It just hit me, given the brief exploration and hints dropped in the Second Darkness adventure path, that using that for a springboard for a more expansive universe would be fun to see. Picture Goralon at one end of the Galaxy (as the Pathfinder core setting) and Earth on the other (as the Pathfinder Modern RPG setting), with a Galactic civilization scattered between (giving us a Pathfinder Future setting). All linked through the same over-arching general setting, it would fit well for those who like to mix horror, sci-fi and fantasy, yet with enough space for folks in the assorted core rule-books to come up with their own settings if they don't want to have it all mixed together (lets face it, while source material is nice for a Modern d20 game, a little imagination and a glance out your door works just as well for source material).
Another point to make: One of the things I really loved with the Dragon/Dungeon magazines were the mini-d20 games in Polyhedron. A "Pathfinder Modern" magazine ala the Pathfinder Adventure Path would be a great way for supporting all the weird little sub-genres we love, without trying to cram everything but the kitchen sink into a core setting book. If you look at having a general timeline for handling sub-settings, that also gives you room to maneuver. Steampunk Victoriana? Wild West? Pirates? Just tuck them into supplements for the settings past (ala Past d20), while Post Apocalyptic and Galactic settings can similarly be placed on a common timeline, with a time-travel mini-setting provided to tie everything together (once again, Future d20). Handled with mini-setting books that are setting-consistent to tie it into the same over-arching setting it would allow us to not get buried in elements we don't want or need, but leave us wiggle-room if we change our mind down the road. On the arguments for & against magic, perhaps a quasi-scientific explanation about dimensional mailability over time (kinda like how magic comes and goes in Shadowrun, or even "sliver realities" (like Sliders and parallel earths), allowing for parallel mini-settings where Occultists and alien horrors are mixing it up in one silver of reality, while super-heroes are flitting through the skies in another. These "reality bubbles" expand and collapse at key points in history, leaving anomalies for historians and possibly additional adventure possibilities for time/dimensional traveling adventurers.
Has anyone checked out Michael Johnson 66's Gamma World conversion? This is along the lines of what I'd like to see in a Modern Pathfinder-ish book. Something dedicated to a genre :)
Has anyone checked out Michael Johnson 66's Gamma World conversion? This is along the lines of what I'd like to see in a Modern Pathfinder-ish book. Something dedicated to a genre :)
Yeppers! Big props to Mike putting in the work.
I downloaded this on Sunday, but I haven't had a chance to go through it yet to have an opinion on the contents, but it's a start to see that someone has provided a sci-fi fantasy setting that people can utilize using Pathfinder rules.
I loved the concept of Rifts. I loved the setting. I loved the character...I'm the same way. I love everything about the Palladium settings(Rifts, Heroes Unlimted, Dead Reign, Beyond the Supernatural) except the rules. It is just such a pain to create a character and run the games. If not for the clunky, out of date rules, I have to admit the Palladium system would probably be my default game system. The setting material is some of the best out there. If only they would streamline the system.
Which is why Paizo could/should do what Palladium, can't/won't and give us an even better version.
BTW I always have converted MDC to SDC. Mega Damage is kinda silly, with only a few exceptions.
+1
Great setting. Lousy rule set. Kevin S. gets heart palpitations when any other rule options are mentioned anywhere. Oh well. Still bought way too many of the books. I'd love to see Paizo do something post-apocolyptic like Rifts.
Personally I can't stand the D20 Modern class system. It's uninspired and uninspiring, in my humble opinion.
In fact I don't think the class system is necessary in a modern or sci fi game. I'd prefer a system where you have a pool of points to use to choose skills, feats and traits.
As far as genre... I'd love to see a space game in something like the Freelancer computer game setting.
I'm also a big fan of Post-Apocalypse as well as Alien invasion games.
There's a German game that was supposed to be translated into English by Catalyst Games--that game is called Degenesis. Perhaps something with that kind of dark, future-earth, post-apoc feel.
I think that's why I liked d20 CoC. It had one class that could be modified into almost anything. It's really too bad that WotC and Chaosium didn't do more for that ...
Personally I can't stand the D20 Modern class system. It's uninspired and uninspiring, in my humble opinion.
