I was wondering if anyone, either here on the messageboards, or at Paizo, was interested in a Sci-Fi adventure path? Or any other genre AP for that matter (Wild-West AP anyone?). Is there any chance of Paizo broadening their scope with such an idea?
Thanks
Actually, a d20 Modern / d20 Future adventure path would be an interesting idea, but I fear that there would not be enough of an audience for such a product.
Actually, a d20 Modern / d20 Future adventure path would be an interesting idea, but I fear that there would not be enough of an audience for such a product.
I don't think finding an audience would be a problem. I could see that choosing a campaign setting that would appeal to a broad audience as the basis for such a AP would be difficult, but I don't see it as anymore difficult than choosing a setting for a Fantasy RPG campaign.
Actually, a d20 Modern / d20 Future adventure path would be an interesting idea, but I fear that there would not be enough of an audience for such a product.
I think that there might be - if done right. The biggst problem I see, would be cost. If it was donw as a PDF only product (and side steppingthe huge printing cost) it might work, It would be atleast a good test run for future products.
I think a d20 Moder/Horror and a M&M AP woudl ROCK!
Actually, a d20 Modern / d20 Future adventure path would be an interesting idea, but I fear that there would not be enough of an audience for such a product.I don't think finding an audience would be a problem. I could see that choosing a campaign setting that would appeal to a broad audience as the basis for such a AP would be difficult, but I don't see it as anymore difficult than choosing a setting for a Fantasy RPG campaign.
I would Go with Dark Matter if you are doing d20 Modern - it's a Great Setting
I for one think it would be a great thing since there is very little support for D20 Modern/Future right now. The only company really putting out D20 Future adventures is Blue Devil Games for Dawning Star. I really can't think of any others. On my long list of things to do is to convert the star frontier adventures and the traveller 2300 adventures to D20 Future. Everyone is so different in what they like and how they approach things I can see how it would be hard to create a generic sci-fi adventure path.
As to D20 Modern, I do agree that Dark Matter is probably the best campaign setting to create adventures for. The 3rd thing on my to-do list is to convert the Eberron 'Eyes of the lich queen' adventure to D20 Modern for my wife. The idea is based off a combination of blood and dragons and the Dark inheritance book. Magic, and dragons exist just behind the scenes, but an artifact has been discovered that would allow anyone to control them....relic hunt ensues.
If people are looking to post their own person adventures/ adventure paths I highly recommend Eruvian.com. It is a website dedicated to world creation. Perhaps we can start working on an adventure path there.
Salcor
I don't know much about the Dark Matter setting, but I used to be a big fan of Alternity's StarDrive. But again, making a generic 'future' campaign would be ideal, except as the few voices here just pointed out everyone has a different idea of what would make a good setting. So I think the best approach would be a generic AP that would work for each type of D20 Future. That may seem like asking too much from the writers, but they had to make similiar descions for D&D AP's, and then include notes on conversion to campiagn specific settings.
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Actually I'm doing a setting that was based on d20 Sci-fi: It began with its roots in my Starship Warden Campaign (Metamorphosis Alpha)...Then I gave a copy to the Guys at Metamorphosis Alpha for their interest but it doesnt look like that will get used so if you want one my mail is reddeerrun@hotmail.com
It is Called RUUL 6, a rather interesting setting where the colony ship deployed on an inhabited world (in violation of treaties and laws regarding colonizing inhabited worlds).
It deployed some mining Modules across the surface and then found a nice spot where the shuttle deployed the equivelent of a Nuke (a terraform accelerator) and took out an inhabited valley and a bot built a base and then they activated clone banks and produced a unit of clonetroops. It then deployed these troops on a mission to reactivate certain mining modules that failed to activate.
I see it as a Scifi Set on a Desert world as they fight the natives for control as they attempt colonization.
The Problem is they are far from Earth and as the Setting Progresses, the RUUL IMPERIUM will oneday confront its Earth-centric Rivals for control of the Spiral Arm.
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THE BLACK DOME
-A RUUL SIX PRELUDE-
“It is decided! We return to the valley to investigate what is happening there.” Giyan the Elder pointed at the young warriors of the clan.
“Rest Well. It is three Suns to the Springs of Ur and we must cover the distance by the first.”
