I am having a bit of difficulty deciding which Sci-Fi game to run for my group. All I know is I want to create alien worlds, populate them with strange and wondrous life forms, enjoy epic space battles and explore the human condition (or its extraterrestrial equivalent in the case of alien PCs).
What game does that? Well in reality, all of them.
So how do I decide what's best for us? Honestly I am really not sure and could sure use some suggestions. But first...
I've ruled out Star Trek* because I kind of want something a bit more free-wheeling. I don't want to the PCs to have to work for Starfleet or any particular organization at the start of the game. I want them to do what they want to do and go where they want to go.
"But Adam, you can let them play smugglers, pirates and other non-Starfleet people in the Star Trek universe!"
Yes. Yes I could. I could also hammer in a nail with a shoe. It might work but its not the best tool for the job or the best use of my time. Also, the first time you play Star Wars, you want to be a Jedi or have the Force. Otherwise you want to be a Bounty Hunter or a Smuggler. Why? Because these are special features of the Star Wars setting. You'd want to be a Jedi because you can't be one in other Sci-Fi games which don't have Jedi.
To me, you play Star Trek so you can be part of Starfleet, operate Starfleet ships, use Starfleet equipment, etc. If you're going to not do these things, play Traveller or some other RPG where Starfleet isn't what's special.
Now, back to the issue at hand...system and to a much lesser extent, setting.
I just reread Stars Without Number and while there is a lot I like about it, I'm looking to play a different system, something a tad less old school. I want either a more innovative mechanic or just one that doesn't feel like D&D meets Traveller. Why? I'm odd in that I don't want to play the same system all the time. I want different games/campaigns to feel differently and even though it seems superficial on the surface, I've noticed that rolling the bones in a different manner then they're used to actually changes my players mind sets a bit. It's like, "Oh, in Champions you roll 3D6 and need to get under the target number? Wow, this isn't Mutants & Masterminds that's for sure." As I've said I'm big into atmosphere, style and feel and every little bit helps.
I am curious to see the new X-Plorers but I feel the same issue will be had there. It's too D&D like. I am running a vaguely D&D game with the kids at the Learning Center Sunday. I think my take is different enough but still, I want to avoid consuming the same taste too often less I get bored of it.
Traveller. It seems to be the 800 pound Altairian Gorilla in the room. I talk about running it, I reread it periodically, I look at articles and blog posts about it online but I haven't run it in forever. Why? Similar reasons to the above? Not quite. While very old school it's different enough from what we've been playing of late to seem new, especially to many of my current players who are unfamiliar with Traveller. It's a definite possibility. So why haven't I simply decided to go with it?
Well, part of it is that my last foray into running Traveller didn't go over well. I was out of practice and my group was...well I was running for a group I didn't know and who didn't know me and I don't think we quite managed to merge our styles into something cohesive. Pity. Nice bunch of guys. Still talk to one of them regularly, Doug, as he's a member of NerdNYC and just a hell of a nice fellow. Another used to visit here off and on. If you read this I hope all is well with you.
In the end, I know what's coming or at least I do now that I've written this (blogging can be very helpful that way). I'm very likely to go with Traveller, a bit houseruled to allow it to move a bit faster and smoother.
Suggestions are of course welcome. Let you know what I decide as soon as I figure it out.
AD
Barking Alien
*To say I've ruled out running Star Trek is to say...OK, I haven't ruled out running Star Trek. I'd love to get back to Star Trek. I was hoping to try a more open ended, sandboxy thing first.
Traveller vs. Star Trek. Tonight, live on pay-per-view. :)
Also: Thanks to a comment by Luis M. Rebollar, I can identify the artist of the image above as Luca Oleastri. I highly recommend checking out his work. Awesome stuff.
I missed Muppet Monday! Holy crap. If I don't recharge my Muppet powers once every week I may lose them.
Just kidding. I was bitten by a radioactive Fraggle. My abilities are permanent.
I will make up for it with a good one next week. This week I may be directing your attention to more Sci-Fi fare. Why? Sci-Fi Space Adventure on the brain is the culprit. Still now exactly sure when and where I will run my next Sci-Fi game or what it will be but I have the distinct need and desperate feeling of wanting to get back to gaming in outer space.
On another note, my Summer Program Fantasy RPG campaign is starting up next Sunday. I am really excited and can't wait to share some of the craziness here.
Short post I know but I've been so busy with work and actually playing games I haven't had a lot of time to ponder what to blog about. Hopefully I will come up with something soon.
Until then, have a great day and good gaming all!
AD
Barking Alien
I'm sorry...Our economy is what now?!
Er...Happy 4th to everyone in the good ol' U.S. of A. Remember, it may not be perfect but everywhere else sucks worse.*
AD
Barking Alien
*Well...England is pretty cool...