In fact I don't think the class system is necessary in a modern or sci fi game. I'd prefer a system where you have a pool of points to use to choose skills, feats and traits.As far as genre... I'd love to see a space game in something like the Freelancer computer game setting.
I'm also a big fan of Post-Apocalypse as well as Alien invasion games.There's a German game that was supposed to be translated into English by Catalyst Games--that game is called Degenesis. Perhaps something with that kind of dark, future-earth, post-apoc feel.
can they get the lincense to Star Frontiers? I love Vrusk and Yazirians. Humma were cool too
Can they get Boot Hill too? or Gangbusters?
That would be incredibly awesome! I think that's where WotC dropped the ball ... they had all these great old games they could've re-made, but opted instead not to work on them.
can they get the lincense to Star Frontiers? I love Vrusk and Yazirians. Humma were cool too
Can they get Boot Hill too? or Gangbusters?
Until if/when Paizo makes any movement on this (which could be years), what about the quality 3PP's out there? Voice 'em to get attention.
|
I feel like excluding things like Star Wars science fantasy or Star Trek ubertech should not be part of this.
I'd like to see something that can be easily adapted to the majority of science fiction settings. Have individual elements that can be removed (with the game balanced so that this only disturbs balance minimally) as the DM decides so that it could appeal to a larger audience.
More options are better than fewer, IMO.
I'd really love to see a classic, far-future space opera setting. Something with elements of Asimov's Foundation, Frank Herbert's Dune, and maybe just a touch of newer Sci-Fi franchises like Stargate, Mass Effect or Ridley Scott's Aliens.
Magic shouldn't be present, but biotechnology, cybernetics, and some poorly-understood super-ability are staples of the setting. (the Psychology powers of the Foundation, the Biotic-powers induced by Element Zero, the bio-memetic and mental abilities of the Bene Gesserit/Honored-Matres/Mentats, etc)
The game Burning Empires presented a truly awesome Sci-Fi setting, but I dislike somewhat the mechanics and the GM/Player dynamic in that game. If Paizo were to tackle it (or something like it anyway) using the OGL and Pathfinder rules, I think it would turn out awesome.
Nothing wrong with that, but you just can't refer to it explicitly by name. Just need to set up the base tools to allow you to come up with the fluff and make it a bit at ease to insert into your own campaign setting. Aside from space ships, I want to be able to travel between worlds and galaxies by gates, too.
Hmm. Specific world?
Andre Norton. The Solar Queen.
But...I really, really want a Universal d20, a system that can cover all genras from Fantasy to SF.
I like the option to jump from world to world, from genra to genra. Modern/future PC in a fantasy world. [Hey, Brutal Legend!] Cleric of Sarenrae dealing with a modern terrorist attack. [Why does every fantasy character transported to modern times immediately attack cars as monsters, anyway?]
I love world/genra jumping. Lords of Creation was a cool favorite in spite of a poor system. GURPS is fun but complex...and no one else in our group remembers how to play.
I want to be able to do the same type of crossovers with d20.
Am I in a minority? Possibly. But I can still dream.
I want to be able to do the same type of crossovers with d20.
Am I in a minority? Possibly. But I can still dream.
You're not alone! We are out there. Join us and be heard!
|
Well the way I see it is that Golarion and D&D as a whole are inspired by Tolkien, Howard, Leiber etc. Basically the great fantasy books that captured the designers hearts and imaginations.
I therefore can't really see why we have to shoehorn the future mechanics/setting into one specific sub-genre or even something which is like Buffy, Babylon 5 or any other specific sci-fi niche. I'd much more prefer a broad rule mechanic that covers all these aspects and have Paizo do a futuristic setting that incorporates their influences (that are hopefully as varied as their fantasy influences) into it.
That being said I love D20 modern for its variety but would have loved a solid setting for it (like Faerun, Grayhawk etc are to D&D and Golarion to Pathfinder).
I was definately a big fan of D20 Modern's Shadow Chasers/Stalkers setting and the Dark Matter setting so for a modern setting I'd go for those but to add to the list of pre-existing properties to ape from:
Modern:
Shadow Chasers
Dark Matter
X-Files
Supernatural
Dresden Files
Nightside Series
Sci-Fi Generic Genre:
Steampunk
Cyberpunk
Sci Fi:
Blade Runner
Dark City
Event Horizon
(New)Lost in Space
Firefly
Space: Above and Beyond
Sliders
Banner of the Stars
Starblazers
I'd love a Firefly setting for Pathfinder. Gamma World, Star Frontiers, Gangbusters, Twilight 2000, list goes on.
