D&D 5E (2014) Why not Alternity? (Or, will or how might WotC do SF?)

[Jack Daniel]

The sci-fi has got a flaw or weak points, it gets old badly. New generations miss current technology we can't seen in the old titles, for example the new materials, the 3D-printers or the flat-screens. Even Game-Masters notice fantasy is easier to be controlled or directed.

Other challenge for designers is to try a sci-fi RPG enoughly compatible with D&D and that is too difficult.

Sci-fi RPGs are inherently as difficult to manage as epic-level fantasy RPGs, because advanced technology puts capabilities into the hands of the player characters from day 1 that are usually gated behind high-level spells and rare artifacts in fantasy games. Got a bazooka or a plasma canon in your weapons locker? No need to wait for 5th level to throw fireballs and lightning bolts, and you're certainly not limited to one or two per day. If your star-cruiser is equipped with a transporter, your starting sci-fi PCs can teleport without error with impunity. Fantasy gets to start from a place where the heroes are mundane and limited, and they grow into the fantastic via Campbellian hero's journey. Sci-fi often starts with the heroes already capable of mass destruction or scry-teleport-assassinate or practically anything else.

 

[Faolyn]

I want a sci-fi game with mysterious wizards. No elves like in d&d. It maybe a mysterious sidhe that are not PC’s but that are as mysterious as the Leshay from 3.5 epic book.

Reminds me a bit of GURPS Technomancer, where the sidhe--if they existed at all--took the place of aliens in that universe. In the sense that they supposedly abducted people, mutilated livestock, etc.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I have considered trying to make a planetary romance setting for dnd but with a lot of modern updates that would at least be a start towards sci fantasy.

 

[Reynard]

I have considered trying to make a planetary romance setting for dnd but with a lot of modern updates that would at least be a start towards sci fantasy.

I don't think planetary romance is particularly difficult with 5E. You can do some skinning and reflavoring and get most of the way there, and I think the rest is cutting what is inappropriate depending on the details of the setting in specific.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Sci-fi RPGs are inherently as difficult to manage as epic-level fantasy RPGs, because advanced technology puts capabilities into the hands of the player characters from day 1 that are usually gated behind high-level spells and rare artifacts in fantasy games. Got a bazooka or a plasma canon in your weapons locker? No need to wait for 5th level to throw fireballs and lightning bolts, and you're certainly not limited to one or two per day. If your star-cruiser is equipped with a transporter, your starting sci-fi PCs can teleport without error with impunity. Fantasy gets to start from a place where the heroes are mundane and limited, and they grow into the fantastic via Campbellian hero's journey. Sci-fi often starts with the heroes already capable of mass destruction or scry-teleport-assassinate or practically anything else.

That's more of an argument that zero-to-hero is what everyone wants, and its not clear to me that's true.

 

[Grendel_Khan]

I have considered trying to make a planetary romance setting for dnd but with a lot of modern updates that would at least be a start towards sci fantasy.

You obviously can (and should) make up whatever rules you want, but D&D seems like a particularly bad foundation for this. It's a system where Cha does essentially nothing, and there just aren't really mechanics for anything similar other than casting charm spells. Meanwhile there's a wealth of systems with lots of actual rules for social interactions.

 

[Mind of tempest]

You obviously can (and should) make up whatever rules you want, but D&D seems like a particularly bad foundation for this. It's a system where Cha does essentially nothing, and there just aren't really mechanics for anything similar other than casting charm spells. Meanwhile there's a wealth of systems with lots of actual rules for social interactions.

you do know planetary romance is like john carter and not about dating really?

 

[Sithlord]

you do know planetary romance is like john carter and not about dating really?

Most people think romantic literature mean lots of kissing and holding hands when it’s really about glorification of the past, individualism and emotions. It was a strong reaction to the industrial revolution. But has had many other historical movements.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Most people think romantic literature mean lots of kissing and holding hands when it’s really about glorification of the past, individualism and emotions. It was a strong reaction to the industrial revolution. But has had many other historical movements.

it predates even that as the works of chivalric romances predate them and are likely part of the inspiration and they were from the high medieval period.

they were structured in matters which I might put a node to in the settings title.

 

[Sithlord]

it predates even that as the works of chivalric romances predate them and are likely part of the inspiration and they were from the high medieval period.

they were structured in matters which I might put a node to in the settings title.

Note my last sentence that you quoted.