Trying to create a modern-ish-like campaign setting

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

Hey, been a while since a started a thread. But, anyways, my gaming buddy and good friend came up with the idea that our group should try playing something else. Out of a unanimous vote, we're going to play something in a modern setting without all the occult and magic stuff. Out of everyone in our group, the current DM is the only that has the core d20 modern book and related stuff. SoB, that guy. As for the world we'll be play with, there are three main continents. The first is based on Europe, Russia, and Austrailia; the second is based off Africa and China; and the third is based on North and South America. Humans only.

The catch? It is also a very low-psionic setting. This site is what we are going to project our weapons on, since it does update when new weapons and such are made.

My question to you ENWorlders? Does anyone know any sites where I can find out vehicle brands and such?

 

[Asmo]

"Unanimous"

Asmo

 

[Herobizkit]

Bryon,
You may not be aware of this, but all of d20 Modern's support material can be found for FREE at www.wizards.com. Each chapter comes in pure text form; no pictures, no flavour text, and no helpful examples of any game mechanics in action.

But it's FREE, and gives you everything you could need for character generation, weapons examples, psionics, and lots of other fun information.

 

[Stormborn]

Bryon,
You may not be aware of this, but all of d20 Modern's support material can be found for FREE at www.wizards.com. Each chapter comes in pure text form; no pictures, no flavour text, and no helpful examples of any game mechanics in action.

But it's FREE, and gives you everything you could need for character generation, weapons examples, psionics, and lots of other fun information.

Well, not all of it, but all of it you might need. Some of the books, like d20 Past, haven't been added yet. However, a low psionics world would be easilly do-able from the MSRD. Although you might want to check out Green Ronin's Psychic Handbook which has a psionics as skills system and includes a d20M adavanced class for easier incorporation into your game.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

If you check the important threads index at http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=359 you can find a thread that gives stats for vehicles.

Having said that, vehicle rules are one of d20 Modern's weak points. I found a combination of Spycraft and d20 Modern worked best for me.

D20 Modern has rules for things like grenade launchers and RPG launchers. They're designed for ease of use first, game balance second and realism third. (Also check the d20 Modern web enhancement for a few more bits of equipment like that.)

 

[SWBaxter]

As for the world we'll be play with, there are three main continents. The first is based on Europe, Russia, and Austrailia; the second is based off Africa and China; and the third is based on North and South America. Humans only.

This sounds like kind of a lot of work. Most d20 Modern campaigns seem to use the real world as a base, and make whatever changes are needed rather than try and come up with a coherent world all at once. You might want to consider that route.

My question to you ENWorlders? Does anyone know any sites where I can find out vehicle brands and such?

As noted, you can get game stats pretty much for free from the SRD. For brand names and such, I'm a big fan of Wikipedia. For example, if I want to include a trip to northern British Columbia by seaplane, a little poking around turns up the list of aircraft by category and list of aircraft manufacturers, which can get me to the specific info I need pretty quickly. Same applies for many other vehicle types, weapons, other equipment, interesting places, etc.

 

[GreatLemur]

This sounds like kind of a lot of work. Most d20 Modern campaigns seem to use the real world as a base, and make whatever changes are needed rather than try and come up with a coherent world all at once.

Yeah, but I've gotta say, this does sound interesting. Looks like they're going to take a wholly different world and history, and say that it just coincidentally evolved and developed into something analogous to 21st century Earth. I'd love to see what they end up with.

 

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

Bryon,
You may not be aware of this, but all of d20 Modern's support material can be found for FREE at www.wizards.com. Each chapter comes in pure text form; no pictures, no flavour text, and no helpful examples of any game mechanics in action.

But it's FREE, and gives you everything you could need for character generation, weapons examples, psionics, and lots of other fun information.

Okay, cool. This is will solve some of out problems, thanks.

Well, not all of it, but all of it you might need. Some of the books, like d20 Past, haven't been added yet. However, a low psionics world would be easilly do-able from the MSRD. Although you might want to check out Green Ronin's Psychic Handbook which has a psionics as skills system and includes a d20M adavanced class for easier incorporation into your game.

Psionics as a skill system? Does not compute.

If you check the important threads index at http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=359 you can find a thread that gives stats for vehicles.

Having said that, vehicle rules are one of d20 Modern's weak points. I found a combination of Spycraft and d20 Modern worked best for me.

D20 Modern has rules for things like grenade launchers and RPG launchers. They're designed for ease of use first, game balance second and realism third. (Also check the d20 Modern web enhancement for a few more bits of equipment like that.)

Hmm. I don't goto the Wizards forums because of all the heated debate that gets out of control. But I'll make this exception.

This sounds like kind of a lot of work. Most d20 Modern campaigns seem to use the real world as a base, and make whatever changes are needed rather than try and come up with a coherent world all at once. You might want to consider that route.

Yes, lots of work. But we like challanges.

As noted, you can get game stats pretty much for free from the SRD. For brand names and such, I'm a big fan of Wikipedia. For example, if I want to include a trip to northern British Columbia by seaplane, a little poking around turns up the list of aircraft by category and list of aircraft manufacturers, which can get me to the specific info I need pretty quickly. Same applies for many other vehicle types, weapons, other equipment, interesting places, etc.

OOOO!! I like!

Yeah, but I've gotta say, this does sound interesting. Looks like they're going to take a wholly different world and history, and say that it just coincidentally evolved and developed into something analogous to 21st century Earth. I'd love to see what they end up with.

Hehe, you aren't the only one. I'm curious to where it'll lead as well, since making the history and government devolopement over the centuries and all that fun stuff will be insanely hard while we're mapping the landscape.

 

[Nadaka]

snip...

Hmm. I don't goto the Wizards forums because of all the heated debate that gets out of control. But I'll make this exception.
snip...

The d20 modern section of the WotC boards are, IMO, far more friendly than the D&D and other sections. Its quite shocking to see the difference on the occasions that I visit the D&D section.

I believe the vehicle thread he was refering to is this: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=345845

crazy ironstars used car lot, with everything from the a 1960 volvo mini bus to a modern high performance tuner, to the space shuttle, to the Iowa battleship, to the A10 Warthog (I did that one), and more.

and in battles14s sig you can find a link to his 2005 bluebook, with hundreds of 2005 model vehicles.
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=688083

 

[Herobizkit]

Psionics as a skill system? Does not compute.

I don't have the supplement, but I'll take a stab at it.

In short, each psionic power/set of powers is now a skill instead of an automatic power. You need to roll a "psionics" check in order to successfully activate the power. IMO, it adds more die rolls where less is better, but whatever floats your boat.

(I mean, skill-based MAGIC, I can completely understand, especially if you have to create a spell piecemeal; see Elements of Magic: Mythic Earth for a d20 Modern-compatible take on skill-based magic.)