Advice wanted

[binidj]

I am mulling over running a tabletop campaign for my local group, the premise being that they will be 'alien' humans invading Earth in the not-too-distant future. The advice I'm after is which rules system to use. My natural inclination is to grab Spacemaster but the mere mention of an ICE game tends to send some of the members of the group into hysteria. So, I'm after alternatives; not too genre-based and with the flexibility to deal realistically with a multitude of scenarios ... by which I mean something a little broader than a combat game. I would like a character advancement mechanic and, ideally, some kind of vehicle rules too.

Any suggestions?

Comments

[wulfboy.livejournal.com]

Mmm. What about Trinity/Aberrant?

[binidj.livejournal.com]

If you think things are bad when I mention ICE you should see them when I say White Wolf! Besides which, having played Aeon Trinity (as was) it really isn't the right flavour of game.

[swiftblade.livejournal.com]

Sounds ideal for GURPS..

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Well that's the thing ... my reaction to GURPS is about the same as some of my players to Spacemaster.

[pax-draconis.livejournal.com]

Cyberpunk 2020.

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Too genre focussed, plus I've always hated the game.

[s0b.livejournal.com]

Gamma World

[binidj.livejournal.com]

<stare="paddington">I don't think so</stare>

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

HERO system.

[binidj.livejournal.com]

I'm not familiar with HERO but I'll look into it, thanks.

[nortysarah.livejournal.com]

My natural inclination is to grab Spacemaster but the mere mention of an ICE game tends to send some of the members of the group into hysteria

That wouldn't be John would it? *grin*

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Nope, Nigel and Richard ... I mention it to John every once in a while just to see his reaction but no, this is a different group.

[ex-harryh579.livejournal.com]

Shadowrun. (Restrict 'magic' to the 'aliens'..... )

CoC?

[binidj.livejournal.com]

As with Cyberpunk, it's too genre specific ... take out the races, the cyberware and the magic and you're not left with much.

[curlwomble.livejournal.com]

If your group is familiar with the D20 System, D20 Future or T20, depending how hard you want your science.

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, now there's something I hadn't really considered ... I'll look into it.

[anatosuchus.livejournal.com]

First choice: CORPS plus the CORPS VDC (Vehicles supplement) from BTRC. They're cheap at $10 each (for a total of about 12 quid at today's rates) and can be downloaded as PDFs from RPGNow. I don't have the vehicles book, but I'm pretty impressed with the streamlined nature of the core rules.

Otherwise:
Traveller?
Another vote for CoC, with the obvious stuff removed.
If you can find a copy you could possibly sneak Cyberspace in under the ICE radar...?

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Not heard of CORPS, I'll give it a look.

Traveller was filled with promise and then turned out to be more shit than ... well ... pretty much anything else I can think of. I loathe the game.

Call of Cthulu wouldn't be appropriate and neither would Cyberspace (although I do have the rules for that ... somewhere).

[captainweasel.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Tricky one.

The Whitewolf core 'Interlock + handful of dice' is good, but gets flakey when you get to the damage steps. every edition has tweaked it and it still doesn't really 'sit' right.

Cyberpunk and the stat+skill interlock is a nice, simple and generic system thats easily adapted, quick to pick up and easy to run on the fly. damage is a bit funny for some and can be deadly.

as is shadowrun - no interlock, but a solid skill system that gave variable success levels but IMO went a bit funny for damage.

I'd stay off D20 or anything level based - while they're fine for high fantasy I'm not a fan in a more modern setting

SpaceOpera is too archaic, Spacetime had a Modifer table that hurt my eyes, Living Steel allowed you to shoot 1.4mm flechette rifles through someones eye and THREE additional cranial sublocations but sucked for anything else really.

and there is always a Runequest/Cthulhu style percentage skill system.

Personally I'd take a system you know and like, customise a skill list and run from there.

[evil-chalkie.livejournal.com]

You might consider the uni system from Eden Studios. They made All Flesh must be Eaten, and such things. The system woks well, and can lend itself to a variety of genres

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Unisystem looks like it might do the trick ... except that the damn thing doesn't seem to be available in its virgin state. None of the 'genre' versions are anywhere near what I'm interested in so it looks like it's a bit of a bust. *sigh*