I can remember when the original Gamma World made the conversion to the d100 system too. Now that I think back on it, was TSR trying to set up d100 like WotC has done the d20 system?
What about some of these other games? Anyone ever play Top Secret, or Gangbusters? Top Secret was a lot of fun. I can remember my shock when I stupidly followed a double-agent into a disused subway tunnel where he promptly killed me with one pistol shot :D What a far cry from AD&D it was
Gangbusters was a lot of fun, too. IIRC, both of these RPGs used the percentile setup as well.
Sorry, just overcome by nostalgia there for a bit... I'd sure love to have my TS, d100 Star Frontiers, and Gangbusters stuff back, though. I think they'd be fun plays...
I loved that game! It was so much fun, like an advanced version of Cowboys and Indians.
Marvel was also great! I remember having a mutated rose plant that shot out poisoned thorns, emitted clouds of hallucinagenic gas, and used telekinisis to fly around in her little pot. It was a riot, especially because we had a mutated toaster who was stronger than Thor! Obviously, that was the silly campaign!
ciao,
john.
marvel was a good one, too! man, I'd forgotten how many games I'd played :D poor old brain is rusty...
Originally posted by Yorlum
How about Metamorphosis Alpha? I also got a kick out of the AD&D module that sent the party to the crashed starship...
I played the AD&D module (Expedition to the Barrier Peaks?), but I never played MA - I'd heard good things about it, just didn't know anyone who had it.
Speaking of Star Frontiers, wasn't there an actual Star Wars RPG? If not, there should have been.
Originally posted by Redthorne
wasn't there an actual Star Wars RPG?
Not by TSR. It was by West End Games.
Originally posted by DarthRicker
When my group finishes our D&D 3E campaign I'm going to start a Star Frontiers campaign. I have everything that was made for the game.
Could you post a listing of what you have? I have a large collection of Star Frontiers, but I don't know what I may be missing to complete my set. I liked playing that game. It was a great departure from the rules intensive D&D game. With few game mechanics and rules, you could do alot of "make it up of the fly." It promoted more role-playing and encouraged imagination.
Another one called "Dwarf" was a midget mutant who was essentially invulnerable to just about everything, but aside from that, perfectly normal. Btw, if you have that kind of character, don't ever let The Hulk get a hold of you -- what kind of damage does a dwarf-club do anyways?
Ahh, the fun of MSH. Heck, just rolling up the characters was fun as hell, and if you were the type that went for a "balanced" game there was a point-buy published in DM, an article called "With Great Power" IIRC.
Of course, you could get some really wacky characters (the aforementioned potted plant being one of the strangest I've seen, congrats John).
mmmm...time to go digging for my books again.
Originally posted by Twilight_Knight
Could you post a listing of what you have? I have a large collection of Star Frontiers, but I don't know what I may be missing to complete my set. I liked playing that game. It was a great departure from the rules intensive D&D game. With few game mechanics and rules, you could do alot of "make it up of the fly." It promoted more role-playing and encouraged imagination.
Go to www.starfrontiers.com. Everything made for the game is listed there. I agree it was a very easy game to learn and a lot of fun to play. It's been a long time since I played it but I'm trying to convince my players to play it as a break from D&D once we finish our campaign.
Old stuff: Body Speak skill converted to Body Speak feat. It is a starting feat gained by 1st level Enforcers.
New Stuff: how about a power screen that regenerates a number of points per round.
anyone interested check out the website, or drop me a line
later
oh wait top secret was tsr wasnt it ?
I believe D20 Modern is an excellent update for that game.
You can also run intrigue and techno spy stuff in D20 Traveler, D20 Gamma World, and D20 Star Frontiers.
Never played Shadow run, but heard a lot of good things about it.
Unlike a lot of systems, Shadowrun has actually been getting better the further along it moves through editions.
marvel super heroes, i thought at the time, was better than D&D. my group came seriously close to abandoning D&D forever. then came 2nd edition D&D...
star frontiers was also an awesome game. i regret giving away my books, i thought i would never need the game again.
Originally posted by Wyrmbane
Never much cared for Star Frontiers, or MSH for that matter. MSH was the reason I never cared for 3e Gamma World. Loved Top Secret however. Anyone have the TS Companion?
SF was pretty boring as an rpg ... but the ship-to-ship combat made for an awfully fun board game
GW was fun as a novelty but it wore off quick. Only ever played the second edition of that one. I had the 3rd ed with the weird action tables but never ended up having a game. When we wanted to play something different at the time we were doing either Call of Cthulhu or Twilight 2000, both of which were sort of the same (fun as a novelty but after 2 or 3 adventures ... )
Never played Star Frontiers, played Call of Cthulhu never really cared for it, but then again it could have been the GM that was running it
SF was pretty boring as an rpg ... but the ship-to-ship combat made for an awfully fun board game
Star Trek was better for the ship-to-ship stuff, IMO. Pretty good RPG also. So far, the only one to combine RPG with ship-to-ship that I liked.