The Nemec roused from their sleep to the last evening meal in the water-caves. The wilted fungus baked in a mudpack in a fire burning even more wilted fungus as fuel. The aroma of its spores filled the caves.
The narcotic spore aroused them into assaulting their food with amorous fury.
Givan the Elder pointed to the others.
“Sataru!” Chanted his voice.
“Sataru!” Vinois the Wild cried with narcotic pleasure and the others followed.
They ran now through the night covering ground that was still warm from the terrible heat of the day. The Narcotic devoured the pain of their journey and closed the great distance into a single night.
Just before Sun, the Nemec found the foliage wall of an alien jungle and they were able to rest for a while in its shadows.
Junam the Swift drew the attention of Vinois to one plant that was obviously feeding off another.
“See it? Like a bore-beetle, it feeds off the victim until it dies.” Junam pointed at an older fallen plant that had rotted.
“It would be like waking up and finding that the wilted fungus is growing in us as we eat its spores.” Vinois cringed at the thought as he chewed down some spore.
Givan the Elder laughed at their conversation as he patted the warriors on the back.
“That is why we chew our spore, not swallow whole… Come! It is cooler further in.” Givan walked slowly into the undergrowth.
The shadow of the jungle allowed them for the first time ever to travel day and night.
They watched as foliage opened with the morning sun and tracked it across the sky. Flowers that bloomed at night closed up during the day, and others opened to replace their departure.
Junam spotted the strange flower waving a pollen tail. He could smell a strangely familiar and arousing scent.
What ever it was, it was feeding on an underground source of Wilted Fungus Spore. He stuck his face in its stamen and sniffed.
The ground at its base swelled, the stalk expanded instantly as it pushed up the narrow tube.
A strange worm burst from the foliage covered jungle floor to envelop Junam the Swift. His scream was terrible as it crushed him into a digestible juice.
The others watched as the bulge of Junam was drawn into the ground and the flower returned to being a flower.
They gave the flower-that-ate-Junam a wide birth now. Certainly the hungry plants would easily be recognised amongst the many strange plants.
The Springs of Ur fed the alien jungle. The tallest and oldest plants grew in and around the springs feeding on their life-giving power.
“The waters are poisoned with their feeding.” Givan shook his head with concern now. They needed water soon. He chewed down more spore and pushed forward through the jungle. The other Nemec followed.
They could see it as they emerged from the alien jungle that had come to infest their valley. A great black dome that was only slightly darker than the stone of the cliffs from which it had been carved.
Vinois the Wild choked on the idea of something so alien.
“How far away is it?” Vinois looked to his Elder for answers.
“Two Suns! But we must stop at Wadi Bloodwater. It is the only shelter from the Sun and there is a spring there.” Givan chewed down some Spore of the Wilted Fungus, and ran forward onto the grassed plain that separated their warriors from Wadi Bloodwater.
“Will it be any better than the other springs?” Vinois chewed down the last of his spore of wilted fungus and followed with the remaining Nemec.
I don't know much about the Dark Matter setting, but I used to be a big fan of Alternity's StarDrive. But again, making a generic 'future' campaign would be ideal, except as the few voices here just pointed out everyone has a different idea of what would make a good setting. So I think the best approach would be a generic AP that would work for each type of D20 Future. That may seem like asking too much from the writers, but they had to make similiar descions for D&D AP's, and then include notes on conversion to campiagn specific settings.
Sorry, I am not trying to be a nay sayer about creating a generic sci-fi adventure path. I guess what I didn't say is what do people want for the setting. For example, what PL are we looking at. Or it would be even better to say how do PLs in different areas break out. Will the setting be space opera, science fantasy, hard sci-fi, space western. Honestly I think a setting based off Peter F. Hamilton's Nights Dawn Trilogy would be awesome! It has just about everything, starship energy weapons, physical enhancement, networks, etc. Perhaps addressing some of the questions in the Ronin Arts scifi campaign planner would be good. I am definately on board to help out.
Salcor
I would imagine Paizo could put out a pretty amazing sci-fi setting, but it's probably not worth their time/resources. Also, Sutter makes it sound like he's the only one that digs sci-fi anyway.
All that aside, I'd buy it in a heartbeat, even if they had to produce an extra volume or two just to make the setting and create rules/classes/races for it.
Surely there are enough sci fi fans out there to make it a profitable market.
