True20 Darwin's World

[Flynn]

Good Morning, All,

I've read recently that a True20 version of Darwin's World is now available. Can it be run as is? Or would I need other books from the past in order to make it work? In other words, is it a complete book for running a campaign in and of itself? I'm just looking to check it out, but I don't want to buy it if I'm going to have to turn around and buy half a dozen other products to be able to use it.

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[Committed Hero]

Decide for yourself!

Or wait for Vig to reply....

 

[Flynn]

Decide for yourself!

Or wait for Vig to reply....

Sadly, I've seen that, and there's not enough information for me to make a valid judgement in these regards. It looks like you can build a character, and with the True20 core rules, probably run a basic game. Does this thing include enough background material to support a campaign? What about creatures encountered in the post-apocalyptic deadlands?

Thanks for answering, though,
Flynn

 

[iwatt]

Sadly, I've seen that, and there's not enough information for me to make a valid judgement in these regards. It looks like you can build a character, and with the True20 core rules, probably run a basic game. Does this thing include enough background material to support a campaign? What about creatures encountered in the post-apocalyptic deadlands?

Thanks for answering, though,
Flynn

Well, for setting fluff there's a free Darwin's world Gazeeter at the RPG Objects site.

For monsters, you could use the True20 Bestiary and apply mutations as per the Mutant template that comes in the Survivor's guide (true20).

There is talk of a MOnster conversion for True20, but I get the idea that Chuck is slightly True20'd out right now (Wild West, Blood & Fists and Darwin's World).

 

[Jim Hague]

There is almost no background material in the True20 Survivor's Handbook. Personally, I don't consider that a bad thing.

The only stuff in the SH are Backgrounds, Feats and stuff - weapons, armor, widgets of various sorts. Feats also include an extensive and decently-done mutations system. No creature stats are provided, but there's a Mutant template to apply to various creatures.

Over all, it's a good book...but with some caveats:

*There's a lot of straight conversion work done, and that means things aren't quite in sync with the system. Particularly, there's some charts that use polyhedrals not found in True20 (which uses just the d20), and weapon damages are (IMO) way, way, way out of proportion - some doing +18 damage and above, which is fairly nuts, given the Toughness doesn't escalate like Hit Points.

*There's some editing errors that slipped through the cracks, particular referencing other DW books that have not been converted as yet.

I'm hoping Chuck'll come on to address these issues - it's nothing major, honestly, and easily fixed with applying another editorial pass and some of the existing material from the True20 Companion.

 

[Vigilance]

Good Morning, All,

I've read recently that a True20 version of Darwin's World is now available. Can it be run as is? Or would I need other books from the past in order to make it work? In other words, is it a complete book for running a campaign in and of itself? I'm just looking to check it out, but I don't want to buy it if I'm going to have to turn around and buy half a dozen other products to be able to use it.

With Regards,
Flynn

The book is the complete Survivor's Handbook, as well as the Artifacts of the Ancients.

In other words, it's got everything you need to make a character, as well as all the futuristic technology converted to True 20.

For campaign support, there's also the Gazetteer of the Twisted Earth, the home setting of Darwin's World, which is all fluff, and available online free from us here:

http://rpgobjects.com/index.php?page=pro&product_id=29

So... you've got characters for true 20 (including mutations), post apocalyptic tech for true 20, and a fluff-only setting that's free.

Is that enough for a campaign? I think so.

No we haven't converted the monsters yet, but a lot of PA campaigns don't use monsters.

Also, when I playtested it, I was able to do all sorts of freaky monsters for true 20 very quick by taking animals and adding mutations and defects using the system in the True 20 Darwin's World guide.

So I guess it depends on the type of campaign you want to run, but I feel it's completely playable as is, especially if you have the True 20 Beastiary.

Thanks for asking about the game and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Chuck

 

[Vigilance]

Also, Id like to apologize in advance if Im a little slower to respond than my usual gregarious self.

I recently got a very, very lucrative gig that also came with a very, very tight deadline.

So you're talking to a guy who has written 28 pages of game rules since Friday.

Man it makes me tired just reading that.

Anyway, back to the conversation!

Chuck

 

[Jim Hague]

*gasp!*

How dare you make money, Chuck! I think we and the thread'll still be here when you get back. And congrats, whatever the gig is!

 

[PosterBoy]

Just to add what chuck said, this was a conversion of the Survivor's Handbook, the player's handbook for DW per say.

The gazetteer is FREE and has no game rules.

The Campaign Guide is 90% system neutral. It's got advice for GM's, some examples adventure locations (and maps) that have no stats, and it outlines all the major factions in DW (with stats blocks). The only real crunch in the book is the stat blocks and some rules for various experimental hazards. So I think this is a good book for any system. I don't know if I would bother using one of the six true20 products we're allow to convert this since it mostly system neutral.

The monster book, Terrors of the Twisted Earth, is totally d20 modern. So if the SH does well enough, this will get converted.

 

[jaerdaph]

Caveat: I love RPGObjects and their d20 Modern books are more core than WotC's d20 Modern books in my games. They are one of the best RPG publishing companies out there.

With that said, I have to admit I'm a little disappointed to see that DW goes against the basic tenant of True20 - all you need is a d20. I'm more surprised Green Ronin allowed that in their approval process as well. I saw RPGObjects' explanation at GR's True20 forums that some things in DW just wouldn't convert without using other dice. I accept that, but I also think it is a little weak as an argument. I'm not convinced it couldn't be done. Was it more a question of deadlines and schedule? In retrospect, was Darwin's World a bad candidate for True20 conversion?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Either way, I still think you guys are one of the best publishers out there.