Star Trek RPG Player's Guide [rant]

[Staffan]

I have Traveller: The New Era (c) 1993 GDW, when I got the 3e PHB back in 2000 I immediately noticed that 3e's d20 task resolution system was almost exactly the same as that in TNE's 7 year old rules. It wouldn't surprise me that there was some 'inspiration' from TNE/Twilight 2000 in 3e's rules, although independent creation is possible too.

As I recall, TNE used d20 below (stat+skill)*difficulty factor rather than d20+stat+skill above difficulty factor. The key difference here would be that in TNE (and other GDW games), difficulty is expressed as a multiplier of the normal chance of success, whereas it's a linear thing in 3e. As an aside, this scheme means that the skill level matters *less* when trying to do difficult stuff. Also, the first game *I'm* aware of using a similar mechanic is James Bond (though it used a d100 instead of d20, and the "stat" part of the formula was often the average of two stats and in one case included another skill) which dates back to 1983. Note: I'm not saying it was the first, just that it's the first that I am aware of.

I think that a more immediate inspiration for 3e's task resolution can be found in Ars Magica, which uses d10+stat+skill vs. difficulty number. The first edition of Ars Magica was written by Mark Rein-dot-Hagen and one Jonathan Tweet. Come to think of it, a similar task resolution mechanic was used in Rolemaster (except with open-ended d100s and tons of other modifiers), and RM was first published in 1980 (again, it might have been used before that but RM is the oldest RPG I recognize that uses that mechanic).

 

[enrious]

Staffan, I think you're right about the GDW task resolution. Of course, it's very easy to alter that into the way it's handled in d20.

Thanks for the info on games I never played.

 

[mattcolville]

On reflection, I think a lot depends on what's in the Narator's Guide. If the supplements are merely expanding on concepts/rules presented there then this is no bad thing. However, at first glance the supplements sound like core facets of the game have been held back, e.g. starship combat, etc.
.

We don't consider the Narrator's Guide a supplement any more than we consider the Player's Guide a supplement. They are the two books you need to play the game. You don't need any more books than that. You want aliens? We've got rules for making new aliens in the NG. You want creatures? We've got rules for making new creatures in the NG. You want planets and ships and starship combat? We've got rules for all that in the NG.

 

[WSmith]

Matt, while we have your attention, , if you can comment, has the LOTR game gone to print yet? And while the errata for the ST PG is quite minimal, compared to another gaming company's core rule books, has there been any changes to the LOTR manuscript based on the feedback received on the Player's Guide? I know you guys are taking a lot of heat for the dark character sheet.

 

[enrious]

I know you guys are taking a lot of heat for the dark character sheet.

I thought this was a polite conversation, why'd you have to bring up the character sheet?