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The great d20 sci-fi bakeoff
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<blockquote data-quote="Azgulor" data-source="post: 3032366" data-attributes="member: 14291"><p>My players have expressed a desire to switch to sci-fi for a bit from our regular fantasy campaign. While d20 Modern/Future would seem the obvious choice for sci-fi d20 goodness, there are elements of it that just don't work for me. Also the d20 Future supplements have been a real mixed bag. While there is always something good in them, there's also usually something that just turns me off (firearm rules & spaceship combat). Now realizing that sci-fi has so many different elements that appeal to different people, a few parameters may be in order.</p><p></p><p>So here's the criteria for the sci-fi campaign qualities I'd like to be able to run:</p><p>"Rubber" sci-fi. Doesn't have to be realisitic, but ideally it would be internally consistent.</p><p>FTL is possible, but more of a new frontier rather than Star Wars style empire.</p><p>Ability to emulate aliens, cyborgs, and genetically enhanced individuals.</p><p>Slugthrowers (at least for humans) rather than ray guns.</p><p>Ability to create vehicles and spaceships.</p><p>Be able to blend PC vs. vehicle combat as well as vehicle vs. spaceship.</p><p>Decent spaceship combat - both fighter vs. fighter and capital ship scale battles (I don't consider the spaceship combat in d20 Future to meet this requirement)</p><p></p><p>Examples of what I want would include:</p><p>TV/Movie Influences: Battlestar Galactica (new), Alien, Aliens, Serenity</p><p>Video Game Influences: Halo, Deus Ex, Alien vs. Predator, Far Cry, Starcraft (setting/story not gameplay)</p><p></p><p>Preferred candidates:</p><p><strong>d20 Modern/Future</strong> - if you think this is the best route, what supplements do you recommend to achieve my criteria. I'd be willing to blend OGL with d20 M/F if it achieves the desired result</p><p><strong>Spycraft 2.0</strong> - Love the skills, love the feats, love the dramatic conflicts but there is no near-term sci-fi support (Farthest Star & Shatterpunk are too far out to be useful). Lots of house rule/crunch heavy lifting left to do.</p><p><strong>Grim Tales</strong> - possibly a middle ground option since so much d20 integrates and it rewrites some of the d20 Modern problem areas.</p><p><strong>Mutants & Masterminds</strong> - can it do straight sci-fi? As in no "powers" beyond alien abilities and/or psionic humans?</p><p></p><p>Fallback Candidate:</p><p><strong>Alternity</strong> - I've run a successful campaign in the past, but was really hoping to stick with d20-compatible material. If everything else comes up short, though...</p><p></p><p>So for the d20 sci-fi gurus out there, HELP!</p><p></p><p>Azgulor</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Azgulor, post: 3032366, member: 14291"] My players have expressed a desire to switch to sci-fi for a bit from our regular fantasy campaign. While d20 Modern/Future would seem the obvious choice for sci-fi d20 goodness, there are elements of it that just don't work for me. Also the d20 Future supplements have been a real mixed bag. While there is always something good in them, there's also usually something that just turns me off (firearm rules & spaceship combat). Now realizing that sci-fi has so many different elements that appeal to different people, a few parameters may be in order. So here's the criteria for the sci-fi campaign qualities I'd like to be able to run: "Rubber" sci-fi. Doesn't have to be realisitic, but ideally it would be internally consistent. FTL is possible, but more of a new frontier rather than Star Wars style empire. Ability to emulate aliens, cyborgs, and genetically enhanced individuals. Slugthrowers (at least for humans) rather than ray guns. Ability to create vehicles and spaceships. Be able to blend PC vs. vehicle combat as well as vehicle vs. spaceship. Decent spaceship combat - both fighter vs. fighter and capital ship scale battles (I don't consider the spaceship combat in d20 Future to meet this requirement) Examples of what I want would include: TV/Movie Influences: Battlestar Galactica (new), Alien, Aliens, Serenity Video Game Influences: Halo, Deus Ex, Alien vs. Predator, Far Cry, Starcraft (setting/story not gameplay) Preferred candidates: [B]d20 Modern/Future[/B] - if you think this is the best route, what supplements do you recommend to achieve my criteria. I'd be willing to blend OGL with d20 M/F if it achieves the desired result [B]Spycraft 2.0[/B] - Love the skills, love the feats, love the dramatic conflicts but there is no near-term sci-fi support (Farthest Star & Shatterpunk are too far out to be useful). Lots of house rule/crunch heavy lifting left to do. [B]Grim Tales[/B] - possibly a middle ground option since so much d20 integrates and it rewrites some of the d20 Modern problem areas. [B]Mutants & Masterminds[/B] - can it do straight sci-fi? As in no "powers" beyond alien abilities and/or psionic humans? Fallback Candidate: [B]Alternity[/B] - I've run a successful campaign in the past, but was really hoping to stick with d20-compatible material. If everything else comes up short, though... So for the d20 sci-fi gurus out there, HELP! Azgulor [/QUOTE]
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