Troll Lord Games

Just like the topic states "What is (or are) the best PnP Science Fiction RPGs? Feel free to list a "Top whatever....5/10, etc" and/or why you think so. We've not actually played a Sci-Fi RPG in a long time and might actually be giving one a try soon.

I really like Mongoose Traveller. Tree ran a couple of games for us when we were taking a break from C&C. It played fast.

R-

For general sci fi I definitely like Traveller best, especially Mongoose Traveller.

For a very strong transhuman game I have really enjoyed Eclipse Phase, and best of all most of its books are freely available from the author's website. If you want the company to make money you can buy them, cheaply, at Drivethru.

For a heavy Chtulhu/anime feel I really enjoy Cthulhu Tech.

I've also greatly enjoyed a couple of sci fi games using the CORTEX system, also seen in various iterations among the MWP games, such as Supernatural, Smallville, etc...

If you like the FATE system you probably should give their Starblazers rule set a try.

If you like the Savage Worlds rules set give the MARS PDF a read. For a Buck Rodgers/Flash Gordon feel give Thrilling Tales a look.

And yes, I have played and/or ran all of them except MARS. So I am not giving you an "expert opinion" based on just a read through, but actual play, and lots of it. At least 6 weeks worth of gaming. MARS I have only read through, but if you like John Carter of Mars, you'll probably find a lot to like.

If you're into post-apoc sci-fi... I really like Mutant Future. It's easy and fun (basically like Gamma World).

I should mention if your going for print copies, if you want to give Eclpise Phase a look, make sure to get the second run of its core book, and be aware Starblazers is supposedly going to release new books, yes, 2 of them. I say supposedly because I have been waiting a long time for it to happen. Its just hard for me to keep up with it since their website is micro sized on my browser and I cannot enlarge it like I can on every other website I go to.

narpet wrote:If you're into post-apoc sci-fi... I really like Mutant Future. It's easy and fun (basically like Gamma World).

Heck, old Gamma World was a lot of fun. I haven't gotten to try the newest version, but it sounds like it would be a blast, just very different from the originals.

Another good post apocalyptic "oldie" is Aftermath. Which is still available from its original publisher. People complain about the math involved in the system, but it never bothered me.

Traveller, X-Plorers, Mutant Future, Stars Without Number, Eclipse Phase, in no particular order.

Subscribed. It occurs to me I've never really played a scifi RPG (unless you construe "scifi" so broadly as to include super heroes or secret agents with gadgets). Strange how a whole genre can escape you ...

(BTW, I did create a Mass Effect conversion for Savage Worlds that I'd be happy to share if anyone is interested. I've never actually played it, but I've received very positive feedback from those who have.)

Classic Traveller
Hunter Planet
Star Wars WEG d6

are my top three favorites.

I'm thinking this thread will turn into "Name every Sci-Fi RPG you've heard of", but...

I had some great times playing Star Frontiers. When I was in High School I ran that and my friend ran Traveller and between us we had the bases covered. Mine was the more cartoonish game I guess. The PSA skill system is sort of weird and the ship rules are inadequate but it's easily house ruled and the percentile system is simple. Now that it's legally downloadable it's worth taking another look at.

I like Metamorphosis Alpha a lot even though you need to bring all of your DM skills into it because the rules won't help you much.

One that I've looked at but not played is Sufficiently Advanced; it's Sci Fi but in more of a PKD vein, you are a Patent Officer who works for AI computers who hunts down intellectual property in the far future. That's not a great description, the possibilities are interesting if you look at it.

Treebore wrote:If you like the FATE system you probably should give their Starblazers rule set a try.

For a Space Opera type game this is alright. It is a ponderous tomb though. I heard that they were going to do a second edition and clean it up.

If you want FATE hard sci-fi I can't recommend; Diaspora enough from Evil Hat Games.

I've played quite a few sci-fi games, but to be honest I don't have a favourite. I loved playing; Universe back in the 80's but I'll put that one on with rose coloured glasses as I never had to run it, I only played it and the GM was very good.

I also loved GMing; Bughunters and Galactos Barrier in the Amazing Engine system. Those two games ran a total of about a year every week. By and far my best run for a campaign and would GM it in a heartbeat if ever given the chance.

The best is Traveller, naturally. Though I prefer classic Traveller by a slight margin over Mongoose simply because I've played it since 1983.

For licensed games, WEG's Star Wars and FASA's Star Trek must be mentioned.

Does Paranoia count? It's one of my favorite games, regardless of genre.
I really do like X-plorers, and I agree the MARS RPG (I have the d20 pdf) is really cool looking/sounding (haven't actually played it) but it captures the John Carter feel really well.

Wow, how outta touch I must be, lol. I've not even heard of half of these. Our group just wrapped up an All Flesh game (took place in the 80ies, was very fun) and we're getting ready to start another one based in the roaring 20ies.

