Prime Directive d20 is out? Anyone have it?

[Ranger REG]

And given that Decipher's line seems to have gone the way of the dodo, is now the best time for another Trek product?

Until Decipher's license expires or is revoked, this is the only avenue we have that can come close to Trek.

 

[scourger]

I looked for PD20 yesterday at my FLGS. They didn't have it. When the news broke a few moths ago, I bartered for a copy of GURPS PD. It was a really fun read, even though I skipped all the GURPS rules. The text density was high. It was really a lot like reading an old game book from the 80s, to me. I probably won't track down PD20 since I am cool on d20 right now, my players don't want to play a ST game (I showed them a copy of the cover art for Klingons d20 that prompted about 20 minutes of derision, sadly), and it will probably just be a retreading of GPD with d20 rules. Too bad, 'cause it looks like a great game; and it would probably be easy to make it into more of a ST game--I would love to do a DS9-era game with it.

 

[Ranger REG]

(I showed them a copy of the cover art for Klingons d20 that prompted about 20 minutes of derision, sadly)

What's with people and art that would make them buy the product without looking at the content inside? No wonder they made Player's Handbook look like girl's diary with shiny baubles. Just one more reason humanity must go.

Anyhoo, art in Star Fleet Battles have never been of the most appealing quality. After all, despite the resemblance they can't use stock image from Paramount. But what matter is the game. Granted it's not for the casual and prude gamer but I enjoyed many all-nighters playing it.

And as a Fan of All Things Klingons, I do like both versions, the ridgeheads and the mongoloids.

 

[GMSkarka]

And as a Fan of All Things Klingons, I do like both versions, the ridgeheads and the mongoloids.

I think you mean "Mongols"

"Mongoloid" has an entirely different meaning....and one that fills the reader's head with unintentionally humorous images.

 

[scourger]

What's with people and art that would make them buy the product without looking at the content inside?

I don't know what made them rant about that particular picture. I thought it was awesome. One of the first things derided was the presnece of 3 non-klingon-looking aliens next to the one Mongol-looking one. The Star Fleet Universe is not Star Trek, though. In a way, I was glad to get the early feedback that boiled down down to a preference for Star Wars (SW) over Star Trek (ST); primarily because of the jedi. I think it boils down to there being no "magic" in ST. Only the vulcans have some strange mind powers, which would just prompt them to "be the party of vulcans in the next room" waiting for the klingons to "shoot themsleves out" before coming in and nerve pinching all of them. I never thought of it that way, but the vulcans are super-smart & super-strong with mental powers and even double eyelids. Even me pointing out that vulcans may lack charisma is met with "so does everyone--it's where the 8 goes on everyone's character sheet." In SW, anyone can be a jedi (or something) with force powers. So there's more "magic" in the SW setting. So, my hopes of finally runnning that old DragonStar module Raw Recruits as a ST/PD20 conversion are dashed against the bulwark of munchkinism...

Maybe I'll just pick up PD20 for me.

 

[Voadam]

I have it.

The rules are pretty much straight d20 with Action points added in. Nothing terribly innovative, but it should get the job done. It should handle Trek up until, oh, the Wrath of Khan era without much work. And I love the fact that "Godlike Psionic Power" is a feat. (That requires strict GM permission.)

Some quibbles, though:

The races have odd stat modifiers. It's not a big deal for me personally, but the industry standard is pretty clear on this point.


Any specific questions?

What races and or monsters are covered?

 

[wingsandsword]

Even me pointing out that vulcans may lack charisma is met with "so does everyone--it's where the 8 goes on everyone's character sheet."

Oh my. . .

(If we had a "jaw dropping" smiley, I'd use it)

That's the saddest thing I've seen today. I just had to say that.

 

[C. Baize]

Oh my. . .

(If we had a "jaw dropping" smiley, I'd use it)

That's the saddest thing I've seen today. I just had to say that.

Yeah. I would be inclined to say that I find it distressing that some people actually still game that way, but I always get flamed for "thinking my way is superior".
Bah!

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I think you mean "Mongols"

"Mongoloid" has an entirely different meaning....and one that fills the reader's head with unintentionally humorous images.

"Mongoloid" is also among the accepted scientific terms for referring to people with the physical traits common to Central and Northern Asia, alongside "caucasoid" and "negroid". These broad (and generally imprecise) terms seem to be fading out, generally from political pressure; that our understanding of human genetics makes them more or less obsolete seems secondary. (The social sciences use different terms, since they are not generally concerned with physiological differences.)

The term "mongoloid" or "mongoloid idiot" when used to refer to people with Down's Syndrome and similar congenital defects is considered archaic-- and so is more incorrect than the usage you're correcting.

 

[Ranger REG]

I think it boils down to there being no "magic" in ST.

LOL! And yet some critics here have categorized Star Trek and Star Wars in that same box they called "space fantasy" not worthy of the science fiction genre.

Granted, it's not all about Vulcan mind-reading or having the power of the gods, but it's all about adventuring and exploration beyond our own solar system.