I guess I should let everyone know that I just submitted an adventure to Blue Devil Games for the D20 campaign world Dawning Star, but it is pretty straight forward so you could probably use it in any gaming world. Hopefully it should be published in a month or two. It is intended to the be the first adventure in a three adventure series. Although my day job keeps me from writing two quickly so it may be another year before I can finish the next one.
Salcor
I know that I'd be interested :) I've been hoping for something sci-fi campaign wise for quite some time.
I am starting a Gamma World campaign for my home group. Using d20 Modern, SnS GW book, stealing from Eberron, my old GW resources and "1001 GW adventure ideas". If my players like it, I will goto Eruvian and share.
I used to love that game. I have every edition.
I'd buy it. P-A, X-Files, space opera, hard sci-fi, modern ghost-chasers, Sliders-esque, whatever. Be nice to play something besides D&D but I just don't have time (or creativity it seems) to cobble together a campaign - and no one else in my two groups seems up to the task at the moment either.
M
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I don't know much about the Dark Matter setting, but I used to be a big fan of Alternity's StarDrive. But again, making a generic 'future' campaign would be ideal, except as the few voices here just pointed out everyone has a different idea of what would make a good setting. So I think the best approach would be a generic AP that would work for each type of D20 Future. That may seem like asking too much from the writers, but they had to make similiar descions for D&D AP's, and then include notes on conversion to campiagn specific settings.Sorry, I am not trying to be a nay sayer about creating a generic sci-fi adventure path. I guess what I didn't say is what do people want for the setting. For example, what PL are we looking at. Or it would be even better to say how do PLs in different areas break out. Will the setting be space opera, science fantasy, hard sci-fi, space western. Honestly I think a setting based off Peter F. Hamilton's Nights Dawn Trilogy would be awesome! It has just about everything, starship energy weapons, physical enhancement, networks, etc. Perhaps addressing some of the questions in the Ronin Arts scifi campaign planner would be good. I am definately on board to help out.
Salcor
Conceivably all PL levels...so you begin colonizing a world of primitives, pull together resources slowly so you go from desert fighter to marines with laser weapons and factory modules...shortages keep it low PL and as things improve for the Colonizing side...you build up a shuttle port with fuel plant, fortified bases...orbital ship yard and starships...then conflicts between your new empire and other worlds. Then you move on to something cool like war with the Earth Imperium...
A random idea. Since we know that Paizo won't produce a Sci-fi adventure path perhaps we should work on converting one of the existing adventure paths to science fiction. Savage Tibe might be a great one to start with considering it deals with sea travel a good analogy for space tavel.
Salcor
A random idea. Since we know that Paizo won't produce a Sci-fi adventure path perhaps we should work on converting one of the existing adventure paths to science fiction. Savage Tibe might be a great one to start with considering it deals with sea travel a good analogy for space tavel.
You know, that's actually not a bad idea at all. You could do it with any of the three - just have to copy the basic flow of the plot with different window dressing (i.e. no demons, no magic) and objectives. Still, I think it could work well.
In Shackled City, I could see Calderon as a space station or asteroid city and someone is trying to open up a rift to another, alien, dimension or something. Little bit of Doom-style maybe. Or, in Age of Worms the players are facing a zombie plague or similar disease bioengineered by some long-dead (or is he) scientist - now being spread by his modern-day eugenics-friendly followers who hope to achieve his aims.
You'd have to do a lot of manipulation to change all of the concepts into something that worked for sci-fi but it might well be worth it.
M
You know, that's actually not a bad idea at all. You could do it with any of the three - just have to copy the basic flow of the plot with different window dressing (i.e. no demons, no magic) and objectives. Still, I think it could work well.
In Shackled City, I could see Calderon as a space station or asteroid city and someone is trying to open up a rift to another, alien, dimension or something. Little bit of Doom-style maybe. Or, in Age of Worms the players are facing a zombie plague or similar disease bioengineered by some long-dead (or is he) scientist - now being spread by his modern-day eugenics-friendly followers who hope to achieve his aims.
You'd have to do a lot of manipulation to change all of the concepts into something that worked for sci-fi but it might well be worth it.
