Sell me on Dawning Star

[Tetsubo]

I've heard a few comments that Dawning Star is a solid product. But my gaming budget has gotten rather tight as of late. Why should I buy Dawning Star? Can those that like it tell me why? TIA.

 

[Crothian]

This is all I got

 

[LeeHammock]

I've heard a few comments that Dawning Star is a solid product. But my gaming budget has gotten rather tight as of late. Why should I buy Dawning Star? Can those that like it tell me why? TIA.

Well, I wrote a lot of it, so I may not be the best source for an unbiased opinion. However, here are some of the reviews it has gotten so far:

Enworld Review = www.enworld.org/reviews.php?do=review&reviewid=2139278

Silven Crossroads review = www.silven.com/print.asp?case=sectionarticle&camefrom=modern&id=476

Reviews on RPGNow = www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4350&

If you've got any specific questions I would be happy to answer them, or I could just tell you how its the best thing ever (but, again being the author you may not want to take my word for that).

Lee Hammock

 

[Wycen]

Like Lee above, I am probably biased as well so I will provide the links to free downloads that might help you make up your mind.

Chapter 1, free of crunch right here: http://www.dawningstar.com/pdf/ds_oql_preview.pdf

Color map of the planet here: http://www.dawningstar.com/downloads/Planet_Map_color_HiRes.zip

4 sample 1st level PC's, including an alien and a few feats and gear only available in the book: http://www.dawningstar.com/pdf/SamplePCs.pdf

The download page including these and other bits is here: http://www.dawningstar.com/downloads.htm

I provided additional material for the book and would be happy to answer anyone's questions or just talk in general.

 

[Justin D. Jacobson]

I've heard a few comments that Dawning Star is a solid product. But my gaming budget has gotten rather tight as of late. Why should I buy Dawning Star? Can those that like it tell me why? TIA.

I'll add that its the only full-scale, science-fiction campaign setting built on d20 Modern and powered by d20 Future.

I think DS's greatest strength is its versatility. It was designed, using the Eberron model, to support a number of different sub-genres: Firefly-esque space westerns, Troopers-esque bughunters, alien relic hunting, political intrigue, and -- based on future products in the line -- galactic war.

Unfortunately, DS is so new that there aren't a lot of people out there who've got their hands on it yet.

 

[Aristotle]

I'm interested to see how they went about doing a modern/future campaign setting. How much dependency is there for the Modern/Future books?

It looks like an excellent product. I was a bit concerned at first as some of the basic story elements I had heard sounded very similar to a setting I've been developing (and have a pipe dream of releasing), but in reading some of the reviews and freely available material it definately seems to have gone a different direction from my concept.

 

[Justin D. Jacobson]

I'm interested to see how they went about doing a modern/future campaign setting. How much dependency is there for the Modern/Future books?

If I understand your question correctly, the only thing you need is d20 Modern. If you have d20 Future, you can fully incorporate about 90% of it into your DS campaign. So, it would be a good resource for DS, but I wouldn't say you need it.

 

[bubbalin]

I'll add that its the only full-scale, science-fiction campaign setting built on d20 Modern and powered by d20 Future.

I think DS's greatest strength is its versatility. It was designed, using the Eberron model, to support a number of different sub-genres: Firefly-esque space westerns, Troopers-esque bughunters, alien relic hunting, political intrigue, and -- based on future products in the line -- galactic war.

Unfortunately, DS is so new that there aren't a lot of people out there who've got their hands on it yet.

Any chance you could say what are some of the planned future releases? Will they see print at some point?

 

[Justin D. Jacobson]

Any chance you could say what are some of the planned future releases? Will they see print at some point?

We've got seven more products planned for this year alone. All are planned for print and pdf format. And, what's more, it was all printed in the back of OQL, so I can't squirm my way out of it:

• Helios Rising – Take your Dawning Star campaign to the stars! Explore the farthest reaches of the Helios system from the Saurian Empire of the planet C’Thalk to the cryptic mechanical metropolis on the planet Apollo. 11 playable alien species with exhaustive information and rules for each, detailed maps and descriptions of every point of interest in the system. 208 pages (HC), $29.95, May 2005.
  
• Silver Eclipse – Like the gleam of a night star, a spacecraft streaks through the skies above Eos. Climb aboard a saurian dreadnought or take the helm of a straasian hiveship. Starship templates and floorplans for every major alien species, advanced starship construction rules and mechanics for space warfare. 128 pages, $21.95, July 2005.
  
• Heroes of Helios – When shadows cast over the land, only the light of true heroes can stand against it. This sourcebook presents a host of new options for your Dawning Star character, including new feats, talent trees, classes, alternate alien species, character concepts, and an extended character record folio. 208 pages, $29.95, August 2005.
  
• Shadow Falling – A quick-and-dirty relic hunt goes horribly wrong, and you are sent in to rescue the excavation team. The activation of some long-dormant transport system leaves you trapped deep beneath the surface of Eos on the outskirts of a vaasi warcamp. Who will come to save you? An entry-level adventure usable in any space-faring campaign. 48 pages, $9.95, August 2005.
  
• Dawning Star GM’s Screen – A PL 9 resource for every d20 GM. This landscape-oriented screen features new color art by Danilo Moretti and every table, chart, or rule you’ll ever need. $9.95, August 2005.
  
• Shining Star – The jewel of the Republic, the city of Dawning Star represents the best of the human spirit. Every day, hard-working citizens strive to rebuild society, from the Chinese grease monkey keeping the machinery running smoothly to the Mexican EDF agent tracking illicit arms shipments within the walls. Detailed city maps and location descriptions, dozens of NPCs, and a host of adventure seeds. 96 pages, $18.95, October 2005.
  
• Rebel Stronghold – Roger’s Point is a bastion of true freedom on Eos … and they’ll have words with anyone who says otherwise. The largest and most powerful faction camp is home to many colorful characters, and this sourcebook serves them all up. 96 pages, $18.95, November 2005.
  
• Shadow War – The war between shadow and light ends here and ends now. Spanning from the depths of the Eotian ruins to the heart of the Vaasi Empire, this mega-adventure, complete with side treks, takes characters from levels 1 to 20 and beyond. 208 pages, $29.95, November 2005.

Our next product is Helios Rising, which as you can see was scheduled for a May release. I haven't officially announced it yet, but we're going to shoot for a June release instead. We found the 208-page projection just wasn't enough to get the job done. With the extra material, we needed to push back the release to accomodate the additional time for playtesting and layout. I'll have an official new page-count projection in a week or two.

 

[DMH]

Some interesting bits:

1) One solar system with several living worlds.

2) Alien threat reminds me of SG: Atlantis

3) Can have several themes for settings- Western, horror, exploration, trader, and space opera (within one system).

4) It is "firm" science which means they through out science where it would reduce the fun factor (though I think the terraforming skill is a joke).

5) Several alien PCs species. There is only one in Quick Launch, which looks similar reason to human for an excellent reason (which I am not going to spoil here).

6) Lots of cool technology from PL 5 to 7.

I like it- it reminds me of Transhuman Space in another system and with aliens.