The End?

[Azure Trance]

Someone I know bought a D20 Campaign Setting called The End. It's a religious based theme where you play as characters after the apocalypse. I'm sketchy on the details because I'm haven't read it but it's published by http://www.tyrannygames.com/

It's something like, the good characters went to heaven, the evil characters went to hell, and the neutrals stayed on Earth.* You can cast magic, and backgrounds which will show reactions to other religious folks. Frex, Bitter, Athiest, Change to a religion you don't really believe in, etc.

Just curious if anyone else has heard of it, played in it, or know anything about it ... I'm sorta wary about putting real world religion as such a big campaign element, but that's just me. Personally I'd like one where it'd be futuristic with angels and demons walking on the Earth.

*Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Morrus]

I've heard of it, as I get the press releases, but they're always very long and hard to read [especially for someone like me who is shooting through a list of 200-odd emails each day], so I never actually got the gist of the setting.

One of my players picked it up, though, and said it looked quite good, if that's any help.

 

[shadow]

This may be as close as we're going to get to Left Behind:d20.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Someone I know bought a D20 Campaign Setting called The End. It's a religious based theme where you play as characters after the apocalypse. I'm sketchy on the details because I'm haven't read it but it's published by http://www.tyrannygames.com/

It's something like, the good characters went to heaven, the evil characters went to hell, and the neutrals stayed on Earth.* You can cast magic, and backgrounds which will show reactions to other religious folks. Frex, Bitter, Athiest, Change to a religion you don't really believe in, etc.

Just curious if anyone else has heard of it, played in it, or know anything about it ... I'm sorta wary about putting real world religion as such a big campaign element, but that's just me. Personally I'd like one where it'd be futuristic with angels and demons walking on the Earth.

*Correct me if I'm wrong.

I have the book (and most of the available supplements).

The End is set in the future, though it is only 2006 when the Rapture starts.

Angels and Devils do walk the earth, but PCs should not encounter them at low levels. Something about the d2 h.p./level really makes combat lethal.

Magic is not something any PC will start out with. You must start as character class "The Meek" and magic does is not available in that class. Eventually you can multi-class to something else, where magic will be available.

The religious background stuff is strictly role-playing. There is no game mechanic for it. For example, a polyglot suffers from indecisiveness, but there's no game mechanic involved (although some of the other sins do have game mechanic penalties).

Yes, the game is based on real-world religions, so if that bothers you then The End is not a game for you. In the world of The End, God exists, but has turned his back on humankind after his chosen 144,000 go to heaven. Even one of his angels took too long to complete his mission, and is now trapped on earth with the mortals and other beings (the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are still around, etc.).

Despite some less-than-perfect editing (there are some annoying typos in the book and minor gaffes), the book is a great read.

The biggest different between The End and Left Behind, is that The End is actually readable. I tried to read the first Left Behind book, but couldn't make it past the first 10 pages. Really horrible writing, which is a shame considering the fascinating setting of that series. I wonder if the movie with Kirk Cameron is any better....

 

[RSKennan]

I have the original non-d20 version. It's a great read. Very disturbing yet somehow intriguing. It's strange that a game like that could make me want to be left here if events were to unfold in the way the book describes.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

I have the original non-d20 version. It's a great read. Very disturbing yet somehow intriguing. It's strange that a game like that could make me want to be left here if events were to unfold in the way the book describes.

Apparently, the "flavor text" in the new version is exactly the same as the original version; just the game mechanics have been updated. I don't have the original version, so I can't compare them myself.

As to whether or not I'd want to be left behind, well, that would depend on who's left with me. But the times between the start of the Rapture and when the game world starts are very difficult times to live in. Remember, you've got the Four Horsemen (and all their minions) to deal with, plus "the Greens," "the Blues," and all the other people. You got ecological disaster on a scale that's barely imaginable. I'm not sure why, but I get the impression that life in the world of The End *before* the game starts may be even harsher than life *during* the game world's timeframe.

 

[Mystic Eye]

I really enjoyed reading the end and the concepts considered in the game. It is certainly a role players game and not at all good for hack and slash. Starting out as one of the "meek" means everyone starts with 1d4 hit dice but a dire creature is no different than that of the MM so you can imagine how deadly the game can be. A gun can easily kill a mid-level PC with one good shot.

There is a ton that one could do with this setting and the background material is really inspired. Even if you never play it the read is well worth the price tag. I think though, if this is the type of setting you want then I am sure you will get your mileage from it.

 

[Randeth]

This may be as close as we're going to get to Left Behind:d20.

Try Armageddon by Eden Studios. Not d20 but the best game in the genre IMHO.

http://www.edenstudios.net/armageddon/

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Try Armageddon by Eden Studios. Not d20 but the best game in the genre IMHO.

http://www.edenstudios.net/armageddon/

Have you playtested it? It's not coming out until March 2003. Looks cool!

 

[Aryoche]

Actually, it was originally out the same time as the Original version of The End. The version coming out in March is the "new" version using the UniSystem rules.

Also, there was another product in a similiar vein called The Rapture. I happen to own all 3, as well as the D20 Version of The End. Looking forward to the new releases as well.