What is a good non-d20 sci-fi RPG?

[LostSoul]

I would go with Burning Empires. Where the Vaylen = the Cylons. There are lots of similarities, although a Cylon can't make a human into a Cylon (so far as we know! It could be different in your game).

This is only true if you want to end the BSG story in your own way. If you want to dabble around in the universe without changing anything, don't go with BE.

 

[3catcircus]

So if you're dedicated to non-d20, I'd use either:

Alternity + Warships
Star Frontiers + Knight Hawks (NOT Zebulon's Guide)

Most of the other "sci-fi" games frankly suck space combat wise - sorry Traveller, Silhouette, etc. IMO. If you can find good space combat add-ons.

I have never played Savage Worlds but that Savage Battlestar conversion looks sweet. And the Serenity game might be a good starting point as others have mentioned; it's using the Cortex engine tht the real BSG RPG will and it's got several reviews on rpg.net that are favorable.

What don't you like about Zebulon's Guide?

 

[RFisher]

Most of the other "sci-fi" games frankly suck space combat wise - sorry Traveller

Of course, it all depends upon what you're looking for combat-wise. Personally, I love cT Book 1 personal combat, though the ref needs to realize that he's going to have to supply some ad hoc modifiers. For others, Striker seems to fit the bill.

I really like At Close Quarters by BITS, though. If I had a group that wanted more wargame- than RPG-style combat, I'd probably go that route instead of Striker.

 

[smootrk]

While I know I loved Star Frontiers, I am surprised by the number of others who also seem to share this.

I had this idea on the backburner to take the core mechanics from SF and develop a Fantasy rule subset (a little more low fantasy than the traditional D&D set) based on those mechanics. I had always thought the XP system used there (where you buy a variety of improvements to your character with a small number of XP) was better than the traditional level based (D&D style) improvements; even the XP was awarded episodically or goal based. I can even envision Prestige Class type character enhancements that can be layered upon the characters. hmmm, maybe I will try to do some writing over the next few weeks.

Has there been any previous forays into re-developing SF mechanics (and I do not mean porting the setting to D20/Modern)? I would love to see if anyone else has attempted the same idea.

 

[lukzu]

I would go with Burning Empires. Where the Vaylen = the Cylons. There are lots of similarities, although a Cylon can't make a human into a Cylon (so far as we know! It could be different in your game).

Yes! Burning Empires has a macro/strategic mechanic that allows the players to defend their world against alien infiltration and usurpation. You'd have to hack in stats for Cylons, but there's a "life-form burner" in the back that gives you guidelines for cooking up new monsters and stuff.

Yes, the "world" in Burning Empires terms could be one of the worlds in BSG or it could even be one of the battlestars -- that'd be my pick. I'd want to play out the infiltration of one of the big ships.

The technology of BSG could easily be mimicked, becuase Burning Empires has tech creation rules.

And, the best part, Burning Empires supports play about relationships between characters who are at odds with what they want to do vs doing the right thing. All those weird twisted relationships between Cylon and human are easily done -- and are, in fact, mandatory!

-L

 

[buzz]

I would go with Burning Empires.

Thirded. I can't think of a better choice, though FATE or PTA might come close.

 

[Storm Raven]

I find, for most of my modern and future "normal human" type games (which I think a BSG game would be), that GURPS is my system of choice. You could weave in some GURPS: Traveller material - some of the ship design stuff seems like it would dovetail with the BSG universe fairly well, and the technical resources seem roughly on par with what we have seen in the series.

However, if I were doing this sort of campaign, I'd probably just stick with the Space, Ultra-Tech and Ultra-Tech II material for the most part, with maybe some Bio-Tech thrown in. I'd seriously consider ripping some material from Transhuman Space though, because that would support some of weird stuff surrounding the cylons if you filed off some of the serial numbers.

 

[smootrk]

If anyone is interested in having the Star Frontiers Rules, here is a site where the rules have been re-mastered as quality pdf's. Looks very nice.
http://www.starfrontiersman.com/

 

[Evilusion]

Avoid RIFTS for rules- the rules are the worst part of the game. Use RIFTS for its campaign setting.

For a good "hard" sci-fi game, its difficult to find one better than Traveller. It is, in almost every sense of the word, the D&D of Sci-Fi RPGs. It is also available in a multitude of systems, including D20 and GURPS.

That said, Alternity/StarDrive, an OOP TSR game comes close to it in quality. As I recall, it's kind of a missing link in RPGs- its still a lot like 2Ed D&D, but it has elements that would later appear in D20.

Prime Directive is a game designed around Classic Star Trek, and is in print in several systems (original, D6, D20, etc).

HERO has a sci-fi setting called StarHero. Personally, HERO is my favorite system, but its crunchiness can be a deterrent.

Mutants & Masterminds, because it is a good superhero game (second only to HERO, IMHO), could be used to run almost any genre of RP. I see it as kind of a rules light amalgam of HERO and D20.

The current version of Paranoia, while seemingly an odd choice, actually works well for what you're planning. The current edition provides rules for running the game as it has been traditionally played for so long, but also as a serious sci-fi RPG. Sub a large starship for the Alpha Complex, and Cylons for Commies, and you're good to go!

There is an old SPI game, long out of print, called Universe. It was nearly as good as Traveller, but it was released without support- as I recall, SPI folded shortly thereafter.

There is a new game by the same name- I have no idea if its related in any way- but it, too, looks to be a good hard sci-fi game.

A new entrant I'm looking forward to buying is Terran Trade Authority, based on the classic future history series by Stewart Cowley. The first book by Crowley, Spacecraft 2000 to 2100 AD, is the only one I own, but the art and storylines simply ROCK! Check it out at http://www.terrantradeauthority.com/

Wow I thought I was the only one who had these books. Now I have to get this game for good or bad. Thank you for pointing this game out.

Evilusion

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

You mean Terran Trade Authority? Yeah!

I haven't gotten it yet, but doggone it, I MUST MAKE IT MINE!