I have been toying with a High-Tech/Fantasy setting ala' "Too Human" myself. Elves and dwarves alongside interstellar travel and such. Think Dune, not Spelljammer. High Fantasy meets Space Opera.
I'd love a Firefly setting for Pathfinder. Gamma World, Star Frontiers, Gangbusters, Twilight 2000, list goes on.
I have been toying with a High-Tech/Fantasy setting ala' "Too Human" myself. Elves and dwarves alongside interstellar travel and such. Think Dune, not Spelljammer. High Fantasy meets Space Opera.
Dune wasn't High Fantasy at all, though. Herbert said that he was mostly inspired to write from having read Foundation, combined with wanting to write something with heavy ecobiology themes. (He was an ecologist, IIRC)
Foundation was a retelling of the Fall of the Roman Empire, in the future. Dune was more like a retelling of the early Medieval period, in the far future. But there were no mythical race, no overarching sense of good vs evil, and no "Hero's Journey", unless you want to rename it "The Tyrant's Journey".
I'd love a Firefly setting for Pathfinder. Gamma World, Star Frontiers, Gangbusters, Twilight 2000, list goes on.
I have been toying with a High-Tech/Fantasy setting ala' "Too Human" myself. Elves and dwarves alongside interstellar travel and such. Think Dune, not Spelljammer. High Fantasy meets Space Opera.
Dune wasn't High Fantasy at all, though. Herbert said that he was mostly inspired to write from having read Foundation, combined with wanting to write something with heavy ecobiology themes. (He was an ecologist, IIRC)
Foundation was a retelling of the Fall of the Roman Empire, in the future. Dune was more like a retelling of the early Medieval period, in the far future. But there were no mythical race, no overarching sense of good vs evil, and no "Hero's Journey", unless you want to rename it "The Tyrant's Journey".
Having read most of Herbert's work I'm very familiar with the Dune setting and the ideas behind it. I think you are reading too much into the way I used the word. I meant a high fantasy setting with a feel similar to Dune, not saying Dune itself was high fantasy.
If one simply says "D&D in space", many think Spelljammer. I was trying to make a comparison, not a genre association.
My idea in a nutshell is basically D&D in a sci-fi/space opera setting, magic still exists, but alongside Tech similar to Dune or the video game Too Human. Just a pet project I'm working on in my spare time.
If one simply says "D&D in space", many think Spelljammer. I was trying to make a comparison, not a genre association.
My idea in a nutshell is basically D&D in a sci-fi/space opera setting, magic still exists, but alongside Tech similar to Dune or the video game Too Human. Just a pet project I'm working on in my spare time.
Not that I don't mind Spelljammer; I understood where you were coming from when I read your post. I mentioned in another forum a possible amaglam of Star Wars and Dark Heresy, but I think Dune covers it just as well. That's the type(s) of space opera I want to play.
I'm now going to shift my support to a Golarion of the future support, Akiton, Golarion and the rest of the planets would make a great setting, it would allow slight variations based upon world, travel could be combination, allowing spelljammer like ships propelled by magic, to actual starships, it's all in the description...
A battle cruiser that shoots lasers is similar to a Star Galleon that shoots Scorching rays...
The difference between transporters and teleport spells, or even rings like in Star Gate...description.
Advance the setting several hundred years, with Alkenstar taking the lead into space.
One way to take high-tech weaponry into a sci-fantasy system is using the "Deathstalker" version, the ray guns are very deadly, but take a long time to recharge, so everyone knows how to use swords in addition to rayguns...
Not only do I like your idea, you also have a cool avatar to boot!
Yeah, I'd definately want a more traditional high-tech method of space travel, but maybe with a magical or super-science effect to simulate warp speed or folding space.
Mass Effect has alot of ideas to offer a setting such as this. Also the look of the armors, weapons and ships could be tailored for elves, dwarves, what have ya.
