I was tossing this idea around while looking at the Gamma Terra Group on Facebook. It has been done before, and I actually helped with it, a couple of years ago. Now, though, the Advanced Race Guide offers a ready system for creating mutants. Also, the old conversion really did convert much of the setting, as well as classes, to something compatible. I was thinking more of using already existing mundane classes, or even Anachronistic Adventurers from Super Genius Games. I think this would be a great conversion. Also, I had the idea that Kingmaker would be a good AP for such a setting.
sure a Bunch of warlords carving kingdoms out of the wastelands.
I'm looking forward to anything this produces and yes Kingmaker would make a wonderful gamma world adventure path with some alterations and yes the ARG is perfect for making new breeds of mutant races among other things.
There's a brand new Old School RPG called "Other Dust" from Sine Nomine. It has older D&D style mechanics with mutations explained by rogue medical nanites and a host of other ideas. I haven't seen it in Paizo's store (I looked) but Drive Thru RPG has it. I'm hoping Paizo carries it (I prefer to keep my downloads and physical orders in one place). It would probably have a lot of useful material. The author did "Stars Without Number" (SFRPG based on D&D) and its extremely well done.
I have seen Dust, but I am just wanting to stick with stuff I have now, mainly. My thinking about Kingmaker came from watching most of an awful movie based on the Deathlands books. I like the books, the movie just was lame. I will have to gove some serious though on this now. One thing, I was thinking of the possibities on how to handle psionics. I was thinking that Psionics Unleashed is a good place to start, but I don't think any of the classes actually fit the theme of the setting. I wouldn't want to allow "full" casters. Thinking that higher level powers are just beyond the scope of the setting, except for maybe the occassional BBEG.
Psionics in my P-A games are handled like whats presented in PU and the other sources books DSP has released. Some things might be odd to place in but here are some ideas. Though the idea with higher level powers is a good point just prune the list of powers for those you think do not fit.
Vitalist: Innate healer common among mutant tribes and rare among humans as the genetic purity they strive to build has always inhibited their grander goals. Vitalist are welcomed within the Brotherhood of Radiation.
Aegis are a strange thing and many believe their origins are of the dungeons of the Ancients as many speak of a 'teacher' down below who can imbue others with the ability to form a hardshell. Those strange cults who worship the automatons of the Ancients find Aegis 'magic' to be a grand addition to their unknown goals. Though one group of Aegis does not form a hard shell from metal and other materials, they form it from their raw aberrant flesh.
Tactician and Marksmen: These two classes are known to be seen among humans as well as mutants, often seen as the force to turn full battles as they exert their power and skills in combat.
Wilders: Untamed manifesters who use their emotions to power their abilities and are good at it. Wilders are rarely found among the 'civilized' societies but are common out in the waste in roaming tribes of savages.
Psions: Those who have the power to manifest the will. Some say this is indeed a science and others say its some form of sorcery from the Ancients.
Dreads: Servants of ancient horrors from beyond the stars and alien beings. These manifesters are alien and always hard to work with as they use fear against others.
Soulknives and Psychic Warriors: Soulknives are a strange breed, they don't manifest fantastic powers but create psionic blades and weapons, Psychic Warriors use their powers to alter themselves and increase personal power. Both are rare but often will make mercenary groups to work together.
Cryptics: Cryptics see the patterns no one else can see around them and manipulate these patterns to alter the world.
My idea is to stick with the idea that Pure Strain Humans have no psionic ablility. Any Psychics from before the Collapse were actually early mutants.
I think the main thing about psionics will fall into how you want to implement them. If you stay with the traditional Gamma World Mythology, then there shouldn't be any full manifestors. There may not even need to be a true psionic class, as presented in any supplement. I may write something up that mimics the magic system from the Spellslinger mini game, modified with psionics in mind.
My idea is to stick with the idea that Pure Strain Humans have no psionic ablility. Any Psychics from before the Collapse were actually early mutants.
I think the main thing about psionics will fall into how you want to implement them. If you stay with the traditional Gamma World Mythology, then there shouldn't be any full manifestors. There may not even need to be a true psionic class, as presented in any supplement. I may write something up that mimics the magic system from the Spellslinger mini game, modified with psionics in mind.
Didn't the 4thEd version of the GW have the Esper class that was a manifester style class? I have a copy stored away some where with my ADnD goods. But yeah also true, I'm unfamiliar with the magic system of Spellslinger but possibly run it like Dark Sun races, each have the ability to manifest powers but may have a few built in.
Actually, another thought has occured to me. Since I am leaning heavily towards the Anachronistic Adventurer classes, why not make this a totally Super Genuis version. They have other archetype products that can be used with their AA classes. One is a Hedge Mage, from Arcane Srchetypes. Using it, along with their Spell Points product, I can just include appropriate spells. No Esper Class, but you can turn any of the approriate classes into "Espers."