D&D 5E Starships in 5e

[Micah Sweet]

@MarkB @Micah Sweet

Would y'all say that Dark Matter is a worthy purchase in general?

I would. It has a lot of cool ideas and neat mechanics. It's more Spelljammer than science fiction though, and definitely gonzo. The included gadgeteer class is not the artificer, but rather a very different take on a technologist.

For me personally, I prefer a bit harder sci-fi, but they do a great job at integrating space stuff into D&D.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It has a lot of interesting ideas and is mostly well put together, but I found it to be a little too much its own thing. It has an established setting and a lot of game mechanics tied to that setting, which makes it a little harder to use it as a generic sci-fi D&D toolkit than I'd like.

It's good at what it does, but yes I agree. Spacewyrms and Starships, Ultramodern5e, and maybe Esper Genesis are better at being a sci-fi toolkit. I use elements of all of them in the Micahnomicon (my homebrew document).

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It has a lot of interesting ideas and is mostly well put together, but I found it to be a little too much its own thing. It has an established setting and a lot of game mechanics tied to that setting, which makes it a little harder to use it as a generic sci-fi D&D toolkit than I'd like.

Interesting. Thanks!

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I have to imagine the new Spelljammer will have info along these lines. Unless you want actual starships?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I have to imagine the new Spelljammer will have info along these lines. Unless you want actual starships?

Is mentioned upthread, we are all hoping that spelljammer expands the vehicle rules. And I’m sure DMsGuild will expand it even further based on that book.

But our particular “spelljammer” has starfighters and such, as well as spelljamming sailing ships and nautiloids and whatnot.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Is mentioned upthread, we are all hoping that spelljammer expands the vehicle rules. And I’m sure DMsGuild will expand it even further based on that book.

But our particular “spelljammer” has starfighters and such, as well as spelljamming sailing ships and nautiloids and whatnot.

Yeah, I want actual starships. As much as I enjoy Spelljammer's aesthetic, it is in no way sci-fi as it is commonly encountered. Fortunately, Level Up's upcoming Voidrunner's Codex looks to be scratching that itch.

 

[Rogerd1]

Wildjammer uses the spaceship rules from either Esper Genesis or Dark Matter (cannot recall which) to create ship combat rules. EDIT: Dark Matter as both has mega-Damage rules

Blackstorm Realms which is due out soo may well have some kind of ship combat rules, although how they work is unknown at this time.

 

[Darrin Drader]

The biggest criticism I have with SW5E is that it does technology as magic. Personally, I feel that technology shouldn't be tied to magic rules and effects, but should be its own system.

Also, if you're interested in some starship rules, I'm currently running a Kickstarter for Reign of Discordia 2nd edition, which is a space opera setting. It will have two modes of starship combat - one that is quick and dirty, and will simply track where your ship is in relation to the other ship, while the other will be tactical, hex based, and will involve maneuvers. Our KS is being run by Owen K. C. Stephens, who has been super sick for the past week and unable to run it effectively, but he'll be back in a couple days and I expect to be firing on all cylinders again. You can check it out here: Reign of Discordia for 5e/White Star

 

[doctorbadwolf]

The biggest criticism I have with SW5E is that it does technology as magic. Personally, I feel that technology shouldn't be tied to magic rules and effects, but should be its own system.

Also, if you're interested in some starship rules, I'm currently running a Kickstarter for Reign of Discordia 2nd edition, which is a space opera setting. It will have two modes of starship combat - one that is quick and dirty, and will simply track where your ship is in relation to the other ship, while the other will be tactical, hex based, and will involve maneuvers. Our KS is being run by Owen K. C. Stephens, who has been super sick for the past week and unable to run it effectively, but he'll be back in a couple days and I expect to be firing on all cylinders again. You can check it out here: Reign of Discordia for 5e/White Star

Thanks! I’ll check it out!

Yeah, I want actual starships. As much as I enjoy Spelljammer's aesthetic, it is in no way sci-fi as it is commonly encountered. Fortunately, Level Up's upcoming Voidrunner's Codex looks to be scratching that itch.

