Tactical RPG

[Steel_Wind]

Thanks Guys,

Steel Wind - I'll check out Star Wars. I'm not a huge fan of the movies, but a couple of my players are so that may work. I own GURPS 4E, so that is an option. Is there a setting in particular that's worth trying out?

In the books? The best is Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide for SW:SE, but you are highly unlikely to find it at retail. It's out of print and goes on eBay for a fair bit of money. Starships of the Galaxy is also out of print, but easier to still find in your FLGS. (By OOP, I mean the books sold extremely well 2 years ago and WotC has no more for sale. WotC reprinted the SW: SE core rules over the past three years, but not any of the expansion books).

You can fake it though and most of the information in KotoR is available elsewhere.

The Clone Wars provides an endless backdrop against which to set your campaign. I would recommend picking-up the first and second seasons of the Clone Wars animated series on Blu-Ray for inspiration concerning that era. And yes, the Clone Wars Campaign Guide and the Galaxy at War expansion book would suit you well for use in a combat themed game. If you don't already have Heroes of Battle for 3.5 D&D. Get it. Seriously. It's PERFECT for what your players seem to like and my expectatoin is that you would enjoy it too. It will be compatible in every way that matters with SW:SE.

Comics for inspiration in KotoR era are the Tales of the Jedi Omnibus 1 and 2 from Dark Horse, and the Graphic Novels, also from Dark Horse, under the title Knights of the Old Republic.

You might want to look at the KotoR computer game. It's available on the PC for pretty cheap online $5-$10. It is an excellent game and was the 2004 Game of the Year for a reason. The PC version is preferable to the Xbox version as the PC version supports modern large resolution widescreen monitors, while the console version for the original XBox does not. KotOR 1 is a solid game which should provide you with solid inspiration for your Star Wars RPG sessions. I can't recommend KotoR 2 as highly - but it's not a BAD game. Still, KotoR 1 is vastly better.

In terms of books? Bare Bones: (1) SW:SE Core Rules. You would want (2) Galaxy at War and (3) The Clone Wars. Unless you really want to add on deep starship combat, Starships of the Galaxy is not necessaary. Threats of the Galaxy is helpful for NPC's and Droid threats, but it's not a great book.

Amazon those first three books? Should cost you under $70 and you are good to go (and cooking with gas, too).

The Order 66 Podcast is free and highly recommended to get up to speed on the rules of the game.

 

[xechnao]

I am trying to design a tactical rpg that wont depend on minis so to be done with their limitations (regardin rping and action simulation) and their heavy time demands.

But, since 4e works for you let me suggest you try Fantasy Craft. It has options that are very "boardie". Another one is Wotc's Tome of Battle for 3.5e. But regarding 3.5e, I believe 4e is more specialized for the gameplay you say you are looking for -although people do complain about 4e's lack of polish. But do have a look at Fantasy Craft.

Blood Bowl is a gamesworkshop board game that goes even beyond 4e in its tactical board gameplay. It is only about board tactics but it is one player vs one player. I have played with friends in the past and it was lots of fun. Although it is a bit difficult to master so bad luck does not have dramatic or rather tragic results for your side.

Cadwallon is another tactical rpg but it somehow differs from 4e. Its tacticality is about navigating tactical boards to accomplish certain objectives much like Commandos, the video game. For example, you should tactically sneak past enemy patrols and the like.

And that's it (for now cant think of anything else)

 

[P1NBACK]

What about Warhammer 3rd Edition Fantasy Roleplay?

 

[Bluenose]

What about Warhammer 3rd Edition Fantasy Roleplay?

Not really all that tactical/strategic in play.

Thanks Guys,

Steel Wind - I'll check out Star Wars. I'm not a huge fan of the movies, but a couple of my players are so that may work. I own GURPS 4E, so that is an option. Is there a setting in particular that's worth trying out?

For GURPS, I'm a bigger fan of the settings than the rules. Banestorm is the main fantasy setting with 4th edition, iirc. I don't own it and haven't played it, though I know someone who has it and they reckon it's pretty much standard fantasy, medieval technology, elves, dwarves, etc. Otherwise quite a few of the 'historical' sourcebooks include magic, in so far as the society believed in it. But there's such a range of material for Gurps, that narrowing down the best settings is hard to do.

 

[darjr]

How about Savage Worlds? It is derived from a miniatures war game and whenever I play it I don't use a grid and try and use lots of wargame terrain. We use tape measures to figure movements. Looks a bit like were playing warhammer or something.

 

[Zaran]

I would suggest Heavy Gear by Dream Pod 9 but I don't know if they still produce any new products. You can look up their official site and check them out. It's basically a mecha minatures game with an rpg built in.

The system is really interesting and not very complicated.

 

[darjr]

I would suggest Heavy Gear by Dream Pod 9 but I don't know if they still produce any new products. You can look up their official site and check them out. It's basically a mecha minatures game with an rpg built in.

The system is really interesting and not very complicated.

PDF at e23

Oh and I guess at the ENWorld drive thru store.

I had thought that e23 had some exclusive thing...

 

[WheresMyD20]

Car Wars might be worth trying. Players get to design their cars from the ground up, then fight it out on a tactical grid taking into account speed, acceleration, handling, fire arcs, etc. It can be played either as a cooperative RPG or as a competitive head-to-head boardgame.

I'm not sure if it's still in print or how hard it would be to find a copy.

 

[RandomCitizenX]

Savage Worlds! I would recommend Deadlands or Tour of Darkness Savage Settings for something different from D&D fantasy, but really it is all good.

 

[darjr]

Battle stations is a ship to ship space war game where each team takes over a ship to fight the other. The twist is that each team also has a separate 'board' of a ship they build out of tiles and they have to fight the battle by operation of the ship. It's really a light role playing game with the airs of a board game. Though I think they blur the difference themselves over at creators site.