After that, I've got a C&C game I'm working on or we may be looking at something new...and the topic of Sci-Fi came up. Heck, I don't think I've played Sci-Fi since Star Frontiers, lol!!

BTW, I'm surprised no one mentioned Alternity from TSR, was that just no good? I'm also surprised I've seen no votes for Shadowrun (which we did play way back in the first edition of the game, at least for a short while).

I'll give another vote for Mutant Future. I'm not sure it's technically a sci-fi RPG, but it is a damn fine piece of work. It's especially nice since it's fully compatible with Labyrinth Lord (and by extension C&C and a host of other simulacrums and retroclones), allowing for really nice level-based science fantasy gaming.

I've never played Paranoia and never understood how it could be viable in actual play, but I loved reading the modules back in the 80s. Seriously funny stuff.

D6 star wars which is now downloadable for free at drive thru rpg under the title d6 space. you can get the entire series (fantasy, modern and sci fi) from the same place for the same low price of $0!

Lobo316 wrote:BTW, I'm surprised no one mentioned Alternity from TSR, was that just no good? I'm also surprised I've seen no votes for Shadowrun (which we did play way back in the first edition of the game, at least for a short while).

Oh yeah, and Shadowrun. Good fun, that.

I have Alternity. While both Star*Drive and Dark Matter were excellent settings I never thought the mechanics were all that and a bag of chips.

I could name other games I own, but I don't have them for the mechanics but for the settings.

P.S. D6 Space is NOT D6 Star Wars with the serial numbers filed off.

Star Frontiers.

Warriors of Mars.

My new home-grown "Reptiles and Samurai" (tm) which is based on cartoons like He-Man and Thundercats.

I do not consider Shadowrun to be "sci-fi" in the traditional sense. I'd call it multigenre. But, if its on the table, I'm voting for it.

Hm, nobody mentioned Star Siege. I like the system, I just wish there would have been better layout and more support.

I also like WEG Star wars, but more for the setting than the system (which is an ok system).

R-

Well my first SCI-FI game was Star Frontiers so it gets one of my votes

My most played is Star Wars WEG d6 so that is in my hat too

An odd one (as in I haven’t seen it voted on here thus far) is RIFTS-Manhunter. I ran it for about 6 months off & on back in the day. Loved the setting, & to me it solved the power creep issues I had with RIFTS – so it’s got a vote from me.

Finally, a game I never got to play, but would love to … Traveller. I’ve ‘talked’ with tree about it, and he has me sold on it, but just never got to play …

serleran wrote:
....

I do not consider Shadowrun to be "sci-fi" in the traditional sense. I'd call it multigenre. But, if its on the table, I'm voting for it.

Rgr, I like Shadowrun (and Gama World) but don’t count it as ‘sci fi’. If they are on the table, they get my votes also.

Rigon wrote:Hm, nobody mentioned Star Siege. I like the system, I just wish there would have been better layout and more support.

I also like WEG Star wars, but more for the setting than the system (which is an ok system).

R-

Good catch, Star Siege, I have it, like the idea of it, but again sadly haven't been able to play/run it.

Rgr on WEG SW being the setting instead of the system. However, I prefer it to the D20/SAGA rules so it still gets my vote

I forgot the Serenity RPG. It's a d10 type system similar to Savage Worlds. That one I like because of the setting.

R-

I don't use Star SIEGE because it has been far easier for me to use another system, such as Traveller, than it would be for me to build everything I would need to run a campaign. Plus Travllers system that I use, 2d6 + skill + attribute modifier + random modifiers is about as easy to use as the SIEGE engine. Plus I love the mini game system of character creation in Traveller.

So the only sci fi RPG's I like that I would convert to Star SIEGE are Eclipse Phase and Cthulhu Tech, and those have a lot of books, with tons of material, and they are not nearly as easy to convert to Star SIEGE as D&D is to C&C, so its far easier to just use the systems they are made for.

So basically, the only way I see myself using Star SIEGE is if it introduces its own cool setting that I would want to use it for.

Coming in late(r) on this one, but my three faves are:

1) WEG d6 Star Wars (have played this a couple times in the last two years)
2) Gamma World (1st/2nd Editions)
3) Star Frontiers (played a session with my son last summer after acquiring the box set - had the same fun feeling I did 20+ years prior)

You can get both mutant future and stars with out number. I use the siege engine while running both.

I'm working on giving StarSiege a shake and have most of my ideas in place. I plan on building as I go so it won't be that hard to get going.

I enjoy Rifts and Alternity quite a bit.

For straight out best sci-fi system, CORTEX is the toppermost o' the poppermost imo.

X-plorers!

Star Wars Saga Edition is about the only sci-fi rpg I've ever played - I think it's a great game!