Where to start with Modern?

[ElfGunner]

So I have been reading a few of the PbP's that are of the modern variety and am very interested in possibly getting involved. I was wondering thought, does d20 modern have a PHB equivalent book? Something that can give all the basics as well as classes and such or is it more dependent on certain settings and such?

I guess I just don't know where to start, I have been playing D&D for a year now, am about to start a new campaign, and in doing research and stuff for characters and to help with world creation, I stumbled upon d20 modern and got interested, just very intimidated as well, (I rolled a natural one on that save) any help would be appreciated

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

d20Modern has a single main book which is sort of a PHB, DMG, and MM all rolled into one. It gives the basic classes plus a few general Advanced Classes. It also includes a few "mini-settings" or setting snippets for Genetech (think Dark Angelish), Urban Arcana (D&D In NYC), and Shadow Hunters (Buffyesque). And Agents of Psi (psionic secret agents). I think all of them but Genetech also include AdCs for the specific setting, but don't hold me to that. (I haven't read the book-book in a while since I've been "working" with the system).

It's a one-stop shopping trip, really.

After that, well, you've got bazillions of other products to look toward. From WotC there are some additional "kit" style books in D20Future, D20Past, etc. There are many many 3rd-party publishers releasing product in PDF format for all sorts of things.

--fje

 

[ElfGunner]

Ahhh, gotcha, that makes a lot more sense now. I was way confused, but I found a d20 Modern SRD as well. Putting that and this together I think I understand a bit more.

Thanks

 

[Stormborn]

Ahhh, gotcha, that makes a lot more sense now. I was way confused, but I found a d20 Modern SRD as well. Putting that and this together I think I understand a bit more.

Thanks

The MSRD has everything you need, just none of the "flavor" text, but you can easilly provide that on your own. Once you get into it there are tons of great products out from smaller publishers to supplement or create campaigns with.

 

[The Shaman]

The d20 Modern Core Rule Book is all you need to get started - the Modern SRD will work as well.

It's an amazingly versatile system that can be used to run adventures and campaigns in many different genres. As such I found it to be a little overwhelming when I first picked it up: it is an embarassment of riches! I've run cops-and-robbers in Seventies Seattle, contemporary horror/sci-fi a la The Nocturnals graphic novels, military counterinsurgency ops in Fifties Algeria (see my signature for links), and post-apocalyptic dystopia a la Logan's Run, Planet of the Apes, et al., and I have ideas for a dozen more games that could be run using just the core system and a supplement or two.

 

[arscott]

It also includes a few "mini-settings" or setting snippets for Genetech (think Dark Angelish), Urban Arcana (D&D In NYC), and Shadow Hunters (Buffyesque). And Agents of Psi (psionic secret agents). I think all of them but Genetech also include AdCs for the specific setting, but don't hold me to that. (I haven't read the book-book in a while since I've been "working" with the system).

<minor nitpick>Genetech isn't actually included in the Core book. It was originally included, but ended up being cut for space. The Genetech Moreaus (man/animal hybrid creatures) are included in the monster section, but the setting itself appears in d20 Future.</minor nitpick>

 

[ValhallaGH]

While I love D20 Modern, I don't like how incapable most characters are. As such, I developed a redesign of the skill system (found here), based upon the Iron Heroes skill groups, to create more capable characters. If you mess around with the Core system for a bit and find that you dislike the lack of skills then you may want to consider my houserule.

But to answer your initial question, all you need is the D20 Modern Roleplaying Game book. Everything else is useful or nice or interesting but not essential. If you're comfortable running a game purely off the SRD then you don't even need the book except for a few things, such as the benefits of Action Points and experience tables.

 

[Arkhandus]

All you need to play D20 Modern is the Modern SRD, which you can find at Wizards of the Coast's website for free. But if you're going to run D20 Modern, you'll need the D20 Modern book for access to some of the charts, advice, and such that isn't included in the MSRD. Stuff like level advancement and experience point rewards, IIRC; I don't recall though if those snippets of rules info are just the same as in 3E D&D. There's only a single core rulebook for D20 Modern.

 

[arscott]

They're different, but not different enough that you can't fake it. The most important difference is that there are more fleshed out rules for awarding XP for non-combat challenges.

 

[ssampier]

[dumb question]
Is Grim Tales a setting add-in for d20 modern or a different ruleset entirely? If I own D&D 3.x, I still d20 modern correct?

[/dumb question]

I want to run an X-File-ish campaign. I'll probably get d20 modern anyway so I can get the Dark*Matter book. I was just curious how all will mesh together.