M
Yeah that is why I thought to start with savage tides. you could start the characters out on planet, let them get their ship from the destroyed pirates, jump to the next planet. Perhaps the 'savage tide' is actually an alien plot to destroy all the major human settlements in the system using a super gamma radiation weapon or something.
Salcor
Well, I know some guys that still play Star Wars, but is not my thing as the gm, IMHO, is not very fun.
I wrote an entire SCI/FI adventure for Space Master using ICE rules, but could be used for any. The setting is near future where mankind has colonized and terraformed several moons and has civilized much of the solar system and is beginning to advance FTL drives and break the distance barrier between stars. There are still pirates in the asteroid belts and much of the of known space is run by huge, fueding corporate conglomerates; the game starts with players having a letter of Marquis and are legal Privateers to perform bounty hunter operations and patrol the spaceways and attack and capture/salvage posted enemies and sometimes help out with emergency operations to various colonies and outposts; this type action is funded by a corporate hegonomy and falls under the rule of the Dept of the Navy; the Navy, of course has much more advanced ships and weapons, but, they just cant be everywhere and do not have the numbers or funding to really patrol, but are pretty good at eterminating large or powerful threats from rouge moons or colonies and do so with ruthless abandon.
There has been no real evidence of alien life and no first contact situation has yet occurred. Countless probes have been sent out of the solar system and into deep space, but they all stop transmitting at a certain distace; manned flights, at considerable expense, have now begun to follow and determine why this happens, yet all of these have failed to return any information or in fact return at all.
Anyway, the game starts as the pc's recieve a distress call from the ftl prototype; the 7th one actually, that has just left the solar system and is dead in space; and drifting without power. As the nearest and fastest ship; a reward is posted and the Navy orders the pc's to assist with due dilegence. This is the first time a manned flight out of the solar system has been able to get off any contact or response so there is hope for the first time. High powered boosters used in freight shipping will be used to rocket the pc's craft to meet with the ftl prototype and must do so before pirates get there and steal the prototype; the navy will pursue, but will be many days behind; to late to offer any real assistance other than clean up; the pc's are the worlds and corporate conglomerates hegonomies only real hope.
Sigh, the game never got of the ground, we played like three times, but one of the players (who is also a good friend of us all and long time player) was a total butthead and ruined the game for everyone, so we stopped and played something else. Everyone was pretty torqued about it, but we decided not to play something that one guy was just not gonna enjoy. sigh, this scenario could easily be modified to fit into any game system, would just need some npc work; I have hope to one day run this campaign again.
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You know, that's actually not a bad idea at all. You could do it with any of the three - just have to copy the basic flow of the plot with different window dressing (i.e. no demons, no magic) and objectives. Still, I think it could work well.
In Shackled City, I could see Calderon as a space station or asteroid city and someone is trying to open up a rift to another, alien, dimension or something. Little bit of Doom-style maybe. Or, in Age of Worms the players are facing a zombie plague or similar disease bioengineered by some long-dead (or is he) scientist - now being spread by his modern-day eugenics-friendly followers who hope to achieve his aims.
You'd have to do a lot of manipulation to change all of the concepts into something that worked for sci-fi but it might well be worth it.
MYeah that is why I thought to start with savage tides. you could start the characters out on planet, let them get their ship from the destroyed pirates, jump to the next planet. Perhaps the 'savage tide' is actually an alien plot to destroy all the major human settlements in the system using a super gamma radiation weapon or something.
Salcor
Well actually any kind of travel from one adventure site to another could be done by space travel. I heard someone had done the Return to the Temple of Elemental evil like this.The little river settlement of Nulb became a pirate moon base ect. Shackled city could work as a modern or sci-fi adventure but most of it takes place within Cauldron so theres not as much space travel happening there.
Well actually any kind of travel from one adventure site to another could be done by space travel. I heard someone had done the Return to the Temple of Elemental evil like this.The little river settlement of Nulb became a pirate moon base ect. Shackled city could work as a modern or sci-fi adventure but most of it takes place within Cauldron so theres not as much space travel happening there.
That is true. And thinking about it I am going to start working to convert Shackled City to D20 Modern for my wifes games. Since there is not town or city in the us similar to Cauldron I will have it set around Lake Tahoe.
Salcor
I am starting a Gamma World campaign for my home group. Using d20 Modern, SnS GW book, stealing from Eberron, my old GW resources and "1001 GW adventure ideas". If my players like it, I will goto Eruvian and share.I used to love that game. I have every edition.
