Thread: Sci-Fi based BRP game that is not dead?

Originally Posted by RosenMcStern

I would really love to see a good sci-fi submissions for BRP, but our current - unannounced - schedule goes straight to mid-2014 so it would not appear very soon, in any case. One of the unannounced books is "somehow" sci-fi but it will not appear before end 2013.

Speaking of which, BRP Mecha has achieved status: Layout 3/10 done, artwork in progress. It will not appear within February as scheduled, but I still hope it may be available next month.

You're "booked up" through 2014. But a BRP science fiction campaign book would take time to research and write. How long do you usually give an author to produce a ready-to-edit manuscript? Between now and the completion of your current publishing schedule ... gives him or her about a year to crank it out for you.

I think I have already made up my mind as to what Sci-fi based rpg to buy. Seeing that nothing substantial, in the way of a BRP Sci-fi rpg, is out I have picked Traveller. There are tons of neat stuff for it and it combines my favorites...Space 1999, Aliens movies, Martian Chronicals, Dune and Dead Space pc game series!

Starting with the core rule book, Traveller Core Rulebook - Core Rulebooks & Accessories - Traveller - RPGs, buying the DM screen, Referee's Screen - Core Rulebooks & Accessories - Traveller - RPGs , and the campaign setting The Spinward Marches - The Third Imperium - Traveller - RPGs . Later will add some other books but this is plenty to start from)))

Originally Posted by MrHemlocks

I think I have already made up my mind as to what Sci-fi based rpg to buy. Seeing that nothing substantial, in the way of a BRP Sci-fi rpg, is out I have picked Traveller. There are tons of neat stuff for it and it combines my favorites...Space 1999, Aliens movies, Martian Chronicals, Dune and Dead Space pc game series!

Starting with the core rule book, Traveller Core Rulebook - Core Rulebooks & Accessories - Traveller - RPGs, buying the DM screen, Referee's Screen - Core Rulebooks & Accessories - Traveller - RPGs , and the campaign setting The Spinward Marches - The Third Imperium - Traveller - RPGs . Later will add some other books but this is plenty to start from)))

A very good choice. Steve Jackson Games made exactly the same one since GURPS Traveller is published out and well supported by its authors as well as its fans.

Will you use it with its own rules or convert it to the BRPS system?

Originally Posted by Gollum

A very good choice. Steve Jackson Games made exactly the same one since GURPS Traveller is published out and well supported by its authors as well as its fans.

Will you use it with its own rules or convert it to the BRPS system?

From what I gathered so far there is no need to use the BRP rules for Traveller. The game has been proven worthy, as rpg, for over 30 years now. But I might tweak some of the combat to add hit locations like in the BRP book.

Originally Posted by MrHemlocks

From what I gathered so far there is no need to use the BRP rules for Traveller.

It depends on your preferences concerning the granularity of the game mechanics.
Mongoose Traveller's 2d6 system gives you only 11 possible results, while BRP's per-
centile system gives you 100 possible results. Mongoose Traveller uses 6 characte-
ristics, BRP uses 8 characteristics plus 7 rolls (Effort, Stamina, Idea, etc.). And so
on. As a result Mongoose Traveller's core is more "rules light", BRP's core has more
granularity and depth. It is a matter of taste.

Originally Posted by NickMiddleton

If I win the lottery I'd buy the rights to Space Opera and retool it to use BRP.

Originally Posted by rleduc

I hope Nick wins the lottery :-)

Originally Posted by threedeesix

I'll buy him a ticket, I loved Space Opera.

We need to set up a BRP Central syndicate for this right now.

Originally Posted by NickMiddleton

If I win the lottery I'd buy the rights to Space Opera and retool it to use BRP.

Personally I'd stay clear of Space Opera ... I hear the rights holder is a bit cray-cray.

I'd rather see an all in one game based on a successful set of SF rules (e.g. Ringworld) but with the copyrighted elements renamed or removed. Maybe we'd call it "Future World" or something.

Of course, a big problem with any "science fiction" game is ... what subgenre? Modern transhumanist? Near future hard science? Cyberpunk? Military SF? 1950's space opera? 1920's pulp SF? 1890's scientific romances? A five year mission to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations? A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away? A madman in a box?

Still, as Nick demonstrated, it's not that hard to grab a setting or source-book you like -- 2300 AD, Traveller, GURPS Space, Star Hero, Prime Directive, Star Wars D6, whatever -- and convert on the fly.

Originally Posted by fmitchell

I'd rather see an all in one game based on a successful set of SF rules (e.g. Ringworld) but with the copyrighted elements renamed or removed. Maybe we'd call it "Future World" or something.

I spoke to Dustin about Future*World about a year ago (possibly more), but things seem to be a bit up-in-the-air at Chaosium these days. I think it would make a great game, although you would (ironically) have to be careful about parallels with Peter F. Hamilton's works. Ironically, because his universe employing 'gateworlds' and wars using the gate projectors to interdict incoming gates are very reminiscent of Future*World. And both settings have a main character called "Sheldon".

Being serious for a moment, I am well aware of the reputation of FGU / Scott Bizar and I'd be far more likely if I had a lottery win to use it to fund creating a BRP SF game with similar feel and the same inspirations (but the sort of production values a lottery win could fund) rather than try and untangle that particular mess.

There was a serious effort to relaunch Ringworld, or a version rebadged as Known Space about eight years back, and subsequently some extensive discussion of the concept of a "BRP Space" on one or more of the BRP Yahoo groups. To summarize what I took away from those discussions: one should be DEEPLY skeptical that any licensed IP is either feasible or workable (especially for Chaosium, especially in the current market); and equally one should be highly critical of any generic "SF sourcebook" proposal. There is a surfeit of the latter for many generic RPG systems and pretty much every genre of SF; and the former bring with them a tangle of legal and practical complications that will seriously impact the viability of any product.

My own opinion then and now is that what Chaosium / BRP needs is an in house SF game:

• based on the BGB, and through its subsystenms laying the groundwork for future takes on different sub-genres
• with a setting specifically tailored to maximize its appeal, whilst leaving the door open for future supplements
• Self contained in a single book, so a single purchase will let people get started.

Fond as I am of Future*World neither it, nor even a "modern" reworking such as my own Outpost 19 fits the bill I suspect. Nor will a Ringworld with the serial numbers filed off I suspect. I think better approach is to think about what tabletop RPG's excel at; what their strengths are (teams; action on the scale of individuals; stories focused on characters) and build the initial setting from there and use that as the spring board for the game.

Cheers,

Nick

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