Modiphius Fallout Opinions?

[Argyle King]

I just finished a cursed* campaign and have mixed feelings.

The game flowed reasonably well, but the setting information was a bit limiting since it's very obviously focused on Fallout 4/The Commonwealth, and since that's not where I wanted my campaign to be, that created extra work for me. There isn't any official Foundry VTT support, so I had to input a LOT of data myself to get a functional game out of the community-built modules that are available (i.e. every adversary I wanted to use, all the perks, all the equipment). Of course, that wouldn't have been an issue if my group had resumed face-to-face play, but we haven't so, I gotta work with what I have.

I didn't dislike the game, but I didn't love it, either. We didn't engage with the crafting, scavenging, or the weapon mod system at all, and frankly, I'm not sure it's really needed for tabletop play. Sure, it gives you something to do in the video game, and with the Wasteland Workshop, all the scavenging helps you build up stuff with which to build your settlements, but if you're not trying to emulate Fallout 4's gameplay, it's a lot of wasted space in the book. I'll probably run it again, and just ignore all the scavenging and crafting stuff unless my players want to get into settlement building. I really felt like the system was fighting me at points since my game was closer in feel to FO3 or even New Vegas (or heck FO1 or FO2).

I wanted to love it. I think the book looks great and has great explanations on how the base system works. In fact, I had difficulty understanding the 2d20 system until I read Fallout. However, I'm not convinced the 2d20 system is the best fit for the type of game play I want a Fallout RPG to be. I've run Fallout games using Fate Accelerated (with some homebrew add-ons to accommodate weapons, chems, etc.) and FFG's Narrative Dice System (Genesys) and frankly, I had the most fun with Fate Accelerated. I am curious, however, how it would run with Savage Worlds, though. Cypher System has a post-apoc setting book now, too, and as long as you can ignore the fact that the system in no way resembles anything from ANY of the games, it might work all right, too.

* cursed because I had the most problems getting a full group to regularly show up due to real life intrusions as I have ever experienced.

It doesn't sound as though the 2d20 system is quite the experience I want.

However, I'm still interested in possibly picking up some of the books for expanded lore and seeing how the system approaches settlement building (if it does).

Do you feel the book is useful as a reference?


I am very interested in Genesys. I've dabbled in it a bit because I highly enjoy Edge of the Empire.

I also have the After the End (GURPS) pdfs. In the past, I've had positive experiences with it to play Fallout-esque games.

I was curious If the Modiphius game was good or if they contained things I might still find valuable even when using a different system.

 

[Argyle King]

The art is great. I’m not a fan of the Modiphius house system. It’s way too clunky. Using the actual SPECIAL system from the games would be easier. If I were to play a Fallout game, I’d use a different system. Mutant Year Zero is the first that comes to mind if you want a bespoke system. Something light and generic like Fate Condensed or a PbtA hack would work, too. But really, any light generic system would work like a charm.

I only recent became aware of Mutant Year Zero because of the PS4 game. I'm open to trying that.

 

[overgeeked]

I only recent became aware of Mutant Year Zero because of the PS4 game. I'm open to trying that.

I can’t believe I forgot to mention Mutant Crawl Classics. It’s a love letter to Gamma World, Planet of the Apes, and Kamandi. It’s a lot of gonzo. Maybe too much if you’re trying to run straight Fallout, but it does the mutant-infested post-apocalypse wonderfully.

 

[Reynard]

I can’t believe I forgot to mention Mutant Crawl Classics. It’s a love letter to Gamma World, Planet of the Apes, and Kamandi. It’s a lot of gonzo. Maybe too much if you’re trying to run straight Fallout, but it does the mutant-infested post-apocalypse wonderfully.

Yeah, it is much more the GW style of PA where the pre-apocalypse is a time of myth and the world is full of superscience and sorcery.

 

[MGibster]

However, I'm still interested in possibly picking up some of the books for expanded lore and seeing how the system approaches settlement building (if it does).

I don't believe they have much on settlement building at this time. Winter of the Atom, a campaign, has some rules for building campsites and for settlement reputation but nothing on building fullblown settlements yourself. Building settlements was something I hated doing in Fallout 4. I'm here to have post apocalyptic adventures not build walls, beds, and play Sim-Farm.

One thing I do like about the game is that making a character is stupid easy. You pick your background, your stats, tag some skills, assign ranks to skills, get equipment, and you're done in about 5-10 minutes.

 

[Reynard]

I don't believe they have much on settlement building at this time. Winter of the Atom, a campaign, has some rules for building campsites and for settlement reputation but nothing on building fullblown settlements yourself.

There is a supplement called Settlers specifically for this aspect of play.

 

[JediSoth]

It doesn't sound as though the 2d20 system is quite the experience I want.

However, I'm still interested in possibly picking up some of the books for expanded lore and seeing how the system approaches settlement building (if it does).

Do you feel the book is useful as a reference?


I am very interested in Genesys. I've dabbled in it a bit because I highly enjoy Edge of the Empire.

I also have the After the End (GURPS) pdfs. In the past, I've had positive experiences with it to play Fallout-esque games.

I was curious If the Modiphius game was good or if they contained things I might still find valuable even when using a different system.

The book is a good read with good art, but honestly, I don't know that there's lore information in there you can't just get from the Wiki.

 

[MGibster]

The book is a good read with good art, but honestly, I don't know that there's lore information in there you can't just get from the Wiki.

Nope. I'm putting together a Fallout scenario to run at Free RPG Day at my local game store in June and I'm referencing the Fallout Wiki. It's a great resource. I did the same using the Forgotten Realms Wiki last time I ran a D&D campaign.