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View Full Version : Serene Traders Travelling In Dyson Spheres - The Search for a Space RPG



The Rose Dragon
2011-02-04, 11:48 AM
So, there are lots of science fiction RPGs. Slightly fewer of them are set in space, but that's what we are looking for right now. Specifically, a good RPG that can be mined for ideas to create new settings. It would be nice if we could simply buy them all, of course, but for the budget-limited RPG player, money is of the essence, so we can afford only so many books before we run out of it. As such, I need to pack the most information and inspiration to the least amount of cash paid.

Also, it needs to be legally available as a .pdf.

Any suggestions?

hewhosaysfish
2011-02-04, 12:50 PM
I haven't really played any games that fit your criteria; however I've read a couple that sound very interesting:

Spirit of the Far Future, with a system based on Spirit of the Century, setting based on Diaspora, tone inspired by classic Traveller. Available in (http://www.phreeow.net/sotff/SotFF-Book1.pdf) three (http://www.phreeow.net/sotff/SotFF-Book2.pdf) pdfs (http://www.phreeow.net/sotff/SotFF-Book3.pdf).
The SotFF rules have been modified from the SotC to be less pulpy, more gritty in fitting with the Traveller theme. I think I prefer the pulpy but it's interesting to see what people have done with it.

Sufficiently Advanced (http://www.1km1kt.net/rpg/sufficiently-advanced)
Some very interesting bits going on here.

Themes are like FATE's aspects on steroids except the Complications are player-driven.
Core Values seem like an interesting way to define a characters outlook.
I'm not sure that the conflict rules as present work (or if so, how) but I am so fascinated by that full-page Conflict Table with gun-fights and fast arguments near the top and Cold War and PsychoHistorical manipulation near the bottom.
Maybe I'm easily amused by novelty, but the unusal stat names and the funky dice mechanic speak to me too.

Another_Poet
2011-02-04, 01:21 PM
RPG.net has a section for reviews of gaming products. I searched for genre "space" and got over 500 results (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/search-review.phtml). Sound like too many? They all have a score on both Style and Substance so you can narrow it down to the good ones. You can also browse by product title if you prefer. Enjoy.

Mr.Bookworm
2011-02-04, 01:38 PM
I know you play White Wolf, and they just released an online supplement to Mirrors here (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=87937), dealing with space opera in the WoD. There's another one dealing with cyberpunk.

Rogue Trader (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=65991&filters=550_0_0_0) probably would be good for this kind of thing. Traveller (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=56586&filters=550_0_0_0) is a little bare-bones (at least in the edition I have), but it could be useful. Eclipse Phase (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=64135) is awesome.

The Rose Dragon
2011-02-04, 01:43 PM
I know you play White Wolf, and they just released an online supplement to Mirrors here (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=87937), dealing with space opera in the WoD. There's another one dealing with cyberpunk.

Rogue Trader (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=65991&filters=550_0_0_0) probably would be good for this kind of thing. Traveller (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=56586&filters=550_0_0_0) is a little bare-bones (at least in the edition I have), but it could be useful. Eclipse Phase (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=64135) is awesome.

I already bought those Mirrors supplements, as well as Eclipse Phase. Though a lot of people do suggest Rogue Trader, so it might be worth checking out (though at 30 dollars, it's not exactly gonna be cheap).

Mr.Bookworm
2011-02-04, 01:46 PM
Definitely worth it, in my opinion.

You also might want to check out 3:16 (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=56768&filters=550_0_0_0), Hard Light (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=86468&filters=550_0_0_0), and Colonial Battlefleets (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=81234&SRC=FeaturedProduct&motds_id=4296&from_home=0&filters=550_0_0_0).

EDIT: Also, dyson spheres would be horrifically impractical if not impossible as a method of travel (you would need to figure out how to move a star around, for instance).

Athaniar
2011-02-05, 06:16 AM
Dragonstar is a pretty good and very innovative setting, but it's very fantasy-based. Essentially, it's D&D, but every setting is a planet in a galaxy dominated by a galactic empire ruled by dragons. If you don't mind a little fantasy, you can probably find at least something to use.

DriveThru RPG (never used it, but apparently it's good) has the Starfarer's Handbook (the Player's Handbook) for $10, but the Guide to the Galaxy is where most of the fluff is.

Haarkla
2011-02-07, 06:25 PM
I would suggest Runequest Sci-Fi.

http://www.soltakss.com/rq_scifi.doc (5.6 Mb)

Its free, technical, and has loads of options.

The Rose Dragon
2011-02-07, 08:41 PM
EDIT: Also, dyson spheres would be horrifically impractical if not impossible as a method of travel (you would need to figure out how to move a star around, for instance).

They are traveling within the Dyson spheres, not using them. From platform to platform, not from star to star.

Ravens_cry
2011-02-07, 08:46 PM
They are traveling within the Dyson spheres, not using them. From platform to platform, not from star to star.
Ah, the vagaries of the English language.:smallbiggrin: I admit the complaint of Mr.Bookworm was my first thought as well.

Another_Poet
2011-02-08, 01:16 PM
I would suggest Runequest Sci-Fi.

http://www.soltakss.com/rq_scifi.doc (5.6 Mb)

Its free, technical, and has loads of options.

I haven't played RQ Sci-Fi, but have played RQ, and I highly recommend the system. Very nice.

Erom
2011-02-08, 01:23 PM
I really enjoy Diaspora, for what its worth. The ship-to-ship combat and squad combat rules are both much better than most FATE based systems.

The Rose Dragon
2011-02-18, 06:01 PM
So, I bought Rouge Trader. It was good, but I can still go for more.

I'm stuck somewhere between Traveller, GURPS Space, CthulhuTech and several other stuff. As such, I can use more pimping for any space- or sci-fi-related stuff out there to make my decision.

SurlySeraph
2011-02-18, 08:10 PM
EDIT: Also, dyson spheres would be horrifically impractical if not impossible as a method of travel (you would need to figure out how to move a star around, for instance).

Nothing is impractical when you have an entire star as a power source! In this case, it's called a Class 3 stellar engine. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_engine)

arguskos
2011-02-18, 08:19 PM
So, I bought Rouge Trader. It was good, but I can still go for more.

I'm stuck somewhere between Traveller, GURPS Space, CthulhuTech and several other stuff. As such, I can use more pimping for any space- or sci-fi-related stuff out there to make my decision.
I LUUUUURVE CthulhuTech. Such a glorious and crazy world. I highly recommend it, for the Tagers if nothing else (and the book art, oh my god, so beautiful, among the prettiest books I've ever handled).