobretti (Sylvester Stallone) could kill all the cult of "the new world". With the right weapon you can kill a dinosaur and only a shot is enough. With remote-control drones you can kill enemies from other town, or country. You could drive a truck to run over horde of zombies. Buffy the vampire slayer only needed a RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) to kill the judge (season 2 episode 14) and the Mayor was tricked to go to a zone with lots of explosives.

How should be the XP reward and the challenge rating when the monster is too hard, or easy?

My opinion is WotC wants a second edition of d20 Modern, but to use this system for different franchises like mechas, (war) action heroes or superheroes. D20 isn't ready to mixing melee weapons, powers and (more) modern gunpowder firearms.

Have you seen the SRD of Starfinder?

 

[S'mon]

Buffy the vampire slayer only needed a RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) to kill the judge (season 2 episode 14)

I think she used an actual ATM - anti-tank missile, a LAW or similar.

 

[togashi_joe]

Holy carp, everyone...thank you for the excellent suggestions!

@Satyrn: thank you for the link to Esper-Genesis, I had no idea that it even existed. I briefly looked it over, and it checks both boxes: it's 5th Edition rules, and it's science fiction. I am going to download it as soon as I get home and start tinkering with it. And from what you said about the Mage Hand Press kickstarter, I'll definitely be checking that out as well.

Esper Genesis is fantastic. I've DM'd over 100 hours of it and it's a lot of fun if you know and like 5e D&D already. I suggest also checking out the Facebook group and the Discord channel.

EDIT: EG also meshes really well with 5e D&D and the two can be run side-by-side. These are the rules for it I use to combine them in my campaign:

• Light, Medium, Heavy armor proficiencies remain the same
• Simple weapons and medium weapon proficiencies remain the same
• For specific weapon proficiency (such as if your class/races says battle axe or energy staff), you may use the equivalent weapon (i.e. same damage dice and type)
• Purchase equipment from either book; 1 gp = 10 cu
• Skill proficiencies remain specific to your class
• You can select a background from either book, allowing you to gain skill or tool proficiencies you normally wouldn't get. Also, don't forget that either book has rules for Customizing a Background (pg. 115 in the EG book or pg. 125 in the PHB).

 

[CleverNickName]

Also you must listen to Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards

Gloryhammer! Must...resist...clicking the replay...button...

EDIT: I failed.