More love for Gamma World here!
Good times in every iteration.
Was doing some thinking on this because I'd like to run a D20 Modern-based sci-fi game at some point.
When I made my original post I was thinking towards hard-sci-fi because that's my tendancy but there's certainly no reason that, for instance, the black pearls in STAP couldn't be some sort of superscience alien artifact that do...something.
The halos in Halo and the Ancient box in Stargate (the thing that killed the Replicators) are great examples of artifacts that wreak havok on those currently living in the universe.
Creatures like Stargate's Ancients (ascended beings) are a possibility for representing abyssal/infernal and celestial beings that appear in the APs.
I suppose all of this is pretty obvious to most - though it wasn't really that plain to me because I tend to stay away from science-fantasy most of the time.
M
PS. I loves me some Gamma World too. I guess that's science-fantasy, isn't it? :)
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Was doing some thinking on this because I'd like to run a D20 Modern-based sci-fi game at some point.
When I made my original post I was thinking towards hard-sci-fi because that's my tendancy but there's certainly no reason that, for instance, the black pearls in STAP couldn't be some sort of superscience alien artifact that do...something.
The halos in Halo and the Ancient box in Stargate (the thing that killed the Replicators) are great examples of artifacts that wreak havok on those currently living in the universe.
Creatures like Stargate's Ancients (ascended beings) are a possibility for representing abyssal/infernal and celestial beings that appear in the APs.
I suppose all of this is pretty obvious to most - though it wasn't really that plain to me because I tend to stay away from science-fantasy most of the time.
MPS. I loves me some Gamma World too. I guess that's science-fantasy, isn't it? :)
Nifty concept!
Was doing some thinking on this because I'd like to run a D20 Modern-based sci-fi game at some point.
When I made my original post I was thinking towards hard-sci-fi because that's my tendancy but there's certainly no reason that, for instance, the black pearls in STAP couldn't be some sort of superscience alien artifact that do...something.
The halos in Halo and the Ancient box in Stargate (the thing that killed the Replicators) are great examples of artifacts that wreak havok on those currently living in the universe.
Creatures like Stargate's Ancients (ascended beings) are a possibility for representing abyssal/infernal and celestial beings that appear in the APs.
I suppose all of this is pretty obvious to most - though it wasn't really that plain to me because I tend to stay away from science-fantasy most of the time.
MPS. I loves me some Gamma World too. I guess that's science-fantasy, isn't it? :)
True, progentitor races are very common in science fiction given the age of the universe. Look at the Vorlons and Shadows from Bablyon 5. They weren't even the oldest ones, just the ones that didn't decide to hope to the next plain of reality. There are always empires and races that are also long gone. So the demon princes/angelic host could easily be converted to something akin to the vorlons and shadows.
Salcor
It is kind of funny, last night before I went to sleep I had a small idea. For converting Savage Tides to a sci-fi adventure path one of the important things is what are the pearl, and why are they being used. Perhaps the pearls are something like the alien probe from the TV show Threshold. Instead of terraforming a planet to a races standards, the 'pearls' convert the creatures of the planet to the race trying to take over.
Salcor
I myself would love a D20 Modern/Future AP from Paizo or someone else.
I have something like this coming out soon for a different publisher. If you guys are interested I'll post back when I am allowed to announce more.
I have something like this coming out soon for a different publisher. If you guys are interested I'll post back when I am allowed to announce more.
D20?
<fingers crossed> Maybe its a Logue Adventure Path (or book of adventures like Harlequin) for Shadowrun ;-)
There's the Dawn of Defience Star wars Saga adventure path coming out soon, free, on the Wizards' board.
More love for Gamma World here!
Good times in every iteration.
I will second that statement.
I am currently running a d20 modern Dark*Matter game that incorperates some Urban Arcana ideas. The magic is lower (I am using the lesser incantaions from Modern Magic), but the magic and tech levels will ramp up as the game unfolds.
I love the idea of sci fi adventures. I am toying around with adapting some old Sci fi related adventures for my game, like stealing ideas from Expedition to the Barrier Peaks and maybe some Gamma World for a later adventure with a carshed UFO in the Arctic.