The idea of orcs raiding other ships like Klingons or the Reavers from Firefly is a great mental image. Not to mention a legion of paladins done up like Space Marines trying to bring faith to uncharted space. And Dwarves travelling to uninhabited planets to harvest resources.
Endless possibilities.
Mass Effect has alot of ideas to offer a setting such as this. Also the look of the armors, weapons and ships could be tailored for elves, dwarves, what have ya.
Is Mass Effect something specific? Or did I read into this wrong?
But yeah, endless possibilties!
Mass Effect has alot of ideas to offer a setting such as this. Also the look of the armors, weapons and ships could be tailored for elves, dwarves, what have ya.
Is Mass Effect something specific? Or did I read into this wrong?
But yeah, endless possibilties!
The video game Mass Effect. If you haven't played it you need to. Just one more example of the excellent game design by the people at Bioware. Deep, immersive sci-fi RPG. One of the best games I've ever played, really.
The video game Mass Effect. If you haven't played it you need to. Just one more example of the excellent game design by the people at Bioware. Deep, immersive sci-fi RPG. One of the best games I've ever played, really.
That explains why I've never heard of it as I really don't play video games. I have enough vices as it is. :D
I'm now going to shift my support to a Golarion of the future support
I want a "Golarion of the future" game too... heatstone-powered steam trains? Orbital colonies in danger because someone's killing off the priests who perform the weekly orbit boost prayer? Cold war between Absalom and Tian Xia? John Carter of Akiton? Hell yes. And yes, it will have magic! Anyone who says they don't want magic in sci-fi, but is cool with spaceships that have artificial gravity, warp drive, and from a distance look like anything but giant heat radiators, needs to ask themselves some questions.
But here's why, as much as I'd love that setting, it must not be written.
Your first option is to write a timeline that explains how you get from the Golarion of the early 4700's AR to the distant future. That kind of ties your hands when you're trying to write more products for the original setting.
Second option is to write off history. It's so long ago it doesn't matter, there was a big disaster that wiped out the old records, it's an alternate timeline that ignores anything in the original setting published after a certain point, or the all-time worst RPG history writeoff ever, "Super netrunner guy wrote a computer virus that scrambled the history files. Also it ate paper, so all the calendars are gone, nobody even knows what the date is. Thankfully, your friendly local mechanic, who couldn't be bothered to remember the date before the datapocalypse, does remember how to fix your flying car even without the service manual."
Anyhow... what you end up with in the second case is a future setting that claims to be linked to the original, but is so disconnected, it doesn't feel like home anymore. It leaves too many questions unanswered. It's unsatisfying. I submit exhibits A through C: ElfQuest, Jink, and Rebels. If you have a series about elves, fast forward the timeline, make the elves all go away, and can't tell me where they went...
So yeah. Future Golarion won't work unless you've already done all you want to do with the original Pathfinder, and I believe (I hope!) that day is a long way off yet.
|
So, in the "Pathfinderize D20 Modern" thread, James states the following:
One of the problems with d20 Modern is that it doesn't know what kind of game it wants to be. Is it a modern-day spy game? An apocalyptic game? A space opera game? With Pathfinder and D&D, there's an implied world and setting behind the rules, and that allows the game itself more focus and more detail.
I'm pretty sure that if we do a modern or sci-fi game, we'll not take the "generic" approach. We won't try to build a game that could be rules for ANY setting... the SRD already does that, actually. It'd be best if a sci-fi/modern game picks its world and presents rules for that specific world, I think.
Assuming James' prediction holds true, what implied setting would YOU want Paizo to do?
Hold a contest for such a setting like WotC did for D&D 3.x.
Hold a contest for such a setting like WotC did for D&D 3.x.So, in the "Pathfinderize D20 Modern" thread, James states the following:
One of the problems with d20 Modern is that it doesn't know what kind of game it wants to be. Is it a modern-day spy game? An apocalyptic game? A space opera game? With Pathfinder and D&D, there's an implied world and setting behind the rules, and that allows the game itself more focus and more detail.
I'm pretty sure that if we do a modern or sci-fi game, we'll not take the "generic" approach. We won't try to build a game that could be rules for ANY setting... the SRD already does that, actually. It'd be best if a sci-fi/modern game picks its world and presents rules for that specific world, I think.
Assuming James' prediction holds true, what implied setting would YOU want Paizo to do?
