My Changing Thoughts on Science Fantasy Games

[dragoner]

I usually call it space fantasy because it is fantasy in space; going back in time we see Verne's Nautilus, or Wells' Tripods are actually hard sf because they deal with the effects of science. The definitions are all over the place, soft sf being about human stories with just a future background.

 

[Stormonu]

Also Thundarr the Barbarian!

I'd say He-man as well.

Krull has a bit of this, especially at the beginning with the "royal guard" using laser weapons.

Palladium's RIFTS is big on this, and some versions of Gamma World as well.

It's not something I'd like in my regular D&D, but I would certainly like to try something where that sort of thing is built-in from the start. Gamma world or He-manish would probably be where I start.

 

[LordEntrails]

I feel that some good plots/Macguffins will be missed if the sci balances the fantasy perfectly.

Please expand. What type of plots/scene/etc? Does it matter if fantasy or science is more dominant?

 

[Stormonu]

Please expand. What type of plots/scene/etc? Does it matter if fantasy or science is more dominant?

It can, and have both a knock on effect on the hero's journey especially in the case where characters must migrate from the use of one to the other to "get up to speed".

 

[LordEntrails]

Sorry guys, I'm not able to build a vision of a situation where a balanced campaign would result in something being missed. An example please

 

[Micah Sweet]

I'd say He-man as well.

Krull has a bit of this, especially at the beginning with the "royal guard" using laser weapons.

Palladium's RIFTS is big on this, and some versions of Gamma World as well.

It's not something I'd like in my regular D&D, but I would certainly like to try something where that sort of thing is built-in from the start. Gamma world or He-manish would probably be where I start.

I'm fond of sword and planet myself.

 

[Fenris-77]

Ultraviolet Grasslands is probably my favorite science-fantasy game. Definitely fits in the post-apoc sub-genre.

 

[djotaku]

Numenera falls into this camp, right? It's post-apocalyptic Earth, isn't it?

 

[GMMichael]

Please expand. What type of plots/scene/etc? Does it matter if fantasy or science is more dominant?

For starters, fantasy and science might each represent a faction. There's no imbalance to "correct" if those two factions are equally situated. (See also: espers vs. empire in Final Fantasy 6.)

There's also a strain on the "acquire the powerful artifact" plot. What's the point of questing for the ancient lava-sword when science has already created lightsabers? Or flip that around; explorers of the fantasy world have discovered a mysterious scientific thing: a grenade. Fire mages take note, and go back to business as usual without caring.

 

[djotaku]

For starters, fantasy and science might each represent a faction. There's no imbalance to "correct" if those two factions are equally situated. (See also: espers vs. empire in Final Fantasy 6.)

There's also a strain on the "acquire the powerful artifact" plot. What's the point of questing for the ancient lava-sword when science has already created lightsabers? Or flip that around; explorers of the fantasy world have discovered a mysterious scientific thing: a grenade. Fire mages take note, and go back to business as usual without caring.

On your FF6 note - that's what I think of every time SF2e mentions magitek