Well, here is the ICQ log between me and my buddy about his impressions of the Farscape game. I put the comments into two sections, Rules and RPG.NET, and Campaign Play.
Looks like Farscape is going to not only to be a fine d20 game, but also offer more stuff for adaption, such as a way to fuel psionic abilities without vitality points.
RULES AND RPG.NET REVIEW
Kenshiro:
Big spread of Moya and some Prowlers, mmmm-hmmmm
Voneth:
So how are the psi powers?
Kenshiro:
so-so, some feats and the usual telepathy, etc., they're cool, but I'll bet you want something like Maldis' power to reach into the human soul, right?
Voneth:
Not really, but some stuff like in Spycraft would be good. Or is SC still the top dog in psi rules until Mongoose comes out with it "Rookie's guide to Psi."
Kenshiro:
actually, it's pretty much the same stuff as in SC, but not as pervasive as the stuff in Shadowforce Archer...hell, you'd need another book to have the stuff that Zhaan (and Delvians) can do, and Chiana's Clairvoyance, and Maldis' Quantum Psi, etc
Voneth:
so same power level or weaker?
Kenshiro:
same power level, different scale, tho...it IS Space Opera
Voneth:
So Farscape psi powers have a longer ranges?
Kenshiro:
yeah, and somewhat more intense...ever seen Zhaan do take Moya's pain into herself and live afterwards?
Voneth:
yep, I also read the RPG.net review. Control seems to be a good substitute for a lack of vitality points in the game and the permanent wound penalty for overloading seemed cool. So we should have waited for Farscape instead of Series Archer?
Kenshiro:
depends on how you look at it...I would've bought both, since Archer has stuff that Farscape doesn't and vice-versa in regards to Psi
Voneth:
I was thinking that my SC stuff could be a resource for Farscape and visa versa. I was just wonder how much a pain it would be to convert the power costs over.
Kenshiro:
well, haven't read all of Farscape yet, but it looks like some homework might be involve if you wanna do conversions
Voneth:
So what is the coolest rule you saw so far?
Kenshiro:
Combat Acrobatics, using Control instead of vitality, permanent Wounds, starship creation
Voneth:
I thought the RPG.net review was sort of funny. "There was no scale for the hexes in starship combat." As long as something says how many hexes a ship takes up (i.e. a huge ship takes up two hexes) then scale is irrelevant.
Kenshiro:
hehe, yeah...kinda makes sense if you're dealing with a little NASA module against a Scarran Dreadnought (hint, hint)
Voneth:
It sounds like the new rules are interesting and can be fairly easy to borrow for d20 general
Kenshiro:
yup, in fact, there's a lot of stuff there that could be used in d20 modern and Dragonstar and Star Wars
Voneth:
Scorpy. Though why he has strength of 9 is beyond me. But my theory is that since the book is what 1 or 2 years late? That Scorpy's strength was made obvious long after his write up and no one caught it.
Kenshiro:
yeah, he's been able to rough up a few people and Crichton included now and then...it's probably an andrenal boost from his Scarran half
Voneth:
You got the book, does he have such a feat?
Kenshiro:
as long as it doesn't take me an arn or so...ok...the the frelling Scorpy doesn't have a feat like that, but he's at relatively low level, and Scarrans do get a +2 to strength and can increase it by roll control
Voneth:
And he must have a high wisdom, which would up his control, yes. What is his class. I have a feeling my old "1st ed." Star Wars book is going to come in handy.
Kenshiro:
would you believe he's a Diplomat/Scientist/Rogue ;0 He aint that low level. I take it that multiclassing is fairly loose in Farscape. I think I could revamp him as Scentist/SW Crimelord. He's not of course, but he just seems to have a more fear and loyalty thing going for him.
Kenshiro:
well, low level as an antagonist for starting players...and yes, he fits the SW Crimelord bill, but you could also use the Officer prestige class for him...he has commanded Peacekeeper in battle
Voneth:
I was thinking officer, but then I thought that would fit Crais much better.
Kenshiro:
Scorpy would be a low level officer, Crais is a higher-level officer...Scorpy beats Crais in the connections and schmoozing dept.
CAMPAIGN PLAY
Voneth:
The way I want to play is that if you have seen the series, then you can't play a human, go to the room on the right please. If you have never seen Farscape. You can only play a human, here is your handout. I'll be back shortly.
Then I will play that the human characters are on a rescue mission for John and end up on another escaped Leviathan.
Kenshiro:
LOL, that's a good idea...I'll steal it, thank you...
Of course, it's gonna be like a cross between Stargate SG-1 and Farscape..."So, you say you created a pseudo-wormhole in Area 51 and want to send the team of astronauts and Special Forces to find one guy?"
Voneth:
Well, it would work better with just one human PC. Then I would also tell him to make up a personal reason to find John as well as a rescue. Yep, but in Farscape it would be so right to make it a personal and professional motivation.
You see I "get" it. And it would be cool to introduce players into the game as their human PCs would be , completely clueless.
Kenshiro:
well, duh, I get it, too...unless the group has already seen Farscape and are jonesin' to play a Marauder Team, Nebari freedom fighters, etc
Voneth:
If they have all seen the show then, I'll open up the possibilities. Hell, after seen the "Scarren Nobility" with telepathic abilites and an urge to do deep espionage, they would be cool too, considering that Farscape's done it all, it doesn't matter what you do, Chris, there's an episode for whatever you want to do, look at the one where Crichton has to get married to the princess: action, intrigue, romance, sex, espionage, etc
Voneth:
Kenshiro:
well, if we go by the review, I'll say it is...I usually don't buy stuff that's below a 3.5 average in their scale
Voneth:
Ahh I thought of my twist for my "replicant" Farscape game. The PC are chased by Scarrens first then Peacekeepers.
Kenshiro:
LOL....that's gonna be fun...the Scarrans are as nasty and ruthless (if not more) than the PKs...I wouldn't be surprised of the players want to enlist with Scorpy and co.
Voneth:
My later twist would be "hey these guys look like humans, they are not huge and don't throw around heat, how bad could they be?"
"Of couse we are not as bad as those monstrous Scarrens. Please find refuge in our spacious command carrier. All that propaganda about us is just lies."
Kenshiro:
right, and then they start hearing stories and rumors about the rogue Leviathan commanded by the only people to make it out of the Uncharted Territories and into Tormented Space, etc. etc.
Voneth:
See how easy this would be? Heaven forbid I run into a group that never watched the show. I could take them through the episodes pretty easy. Especially since a episode seems to have a formula ... Crew has a problem, they easily find a solution. Said solution doesn't work and makes things 10 times worse. Crew finds a new solution that is almost suicidal to enact and then prays.
