Galactic Encounters Role-Playing Game
Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
Regarding setting:
In the core book I'd leave it as vague as possible. A huge, unnamed political entity ruled by humans governs a vast part of the galaxy. That's it.
How vast is the human Galactic state? How powerful? Where is Earth? What's its status? Do humans KNOW there's Earth somewhere? Are there other, non-terrestrial, sentients? Are humans actually from Earth?
I'd leave that to individual GMs.
And that's why I suggested "pick from the menu" rules for alien PCs (and NPCs): it doesn' force aliens on the GM, it doesn't force specific aliens on the GM, gives a tool/guideline to build your own.
In the core book I'd leave it as vague as possible. A huge, unnamed political entity ruled by humans governs a vast part of the galaxy. That's it.
How vast is the human Galactic state? How powerful? Where is Earth? What's its status? Do humans KNOW there's Earth somewhere? Are there other, non-terrestrial, sentients? Are humans actually from Earth?
I'd leave that to individual GMs.
And that's why I suggested "pick from the menu" rules for alien PCs (and NPCs): it doesn' force aliens on the GM, it doesn't force specific aliens on the GM, gives a tool/guideline to build your own.
Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
May I suggest a name:
BASIC FRONTIERS ROLEPLAYING GAME. This keeps it BFRPG!
(just a half-baked thought on Cyber Monday)
BASIC FRONTIERS ROLEPLAYING GAME. This keeps it BFRPG!
(just a half-baked thought on Cyber Monday)
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Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
But I kinda like it!
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Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
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- Tazer_The_Yoot
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Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
The Dying Earth influence is interesting, because that'd be more sci-fantasy than sci-fi, in the vein of Star Wars but different. I've read those stories twice now and the final section where all the gentleman sorcerers casually travel to the edge of the universe in what is essentially a Spelljammer to retrieve their long lost colleague and his Ioun Stones feels very D&D to me. Just straight up D&D with very little "sci", but earlier stories in the compendium show ancient high-tech cities with still-functional cyborgs, flying cars, computer-brains etc. So, a very kitchen sink sort of setting with a little bit of everything. Michael Moorcock's stories also contain a gonzo, eclectic mix like this...and to be honest, sci-fantasy might be overall more compatible with BFRPG and B/X style mechanics overall than hard Sci-Fi. Note the system differences between Traveller and Metamorphosis Alpha, the latter of which contains more gonzo D&D inspired stuff and the former being more grounded hard sci-fi.
Just some random food for thought since we're in the early brainstorming portion of this endeavor, presumably.
Just some random food for thought since we're in the early brainstorming portion of this endeavor, presumably.
Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
I think right now the project is completely at the sounding board stage. I'd love to see some classic sci-fi races get the BFRPG write-up.
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- Tazer_The_Yoot
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Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
Hmmm. Or at least a vague, non-copyrighted variation of classic sci-fi races, right?
Because, to me, that's the main differing point between fantasy and sci fi. Sci fi as a distinct genre from fantasy really only began to solidify in the late Victorian era and came into its own during the 20th century. As such, the vast majority of well-known sci fi races are not in the public domain, but are intellectual property of some corporate entity or author's estate, right?
See, you can't copyright Elves or Dwarves because those concepts are ancient and prolific. But Wookiees, Klingons, Daleks etc? Somebody owns all that stuff.
That's a big challenge that sci fi game authors run into. They either create thinly veiled knockoffs or go full generic in most cases, but in some they get really creative and come up with cool new ideas.
I'm wondering what Chris has in mind for his game idea?
Because, to me, that's the main differing point between fantasy and sci fi. Sci fi as a distinct genre from fantasy really only began to solidify in the late Victorian era and came into its own during the 20th century. As such, the vast majority of well-known sci fi races are not in the public domain, but are intellectual property of some corporate entity or author's estate, right?
See, you can't copyright Elves or Dwarves because those concepts are ancient and prolific. But Wookiees, Klingons, Daleks etc? Somebody owns all that stuff.
That's a big challenge that sci fi game authors run into. They either create thinly veiled knockoffs or go full generic in most cases, but in some they get really creative and come up with cool new ideas.
I'm wondering what Chris has in mind for his game idea?
Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
I agree, you can do something similar to a wookie, but not a wookie. At least if you don't want them to lawyer up! Though if you look at most fantasy games, the halflings are hobbits with the serial numbers just lighted sanded.Tazer_The_Yoot wrote: ↑Sat Dec 28, 2019 3:42 pm Hmmm. Or at least a vague, non-copyrighted variation of classic sci-fi races, right?
Because, to me, that's the main differing point between fantasy and sci fi. Sci fi as a distinct genre from fantasy really only began to solidify in the late Victorian era and came into its own during the 20th century. As such, the vast majority of well-known sci fi races are not in the public domain, but are intellectual property of some corporate entity or author's estate, right?
See, you can't copyright Elves or Dwarves because those concepts are ancient and prolific. But Wookiees, Klingons, Daleks etc? Somebody owns all that stuff.
That's a big challenge that sci fi game authors run into. They either create thinly veiled knockoffs or go full generic in most cases, but in some they get really creative and come up with cool new ideas.
I'm wondering what Chris has in mind for his game idea?
I think Chris was thinking of a mostly human-centric game. Though you could have dwarf, elf, of halfling analogs without getting into any trouble.
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- Metroknight
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Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
A wookie is just a Sasquatch in space.
- TardisCaptain
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Re: Basic Scifi Role-Playing Game
Ok I laughed.
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