Dragonstar would be my call as well. It's essentially D&D meets sci-fi, with neither being supplanted by the other.

In spelljammer, for example, you have Aristotelian physics, the phlogiston etc. You're in space, but everything is still magical.

In Dragonstar science and magic exist side by side more or less.

Having written one of the first published adventures for Dragonstar, I will forever have a soft spot for it. It really grabbed me by the face and MADE me want to drop everything and write something for it.

Chuck

Quote from: Dominus NoxThere's always "star frontiers", and you can download the PDF version of it and most of it's mkods for free, legally.

Star Frontiers isn't d20 or D&D like at all (used percentile system, skill based, all that)

Gabriel is probably right though--the Buck Rogers XXIV game came close--races, classes although rather than D20 skills you had percentile ones at least in terms of mechanics. Adventure design probably should be nothing like D&D but that's more of a setting issue. The computer games (Gold Box Engine based) amounted quite often to "goto rocketship/sattellite/military base" fight enemies and take there stuff as loot.


Gamma World (4th edition, which was proto D20) is probably even closer--albeit no +X weapons per se, there were normal primative weapons, and various artifact super weapons but nothing equating to that magical bonus (Buck Rogers on the other hand had finer, better quality  equipment like "Martian Laser Rifles" which did get +X bonuses)

Quote from: Dominus NoxIt's got a website with the rulebooks and modules available, they're old school but weren't bad for a basic rpg.

BTW, I remember seeing "J Arcane banned" at the commie game site a while back. What got you banned there if I may ask?

It's a rather long story, one which I have not yet fully managed to make sense myself.  It is a combinations of factors, both political and personality.

And I have also, through nefarious means, managed to get hold of a Gamma World 4th PDF, and will be reading it promptly.  Mutant laser plants FTW!

There is an alternative to hack & shoot Spelljamming: Play a Traveller mercenary campaign. Individual characters won´t gain power that fast, but you can build and customize your merc organization. Works best with some gear and gunheads.

Quote from: J ArcaneThe Buck Rogers game is actually one I've already some intention of tracking down.  I've played the Genesis game based on the rules, and it was kinda cool.

And I didn't know about Star Frontiers, I shall have to check that out.

I have that game, and some of the supplements.  I've read them, but never played them.  It didn't strike me as Sci-Fi D&D.  It just seemed to be an attempt to shoehorn the old ruleset into Buck Rogers.  Of course, it's been a while since I've looked at them.

Now, the High Adventures Cliffhangers version of Buck Rogers was an interesting attempt, but not at all sci-fi D&D.  It was rules-lite before we even knew rules-lite was supposed to be cool

QuoteIt just seemed to be an attempt to shoehorn the old ruleset into Buck Rogers.

Put simply, that's almost exactly what I'm looking for.    Obviously I'd prefer d20 over second edition, but I'm gonna give it a shot regardless.

Quote from: J ArcaneIt's a rather long story, one which I have not yet fully managed to make sense myself.  It is a combinations of factors, both political and personality.

And I have also, through nefarious means, managed to get hold of a Gamma World 4th PDF, and will be reading it promptly.  Mutant laser plants FTW!

I am falling passionately in love with Gamma World 4th Edition.  I would have babies with this game, if I didn't suspect doing so would involve some really freaky mutant sex.

This game is just pure goddamn awesome in every way.  I WILL play this game.  Pure and damn simple, it will occur, no matter what.  A game this sweet deserves to be played.

I want to play a talking dandelion with goddamn laserbeam eyes, because I CAN.

Oh, since we're talking about this kind of stuff anyway, what about Traveller T20?
Does that fit the bill? Is it worth playing at all? Thoughts?

Quote from: mattormegOh, since we're talking about this kind of stuff anyway, what about Traveller T20?
Does that fit the bill? Is it worth playing at all? Thoughts?

Traveller T20 has Traveller playstyle, not D&D playstyle.

Which is worth playing, of course, but not what the OP was looking for. Though I suppose you could use it as a resource if you took out some of the rules that made combat more deadly and reverted to something more D&D.

About GW 4th edition: you're welcome, and I told you so.

RPGPundit

Quote from: Caesar SlaadTraveller T20 has Traveller playstyle, not D&D playstyle.

Which is worth playing, of course, but not what the OP was looking for. Though I suppose you could use it as a resource if you took out some of the rules that made combat more deadly and reverted to something more D&D.

Basically what I was going to say. T20 doesn't at all feel like D&D, which is what JArcane (Hiya J!) is looking for.

-clash

Nope, T20 feels NOTHING like D&D in space.  Its almost exactly the opposite.

But as for "D&D in Space", shit man, why not just play D&D, in space? Where's the fucking complication? The DMG has rules for laser weapons, if I remember correctly.
You just need to port in some more equiptment, a couple of extra skills (piloting, computers (if you have computers) etc), and the some spaceship/planet rules. I'd recommend taking these from the Star Wars D20 RPG, which is pretty much Science Fantasy anyways.

Sometimes the simple solutions are the best ones. Hell, most of the times.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditAbout GW 4th edition: you're welcome, and I told you so.

RPGPundit

Indeed.  It seems I must now owe you one of those "debt of eternal gratitude" thingies.

Quote from: J ArcaneIndeed.  It seems I must now owe you one of those "debt of eternal gratitude" thingies.

Does this mean you'll be joining me on the Millenium Falcon?

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditDoes this mean you'll be joining me on the Millenium Falcon?

RPGPundit

That depends.  How's the smuggling business going?