Omega World? Puh-leeeze

[Biohazard]

A lot of people (well, seems like a lot) have been griping that d20 Gamma World can't possibly compare to Polyhedron's Omega World from a few issues back.

Gimmeabreak.

Omega World was a great mini-game, no question. But its view of Gamma World is more like a parody than a serious take on the GW universe. The Arks look like court jesters for crying out loud! Every picture has an exaggerated cartoon look--reminds me of Alice in Wonderland on speed.

For those of you who say, "That's what Gamma World is, man!" my answer is: RTGWBA (read the Gamma World books again ) Gamma World has always been a dark game set in a bleak world; true, it's a fantasy game (not "true" sci-fi) using the pulp adventure concept of weird science...but this kewl munchkin nonsense of Tweet's Omega World is just silly.

Omega World is a cool game for what it is...a one-shot power game parody of Gamma World. But it ain't Gamma World.

Discuss.

 

[Wraith Form]

Discuss.

Discuss? By god, I think you've said it all for us!

 

[Gospog]

I didn't know the new version of Gamma World included trolls.

Neat.

 

[JPL]

To each his own.

 

[Gallo22]

I got more out of those 40 pages in Poly, than I did out of the 240 pages in the new GW book. You know what they say about opinions!

Gallo22

 

[NarlethDrider]

I like omega world & some of it will definately be incorporated into my GW d20 game

 

[Ranger REG]

Like Neo, I don't see the difference in worlds, just the codes (aka rules mechanics) that makes up the d20 Matrix. GWPHB may have been what truly defines the settings, but one can't help but point out the small list of mutations to begin play with. With all due respect for Bruce Baugh, it's like doing a hardcover D&D Player's Handbook with only five-level classes.

But fret not. They will offer new and expanded mutations and implants in a new $25-$30 supplement. That happens to be White Wolf/Sword & Sorcery marketing plan.

But until that supplement hit the store shelves, advanced d20 users can incorporate Omega World mechanics into Gamma World setting.

 

[JPL]

But fret not. They will offer new and expanded mutations and implants in a new $25-$30 supplement. That happens to be White Wolf/Sword & Sorcery marketing plan.
QUOTE]


Preach it, REG!

Omega World is what it is. It's Gamma World stripped down to the way many folks played it when they were thirteen --- the joy of making up an absurd character and travelling through a surreal landscape trying to survive and finding weird artifacts.

Gamma World is in many respects more ambitious than Omega...doesn't mean it's better, though. Whatever's fun, play that...

 

[buzz]

Gimmeabreak.

Stick out your arm.

Omerga World states flat-out that it's intended as a beer n' pretzels RPG, and that it is a very specific take (though a very germane one) on GW. But this is irrelevant.

The point is that OW is one of the best-written, masterfully-designed d20 games (mini or no) yet seen. It captures a classic, gonzo-fun GW atmosphere in a very sleek package. Tweet's d20-fu is strong. The GWd20 PHB suffers in comparison precisely because it manages to do none of the above (be masterful, provide any kind of comprehensive view of the setting, demonstrate any d20-fu whatsoever), despite having six times the page count and five times that authors. The art in OW is also 3,549 times better.

There you go.

 

[Ranger REG]

Preach it, REG!

Omega World is what it is. It's Gamma World stripped down to the way many folks played it when they were thirteen --- the joy of making up an absurd character and travelling through a surreal landscape trying to survive and finding weird artifacts.

Gamma World is in many respects more ambitious than Omega...doesn't mean it's better, though. Whatever's fun, play that...

With all due respect, for a mini-game, OMEGA WORLD is pretty well-written with chockfull of useful rules information, and as I said it boast more mutations than what GW PHB is sorely lacking (the only low point I have with that particular product, but a clever BUSINESS marketing plan to sell yet another GW product as an ESSENTIAL companion to the first one ... at least that is what my Inner Ferengi or Hutt tell me -- "Sell the basic car but alway offer some optional yet unnecessary [safety] features for extra $$$"). Hehehe.

Don't let the bare minimal page count of a mini-game fool you. For example, while I like the d20 Mecha book, I prefer to use half of the rules information in MECHA CRUSADE, including the two mecha pilot advanced classes (a close-contact shock trooper and a sharpshooting ace).