StarSiege: First Impressions

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:20 am

Just got the box set yesterday, only had a chance to read through the Field Manual thus far and skim the Operations Manual. My firts impression?

Amazing.

It looks to be a solid adaptation of the Siege Mechanic, with some very intriguing bits.

What I like the most?

The set is a friggin awesome as hell toolbox that gives me everything I need to create my own kickass sci-fi setting.

Brilliantly done.

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:35 am

When I playtested this thing prior to the Free RPG Day quickstart, I had an interesting 'love/hate' for this thing. Overall, I thought it was brilliant (and still do btw) but a couple of things nagged at me. To be clear, most of what was bugging me had nothing to do with the system -- just some of my personal preferences. One of my biggest criticisms was to do with the creation of equipment -- particularly big items such as vehicles. Fortunately the set has more examples.

However, you are completely right -- Starsiege is a great toolkit. Having continued to look through the playtest material for all these months prior to getting a 'final' copy and looking through the box set itself. I find myself loving it more and more and I got over the little things I didn't immediately like.

What makes it so great?

It's not just the stuff for an alternate setting with a different implementation of the SIEGE engine... it's also the bits that can apply to all Siege games as well. The d20 method of rolling stats... rules for mooks... rules for dual weapons... different explanation of the Siege usage which is everything from the +6 bonus (which I've always used) instead of the 12/18 split and a simple 'task difficulty chart' ... to go with it. This is a lot of stuff that can be implemented elsewhere.

I now only have one real wish:

I would love to see this as a single book version where all the material in the Operations and Field Manuals are combined together -- even if this is only as a PDF release.

M
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:39 am

moriarty777 wrote:
I now only have one real wish:

I would love to see this as a single book version where all the material in the Operations and Field Manuals are combined together -- even if this is only as a PDF release.

M

Oh, I could have done that, but Steve would do his nut if I'd had put the font that small...
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:10 am

I know what ya mean about the equipment, but since it has the capability to span such a staggering array of settings I can understand why equipment like that was left to self-design.

The sheer versatility of the system amazes me. I could run anything from POst-apocalyptic, cyberpunk, sci-fantasy to full on hard core space exploration. Heck, even modern games could easily be run.

Its already got the hamster in my head running at 100MPH with ideas for my own setting.

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:11 am

gideon_thorne wrote:
Oh, I could have done that, but Steve would do his nut if I'd had put the font that small...

A single, one book hardback would be sweet.

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:20 am

DangerDwarf wrote:
[

A single, one book hardback would be sweet.

Depends on the legs of the siege variant. The box format is a good way to go initially, since it doesn't cost as much outlay as a hardback.
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:29 pm

Oh, I love the box set format. I'd just love to have a hardback down the road.

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:17 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
Oh, I love the box set format. I'd just love to have a hardback down the road.

I'll be just as happy with a perfect bound softcover myself!

Maybe we need to get this thing sold out for that to happen!

M
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:18 pm

I'll buy enough to build a replica starbase out of stacked box sets!

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:54 am

Right now I'm torn between working on two different settings.

One is Science Fantasy and the other is a Cyberpunk setting.

Decisions, decisions.

cheeplives · Post by **cheeplives** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:06 pm

Well I am definitely working on a Cyberpunk roll-out for StarSIEGE, if that influences your decision at all.
_________________
discreteinfinity.com -- my little corner of the internet.

Author of StarSIEGE: Event Horizon -- Available now from Troll Lord Games!

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:13 pm

Yeah, I caught you saying you had already been working on a Cyberpunk deal for SS in another thread. I'm really digging my Cyberpunk concept, but it is tempting to put it on the back burner and develop the Science Fantasy campaign I'v ebeen kicking around for awhile too.

The fantasy one requires less "crunch" work for me, and then I could simply plug in your Cyberpunk stuff for the other when it releases.

Just thinking out loud here.