GW had a lot of potential that was never developed. Same with Top Secret. Never played Boot Hill, so I can't say anything about that. But and RPG set in the 1870's would be pretty cool I think. Might have to try and hunt down some Boot Hill stuff.
Originally posted by Wyrmbane
Star Trek was better for the ship-to-ship stuff, IMO. Pretty good RPG also. So far, the only one to combine RPG with ship-to-ship that I liked.
True, but it was simpler ... which has its merits that you could have a game with someone not normally interested in rpg type games.
GW had a lot of potential that was never developed.
Well, yeah, maybe. I'm not sure. It had an interesting charm, and I thought of alot of good ideas for it, but it never seemed to work out quite right. It always seemed to devolve into D&D with submachine guns and lasers.
I always wanted to try running it with the artifacts of the ancients being so rare to find working, that it would be a momentous event for the characters (not the players! thats the problem) to discover each artifact, and likely anything they find would be unique. In practice this never seemed to work out, they read the rules and they knew what a black ray pistol was and so on, where I wanted their characters to behave more or less like members of a cargo cult or something, this never worked out. With the right players I suppose this might be different but I'm suspicious the temptation to devolve the game was written right into the rules themselves, with the inclusion of so much modern/futuristic equipment. There wasn't enough of a focus on the primitive aspect that supposedly was so prevalent.
Don't put so much of the technology in the game. And as for the submachine guns, that dud rate is wonderful. Tends to make the fight a sword fight real quick.
Sarta
Originally posted by Yorlum
I think we're straying off topic, but since everyone else is, I have to mention Traveller. It was the only game that was a serious alternative to D&D back in the day, and far and away the best Sci-Fi RPG.
... and one of the only games that could get your character killed during character creation. Good times!
Sarta
Of course I played OD&D and ran an AD&D campaign.
I have the original Spacequest rules and made a campaign for that. That's a pretty obscure game but cool.
I ran a Traveller campaign but I found it didn't have much character progression and the players didn't like the science fiction aspect.
I ran a Metamorphosis Alpha game for a while but the lack of character progression killed that game. What no levels? Cried the players...
I also ran a Gangbuster's campaign that went over ok. I even developed some "Buck Rogers" stuff for it, so I could have adventures like the cartoon strip. Now that is fun!
I tried my hand at Top Secret but I found with the Gangbusters rules you could have more fun (since the rules are simple) but do the same thing so I developed a 50's cold war spy variant for gangbusters.
I tried the Star Wars Game, but my medieval minded players just couldn't get into it. They had trouble with Gangbusters too.
I've got the Boot Hill gm screen but no rules. Looking for those.
I'm currently working on a new module for OD&D.
Old Dungeon Master
ever played Star Frontiers??? I updated as mentioned earlier with alot of really new stuff to go along with some classic material
Old Dungeon Master
Originally posted by beavis123
it's up on the shelf.
ever played Star Frontiers??? I updated as mentioned earlier with alot of really new stuff to go along with some classic material
We heard about this the first 586 times you posted about it ...
Suggestion: Use your sig line ...
D&D, predictably, was the best in terms of balance and playability.
All the early science-fiction ones (Gamma World, MA, Traveller) had the same problem: little or no opportunity for character advancement, and attacks causing massive (generally fatal) amounts of damage. It was hard to get into a character that wasn't going to gain levels and was likely to die at any moment.
Top Secret was a lot of fun, especially in "DM-and-just-one-player" settings. I remember the "Sprechenhaltestelle" module that came with the set was very well done.
There's a web site I found called the "Museum of Role Playing Games" with a lot of interesting reminiscences on it, at:
http://rdushay.home.mindspring.com/Museum/Index.html
D.
You could bring it back with D20 Modern.
I am currently running an intrigue/mystery/high tech spy game in D20 StarFrontiers.
Good luck and thanks for sharing the site!!!!!!!!!!
top secret
Top Secret was fun...and you are right. It was more one on one.
You could bring it back with D20 Modern.
I am currently running an intrigue/mystery/high tech spy game in D20 StarFrontiers.
quote:Originally posted by beavis123
Re: I still have boot hill it's up on the shelf.
ever played Star Frontiers??? I updated as mentioned earlier with alot of really new stuff to go along with some classic material
quote:Originally posted by beavis123
D20 Star Frontiers
Darth, i updated star frontiers. if interested in the web site for your group, drop me a line
Edgewaters.
We heard about this the first 586 times you posted about it ...
