Why no one plays sci-fi RPGs

[Treebore]

Traveller is my sci-fi game of choice, and I like it much better than D&D (GASP!).

Unfortunately, I seem to be the only one who thinks so, and I cannot get anyone to try it.

Back when I was able to run a game, over 10 years ago, the game lasted just over a year. I guess having a solid understanding of science does help. I think what allowed me to pull it off at the time was that my "logic" on how science "worked" in the Traveller universe was strong enough that none of my players felt like they could refute it. Or they overlooked the inconsistencies so we could concentrate on the fun.

Either way, I much prefer Traveller to any other game out there. That could also be because I haven't fed the "need" for over 10 years.

 

[evileeyore]

I blame Dragons

Anyway, it's always been my perception that virtually every RPG on the market is a small niche except for D&D and White Wolf's WoD.

You funny guys always forget the best RPG out there, GURPS! Takes up just as much room at my FLGS as D&D (not however once you add all the OGL books-StarWars, d20 Modern, Spycraft, Farscape, etc).

SciFi != hard science. I have read only a handful of scifi that impressed me with the science. On that note; Why does scifi have to be realistic?

How many elves, gnomes, and sorcerors you met today? I don't believe in magic (or science for that matter), but I can play a mage. I have never met a fantasy vampire, but I can enjoy V:tM.

However I do agree that Fantasy is the predominant holder of the market. Why? Maybe its easier to immerse, maybe its the implied lack of frontiers in scifi, but I think its the Dragons. Everybody loves killing or allying Dragons (some like playing them).

TTFN--EvilE

 

[Ranger REG]

GURP may be the best, but it is not best-selling. That title usually goes to Storyteller or D&D/d20.



As for why [medieval] fantasy games is predominant than sci-fi games, because it is simple. A typical joe don't have to learn about computers or how hyperdrive work to fix it. It's kinda hard to roleplay a Chief Engineer if you can't speak the dialogue. It's like watching ER without the medical-speak.

 

[evileeyore]

Like playing a Mage without the background in Thaumatology? Or a 300 year old elf when yeah ain't seen yer 2nd decade? How about a vampire if the sight of blood frightens you?

I've played ace pilots without ever steppin into a plane. I've played Combat Medics when I haven't the slighest idea of mordern medical practices. If I was to stick to what I could realistically 'speak the lingo' for I'd play Fighters, Rogues, and Rangers exclusively. Maybe a Cleric in a world with a similiar set of religions. Maybe.

No I really do think its the Dragons. Admit it, you are all in love with the uber kewl scaly beasts.

 

[Errant]

Personally I haven't seriously tried Sci Fi games because

1) My group likes using miniatures for combat & there seems to be a serious lack of Sci Fi miniatures (unless you like Warhammer 40k, which have a very particular flavor).

2) The cost in time of dollars to acquiring & learn a new systems rules/setting for the group.

FWIW

 

[romp]

BattleLords of the 23rd Century ...

I love hard SF but find that adventures for a group tend to fall into two categories. Discover the mysterious alien race that left all the artefacts behind; or Investigate/stop the smugglers/pirates. The best actionish Sci-Fi RPG out the is BattleLords. The action is fast and the combat can be as thick or thin as players want. The tech is far enough in the background that it does not easily outdate, yet close enough that it is not "magic" either.

 

[s/LaSH]

No I really do think its the Dragons. Admit it, you are all in love with the uber kewl scaly beasts.

Yes. There's no shame in it. They're just sooo beautiful.

That said, there are four kinds of dragon in my latest setting development project, and one of them is made of metal and wire and flesh, and rule a transcontinental empire via datalink implants. There's no reason I can't have both shiny flavours at once.

(Shiny flavours... what am I, synaesthetic?)

 

[buzzard]

While it may not be all that popular anymore, Rifts certainly had quite a following in its day, and much of that game is Sci Fi. Of course it is also a mishmash of fantasy and everything else that Palladium could think of to throw in. Still, superscience is a key portion of that game. They also had a pretty popular Robotech line.

Around here at Cons Living Force is quite big, and by most perceptions Star Wars is Sci Fi.

buzzard

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Anyway, it's always been my perception that virtually every RPG on the market is a small niche except for D&D and White Wolf's WoD.

I would say that a large part of your problem is that RPGs themselves are a niche market. I mean do you think White Wolf got to be a non-niche by stealing people from D&D?

There's a lot of crossover sure, but the reason that no sci-fi game has done so well is that there has yet to be a game that captured their audience as well as those two have. When a game comes along that does then there will be a shift.

Battletech and Shadowrun and the rest of the FASA family had a more than decent shot at it, but they ran it into the ground in various ways and got out shown by WOD in others.

A big issue with it as well, is that sci-fi fandom is dominated by pre-existing concepts and ideas, with strong protection.

This works both in the sense that you have to get all sorts of nasty licensing, "Why no Dune Game, Why?!?!" and that the audience isn't as nice.

Tolkien fans say they like Fantasy. You can safely woo them with some pointy eared immortals with a prior history and 'halflings.'

Frank Herbert fans say they like Dune. It's going to be a hell of a lot trickier to woo them with anything too generic, and you're way more likely to get into trouble for it.

Why no Dune? Why?!!?

Also, hard SF has never been that popular in any sort of meaningful way. Verne got away with it because he was pulp, but noone else. Even Neuromancer only turned out to be hard because the technology began to model itself on the vision.

 

[Agback]

Star Trek isn't Sci-Fi?

That isn't what he said. He said it wasn't science fiction, and it isn't.

However, it is Sci-Fi. A classic example, in fact.

Regards,


Agback