So hello People,
As a Star Wars fan i always looked at Star Trek as the Boring brother in the Genre. But now i have recently started to watch The next Generation and thought, man this is pretty interesting stuff. So i started to search for some treki RPG´s and wanted to know from you guys what Systems you recommend. I am open to any system be it the old fasa game or the newer stuff.
I am all ears.
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:28:18 AM
So hello People,
As a Star Wars fan i always looked at Star Trek as the Boring brother in the Genre. But now i have recently started to watch The next Generation and thought, man this is pretty interesting stuff. So i started to search for some treki RPG´s and wanted to know from you guys what Systems you recommend. I am open to any system be it the old fasa game or the newer stuff.
I am all ears.
What kind of mechanics do you like?
The newest official game, the 2d20 Modiphius Star Trek Adventures, is very narrative. You don't play characters in the ST universe so much as you play actors (that dabble as directors) playing characters in a ST show. The game goes with the same loose grasp on continuity as the shows, so that win the day transporter trick developed this episode will never become standard procedure and secondary crewmen just appear and disappear from scenes as the become important (or not). Also, character advancement is almost non-existent unless dramatically necessary.
Decipher had a d20-like traditional system using ability modifiers and skill levels (but rolling 2d6 rather than a d20 to reslve tests). Characters have species modifiers, career abilities, etc.
Last Unicorn Games had a dice pool system that was a lot of fun after some fairly heavy houserules. Species modifiers were minimal beyond attributes and a few special subsytems (Trill symbionts were a pain in the ass). Combat was as insanely deadly as you can imagine when a hit at setting 8 (on a weapon that can go to 16!) is instant death (no save, no nothing).
Quote from: HappyDaze on April 23, 2021, 10:38:40 AM
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:28:18 AM
So hello People,
As a Star Wars fan i always looked at Star Trek as the Boring brother in the Genre. But now i have recently started to watch The next Generation and thought, man this is pretty interesting stuff. So i started to search for some treki RPG´s and wanted to know from you guys what Systems you recommend. I am open to any system be it the old fasa game or the newer stuff.
I am all ears.
What kind of mechanics do you like?
The newest official game, the 2d20 Modiphius Star Trek Adventures, is very narrative. You don't play characters in the ST universe so much as you play actors (that dabble as directors) playing characters in a ST show. The game goes with the same loose grasp on continuity as the shows, so that win the day transporter trick developed this episode will never become standard procedure and secondary crewmen just appear and disappear from scenes as the become important (or not). Also, character advancement is almost non-existent unless dramatically necessary.
Decipher had a d20-like traditional system using ability modifiers and skill levels (but rolling 2d6 rather than a d20 to reslve tests). Characters have species modifiers, career abilities, etc.
Last Unicorn Games had a dice pool system that was a lot of fun after some fairly heavy houserules. Species modifiers were minimal beyond attributes and a few special subsytems (Trill symbionts were a pain in the ass). Combat was as insanely deadly as you can imagine when a hit at setting 8 (on a weapon that can go to 16!) is instant death (no save, no nothing).
I eyeballed with the Modiphius Edition, the Last Unicorn Games and since i am a sucker for GURPS i also looked at Prime Directive.
have you played the Modiphius Edition? I got Mutant Chronicles and Infinity and found the 2D20 Mechanic to my liking.
Starships & Spacemen 2e is the OSR Trek-expy. I recommend The Lucanii Drift (esp if you like furries) :D
Quote from: S'mon on April 23, 2021, 10:51:56 AM
Starships & Spacemen 2e is the OSR Trek-expy. I recommend The Lucanii Drift (esp if you like furries) :D
Uh nice will check it out, minus the Furries 8)
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:44:08 AM
I eyeballed with the Modiphius Edition, the Last Unicorn Games and since i am a sucker for GURPS i also looked at Prime Directive.
have you played the Modiphius Edition? I got Mutant Chronicles and Infinity and found the 2D20 Mechanic to my liking.
I have only played two sessions of a Modiphius STA game. Like you, I have played their 2d20 MC game, but know that it is much more traditional and less narrative than STA. The STA line is of great quality, and if you want your game table to recreate a ST show-like feel, it can work great. OTOH, if you want ST setting but need to feel immersed in the world and have everything make sense from the characters' points of view, it's not really set up for that.