Now, THAT is one Hell of an idea...
And yes, it will have magic! Anyone who says they don't want magic in sci-fi, but is cool with spaceships that have artificial gravity, warp drive, and from a distance look like anything but giant heat radiators, needs to ask themselves some questions.
I call BS here.
In Science Fiction it's fine to have technology that currently surpasses the limits of our physical sciences, or for characters to have abilities beyond what humans have. This is one of the main points of science fiction, it speculates about the future.
All of these things, however, are all assumed to follow scientific laws and have a naturalistic process which they follow. Within the context of the fictional world, it is still science, can still be understood by the characters in the setting. That is the important difference. It is not magic. It still follows a naturalist, materialist worldview.
I think it's perfectly fine for people to want to keep their Science Fiction and their Fantasy seperate, for the most part. They do not need to "ask themselves some questions". For some of us, that difference (one being based on a future-science and the other on superstitious magic) is a key, extremely important difference.
If you can't see the distinction between speculative future-science and magic, perhaps it is you that needs to ask yourself some questions.
Also, for the record, many spacecraft designs that have been put forth by real engineers do *not* look like giant heat radiators.
And yes, it will have magic! Anyone who says they don't want magic in sci-fi, but is cool with spaceships that have artificial gravity, warp drive, and from a distance look like anything but giant heat radiators, needs to ask themselves some questions.I call BS here.
In Science Fiction it's fine to have technology that currently surpasses the limits of our physical sciences, or for characters to have abilities beyond what humans have. This is one of the main points of science fiction, it speculates about the future.
All of these things, however, are all assumed to follow scientific laws and have a naturalistic process which they follow. Within the context of the fictional world, it is still science, can still be understood by the characters in the setting. That is the important difference. It is not magic. It still follows a naturalist, materialist worldview.
I think it's perfectly fine for people to want to keep their Science Fiction and their Fantasy seperate, for the most part. They do not need to "ask themselves some questions". For some of us, that difference (one being based on a future-science and the other on superstitious magic) is a key, extremely important difference.
If you can't see the distinction between speculative future-science and magic, perhaps it is you that needs to ask yourself some questions.
Also, for the record, many spacecraft designs that have been put forth by real engineers do *not* look like giant heat radiators.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
|
|
Hold a contest for such a setting like WotC did for D&D 3.x.So, in the "Pathfinderize D20 Modern" thread, James states the following:
One of the problems with d20 Modern is that it doesn't know what kind of game it wants to be. Is it a modern-day spy game? An apocalyptic game? A space opera game? With Pathfinder and D&D, there's an implied world and setting behind the rules, and that allows the game itself more focus and more detail.
I'm pretty sure that if we do a modern or sci-fi game, we'll not take the "generic" approach. We won't try to build a game that could be rules for ANY setting... the SRD already does that, actually. It'd be best if a sci-fi/modern game picks its world and presents rules for that specific world, I think.
Assuming James' prediction holds true, what implied setting would YOU want Paizo to do?
I would love that! I actually have a pdf already worked up for that very situation. 164 pg pdf ready for a full-future setting. It has enough rules in it that if you want magic, easy; if you don't, the tech level supports itself enough to not need magic, but not break a game with both magic and tech.
God I hope they do that.
Within the context of the fictional world, it is still science, can still be understood by the characters in the setting.
Within the context of the fictional world, I have always assumed that arcane (not divine) magic IS understood by the characters in the setting, and follows a set of laws that just happen to not exist in reality, same as if you make up a set of new scientific laws for a speculative fiction story. For example, the new laws of motion that let the tractor beam pull that thing over there toward you without pulling you toward it (unless it works better for the story just this once), and yet doesn't change anything else affected by Newton's Third Law.
No, I don't see a difference between fantastic magic and fantastic science, they're both just ways to let impossible things happen for the purpose of telling a story.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
I like Winchell Chung's version, "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced." :)
I would like to see C.J. Cherryh's Alliance-Union Universe statted out. Human space is separated into 3 main factions: Old Earth, Alliance (transport ships), and Union (space stations and clone-makers). There are lots of aliens on the borders (Compact space (kif, mahen'dosat, hani, etc. etc.), the "dragons" of Gehenna, the hisa of Downbelow, the hive insectoids of whatyoucallit, etc.). You could even include her non-Alliance Union stuff and not really be cheating, like "Foreigner" (8' tall samurai drow!) and "Rider at the Gate" (telepathic wildlife!).
