Reign of Discordia/Sci-Fi: True20 or GURPS?

[Azgulor]

I recently introduced my son to RPGs with the Pathfinder RPG to great success. While that is proceeding quite well, I still get an itch to work on sci-fi RPG campaigns. The last one I ran used GURPS 3e and converted to 4e when it was released.

I also recently picked up the True20 Revised book based upon recommendations on this board and the Reign of Discordia setting. While both appear to be a good read, I’m looking for input on using True20 for sci-fi specifically.

My initial inclination is that True20 would be a shorter learning curve for my son since it’s an OGL game. However, there’s a good bit of detail & variation that I like in my sci-fi and based on early discussions, my son seems to lean towards details/options as well.

I know the strengths and weaknesses of GURPS – rich character detail and consistent mechanics that flow pretty quickly once you learn them. The Detail dial can be turned from cinematic to simulationist as desired. The downside: it can be a significant time investment for a GM (if you let it be – and I find myself reflexively doing so at times).

True20 is more of an unknown for me. I can kit-bash d20 Modern/Future and while it’s workable I find it as GM-intensive or moreso than GURPS, primarily b/c I’m blending various 3rd-party publisher support products into the d20 whole.

True20 seems like it would be easier, however, I’m not certain it can emulate everything I’d wish to be able to do.

Can True20 (either core or via a supplement) handle the following:

Called shots. i.e., Targeting the Death Star exhaust port, a sniper going for the headshot, targeting the weak spot in the alien’s armor, etc.

Differentiated technology. Can you customize gear, armor, and weapons or is a pistol a pistol, a rifle is a rifle, etc. Can I see a meaningful difference between gear from different tech stages (e.g. sword vs. vibroblade vs. lightsaber; alien tech vs. human tech)?

Alien creation. Can I readily duplicate aliens from Star Wars, Halo, Mass Effect, etc. Or are the differences effectively window dressing with an occasional modifier to a stat/ability?

Space combat. Can I do a scene from Star Wars or Battlestar Galactica if I wish to do so?

Vehicle chases.


Finally, if the core rulebook won’t address such items, which supplements contain the info I’m seeking?

 

[Treebore]

Personally I got the Traveller version.

One of the cool things abut True 20 is you can take feats/talents/skills from pretty much any version of a D20 OGL game and make it work for any genre you wish to make it work for.

The only thing you need to do is decide which of the 3 archetypes you wish to use, and how to use them. Like if your NOT going to have psionics you won't need the spell caster archetype at all.

Then build feat/skill/talent packages for the various "careers" you wish to offer, modified to sci fi, and use equipment lists from something like D20 Modern and Future, or Star Wars SAGA, or T20, or GURPS, and your probably good to go.

 

[Darrin Drader]

Hey Azgulor,

First off, thanks for picking up Reign of Discordia. I know that you r question is more concerned with rules systems, and my opinion of True20, Traveller, and GURPS is that they're all excellent. In fact, if I had any pull with Steve Jackson Games, I'd be more than happy to release a GURPS version of the setting. However, since I don't, and since there are only so many resources to go around, the truth of the matter is that we have to focus on one set of rules for the setting. While we do have a fair amount of True20 material out there, since the setting was picked up by Mongoose via their Flaming Cobra, we're most likely to see the most interest from Traveller players. That may not mean that True20 support will disappear, but we're focusing on the Traveller market for the time being.

Also, I've had some private emails from people asking if there's going to be any tie-in fiction for the setting. The answer to that is to stay tuned because there will be some sort of announcement to that effect soon!

 

[Ace]

I'd go with True 20 as the support is there but any of the systems would be good.

Oh and Darrin I don't know if you asked about a GURPS version or not but I suspect SJ would be glad to give a proposal a look. There really aren't any 4e GURPS SF settings (OK Vorkosigan is in PDF) and yours is already professional quality.

if you ever have the time that is

 

[ValhallaGH]

I also recently picked up the True20 Revised book based upon recommendations on this board and the Reign of Discordia setting. While both appear to be a good read, I’m looking for input on using True20 for sci-fi specifically.
...
Can True20 (either core or via a supplement) handle the following:

Called shots. i.e., Targeting the Death Star exhaust port, a sniper going for the headshot, targeting the weak spot in the alien’s armor, etc.

Sort of. It has a "finesse attack" option that allows you to bypass worn armor. On the flip side, you can use Conviction to get a "heroic feat" to use power attack / sneak attack, (poorly) simulating head shots.
If you want better called shot rules then you'll need to scour d20 sources for them. The only worthwhile ones I've seen (not brokenly good, not utterly worthless to use) were in Modern20 by Chuck Rice.

Differentiated technology. Can you customize gear, armor, and weapons or is a pistol a pistol, a rifle is a rifle, etc. Can I see a meaningful difference between gear from different tech stages (e.g. sword vs. vibroblade vs. lightsaber; alien tech vs. human tech)?

If you want to have that level of detail then you can.
I'm of the "It's not the sword, it's the arm that swings it" school of game design, so I tend to prefer the generic approach used by the core rules. However, you can play with the standard d20 dials (attack bonus, damage type, damage amount, critical chance, critical damage, and magazine capacity for weapons; protection, weight, category, check penalty, and extra features for armor) to get what you want out of the gear.
So, it will take a bit of work but it will do what you're asking for. At least, to some extent.

Alien creation. Can I readily duplicate aliens from Star Wars, Halo, Mass Effect, etc. Or are the differences effectively window dressing with an occasional modifier to a stat/ability?

Well, I think you can do aliens well, but I might be biased.

Space combat. Can I do a scene from Star Wars or Battlestar Galactica if I wish to do so?

Vehicle chases.

I think you can, though it may require a few extra rules.

Finally, if the core rulebook won’t address such items, which supplements contain the info I’m seeking?

Besides Reign of Discordia, and my Star Wars attempts?
Try True Force. Ether put some great stuff together.

... I know there's other stuff, I just can't think of it.

Good luck.

 

[Azgulor]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. You provided great tips that helped me see some of True20's finer points. Some of the Star Wars adapted stuff was pretty inspiring.

As is sometimes the case, however, I've decided to go with the unlisted option C: Spycraft.

Ultimately, the campaign creation of GURPS, combined with "missing material" contained in 4e books I haven't purchased yet had me leaning away from GURPS. The desire to keep to a d20-based game that would have some commonality with Pathfinder in order to make it easier for my son to adopt put GURPS on the shelf, at least for now.

True20, while an interesting system, doesn't seem capable of satisfying the requirements I'm seeking in a modern/sci-fi game. I also tried to get a sense of how much active support it would continue to see from Green Ronin. A week later and few views and no replies have kind of indicated it's on the back burner at best.

So while reading my Fantasycraft book, I decided to pull Spycraft back out. I'd read it but never had a chance to play it. Whether it's an overall increase in d20 familiarity at this point or just better comprehesion this go round, I'm really digging it. The gear section makes it pretty easy to develop sci-fi gadgetry and it's crunchy enough to provide differentiation in weapons & equipment.

So I'll continue to buy Reign of Discordia supplements and adapt as necessary. Best of luck to Darrin & crew with RoD, regardless of system.

Thanks again to all.

 

[ValhallaGH]

I also tried to get a sense of how much active support it would continue to see from Green Ronin. A week later and few views and no replies have kind of indicated it's on the back burner at best.

You may want to stop by your thread again. It almost certainly won't change your mind but you may find it interesting.


Good luck.