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(IC) Stars Without Number.

Posted by victor_21
victor_21
member, 2 posts
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 00:50
  • msg #1

(IC) Stars Without Number

This game begins in the distant future, year 3200, as humanity emerges from its latest Dark Age, the ‘Silence’. The era that preceded was one of rich technological achievement and colossal expansion resulting in humanity’s spread across the cosmos. All that remains is a scattered human diaspora struggling to re-join its disparate parts across the vast distances of space.

I’m envisioning a ‘gritty’ game-world where players can choose to be human PC’s using any of the four major classes: Adventurer, Expert, Psychic, or Warrior. Game-play would be some mix between ‘band of adventurers’ all the way to ‘mercenary group hopping planets’ all in search of money, fame, and (if appropriate to the PC background) revenge.

Perhaps some other game-style not encapsulated above?

For media parallels consider ‘The Expanse’, ‘Firefly’, elements of ‘BSG’, and even ‘Blade Runner’ or 'Aliens' to all represent portions of the ‘gritty’ game universe I’m shooting for.

I’ve done a fair bit of leg-work getting things prepped, just want a barometer check of interest before I pour any more effort in.

Thumbs up or thumbs down? Suggestions for improvement on the idea?

Thanks in advance for looking!
Hendell
member, 148 posts
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 01:02
  • msg #2

(IC) Stars Without Number

Stars without numbers is a good example of a game with great potential but that suffers from the 'starting characters are mostly the same' problem as there just aren't enough choices, let alone good ones, to make them meaningfully different.

If you plan to make the game world 'gritty' without the problem of being oddly easy or impossible to deal with I would suggest starting a tier or two up from the bottom.
Nintaku
member, 614 posts
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 01:09
  • msg #3

(IC) Stars Without Number

Thumbs up from me, along with interest in joining. :D I'd just ask to not use random chargen (or are given the option not to), because rolling stats is the opposite of my idea of fun.

Hendell:
Stars without numbers is a good example of a game with great potential but that suffers from the 'starting characters are mostly the same' problem as there just aren't enough choices, let alone good ones, to make them meaningfully different.

If you plan to make the game world 'gritty' without the problem of being oddly easy or impossible to deal with I would suggest starting a tier or two up from the bottom.


The original version was, yeah, but Revised Edition makes extremely distinct characters. My game had three Experts in a party of five, and everyone was wildly different and filled very solid roles in the party. The Totally-Not-Feats they added really gave the ability to make mechanically defined people out of otherwise very similar components.
victor_21
member, 3 posts
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 01:28
  • msg #4

(IC) Stars Without Number

Hendell:
Stars without numbers is a good example of a game with great potential but that suffers from the 'starting characters are mostly the same' problem as there just aren't enough choices, let alone good ones, to make them meaningfully different.

If you plan to make the game world 'gritty' without the problem of being oddly easy or impossible to deal with I would suggest starting a tier or two up from the bottom.


Great feedback! Using the revised rules though and similar to the perspective voiced by Nintaku above, I've found the character classes to be significantly different. Each bringing their own unique flavor and talents to the table.

I like your idea of starting off PC's "a tier or two" off the bottom since I'm envisioning doing just that. A short starter adventure earning a quick level-up before proceeding to deeper play. Should help everyone round-out their characters.

Nintaku:
Thumbs up from me, along with interest in joining. :D I'd just ask to not use random chargen (or are given the option not to), because rolling stats is the opposite of my idea of fun.


Fantastic news!

In terms of character creation, I went through the revised edition and tried to boil down the process to be as user-friendly as possible (including getting rid of 'rolling for stats'). You don't even need a book (or pdf) to get started (unless you choose Psychic).

I'm always open to pointers though, particularly if there's a better way to save time and effort.
Orvallon
member, 68 posts
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 01:43
  • msg #5

(IC) Stars Without Number

I'm all for a good game of SWN.
OakMaster
member, 109 posts
"Choose you this day
whom ye will serve..."
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 01:54
  • msg #6

(IC) Stars Without Number

Interested...  :)
Tancred
member, 29 posts
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 02:01
  • msg #7

(IC) Stars Without Number

My interest has been piqued by SWN, but I am a total newbie to the rules-system (I am a long-time D&Der), and might need a little hand-holding in order to get started. Am willing to order the appropriate books from Amazon (can have them in hand a day or two from ordering).


