Which version of Star Wars is most Simulationist?

[The Crimson Binome]

I think Star Wars is pretty neat, but since it started with the movies, I've noticed that a lot of the games include cinematic rules to provide for better storytelling. If I don't want any narrative-control mechanics, and all I care about is accurately modeling how droids and blasters and Force powers work, which version of the game should I pick up?

 

[Morrus]

Of the three main ones, I'd say WEG's d6 system. It's not super-simulationist, but it's less narrative than FFG's and has less high-fantasy mechanics than d20/SAGA.

That said, I feel Star Wars lends itself towards space fantasy than simulationism. Star Trek - now that I'd use a more simulationist system for.

 

[Umbran]

Well, that would depend on how you thought droids, blasters, and Force powers actually work, now wouldn't it?

Yes, the games - *all* of them, I think - have cinematic rules for better storytelling, because this world is *defined* by cinema, as the core canon are movies. If you want to accurately model that universe... that universe is cinematic!

Even back in the old WEG d6 Star Wars, even non-Force-users could spend a Force point, and double the number of dice they were rolling, which often meant many, many dice hit the table. The result often could be nothing other than spectacular results.

 

[AverageCitizen]

Of the three main ones, I'd say WEG's d6 system. It's not super-simulationist, but it's less narrative than FFG's and has less high-fantasy mechanics than d20/SAGA.

That said, I feel Star Wars lends itself towards space fantasy than simulationism. Star Trek - now that I'd use a more simulationist system for.

That's funny. Today I was just thinking that to do Star Trek you have to find a way for players to invoke deus ex machina without having to wait for the DM. So I figured something like, story points with sci-fi descriptors which the players can spend to solve problems. It seems like Star Trek characters change/bend/break the rules of the universe too often to do simulationism.

 

[Von Ether]

Of the three main ones, I'd say WEG's d6 system. It's not super-simulationist, but it's less narrative than FFG's and has less high-fantasy mechanics than d20/SAGA.

That said, I feel Star Wars lends itself towards space fantasy than simulationism. Star Trek - now that I'd use a more simulationist system for.

I'm going with a different track because sometimes when someone says simulationist, they aren't asking what is necessarily more realistic, but what seems to be a more comprehensive game and addresses the most corner cases. Especially with a mid to high level of crunch.

With that in mind, I'd probably say d20 is a choice. I can't speak about FFG's version, but those books are thick, sooo maybe?

Ironically, I've seen a lot of people play Star Trek in a more realistic mode than I ever saw done on TV. It's like they remember there's a pseudo-military vibe to the show and play it more like a Navy SciFi game (but still sending all of the officers out on the away party) than the show ever does.

 

[Umbran]

It seems like Star Trek characters change/bend/break the rules of the universe too often to do simulationism.

You can do a lot of simulation with Trek, if you are thinking in terms of marrying it with tactical game play.

There is a problem with simulating the science, in that its internal logic is hazy, and married more with cinematics. I would be tempted to steal and adapt the science brainstorming mechanic from Atomic Robo (a FATE-based game) to do Trek science.

 

[AverageCitizen]

You can do a lot of simulation with Trek, if you are thinking in terms of marrying it with tactical game play.

There is a problem with simulating the science, in that its internal logic is hazy, and married more with cinematics. I would be tempted to steal and adapt the science brainstorming mechanic from Atomic Robo (a FATE-based game) to do Trek science.

That sounds good. Do any of the ST games do t=something like that?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Well, that would depend on how you thought droids, blasters, and Force powers actually work, now wouldn't it?

That's kind of the point of a system, I mean. I want to know how droids and blasters and the Force actually work within the game world - what physical laws they follow, and how they interact with each - in the absence of narrative causality or PC protagonization.

I want to know how someone reacts to getting hit by a blaster, without needing to factor in whether it's a PC or not.

 

[Jiggawatts]

I would say SAGA edition is the most simulationist of the bunch. Fantasy Flight is definitely the most narrative.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

I would say SAGA edition is the most simulationist of the bunch. Fantasy Flight is definitely the most narrative.

Thanks!