Suggestion: Use your sig line ...
I have to agree with you Edgewaters. lol
I enjoyed playing them and watching them played.
I won't mention more about Star Frontiers except that it was a fun game, which was dropped.
I played the computer game version of Buck Rogers (from SSI).
Those games were fantastic.
Originally posted by beavis123
The original point of the thread was speaking of RPG's from the 80's.
I enjoyed playing them and watching them played.
I won't mention more about Star Frontiers except that it was a fun game, which was dropped.
I played the computer game version of Buck Rogers (from SSI).
Those games were fantastic.
I used to like raiding the Mercury Ships (And praying My group got initiative) cause there was always a chance of picking up a Grenade launcher from boarding their ships for grapple
By the end every member had a grenade launcher and backup weapon to cover on reload. :D
Sentinel Worlds was also cool and the first relative real time combat for ground crew movement and battle, atv movement and battle, and Spaceship combat (switching to ground crew for boarding and grappling so I could steal the Cuisinart from the galley to sell for 2000 credits in dock
)Star Command was also cool from SSI despite the ground combat in turn based format was ASCII figures. THe Ship to ship turn based combat was Graphic though as was taking turns moving from star to star to do missions. THe Psion's "Psychic Scream" was a cool power in combat though it crippled the Psion for the rest of the battle whether or not mentally screaming killed the target.
Originally posted by The WarOverlord
I used to like raiding the Mercury Ships (And praying My group got initiative) cause there was always a chance of picking up a Grenade launcher from boarding their ships for grapple
By the end every member had a grenade launcher and backup weapon to cover on reload. :D
Sentinel Worlds was also cool and the first relative real time combat for ground crew movement and battle, atv movement and battle, and Spaceship combat (switching to ground crew for boarding and grappling so I could steal the Cuisinart from the galley to sell for 2000 credits in dock
Star Command was also cool from SSI despite the ground combat in turn based format was ASCII figures. THe Ship to ship turn based combat was Graphic though as was taking turns moving from star to star to do missions. THe Psion's "Psychic Scream" was a cool power in combat though it crippled the Psion for the rest of the battle whether or not mentally screaming killed the target.
Starcom, that was a great game in its day ... I got really good with the Arilou Skiff, that ship was amazing.
Did you know Erol Otus did some of the art for the later Star Commands (Starcom 2 or maybe it was 3?)
I didn't know that....one thing I *did* love about the 1977-1981 TSR products was the illustration. Some of it was pretty sloppy, but the good artists- Dave Trampier, Erol Otus, Jeff Dee (and even the young Jeff Easley)- had such *incredibly cool* ideas, even if their knowledge of human anatomy was a little spotty.
It seems sad, years later, to see that none of those guys went on to reach a wider audience (or make *real* money with their incredible coolness- I think TSR paid them about $50 for each black-and-white illustration.)
I actually bought *every* TSR product that came out in those days, just for the art.
D
Originally posted by Edgewaters
Actually I got the name wrong but I think we are talking about the same game - it was Star Control 2 that Otus did work for.
Ah, "Space Chess" with interactive combat.....or would that be "Granddaddy of Starcraft/Warcraft"? :D
That was a cool game as well.
I liked using that little round ship for "near star" attacks as well as the "Kamakaze" ones in packs of 3 to take out the bigger enemy ships
Originally posted by Druixin
Dave Trampier
DAT! :D
DAT! :D
DAT! :D
DAT! :D
DAT! :D
He was always my favourite D&D artist. *sigh* If I had a million dollars, I'd hunt him down and give him...uh, some of it.
...okay, I'd probably just keep the mil and send him a postcard or something.
--
Yes. Also a great guy. I met him at GenCon in 1981 and I'll never forget how much time he took (hours!) to talk to me (a way-beyond-dorky, even by D&D standards, 13-year-old) about games and art.
I did go on to make art for a living, and I always consider meeting Trampier the event that gave me the confidence to pursue it.
D
Are you playing your own home made adventure or a classic module?
Dark Side of the Moon was well done.
I started them with the two scenarios that are in the Basic book so they could learn how to play. I used the Expanded rules and did not run them as scripted. I just used the scenarios to start the scene and just let things develop on their own. Basically they beat the heck out of the raiders in the first scenario and the creature in the second, though the creature did hurt one of the humans some what. I gave them some XP and money for each scenario. They enjoyed it. Next session we will be starting Crash on Volturnus.
Yeah, Crash on Volturnus was a tough one. I loved it though, even as young munchkin.
Of course, I learned my lessons in munchkinism playing old Gamma World stuff.
(Hey, radiation, I wonder if I'll get any cool mutations this time? Defect? Come on, gimme a reroll...)
I've reformed some years later.....