While I want the feel and customization and such of starships, I don’t especially want a fully sci-fi game, I want D&D in space.

 

[Darrin Drader]

Thanks! I’ll check it out!

While I want the feel and customization and such of starships, I don’t especially want a fully sci-fi game, I want D&D in space.

That's fair. The rules modules will stand on their own. Meaning, if you want to play in the Reign of Discordia universe, that's cool. But, if you want starships, starship rules, equipment, playable alien species, and so on you can take the parts you want to use and disregard the rest.

Personally, I don't see a lot of value as a creator and publisher in just producing the rules modules without associated IP, but as I said above, using the IP as presented is optional.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That's fair. The rules modules will stand on their own. Meaning, if you want to play in the Reign of Discordia universe, that's cool. But, if you want starships, starship rules, equipment, playable alien species, and so on you can take the parts you want to use and disregard the rest.

Personally, I don't see a lot of value as a creator and publisher in just producing the rules modules without associated IP, but as I said above, using the IP as presented is optional.

I agree completely. The second part of that post was very much primarily in response to the other poster.

I would rather have to tinker with things to shift the flavor of a thing from one setting to another, than read the dry mathematical reference book from a library text of a game book with no lore.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Thanks! I’ll check it out!

While I want the feel and customization and such of starships, I don’t especially want a fully sci-fi game, I want D&D in space.

Dark Matter would be a good option for you then.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I agree completely. The second part of that post was very much primarily in response to the other poster.

I would rather have to tinker with things to shift the flavor of a thing from one setting to another, than read the dry mathematical reference book from a library text of a game book with no lore.

There do seem to be a fair number of people who do want their rules lore-free though.

 

[Steampunkette]

... I can't go into details, but the ship rules and ship combat rules in this? Gonna be -good-. Like REALLY good.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I want D&D in space.

Man, I wish Starfinder was not written for Pathfinder but for 5e. I've considered porting it over, but choosing to prioritize my time differently...

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Dark Matter would be a good option for you then.

Yeah I’ll probably pick it up soon.

There do seem to be a fair number of people who do want their rules lore-free though.

Sure. There are people who don’t want art in game books, too. No thanks.

... I can't go into details, but the ship rules and ship combat rules in this? Gonna be -good-. Like REALLY good.

Can you comment on how compatible with stock 5e it is?

 

[SakanaSensei]

Man, I wish Starfinder was not written for Pathfinder but for 5e. I've considered porting it over, but choosing to prioritize my time differently...

This is what Dark Matter (mentioned by several posters in this thread) essentially is in my eyes. You could take the rules in that, run the Starfinder fluff if you wanted it, maybe brew some of the SF classes into either classes of their own or Subclasses that hit the flavor right if you're feeling spicy, and be good to go. That's exactly what I intend to do in my next campaign.

 

[Steampunkette]

Yeah I’ll probably pick it up soon.

Sure. There are people who don’t want art in game books, too. No thanks.

Can you comment on how compatible with stock 5e it is?

It's A5e, so just as compatible.

You could lift the Starships and Weapons and stuff out and drop them right into a standard 5e game with Starship Exertion exclusively and it would feel like a 5e Starship System.

I will say that the combat for it is really nice, and can be given greater or lesser complexity based on what you want.

 

[Ixal]

Man, I wish Starfinder was not written for Pathfinder but for 5e. I've considered porting it over, but choosing to prioritize my time differently...

Pathfinder is already not a good fit for Scifi. 5E would be worse.
The more modern a setting is (technology or theme), the less can the singular focus on combat and exclusion of everything else common to many current D20 games be justified.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It's A5e, so just as compatible.

You could lift the Starships and Weapons and stuff out and drop them right into a standard 5e game with Starship Exertion exclusively and it would feel like a 5e Starship System.

I will say that the combat for it is really nice, and can be given greater or lesser complexity based on what you want.

Okay, I’ll check it out when it comes out. I’m sure someone I know will pick it up. I’m not a huge fan of the specific vectors of complexity level up uses to add extra gears and levers to the game, nor of the sheer level of complexity, but I’m also perfectly willing to hack systems to add them to a game, if I mostly like what they do.