Polyhedron's Dark*Matter d20

[JPL]

Comments and questions...

1. This is a very good thing. Poor campaign world never got a fair chance. I blame the Freemasons.

2. I assume this will be for d20 Modern? If so, I wonder if the minigame will suggest dialing down the massive damage threshhold...that's a good way to keep things kinda Muldar-n-Scully rather than Buffy-n-Angel. Me, I wouldn't mind playing things a little more action hero...

3. Now what sorta advanced classes...Parapsychologist? Cryptoengineer? Xenobiologist?

4. Dark*Matter cries out for a non-Vancian spellcasting system.

 

[Gospog]

2. When is D20 Future due out? They have introduced minigames based on Modern before Modern was released. Mecha Crusade comes to mind.
Might they try the same thing with D20 Future?

Mind you, I don't know enough about Dark*Matter to say if it might best be used with Modern or Future. I read about the D*M (or Alternity?) aliens in the Menace Manual, that's about it.

In fact, I'm not even sure I'm going to like the D*M mini-game, but I suspect I will. JPL's tastes seem to run very close to my own. So if he's into it, I will give it a shot.
(and if I don't like it, don't worry, I won't blame you!)

4. I have a D&D game with 3 out of 5 players being new. The magic system is thier only complaint. They LOVE D&D. They hate the Vancian magic.

Which is ironic, because they (and I) love the Dying Earth RPG. Go figure.

 

[Greatwyrm]

4. Dark*Matter cries out for a non-Vancian spellcasting system.

Ever since Modern came out, I've been trying to think of a way to adapt the FX book for the Alternity system to Modern. I think you could use it for a Skills and Feats based system. I just haven't been able to come up with a solid conversion.

 

[JPL]

2. When is D20 Future due out? They have introduced minigames based on Modern before Modern was released. Mecha Crusade comes to mind.
Might they try the same thing with D20 Future?

Mind you, I don't know enough about Dark*Matter to say if it might best be used with Modern or Future. I read about the D*M (or Alternity?) aliens in the Menace Manual, that's about it.

In fact, I'm not even sure I'm going to like the D*M mini-game, but I suspect I will. JPL's tastes seem to run very close to my own. So if he's into it, I will give it a shot.
(and if I don't like it, don't worry, I won't blame you!)

4. I have a D&D game with 3 out of 5 players being new. The magic system is thier only complaint. They LOVE D&D. They hate the Vancian magic.

Which is ironic, because they (and I) love the Dying Earth RPG. Go figure.

Maybe. Dark*Matter takes place just slightly in the future, but deals with mutations, genetic engineering, cutting-edge science, and aliens, all of which will be dealt with in d20 Future.

If you can find a used copy of the Dark*Matter, check it out. The Hoffman Institute [also featured in the Menace Manual] are the good guys [they think so, anyway].

"X-Files" is the most obvious influence, but that campaign setting book is just incredibly dense with materials for any modern conspiracy/occult game...plus Alternity quick play rules, plus TWO adventures. It'll be interesting to see how they cook all that down into a minigame.

Fire-and-forget just isn't...mysterious enough for this setting. D*M actually presented multiple occult traditions, each with slightly different mechanics. Something like incantation magic from Urban Arcana would certainly fit in.

Glad to hear someone else is on my wavelength. I'm putting an enormous amount of time into figuring out my campaign for the new game we're starting soon...I hope something comes together. Dark*Matter with a bit of a High Weirdness slant and a little more action might do the job...both of those intro adventures in the D*M corebook look pretty solid.

 

[JPL]

Ever since Modern came out, I've been trying to think of a way to adapt the FX book for the Alternity system to Modern. I think you could use it for a Skills and Feats based system. I just haven't been able to come up with a solid conversion.

I've thought about that, too...but I dunno, maybe an advanced class is the way to go. I'm sure that trained professionals have sorted this all out.

Y'know, I have a copy of Unknown Armies on the shelf, and with the right player it would be great to use one of the schools of "postmodern magic." The hero who gets magical power from watching TV, or visiting Graceland, or getting piercings...

For that matter, the whole avatar/archetype magic from Unknown Armies could make for a weird PC. I'd have to take another look, but it seems to me that UA is pretty easily adapted to d20...

 

[Stormborn]

I've thought about that, too...but I dunno, maybe an advanced class is the way to go. I'm sure that trained professionals have sorted this all out.

Y'know, I have a copy of Unknown Armies on the shelf, and with the right player it would be great to use one of the schools of "postmodern magic." The hero who gets magical power from watching TV, or visiting Graceland, or getting piercings...

For that matter, the whole avatar/archetype magic from Unknown Armies could make for a weird PC. I'd have to take another look, but it seems to me that UA is pretty easily adapted to d20...

I am starting a new thread about just this topic. Glad you thought of it.

 

[JPL]

I am starting a new thread about just this topic. Glad you thought of it.

Here's an old thread on the subject, featuring some wisdom from UA creator Greg Stolze:

http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?threadid=37033&highlight=unknown+armies+d20

 

[Katowice]

D&D Unearthed Arcana (Feb '04) is supposed to have an alternative magic system. The book is Open Content.

4. I have a D&D game with 3 out of 5 players being new. The magic system is thier only complaint. They LOVE D&D. They hate the Vancian magic.

 

[Stormborn]

I posted some quick thoughts in the Conversions Forum about converting to Unknown Armies magic system. Not much, have to go to work. But the more I think about the more I like it.

JPL, those boards were busy, couldn't access them right now, I'll check them out later.

 

[Kesh]

The Midnight magic system is almost perfect. You can use all the same D&D spells, under a "spell points" system instead of Vancian. Plus, they have ritual magic for reducing the points needed, at the cost of taking much more time.

I'd say, adapt that spell point system to Modern, while keeping the UA ritual system, and you'd be in good shape.