Our Monday game may well be in danger of being cancelled as I am once more starting to loose my voice.
I don't recall if I mentioned this particular detail when I said I'd been ill the past week or so but I completely lost my voice last Sunday and it only to get back to normal yesterday (Friday). Now it seems to not have completely healed as it started to sound a bit weak again. I'm going to take it easy on the old vocal cords and throat tomorrow and hope it heals up in time for...
CHAMPIONS! Yeah, I was hoping for a little break but honestly, my players really want to get back to this game. Who can blame'em? It has been a great run so far and we're only on the 5th or 6th session. So much happens in one sitting that its been very difficult to do adventure recaps. I mean, if you looked at my Muppet Show session recap(s), it would be like that (those) on steroids.Last session, one of my three players was absent. So, while Marcus (aka 'The Power') teamed up with the Bronze Avenger and Cats Eye (NPCs) to investigate some supernatural craziness in Harlem and Jeff (aka Syphon Zero) and Integral (NPC) met with The Circle and tried to find the villainous Dr. Helix, Night Knight was basically in limbo. Well, actually he was most likely driving back to New York from Queens where he had teamed up with martial arts master Jade Phoenix to stop some gang warfare the session before. Busy night.Since these guys battle a lot but don't really investigate or think much long term (except Marcus...he surprises me with sudden 'idiot savant' moments of Batman like deduction), the situations in the campaign keep escalating until they come to a head and then pop. Night Knight's particular storyline is about to do that with a vengence.So I might as well get to the juicy parts and not sidetrack with a different game. I am still itching to run a Sci-Fi game though, just as soon as I can find one other than Star Trek that I really like and has all the elements I'm looking for (or at least a way to make them). It's amazing. I've run dozens and dozens of Space Opera/Cinematic SF games and now as I look at the systems available to me, I'm not entirely sure how we did it. None of them are quite what I want. I'l save that discussion for another time.I need to get to bed. Work tomorrow and need to rest the golden chops.Ta, ta for now,ADBarking Alien
As is often the case with me, I am not without ideas for games but rather overrun with far too many. While I have not been recapping my Champions game, it is going amazingly well if a bit chaotically and I am getting my Superhero RPG a thousand fold because of it.
But...I could use a breather. A diversion. A change of pace.
At least for the July 4th weekend I'd really like to play a one shot of something else. I have some of the guys up for a game Monday and now I'm just trying to decide what to run.
I'm leaning toward Sci-Fi, that favorite gaming subject of mine that for some reason seems to get the least play these days. Part of me wants to run a straight up military shoot-em-up game. Ideas include Traveller where we play Battle Dress garbed Space Marines, Deathwatch (Warhammer 40K) for a similar vibe or some kind of crazy Star Frontiers jammy, though that last one hasn't really coalesced completely in my head yet.
Also...
The possibility exists for my return to a monthly game at my FLGS The Compleat Strategist. This is something I've been wanting to do for a while but...well...it's complicated. The Strat group is a real mix of different opinions, styles and preferences, many of which are not supremely flexible. At the same time, the group consists of a great bunch of guys and the desire to make it work is definitely there.
Personally I like it for mostly selfish reasons I'll admit. It's a big group and I love having a big group. I am loving my Champions game but it's only three players at the moment (a fourth and fifth may be on the way). I also like playing at the Strat because I love the store and my group cheering and hooping it up in the back definitely draws in the curious.*
Lastly (and I am aware that this is rather dicky of me), I like to show off. GMing is one of the few things I seem to be really good at, so I like doing it 'in public' as it were so others can see what a slightly atypical style is like and how it charges up the players.
When I was younger and less mature then I am now (stop laughing), I had a bad habit of watching someone run a game that was poorly received and then immediately wanting to run that genre. Y'know, see a D&D or Supers GM running with a group of players looking bored out of their minds and then being unable to resist the desire to run D&D to 'show'em how it's done'.
Thankfully I am past that. Largely. For the most part. Count to ten...shake it off Adam...shake it off...
OK. So that brings me back to the reason for this post. What to run?
Could my one shot on Independance Day be a prelude or practice run for what I'm going to do at the Strat? Possibly.
And what exactly will that be? Grrr...don't know. Other things intriguing me right now include...
My D&D-But-Not-For-Those-Who-Don't-Like-D&D.
Star Trek (Another try. Seriously, when do I not want to run Star Trek?).
Mekton? Maybe. Not exactly in a Mekton mood but not NOT in a Mekton mood. Wares Blade?
Much a-thinkin' needed,
AD
Barking Alien
*I was at the Strat not long ago and horrified by the quiet in the back room. Horrified! It was so eerie.Are you gamers or not? Now I'm not saying you gotta have a frat party back there but for pete's sake drum up some excitement! Make some noise!