But it's mostly a human-centric core, so you don't need to use aliens if you don't want to.
I would like to see C.J. Cherryh's Alliance-Union Universe statted out. Human space is separated into 3 main factions: Old Earth, Alliance (transport ships), and Union (space stations and clone-makers). There are lots of aliens on the borders (Compact space (kif, mahen'dosat, hani, etc. etc.), the "dragons" of Gehenna, the hisa of Downbelow, the hive insectoids of whatyoucallit, etc.). You could even include her non-Alliance Union stuff and not really be cheating, like "Foreigner" (8' tall samurai drow!) and "Rider at the Gate" (telepathic wildlife!).
But it's mostly a human-centric core, so you don't need to use aliens if you don't want to.
Never heard of this one. Link?
Never heard of this one. Link?
She is a great writer and I have read most of her books. :)
She is a great writer and I have read most of her books. :)
Thanks! I was worried at first that they were only e-books because there's no way I'm going to sit in front of a computer or read from a laptop for that long! :D But I found the Amazon link(s).
Any recommendations or would anyone have some sort of chronology that they should be read?
I would love to see a Rifts style game using the Pathfinder rules.The idea of dimensional rifts were used in at least one d20 game, in MC's WoD, throw in some robotic armor, cyborgs, space ships, a few alien races, make it completely compatible with PfRPG and you have a setting that could allow for nearly any style of game. d20 Modern tried, but didn't quite pull it off. One of the things my group didn't like about d20 modern was the lack of actual classes at 1st level. None of us liked the fast hero, smart hero, that just feels too generic. Plus we almost never use prestige classes, so waiting till higher levels to be the class you want to be kind of put most of my group off of the game.
I spend a small fortune on Rifts books and if I my group could play the same type of games using our default system, I could save a lot of money.
I'd also like to see a zombie, supers, steampunk and pulp setting. My primary concern would be that any other genre would have to the same rules and not just be "compatible". I want to be able to use materials from PfRPG product X in product Y without any conversion or modification. If I want to create a mixed genre game where one player is a modern super, another is a fantasy fighter, some one is an alien bounty hunter and someone else is a cyborg, they can all work under exactly the same rules. I would like the rules and power levels of the PC's to be as equal as possible.
I know that if anyone can make this work it is Paizo.
It just occurred to me that the other settings, classes, etc could be released as a subscription like the PF Companions and Adventure Paths. A quarterly line of 100 pg books called Pathfinder Alternatives, or something much cooler, could be much better than actual full blown rule books. Each issue could focus on certain a certain setting, you could subscribe or only buy the issues that pertain to the settings you want.
+1
I love the Pathfinder Alternatives idea. Perfect. Just a book with new classes, any extra skills or feats, and whatever modular rules you'd need. Like an expanded version of the Polyhedron settings!
|
|
I agree with the posters who are asking for more of a toolbox for Modern or Future genres.
I'd like to see a core rulebook that could handle just about anything you throw at it, and then setting sourcebooks that would apply and expand on those rules to produce a specific genre.
I'd also like to see a selection of genres, as opposed to 12 books focusing on a single genre or setting.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
*rolls eyes*
I knew somebody would bust out Clarke's tired old quote. Sure, if you want to play a game where everyone is a Herald of Galactus or some equally ultra-ultra-advanced setting. I'm presuming that in a Paizo-Sci-Fi game, the player characters would not be able to create and destroy planets with a wave of their hands.
In a nearer, more reasonable Sci-Fi setting, technology and magic are going to be very distinguishable, and even when it might become hard to tell (with Psychology powers and such) there should still be a clear indicator that it has a scientific process behind it.
For example, the new laws of motion that let the tractor beam pull that thing over there toward you without pulling you toward it (unless it works better for the story just this once), and yet doesn't change anything else affected by Newton's Third Law.
No, I don't see a difference between fantastic magic and fantastic science, they're both just ways to let impossible things happen for the purpose of telling a story.
