Author  Message [bottom]
ashberg
 member, 620 posts
 Beware the Groove.
 Groooooove.
Thu 3 Nov 2016
at 04:34
 msg #1
IC: Stars Without Number experiment
The experiment
A mashup of SWN character creation, adding the mechanics of FATE's Aspects & Fate Points, with some experimental mechanics borrowed from a handful of other systems to allow players to have a Community/Faction/Organisation they are trying to build up & grow.

Player factions will have a number of stats, skills, aspects & assets. Player characters will be leaders of the faction. Factions will have clear, specific goals.

To set a clear expectation - I have limited time to commit to this experiment, but that is offset with a deep enthusiasm to explore where this experiment can go...

Setting options

A. SWN Canon;
sandbox;
Medium or Large, randomly generated sector;
Player factions could be anything reasonable;
No strict adherence to GM Faction Turns.

B. Small Human colony looking to cement their position & expand;
sandbox with GM plot; limited to 1 or 2 hex;
Less randomly generated;
Player factions would be niche groups with human society.

C. Post-apocalyptic sci-fi;
sandbox;
limited to a small number of worlds/hex;
Less randomly generated;
Player factions would be communities trying to survive.

Thematic guides

Winning condition for the group: an interesting story.

Gritty, rough, edgy.

Space opera/adventures. Firefly meets Alistair Reynolds.

Tech flavours from 70s/80s/90s era films.

Mysteries, investigation, exploration. X-Files meets Stargate.

Focus on journey & growth of each character & faction.

I'm not interested in big military or army-based themes.

Who I'm looking for

- 3 to 4 players, post rate 1 / week
- Adults
- Players who can handle experimental system

This message was last edited by the user at 05:13, Thu 03 Nov 2016.

aguy777
 member, 156 posts
 Join Date:
 Fri, 29 Nov, 2013
Thu 3 Nov 2016
at 04:55
 msg #2
IC: Stars Without Number experiment
I'm definitely interested. All three options are right up my alley.
icosahedron152
 member, 684 posts
Thu 3 Nov 2016
at 09:57
 msg #3
IC: Stars Without Number experiment
Likewise interested.
I have a personal interest in rules development for factions and I like experimenting. I can cope with that post rate.
I'm adult, but I'm out if you rate the game Adult.
ashberg
 member, 622 posts
 Beware the Groove.
 Groooooove.
Thu 3 Nov 2016
at 10:16
 msg #4
IC: Stars Without Number experiment
@icosahedron152: It might be rated mature; but not Adult.
GreyGriffin
 member, 20 posts
Thu 3 Nov 2016
at 11:22
 msg #5
IC: Stars Without Number experiment
In reply to ashberg (msg # 1):

I like the idea of gritty space opera, but I am not familiar with Stars Without Number.  It seems to pop up on this site a lot.

Is it worth looking into?
ashberg
 member, 623 posts
 Beware the Groove.
 Groooooove.
Thu 3 Nov 2016
at 11:47
 msg #6
IC: Stars Without Number experiment
@GreyGriffin: There's a free version of the SWN rulebook on DriveThruRpg.

If you're interested in space operas; this is a fairly simple system to learn. It also favours sandbox style, player-led plot development.
icosahedron152
 member, 685 posts
Thu 3 Nov 2016
at 22:05
 msg #7
IC: Stars Without Number experiment
Mature is good. :)
SWN is 'similar' to Traveller, if you've ever played that, GG.
I've never played it myself (having played Traveller instead) but I have the freebie rules.
ashberg
 member, 624 posts
 Beware the Groove.
 Groooooove.
Thu 3 Nov 2016
at 22:27
 msg #8
IC: Stars Without Number experiment
I feel like there's enough interest to kick off the experiment...

link to another game

It is Mature rated.
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