Quote from: HappyDaze on April 23, 2021, 11:04:29 AM
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:44:08 AM
I eyeballed with the Modiphius Edition, the Last Unicorn Games and since i am a sucker for GURPS i also looked at Prime Directive.
have you played the Modiphius Edition? I got Mutant Chronicles and Infinity and found the 2D20 Mechanic to my liking.
I have only played two sessions of a Modiphius STA game. Like you, I have played their 2d20 MC game, but know that it is much more traditional and less narrative than STA. The STA line is of great quality, and if you want your game table to recreate a ST show-like feel, it can work great. OTOH, if you want ST setting but need to feel immersed in the world and have everything make sense from the characters' points of view, it's not really set up for that.
Thank you for your Input.
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:28:18 AM
So hello People,
As a Star Wars fan i always looked at Star Trek as the Boring brother in the Genre. But now i have recently started to watch The next Generation and thought, man this is pretty interesting stuff. So i started to search for some treki RPG´s and wanted to know from you guys what Systems you recommend. I am open to any system be it the old fasa game or the newer stuff.
I am all ears.
I'mm just gonna let this here and make a graceful exit stage left.
http://trek.abillionmonkeys.com/ (http://trek.abillionmonkeys.com/)
Quote from: GeekyBugle on April 23, 2021, 11:10:48 AM
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:28:18 AM
So hello People,
As a Star Wars fan i always looked at Star Trek as the Boring brother in the Genre. But now i have recently started to watch The next Generation and thought, man this is pretty interesting stuff. So i started to search for some treki RPG´s and wanted to know from you guys what Systems you recommend. I am open to any system be it the old fasa game or the newer stuff.
I am all ears.
I'mm just gonna let this here and make a graceful exit stage left.
http://trek.abillionmonkeys.com/ (http://trek.abillionmonkeys.com/)
Awesome, i appreciate it.
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:54:17 AM
Quote from: S'mon on April 23, 2021, 10:51:56 AM
Starships & Spacemen 2e is the OSR Trek-expy. I recommend The Lucanii Drift (esp if you like furries) :D
Uh nice will check it out, minus the Furries 8)
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/201735/The-Lucanii-Drift
Some slightly raunchy interior art, Federation catgirls and such.
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:44:08 AM
I eyeballed with the Modiphius Edition, the Last Unicorn Games and since i am a sucker for GURPS i also looked at Prime Directive.
have you played the Modiphius Edition? I got Mutant Chronicles and Infinity and found the 2D20 Mechanic to my liking.
I've played FASA, and have run several games using generic systems (Hero System, Corps, and Fate). I also own the Last Unicorn Games releases and the original Prime Directive (1st ed - non-GURPS), but never played them. From my recollection:
- FASA at least had good background material, but the system was wonky
- Last Unicorn Games the system was dull and the background material minimal
- Prime Directive 1e has an awful system, and a completely screwy background as well to justify heavily-armed special ops teams as the PC template
Based on this, I was happiest using a generic system like Hero, Corps, or Fate in my case. If you like GURPS, go for it. (I'm doubtful about Prime Directive based on the 1e version, but I haven't read the GURPS version.)
Quote from: jhkim on April 23, 2021, 02:16:59 PM
Quote from: CookieMonster on April 23, 2021, 10:44:08 AM
I eyeballed with the Modiphius Edition, the Last Unicorn Games and since i am a sucker for GURPS i also looked at Prime Directive.
have you played the Modiphius Edition? I got Mutant Chronicles and Infinity and found the 2D20 Mechanic to my liking.
I've played FASA, and have run several games using generic systems (Hero System, Corps, and Fate). I also own the Last Unicorn Games releases and the original Prime Directive (1st ed - non-GURPS), but never played them. From my recollection:
- FASA at least had good background material, but the system was wonky
- Last Unicorn Games the system was dull and the background material minimal
- Prime Directive 1e has an awful system, and a completely screwy background as well to justify heavily-armed special ops teams as the PC template
Based on this, I was happiest using a generic system like Hero, Corps, or Fate in my case. If you like GURPS, go for it. (I'm doubtful about Prime Directive based on the 1e version, but I haven't read the GURPS version.)