TOON.
GURPS.
Traveller.
Originally posted by DarthRicker
I've been thinking of getting Gamma World. I know there have been various editions over the years. Can anybody recommend a certain edition? I have no experience with GW but I always thought it looked cool.
1st ed is classic, and carries the feeling more than any other edition.
2nd edition is 1st with a few updates and clarifications, but we're not talking about a major overhaul; the two are fully compatible.
3rd edition is slicker, as far as publishing values go, but the rules are revamped and most people didn't like it; everything is based on d% and colour-coded charts (basically Marvel Superheroes system). However, the campaign world is much better detailed in the 3rd edition.
Didn't play anything after that, so I wouldn't know.
Can anybody recommend a certain edition?
I used some of 1e with 2e, but if you aren't like me, I'd stay with 2e. Anything after that was trash, IMO.
Originally posted by Edgewaters
1st ed is classic, and carries the feeling more than any other edition.
2nd edition is 1st with a few updates and clarifications, but we're not talking about a major overhaul; the two are fully compatible.
3rd edition is slicker, as far as publishing values go, but the rules are revamped and most people didn't like it; everything is based on d% and colour-coded charts (basically Marvel Superheroes system). However, the campaign world is much better detailed in the 3rd edition.
Didn't play anything after that, so I wouldn't know.
Well the computer takes care of all the "freaky stuff" when I am Playing Baulder's Gate or Neverwinter Nights, though I did get the 3rd Eddition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, Silver Marches Supplement, and Drizzt's guide to the Underdark. for the story updates and info on the Areas NWN was taking me through. (FR Legends and Lore, and The FR Atlas had no Hilltop)
Far as the New Rules I am a old dog that don't like learning new tricks so I just deny that 3rd eddtion exists as much as I can
Originally posted by The WarOverlord
Well the computer takes care of all the "freaky stuff" when I am Playing Baulder's Gate or Neverwinter Nights, though I did get the 3rd Eddition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, Silver Marches Supplement, and Drizzt's guide to the Underdark. for the story updates and info on the Areas NWN was taking me through. (FR Legends and Lore, and The FR Atlas had no Hilltop)
Far as the New Rules I am a old dog that don't like learning new tricks so I just deny that 3rd eddtion exists as much as I can
Those were editions of Gamma World I was referring to, not AD&D
Originally posted by DarthRicker
Thanks for the info on Gamma World. I'll try to find 2e on eBay. 3e sounds like what they did to Star Frontiers with Zebulon's Guide to Frontier Space. I didn't like that system with Star Frontiers. It was alright for Marvel Super Heroes but I didn't like it with a science fiction game.
The third edition is worth a look too ... even if you're not into the system, as I mentioned, they did a much better job detailing the world than any of the other editions. Myself, I never liked the mechanics (and apparently I'm not alone there) but found the 'fluff' easily adaptable to earlier editions. There is some good info on the history, the nature of the campaign world, and some fairly decent maps both of what's left of North America and a few more detailed maps ("Pittsburk" I think, the downtown as well as the surrounding countryside).
Adventures published for the third edition are not too too bad (not great either) - but supplements are best left unmentioned. You're not missing anything by forgetting the third edition, really, but if you see it around and get a chance the maps are worth having and the campaign info is worth a read, from the core book.
Originally posted by Elendur
I really dug Marvel because it supported miniatures combat. It came with a big city map and a lot of fold up characters. That was a lot of fun.
I was thinking of getting my old Marvel stuff out and using the heroclix miniatures with them. the great thing about MSHRPG is that it's a quick start RPG. great for young kids and new players.
Originally posted by SputnikCorp
didn't anybody ever played TSR's conan the role playing game? i'm looking over the old game now, i just bought the conan:rpg 3.5 by mongoose the other day, i'm salvaging my old notes in the old school version. great game.
The old Conan RPG was a very underatted system. the combat was simple and made sense. in fact the whole flavor was true to the Sword and Sorcery genre. it wasnt high fantasy like Forgotten realms. it was a gritty world with gritty characters. I think part of the reason it never took off was that folks expected it to be like AD&D. but Hyboria is Robert E. Howard fantasy not Ed Greenwood fantasy
The third edition is worth a look too ... even if you're not into the system, as I mentioned, they did a much better job detailing the world than any of the other editions. QUOTE]
I have seen the 3rd edition go for $5 on eBay. If I see one cheap I'll pick it up. Thanks for the info.
Originally posted by boojiesdad
I was thinking of getting my old Marvel stuff out and using the heroclix miniatures with them. the great thing about MSHRPG is that it's a quick start RPG. great for young kids and new players.
That's a good idea! The maps had these strange 'zones' or something instead of a particular scale, so heroclix should work fine on them.