Where have you been all my life? (Spycraft)

[Ranger REG]

[missing tagline: d20 System]

My God. This is the coolest rules set ever devised with d20. I've never seen a game that did so much with d20 outside of Mutants and Masterminds. Just playing it demo-wise, I never realized the depth that it had. Just reading the Faceman class had me wanting to play one. Then, reading the Fixer, had me wanting to play one. THEN, reading the Pointman made me want to play one. And THEN...

You get the idea. Peter Kapera, and all others on this project, you are god.

Better late than never.

Wait till your wife surprise you with Stargate SG-1 (powered by Spycraft).

 

[Von Ether]

We've stolen the chase rules to use in our d20Modern campaign. Lotsa fun!

Highly suggested.

 

[Morgenstern]

As an early Xmas present, My wife picked me up Spycraft last night. First time I've ever had a chance to read the rules in depth. and I've only played one game of it ever (at Gencon), and I'm only up to Dept's and Classes, and I skimmed the rest, but I've got to say:

My God. This is the coolest rules set ever devised with d20. I've never seen a game that did so much with d20 outside of Mutants and Masterminds. Just playing it demo-wise, I never realized the depth that it had. Just reading the Faceman class had me wanting to play one. Then, reading the Fixer, had me wanting to play one. THEN, reading the Pointman made me want to play one. And THEN...

Excellent. That's the reactions we were looking for . Some people don't 'get' the Pointman right away, but dang does that class shine in a party .

You get the idea. [Patrick] Kapera, and all others on this project, you are god.

Heh. Wait 'til you've seen the rest of what we've cooked up. There is a lot more goodies awaiting you .

At the same time, darn you to heck, because I cannot simultaneously run Forgotten Realms, Arcana Unearthed, and Spycraft all at the same time. There aren't enough hours in the day. I'm screwed.

But thank you, all the same.

Ah... I'm glad you're enjoying it . You'll like the chases rules. I'm putting together some new reference lists (department and class guides, skill uses, a master feat diagram) on the Spycraft boards, and an updated eratta document should be going up on the site soon. Feel free to drop by the forums (www.spycraftRPG.com) and say 'hi', there's lots of helpful folks there .

 

[Henry]

...But yeah, man, all the expansion books have rules I'm dropping into games left and right. They handle complex skill checks better than D20Modern, the chase rules are so pretty, I use a stripped down variant of their skills & feats psi for all magic FX and Psi Fx ... the only book from the expansions not worth the money was, oddly, the '60's Decade book. Everything else is pure gaming goodness.

Having now played at least one demo game of it, I have to say our group also enjoyed it.

Interestingly enough, Spycraft is one of the few d20 books I own which has rules that FILL HOLES in many places in d20. I could easily drop the chase rules into any d20 game, even 3E or 3.5E, because rules are missing for good cinematic chases across the board. Not any more.

Similarly, the "Backgrounds" rules scream to be dropped into all other d20 games, because it's so generic, and encourages players and GM's who are not naturally background-oriented to supply them. The class abilities of the Pointman, Faceman, Fixer, and Snoop are perfect to add as optional high-level feats or class ability options to Rogues in D&D, because they aren't just bonus-oriented, but rather foster roleplay. The martial arts and style feat trees are a breath of fresh air, and I don't even need to go into the Action Dice, but the fact that they are required for crits and fumbles made my group sit up and take notice of them! Last year we played about a half-dozen games of d20 Modern, and the action points NEVER GOT USED. My players simply forgot about them!

I plan to play a lot more of this game in the future, though for now it's back to Forgotten Realms. However, I do know how any horse- or wagon-chases are going to be turning out in the future...

You'll like the chases rules. I'm putting together some new reference lists (department and class guides, skill uses, a master feat diagram) on the Spycraft boards, and an updated eratta document should be going up on the site soon. Feel free to drop by the forums (www.spycraftRPG.com) and say 'hi', there's lots of helpful folks there

A-Ha! Speak of deities and they appear! Thanks for the help, Morgenstern. I'll be sure to check in, because I have lots of questions.

Thanks to all for the replies!

 

[Von Ether]

Speaking of taking things over to other systems, how does one balance out the "resources" system since your gear and gadget points are part of the class balance (it seems that combat types get less gear and the techies get more.)

I ask this since I have an upcoming game where the PC will be cut off from support for a few levels.

 

[Garmorn]

Speaking of taking things over to other systems, how does one balance out the "resources" system since your gear and gadget points are part of the class balance (it seems that combat types get less gear and the techies get more.)

I ask this since I have an upcoming game where the PC will be cut off from support for a few levels.

There are whole treads on the class creation rules for Spycraft system. They have a very well done formula that the classes follow.

The basic ansewer to your question is that the class ability table (i.e. the table that shows BAB, Saves, ect) are set with a system. The total of the number when added across the top row total 8 IIRMC. Because each column only has three choices which are high, medium, and low the system works.

This make it easy for the people that want to design classes to do so in a blanced manner alot easier then in standard D&D.

 

[Luddite]

Speaking of taking things over to other systems, how does one balance out the "resources" system since your gear and gadget points are part of the class balance (it seems that combat types get less gear and the techies get more.)

I ask this since I have an upcoming game where the PC will be cut off from support for a few levels.

What do you mean "Cut off from Support." If you are playing a Spycraft, do you mean cut off from the "Agency" that is supporting them? Or do you realy intend to remove them of all their gear.

They should still have all their personal gear, but you can not give them a Missions Budget Gear and Gadgets with out too much of a problem in "balance." Every character is eqaully hurt by the lack of Mission gear.

If you plan on depriving them of their personal budget, then you may want to at least give the whole team all the key items they will need, and some extra things (First aid equipement, extra ammo, a few guns)

Something to keep in mind is that the characters are only dependent on their gear as the situations require. For example, a Snoop's computer may be very nice, but if there is nothing that requires the use of a computer then its power rating is moot. Or what use is your lock picking tools if there isn't any locks to pick. Likewise, if there isnt any combat, then you don't need weapons.

Higher budget and gadget points just means that a character is "More Prepared" for the unknown.

-The Luddite

 

[Von Ether]

What do you mean "Cut off from Support." If you are playing a Spycraft, do you mean cut off from the "Agency" that is supporting them? Or do you realy intend to remove them of all their gear.

It's a very "balls to the wall" campaign. I intend to make the PC practially homeless for a while.

 

[Agamon]

I'm very happy that Henry likes Spycraft. He and I seem to have similar tastes, and I just picked up Stargate SG1 yesterday and haven't had a chance to even look at it yet. This bodes very well. Now to go check out this game...

 

[AlphaOmega]

To be honest, the Faceman had me hooked from the minute I read the "ask 3 questions" ability, to the "tell one lie absolutely convincingly" ability.

The feats are VERY well rounded.

I can't wait to get to the chase rules, based on all I've heard about them!

I'm done rambling now.

I cannot agree more. Specifically about the feats. I often hear people ask in a DnD style game, "what feat should I take next?" There are a good handful of feats from spycraft that could easily translate into a fantasy setting. Regardless of that, I like how there's a good number of them that are non-combat related.