I have a friend that ran D6 Space in the ST setting. He said it worked out OK, but he recently started another with Genesys instead. No word back on how that's going. I find it interesting that he's twice used systems derived from systems that he's previously run Star Wars under.
Quote from: GeekyBugle on April 23, 2021, 11:10:48 AM
I'mm just gonna let this here and make a graceful exit stage left.
http://trek.abillionmonkeys.com/ (http://trek.abillionmonkeys.com/)
That's actually a nice bit of work.
Quote from: jhkim on April 23, 2021, 02:16:59 PM
- Prime Directive 1e has an awful system, and a completely screwy background as well to justify heavily-armed special ops teams as the PC template
I have the D20 Modern version of the Prime Directive Klingons book. It's a completely different take than the "honor vikings" of Next Generation. One of the really interesting things in the book is that they outline the other races in the Klingon Empire, making it far more diverse than what you see in either TOS or TNG.
Quote from: Aglondir on April 24, 2021, 01:25:28 AM
Quote from: jhkim on April 23, 2021, 02:16:59 PM
- Prime Directive 1e has an awful system, and a completely screwy background as well to justify heavily-armed special ops teams as the PC template
I have the D20 Modern version of the Prime Directive Klingons book. It's a completely different take than the "honor vikings" of Next Generation. One of the really interesting things in the book is that they outline the other races in the Klingon Empire, making it far more diverse than what you see in either TOS or TNG.
Man, i think i have to Shell Out some Money again ;D
Quote from: Aglondir on April 24, 2021, 01:25:28 AM
Quote from: jhkim on April 23, 2021, 02:16:59 PM
- Prime Directive 1e has an awful system, and a completely screwy background as well to justify heavily-armed special ops teams as the PC template
I have the D20 Modern version of the Prime Directive Klingons book. It's a completely different take than the "honor vikings" of Next Generation. One of the really interesting things in the book is that they outline the other races in the Klingon Empire, making it far more diverse than what you see in either TOS or TNG.
That's because the Star Fleet Universe is legally and creatively distinct from Star Trek, beginning with the first Star Trek movies and continuing forward. The publisher of Prime Directive and the rest of the Star Fleet Universe doesn't have license for any of that later material. So they went their own way with what they were licensed for.
Quote from: RandyB on April 24, 2021, 09:08:43 AM
Quote from: Aglondir on April 24, 2021, 01:25:28 AM
Quote from: jhkim on April 23, 2021, 02:16:59 PM
- Prime Directive 1e has an awful system, and a completely screwy background as well to justify heavily-armed special ops teams as the PC template
I have the D20 Modern version of the Prime Directive Klingons book. It's a completely different take than the "honor vikings" of Next Generation. One of the really interesting things in the book is that they outline the other races in the Klingon Empire, making it far more diverse than what you see in either TOS or TNG.
That's because the Star Fleet Universe is legally and creatively distinct from Star Trek, beginning with the first Star Trek movies and continuing forward. The publisher of Prime Directive and the rest of the Star Fleet Universe doesn't have license for any of that later material. So they went their own way with what they were licensed for.
Yes. My understanding is that its license is from a loophole based on the Star Fleet Technical Manual - which was given an independent license to material back in 1975 when the series was considered dead. There's cool Star Fleet Universe material out there - but I was very turned off by Prime Directive 1e.
The FASA Klingons were also pretty interesting, though. They're based on not just the original series, but also the novel "The Final Reflection" by John Ford - which has the Klingons doing a lot of genetic manipulation in different houses to create different strains including hybrid Klingon races. (This explains the different look to different Klingons, but also has other interesting wrinkles.)
I ran a Prime Directive Academy game right before the pandemic. It was pretty silly. They got assigned to a rogue captain who did blackops during the Klingon war and knew where the bodies were buried so the admiralty looked the other way for him. The engineer was a little more of a mad scientist than mister Scott and the engines were dangerously overclocked and the computer was an sentient alien system they picked up who knows where.
Here's the compilation of my d6 system rules for a Star Trek campaign. You might find it useful.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1js42_6PXe1o8lKlFh_RL8N1JR-V9KDeM/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1js42_6PXe1o8lKlFh_RL8N1JR-V9KDeM/view?usp=sharing)