Don't use Star-Trek technology as an example here. It's insulting. Star Trek is not real science fiction, it's science-fantasy just as Star Wars is. (I prefer Star Wars because it, at least, does not pretend to be anything else besides pulpy space-opera)
If you can't see the difference, the fault of perception is yours.
Sure, if you want to play a game where everyone is a Herald of Galactus or some equally ultra-ultra-advanced setting. I'm presuming that in a Paizo-Sci-Fi game, the player characters would not be able to create and destroy planets with a wave of their hands.
<whiny spacefaring kender voice>
But I want a Herald of Galactus prestige class with my own surfboard!
</whiny spacefaring kender voice>
|
I don't really see the need for a d20 Modern game, given that it's implied settings are already catered for by the World of Darkness line and stuff like Spycraft. Seems like you'd be solving a problem that's already been solved.
For a d20 Sci Fi game though, that's simple. Talk to Bioware and license Mass Effect. If that's not doable, aim for modern Space Opera tropes, and leave it modifiable. I'd want to be able to play in the Hegemony, the Culture, the Commonwealth or the Mass Effect setting, and modern Space Opera would allow that. Modern Space Opera is sufficiently different to Star Wars that you wouldn't really be competing with the d20 Star Wars, and you've only really got stuff like Traveller out there that could. Which, with all due respect to Traveller and it's fans, it's hardly as dominant as the WoD.
I don't really see the need for a d20 Modern game, given that it's implied settings are already catered for by the World of Darkness line and stuff like Spycraft. Seems like you'd be solving a problem that's already been solved.
For a d20 Sci Fi game though, that's simple. Talk to Bioware and license Mass Effect. If that's not doable, aim for modern Space Opera tropes, and leave it modifiable. I'd want to be able to play in the Hegemony, the Culture, the Commonwealth or the Mass Effect setting, and modern Space Opera would allow that. Modern Space Opera is sufficiently different to Star Wars that you wouldn't really be competing with the d20 Star Wars, and you've only really got stuff like Traveller out there that could. Which, with all due respect to Traveller and it's fans, it's hardly as dominant as the WoD.
The Dune Saga, the Foundation, Man-Kzin Wars/Ringworld, Starship Troopers (the novel), Enders Game. This is the stuff we should be thinking about.
Instead of "modern space opera", we should be aiming for the height of classic space opera, of which the modern stuff is only a pale shadow.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
*rolls eyes*
I knew somebody would bust out Clarke's tired old quote. Sure, if you want to play a game where everyone is a Herald of Galactus or some equally ultra-ultra-advanced setting. I'm presuming that in a Paizo-Sci-Fi game, the player characters would not be able to create and destroy planets with a wave of their hands.
In a nearer, more reasonable Sci-Fi setting, technology and magic are going to be very distinguishable, and even when it might become hard to tell (with Psychology powers and such) there should still be a clear indicator that it has a scientific process behind it.
[sarcasm]Oh no! I knew a quote...my apologies...[/sarcasm]
By the way, Michiu Kaku with certain advances, a lot of the technology is feasible...
Back in 63, the communicators emulated a technology that was unattainable at the time, now we have iPhones that blow their little communicators away.
She is a great writer and I have read most of her books. :)
Thanks! I was worried at first that they were only e-books because there's no way I'm going to sit in front of a computer or read from a laptop for that long! :D But I found the Amazon link(s).
Any recommendations or would anyone have some sort of chronology that they should be read?
I began with the "Pride of the Chanur" novel, then the rest of the Chanur series. It's a relatively realistic space opera with multiple alien races, told from the perspective of a feline race, where the human is the alien. It's really, really good.
I'd then recommend "Downbelow Station," "Cyteen," and "Regenesis." They're in the same universe, but on the other side of Earth space. They're pretty political, but in a good way.
Then I'd recommend the "Foreigner" series. Very anthropological. Also, 4 trilogies. Basically, humans got lost in space, found their way to a new planet, accidentally fought the natives, lost, and were ceded to an island where they trade technology for peace, but in a way that doesn't disrupt the native society. POV is the one human translator/ambassador allowed on the mainland in the middle of the alien intrigue. Really, really, really awesome.
Then, once summer rolls around, "Rider at the Gate." It is so evocative of winter, you'll save money on the A/C.