Alarian
Explorer
I've been GM'ing since the late 70's and have run many systems, so I feel fairly confident that I can run most any system. My primary requirement (other than it being fun for everyone of course) is that it needs to be easy to play in a PBEM game and it needs to be fairly easy for my players to create characters without tons of help from me. I've found if creating a character takes two weeks to make because of the complexity of the creation system combined with the slowness of email, the game in general tends to go poorly because players will end up confused with what their character can do as well as how to do it. I've both been in and run games in the past where players are asking questions all the time because of this. As I'm sure with most groups you tend to have a variety of players. Some are willing to invest time and money to get the books they need and then spend the time to create their characters, others don't want to buy any books and get frustrated if creation is difficult. In a face to face game it's easy to sit down and walk the more casual players through. In PBEM it's the opposite.
My plan is for more of a space opera. I've been reading up on quite a few different systems so I can't remember where this idea came from, but my current plan is there are going to be large scale stargates (able to accommodate large space ships) all with set destination points. But recently rumors have started appearing of technology that has been developed that allows for interstellar travel without the use of the Stargates. A race has started by the different galactic factions to first find out if the rumors are true, and then if so, to acquire it and begin to spread out and search in directions never before available.
So far I've ruled out Stars without numbers, Starblazer Adventures, Savage Worlds and Stargate SG-1. I would say Traveller (either classic or Mongoose) is a likely candidate or perhaps GURPs 4th. Several of my players have played in a Gurps Sci-fi/superhero game for several years so their is a familiarity there which is a plus. I still want to take a look at the Serenity RPG as well though and once I get a chance to dig my books out of storage, Alternity. I bought a whole bunch of Alternity books quite a few years ago when I found them in a bargain bin at a Game Store and only paid a few bucks for each. This might be a good reason to actually use them finally.
I do like the idea of letting the players design their home world. Out group has always encouraged player participation in things like that and this could be a good opportunity for that.
Thanks for the suggestions.
My plan is for more of a space opera. I've been reading up on quite a few different systems so I can't remember where this idea came from, but my current plan is there are going to be large scale stargates (able to accommodate large space ships) all with set destination points. But recently rumors have started appearing of technology that has been developed that allows for interstellar travel without the use of the Stargates. A race has started by the different galactic factions to first find out if the rumors are true, and then if so, to acquire it and begin to spread out and search in directions never before available.
So far I've ruled out Stars without numbers, Starblazer Adventures, Savage Worlds and Stargate SG-1. I would say Traveller (either classic or Mongoose) is a likely candidate or perhaps GURPs 4th. Several of my players have played in a Gurps Sci-fi/superhero game for several years so their is a familiarity there which is a plus. I still want to take a look at the Serenity RPG as well though and once I get a chance to dig my books out of storage, Alternity. I bought a whole bunch of Alternity books quite a few years ago when I found them in a bargain bin at a Game Store and only paid a few bucks for each. This might be a good reason to actually use them finally.
I do like the idea of letting the players design their home world. Out group has always encouraged player participation in things like that and this could be a good opportunity for that.
Thanks for the suggestions.
