Sci-fi likes/dislikes

[Stormborn]

Never played a real SciFi game (well there was Space: 1889, and while technically that counts its more "space romance" than sci-fi). But I could go one of three ways with it:
Transhuman Space-esque "hard sci-fi" with no aliens and no unrealistic star drives. One world or one Solar System and lots of competition for every little resource.
Shadow Run- near future sci-fantasy. Unusal races but all from earth. Magic and Science blended together.
Space Opera - Star Wars, Star Trek. It might be interesting to play in a purly unrealistic universe that is at the same time familiar. But to me this would just be DnD in Space, with technobable subing for magic.

 

[SWBaxter]

Not specifically from a game but I seriously dislike when the story is finished by the science, the doctor gets out the photon syringe, the enginier re-polarised the di-fusion reactor to escape or when it isn't used because it would ruin the story, 'too much interference to teleport!".

This has been an anti-startrek rant. Thnak you.

That's not science, that's technobabble (or Treknobabble for the specific setting that does it a lot). It's the same as in a fantasy setting where a story is finished by pulling some kind of magic out of nowhere in the last five minutes, in either case it's just weak storytelling, not a problem with the genre.

 

[dwetzel]

Firefly would make a good setting as would any of Joss' worlds. I want to check out the Buffy and Angel games. Off topic but has anyone played them?

There is going to be an official Firefly RPG; well actually it's called Serenity RPG because it's licenced for the movie Serenity (yep, a Firefly theatrical release!) coming in the fall. All I've heard is that it's not d20 (a good thing) and that it's going to be put together by margaret weis productions.

 

[Ranes]

I wrote a lengthy review of it some time ago.

Wow! It absolutely must be mine! Thanks for the link. Great review.

 

[Desdichado]

I like space opera, myself -- stuff like Traveller, Star*Drive or Star Wars. I could totally do DOOM d20 too!!!!

 

[Psion]

My ideal SF setting:

Somewhat realistic - limit the technobabble and dressed up fantasy. But I like interstellar travel. So yes, gimme hyperspace or wormholes or quantum jumps. Hold the star blades and black hole guns (yes, Alternity, I am looking at you.) Realistic worldgen, 3D starmaps (sorry Traveller, your one true failing), newtonian spaceship travel (do NOT give me spaceship "top" or "cruise" speeds) are all musts.

I'd also like multiple alien races, intrigue, and politics. If they are humanoid in appearance, you had better explain it. If they can breed with humans or would even consider having sex with one, you had explain WHY (how they got into space, how we got here, how they were genetically engineered for that purpose, etc.) "Furry" races are of no consequence so long as, like this, they make sense.

 

[Stormborn]

As far as dislikes go: Hate time travel as a story device.
Going one way, and that travel having a big impact on the timeline, like 1632 or The Adventures of Conrad Starguard, I'm fine with. No back and forth adjustment. Hate it. One of the reasons I stopped watching Enterprise. Hate it.
Did I mention that I hate time travel?

I have also thought of my ideal Sci-fi setting game: Neutronium Alchemist. Biotech, more normal tech, competing cultures, incomprehensible aliens, undead. Great series.

 

[eyebeams]

The game's setting must be relevant to the characters and the story -- these elements should not merely be plugged in to a setting. Good SF integrates the setting and the story seamlessly, so that speculative technology and social arrangements drive the plot or open up new possibilities. SF gaming should emulate this.

The other element is a visual one. SF games need the setting to have a specific look and feel. This can be transmitted through actual images or descriptive text, but it needs to be there to make a game successful.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I like aliens, but I'm sick to death of the Star Trek-style humans-with-funny-noses aliens. As people like Psion note above, if you have aliens, make 'em alien. A good example of a game with really odd aliens is 2300, formerly Traveller 2300. Aliens like the kafers (or Vah) and the pentapods are exemplary attempts to render really "alien" aliens into RPG form.

I also like interstellar travel. I guess basing a game in a setting without such a device could work, but I'd prefer access to the stars.

I'm not terribly keen on mixing fantasy tropes like out-and-out magic with a scifi setting, but I also think they could work if handled in such a way that there is a rationale behind it. But, that's a very subjective thing.

 

[The Shaman]

I like futuristic anime-based sci-fi games - a mixed amalgamation of Macross/Cowboy Bebop/Dirty Pair/Ghost in the Shell campaign universe is optimal (and is what we play - not d20, though).

Wow. I can't imagine a game that I would enjoy less. :\

Personal taste is a funny ol' thing, isn't it?

I thought of another sci-fi game I'd like to try: a d20 Modern/Future version of Metamorphosis Alpha.