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I've actually been working on converting Pathfinder to a d20 Dark*Matter/Urban Arcana campaign. Sandpoint is a small town northwest of Sault Ste. Marie (which functions as Magnimar).
I'm rooting much of the supernatural and horror in ancient Ojibwe myths that are becoming lost to the tests of time.
The goblins are primarily going to be replaced by drugged out gang-bangers and cultists.
The ghouls will be ghouls. Many of the uncommon foes, like the lamia matriach, will likely stay the way they are.
I haven't decided on the giants yet. I am envisioning them as maugs or something the actually are being drawn from the earth to march. (Perhaps stone giants will take the name "stone" literally.)
The Runelord himself will be an ancient figure of Ojibwe myth - a god of old. A Harbinger of Doom.
The PCs will not only have to contend with the rising threats, but find ways from drawing too much attention to what's going on.
I'm really enjoying the rustic feel of Sandpoint, Canada as the winter winds creep in across Lake Superior. The isolation. Washed out roads. Downed telephone lines. Areas where your cell phone doesn't work. And small town cops.
It's looking good.
I was afraid that Pathfinder would be too fantasy laden, especially given my rising like of the grit of Eberron. (Still, I am a Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting D&Der.) Pathfinder really is filling a great niche. Gritty. Translatable. Horrorific. Bravo!
Yes, please do! Just got done going over Pathfinder #3, and you are one scary guy; would love to see what you do with a Sci-fi/Modern D20 adventure.
I have something like this coming out soon for a different publisher. If you guys are interested I'll post back when I am allowed to announce more.
Yes, please do! Just got done going over Pathfinder #3, and you are one scary guy; would love to see what you do with a Sci-fi/Modern D20 adventure.
I don't forsee an actual sci-fi AP by Paizo, really at all. These guys seem to be killing themselves just to put out two products a month--and only one of those is an AP. It's pretty much consuming their every resource and every waking hour. If they had another AP to do each month I think they'd all keel over.
That said, I think the field is wide open for other companies and individuals to produce linked adventures. I certainly have an abiding love of sci-fi gaming. Granted, I'll say it's really rare for any game to do well, but doubly so for sci-fi games. I don't think I've ever heard of one doing really well--Cyberpunk did fairly well, Traveller did okay. Neither of them were a Vampire the Masquerade or D&D though. It's a hard hard genre to succeed in. That said, I'm always perusing the downloads at the Paizo store looking for good sci-fi settings. Age of Ruin is a good one. I've purchased SLA Industries, and that one looks like it might be cool. There's another one I bought a while back, about a war with aliens fought in people's dreams--like The Cell but with aliens. My point is, there's some good stuff out there and people who are looking to buy it, but it's certainly not for the faint of heart.
I don't forsee an actual sci-fi AP by Paizo, really at all.
Ultimate Combat has rules for firearms and vehicular combat. I'm hoping that the Paizo guys are trying to work their way up the PL ladder slowly.
Like others on this thread, I would love to play a Pathfinder modern or future campaign.
I had offered to run a sci fi game a couple times over the years; but no takers :(
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A random idea. Since we know that Paizo won't produce a Sci-fi adventure path perhaps we should work on converting one of the existing adventure paths to science fiction. Savage Tibe might be a great one to start with considering it deals with sea travel a good analogy for space tavel.
Salcor
So you sail from a port and out at sea the Maelstrom Priest casts a gate spell creating a Whirlpool in the sea into which the ship is apparently going to be drawn, however it instead sails further out of the Maelstrom out across the Khaos Sea to the Island of the Moon which would have been otherwise inaccesible but for the use of Gate to access the the Sea between worlds.
The ocean in which worlds are nothing more than islands would be home to the leviathan Tiamat that lurks beneath the surface.
I dont know about Pathfinder, but AD&D had it built in. There were dungeons that had some sci fi relics in them in old school dungeons; I have a few in my homebrew as well. The cool thing is that they put in planes of existance and an infinite number of prime material planes and worlds so you could have sci fi coexist with fantasy or the realm of papers and paychecks; a modern industrial world.
with 666 planes infinite planes of the Abyss; you could really make any kind of hellish world in any genre you want. Tremble yea heroes!
I dont know about Pathfinder, but AD&D had it built in.
My half-orc engineer casts "cure moderate wounds" on the warp drive!