Don't know whether you have the time and patience to run a newbie-friendly campaign or not (it won't hurt my feelings if not).

PS. Seemingly I have confused Stars Without Number with Starfinder. When I checked with Amazon, it seems that SWN is out of print and the books are unavailable unless one is willing to pay exorbitant prices, whereas there are plenty of Starfinder books available.

I'm not really up for getting involved with a rules-system for which the rule-books are not readily available. Thus, I shall hold out for a Starfinder game.

Sorry for the confusion. Mea culpa. :) Please remove me from your list if you are counting up the interested players.
This message was last edited by the user at 05:55, Sat 08 Dec 2018.
Eduardo
member, 59 posts
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 02:22
  • msg #8

(IC) Stars Without Number

Very interested! I have the revised deluxe rulebook, but am a newbie to the system.
Ramidel
member, 1370 posts
Err on the side
of awesome.
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 07:55
  • msg #9

(IC) Stars Without Number

In reply to Tancred (msg # 7):

The basic revised rules are available for free on DriveThruRPG. You got the wrong ruleset.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/p...anufacturers_id=3482
Jhaelan
member, 234 posts
Prefers roles to rolls
Based in UTC+1
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 08:20
  • msg #10

(IC) Stars Without Number

In reply to Eduardo (msg # 8):

Ditto
Ramidel
member, 1371 posts
Err on the side
of awesome.
Sat 8 Dec 2018
at 09:39
  • msg #11

(IC) Stars Without Number

victor_21:
In terms of character creation, I went through the revised edition and tried to boil down the process to be as user-friendly as possible (including getting rid of 'rolling for stats'). You don't even need a book (or pdf) to get started (unless you choose Psychic).


My suggestion is to tell players to ignore the Background tables except as fluff. They take up a lot of dead air in the PDF that only matters if you're doing random rolls.

I think if you don't use random rolls for stats or skills (which are annoying as cherries anyway), most players will be able to pick up character creation very easily. Revised Edition's rules are very intuitive from a player end (somewhat less so from a GM end if you have to hack stuff), the skills are self-explanatory and most of the feats are pretty easy, and like I said, the PDF is free.
This message was last edited by the user at 09:40, Sat 08 Dec 2018.
Tuttu
member, 130 posts
Sun 9 Dec 2018
at 10:39
  • msg #12

(IC) Stars Without Number

I'm interested as well as you are playing with the revised rules. Would you consider accepting alien players or do you stick to humans only ?

Whatever your answer, I will still be interested in joining. :)
victor_21
member, 4 posts
Sun 9 Dec 2018
at 13:59
  • msg #13

(IC) Stars Without Number

@Nintaku, @Orvallon, @OakMaster, @Eduardo, @Jhaelan, @Tuttu

Welcome all!

Tancred:
Seemingly I have confused Stars Without Number with Starfinder.


Thanks for the feedback! Ramidel provided a link to the free pdf above but I can reinforce for this SWN concept that a) players will not need any of the sourcebook material to play (obv having it available makes things easier, but not a requirement at all), b) the revised edition rules are readily available in both print and pdf, and c) newbies are always welcome!

Ramidel:
My suggestion is to tell players to ignore the Background tables except as fluff. They take up a lot of dead air in the PDF that only matters if you're doing random rolls.

Revised Edition's rules are very intuitive from a player end, the skills are self-explanatory and most of the feats are pretty easy, and like I said, the PDF is free.


Thank you as well for the feedback! Random rolls for stats are out but the background tables are still in. Players have the option of two free learning table picks or rolling dice to get three picks for each of the background 'occupations'.

I like that including "chance" offers a small benefit during character creation and since it's optional per the rules, its a win-win in my book. I'm a HUGE fan of using dice in gaming (provided its not stifling to the players or GM).

Tuttu:
Would you consider accepting alien players or do you stick to humans only ?


Human-only to start, although I'm very interested in bringing in the various additional classes provided in the 'Revised Edition' (deluxe) ruleset in the future.



With the players that have already expressed interest, I feel comfortable in linking the material I've put together to-date.

Please follow this link to RTJ, continue discussion, or just to keep an eye out: link to another game

I'll PM those who've expressed interest shortly, hope to see you on the other side.

Thanks again to all who've read and contributed to this interest thread!
This message was last edited by the user at 14:02, Sun 09 Dec 2018.
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